A simple cooking trick using the humble supermarket roast chicken bag has taken the internet by storm, promising a delicious meal in minutes with virtually no washing up.
The Viral Kitchen Hack
Sydney-based food and culture blogger Adrian Widjonarko, known online as @PlacesinSydney, shared what he calls 'the best supermarket rotisserie chicken dish hack'. In a video viewed over 1.5 million times, he demonstrated the method using a hot roast chicken bought from Woolworths.
The key lies in the juices often left at the bottom of the bag. 'Notice there is so much juice at the bottom usually,' Adrian pointed out. Instead of discarding this flavour-packed liquid, he repurposes it as an instant stock base for a hearty chicken rice dish.
How the 'No-Bowl' Method Works
The process is remarkably straightforward. After removing the cooked chicken, you use the juice-filled bag itself as a mixing bowl. Adrian recommends adding cooked rice and plenty of fresh herbs – his preference is chopped spring onions.
Next, you shred the warm chicken and return it to the bag, mixing everything together until well combined. The result is a vibrant, savoury meal ready in moments. 'You can add salt and pepper depending on your taste, or soy sauce,' Adrian added. 'But for me, this is already perfection.'
Social Media Reaction and Extra Tips
The reaction to the video was overwhelmingly positive, with viewers describing the idea as 'genius', 'brilliant' and 'crazy clever'. Many regular buyers of supermarket chickens admitted they had never thought to use the leftover juices.
'Why have I never thought of doing this? Such a good hack!' read one popular comment. Another added: 'No need to wash dishes too,' highlighting the added convenience.
Even Australian chef and cookbook author Vincent Yeow Lim was impressed, commenting: 'This actually looks fire.'
The video sparked a wave of suggestions for levelling up the dish. Recommendations from followers included:
- Adding soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and a pinch of sugar.
- Giving it a quick pan-fry for crispiness and adding chilli oil.
- Using the juices to enhance chicken salads or sandwich mixes.
Over 1.5 million people have now seen Adrian's tutorial, which he captioned: 'Try this hack next time you buy one of those roast chickens… thank me later.'
The Mystery of the Woolworths Rooster Crow
This isn't the only recent discovery concerning Woolworths' popular hot chickens. Last month, the supermarket's own social media account clarified the source of a mysterious rooster crowing sound often heard in the deli section.
In a video from November 2025, a Woolworths employee explained: 'No, that sound didn't come from a live chicken. It came from our oven.' The crow is actually a timer alert from the rotisserie ovens, signalling to staff that the chickens are cooked and ready to be bagged. The sound is set by the oven manufacturer.
'Our ovens make a few noises to let the team know when to check on the chickens,' the video stated. 'The cock-a-doodle-doo is actually a signal that the roast chooks are cooked.'
