The stores around me usually have the better deals on the dark meat portions of chicken.Only the children really like the taste but I have found that this meat can be used in a variety of dishes with gravy or sauce to stretch the budget.

Do you use the dark meat to save on your food expense? What are your favorite ways to cook it?

Dark meat chicken is the only kind of chicken I buy.  I can usually get it at my local meat market for .99 a pound.  I debone it and take the skin off before I freeze. I use it in any recipe that calls for chicken. 

We love it grilled with different kinds of bbq sauce, I marinate it sometimes before I grill it.  I oven fry it.  Sometimes I just boil the meat with the skin on an then shred the chicken to use in enchiladas, to make chicken pie, or to make chicken noodle soup. 

I buy both but mostly with the legs and thighs I shake and bake or put some type of sauce on it and bake it.

I often buy legs and thighs as they are much cheaper. We use the meat like breast meat for tacos, salads or stir frys or we grill or bake the chicken with some type of sauce. When we grill or bake,  I leave the skin on for cooking and then remove it before eating as I feel it keeps the meat moist and juicy.

I eat both white and dark chicken meat and enjoy both.

Dark meat is healthier, it's been exercised better. I pratically only buy dark meat. I find it tender and has more flavor. I post on the dinner forum every night and about 3 or so of those dinners contain chicken from chicken thigh meat. I buy bone in or boneless depending on sales. I also use drumsticks on occassion. I always cook, either cut, in a sautee pan with evoo and light seasonings/herbs... sometimes I will use marinated artichok hearts and/or veggies... I will use a sauce if required for a theme or ethnic dish but preer things more simple. I also prefer fresh and tend to stick to that over frozen.

I occasionally buy drumsticks or leg quarters.  But I prefer the taste of white meat, and it's a bit lower in fat.

mamasjob:

I often buy legs and thighs as they are much cheaper.

That's how the stores in my area are too. My children love the legs so when I fry or bake chicken, I will have white meat for my husband and myself while the kids get the portions they want.

The dark meat like thighs are good for stew, soup, chicken fried rice, chicken pot pie and other chicken and rice dishes we enjoy.