I’ve been living in Israel for over thirty years and have been cooking for nearly that long. Firstly, don’t make a chicken cholent, they’re not appealing. If you’re really strapped for cash, and you must have chulent, I suggest Merguez or Kabanos sausages (but check the hechsher carefully) and add a homemade kiska.
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However, the fact is Glatt beef is not as expensive as you think. When you consider one package of Mehadrin Chicken Wings costs about 10-13 NIS per kilo, some beef can be found for under 30 NIS a kilo. Remember one kilo of beef has more meat than a kilo of chicken.
Avoid the frozen meat in you local Makolet, they’re almost always overpriced. Go to Machane Yehuda (or another shuk if you’re not near Jerusalem), most of the butchers are Glatt (because Sefardim only eat “Halak” AKA Glatt) and explain your situation. You can use #8 Shank, #10 Neck Clod or even #3 Brisket. And ask for beef bones, they add flavor.
If after all that, you are still stuck with chicken, don’t make a traditional cholent. Make something like Tbit, a chicken and rice dish that sits on the plata all night. Recipes can be found online.
בהצלחה