In my opinion you need to go through an extended bulk 9-12 months prior to cut down for a show. I eat relatively the same types of thing day to day, but the foods I eat change depending on whether I'm in the off season or dieting for a show. Currently I eat the following to maintain my size:

Breakfast-6 eggs, 16oz whole milk, and 1 cup of oats
Snack-16oz whole milk, 2 tbl peanut butter, and 2 scoops whey
Lunch 10 oz lean beef, fish, chicken, with 1 cup brown rice or wheat pasta with 2 tbl olive oil
Snack-16oz whole milk, 2 tbl peanut butter, and 2 scoops whey
Train
Post Workout Shake-50g protein & 50 grams dextrose
Dinner-10 oz lean beef, fish, chicken, with 1 cup brown rice or wheat pasta with 2 tbl olive oil

When I start a cutting diet, the only variables I change is the types of food. It all goes to solid meals. I carb cycle and slowly reduce my carbs over the 13-15 weeks and increase cardio until I come in where I want to be.

The big question is what your training/goals are. Bulking can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. If you are interested in just getting some bigger muscles thats one thing, if you are trying to compete in bodybuilding thats another. Learn all your macros first then go from there. Once I started counting macros, I was able to see how certain changes in protein/carb/fat intake effected my gains. Everyone is different so you have to learn your body.

In general, I would suggest throwing in some fish and red meat. Getting all your protein from chicken gets really shitty after a while, trust me I've done it. I'm also a firm believer in carb cycling, whether bulking or cutting. I like to have a moderate carb day, low carb day (usually on an off day) and a high carb day where I just blast as many CLEAN CARBS as I can, so maybe try hitting 80g+ of carbs per meal which is about 2 cups of rice give or take. Thats usually once a week on a leg day.

Finally, I'd say to add some healthy fats to every meal. I usually throw in a tablespoon of EVOO or mac nut oil in my meals. Also a spoonful of natty pb never hurts.

To sum it all up, learn your diet and how it effects YOU. You could follow your training partners diet exactly calorie for calorie, and he may get ripped while you get fat as a mofo. Thats an extreme example but the point is if you learn your body, you can maximize your gains.

You can eat the same meals but its best to switch it up. Changes metabolism and keeps the body guessing.

you probably have a daily calorie base burn of around 3150 depending on your job and activities. If you work construction or a labor intense job prob more like 4000 to 4200. These are just guesses since everyones different. 3500 cals=1lb to add 1lb weight of week you eat 3500 cal more than norm. Figure how many pounds you think you should be gaining per week multiply times 3500 and divide by 7, thats how many calories you should eat above your daily norm. For me a len bulk I try to add2lbs per week not including any water weight. Knowing you daily calorie burn is the hard part to find, there are machines out there that you can use.

To address one of your questions about the variety of food.

I personally feel that a typical bb diet already restricts the nutrients you get from whole foods, so a variety is essential to make sure you are getting some of those trace nutrients we try to avoid. Chicken for 50% of your meals will not only grow boring after 3-4 weeks you are limiting yourself. Add in some steak, beef, turkey, fish, pork throughout your week. They all cost roughly the same, and have relatively the same makeup profile.

For bulking purposes I would try to shoot for about 2g per pound. I myself try to shoot for 2.5 to 3g of protein. High calorie diet, low fat. 4,500 calories per day. Eat good fats don't pile on pizza and icecream, unless you don't mind getting fatter. Your just going to have to cut that fat later.

There isn't a magic formula for calories. We need more history bro.

Age?
Current meal plan? Meals / macro breakdown for training / off days
Current training plan?
Ever bulked before?
Have you carb cycled before?

I say that because its based off your metabolism. If your currently consuming 1200 cals a day and we suggest 3000 cals. Your metabolism isn't adjusted for that and you will undoubtedly gains a lot of fat. You have to gradually reintroduce calories back into your diet.

How much protein are you shooting for in the day? How many calories? Three meals is definitely not enough for a bulker