5 Easy Chicken Recipes - Dinner Ideas For The Busy Professional

What Makes Chicken Such a Versatile Food?

Chicken can be cooked in many many different ways, including boiling, baking, frying, and grilling. In addition, it can be perfectly matched with a variety of foods like rice, pasta, mashed potatoes and vegetables. This is what makes it so versatile!

Chicken is also adaptive to both, casual and formal dining settings. For example, chicken wings and stir fry chicken are often served as appetizers at informal gatherings, while roasted chicken, stuffed chicken breast and baked chicken are more likely to be found on the menu of a fine dining restaurant.

Whatever the occasion, you're sure to find a chicken recipe that fits the bill. That's what makes this humble bird such a beloved staple in kitchens around the world.

Cooking Tips for Chicken

Chicken may be one of the easiest meats to prepare, but if you want your bird to come out tops, there are a few tips you need to keep in mind.

• Always use a meat or Grill Thermometer to check the internal temperature of your chicken. These thermometers are especially useful when cooking chicken breasts or making grilled chicken or roasted chicken. A food thermometer will ensure that your dish is above the minimum Safe Food temperature for chicken (165-170 F), eliminating the risk of bacteria-causing infection. Only make sure to insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the bird. (In addition to chicken, food thermometers are ideal for other meat-based dishes, including Meatloaf Recipes and Chili Recipes.)
• Before buying your chicken, check the shelf-life and use-by date mentioned on the packaging.
  
• If you don't want to cook the chicken immediately after purchase, make sure to store it in the freezer and not the refrigerator.
  
• When stuffing chicken, make sure the meat is thoroughly washed inside-out before starting with the filling. Also ensure the filling is absolutely cool when you begin.
  
• If you plan to use a slow cooker or steamer, marinate the chicken well in advance to give the dish a richer flavor.

Creamy One Pan Chicken

Servings- 2

Ingredients-
1 lb chicken breasts, salt, black pepper, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion (diced), 1 tsp oregano, 8 oz baby mushrooms (sliced), 1 cup chicken broth, 2 garlic cloves (minced), red pepper flakes, 17 oz gnocchi, 1/2 cup Parmesan (grated), cup mozzarella, and 3 cups spinach.

Method-

• Gently apply salt and pepper on both sides of your chicken breasts.
  
• Take a large pan and heat 1 tbsp olive oil. Place the chicken breasts on the pan and cook for four minutes on each side.
  
• When they turn brown, remove the breasts from the pan.
  
• Add another spoon of oil, fry the onion and mushrooms on medium heat and add garlic and oregano. Cook for 1 minute.
  
• Add the chicken broth slowly and stir and scrape the pan's bottom.
  
• As the broth simmers, add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
  
• Stir in gnocchi and add the chicken to the pan.
  
• Put it on simmer and let the chicken breasts cook.
  
• Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It must be 165 F. Cook for 8-10 minutes and stir occasionally.
  
• Remove chicken after 10 minutes.
  
• Add both the cheeses and spinach till they melt.
  
• Slice the chicken breasts and put them back in the pan.
  
• Your creamy, one pan chicken is now done.
  

Pan Chicken Alfredo

Servings- 2

Ingredients-
2 chicken breasts, 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper, 1 cup milk, 2 garlic cloves (minced), 1/2 cup cream, 1 cup chicken broth, 8 oz pasta, and 1 cup Parmesan (grated).

Method-

• Take a large pan, heat the oil, add the chicken breasts and sprinkle salt and pepper.
  
• Cook both sides till they turn brown.
  
• Let them rest for 10 minutes and then slice into even pieces.
  
• Add the milk, chicken broth and garlic to the pan and let it simmer.
  
• Add salt and pepper.
  
• Add the pasta and stir.
  
• Let it cook for about eight minutes.
  
• Add the cream and grated Parmesan and keep stirring.
  
• As the sauce thickens, remove the pan and add the chicken.
  
• Garnish with parsley.
  
• It's time to enjoy your Creamy Chicken Alfredo.
  

Tangy Chicken Breasts

Servings- 4

Ingredients-
4 chicken breast halves, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 chopped onion, 2 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tsp black pepper.

Method-

• Lightly fry the chopped onion.
  
• Add the chicken breasts and fry till lightly brown.
  
• Keep the chicken aside and add the soy sauce, ketchup, sugar, lemon juice and pepper to the pan.
  
• Stir well and pour the sauce over the chicken and boil. Cover the pan with a lid, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes.
  
• Your tangy chicken breasts are ready!
  

Chicken Salad with Broccoli

Servings- 2

Ingredients-
22 oz broccoli florets, 25 oz chicken breasts (cubed), 6 green onions (chopped) 8 oz walnuts (chopped), 2 oz sugar, 2 tsp vinegar, 8 oz mayonnaise, 2-3 oz cooked and crumbled bacon.

Method-

• Put the broccoli, walnuts, onions and chicken in a large bowl and mix well.
  
• Take another small bowl, and whisk the vinegar, sugar and mayonnaise. Blend the ingredients well.
  
• Pour this dressing over the broccoli and chicken mix.
  
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken salad. Makes for a quick weeknight dinner.

Chicken Breasts Wrapped in Bacon

Ingredients-
2 chicken breasts, 12 oz BBQ sauce, 1 cup cheddar cheese (grated), and 4 slices of bacon.

Method-

• Pace the chicken breasts in water, put the pan on simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes. Drain the water.
  
• Preheat the oven to 375 F.
• Wrap the chicken breasts with bacon strips.
  
• Place the chicken on a baking sheet and coat it with BBQ sauce and cheddar.
  
• Bake for about 10-12 minutes, until you see the cheese bubbling and the chicken looking cooked.
• Take out the baking sheet and let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.
  

How to Know if Your Chicken Thighs are Cooked

Unless you're a seasoned chef, it's hard to know if your chicken has cooked completely. But when food temperatures are involved, it's best to throw guesswork out the window. Undercooked meats run the risk of bacterial infection and could lead to food-borne illnesses.

So, rather than eyeballing your chicken, use a meat or Grill Thermometer to get exact temperature readings for the insides of your chicken breast or thigh and you'll be confident of its doneness.

Now all that's left to do is sample each of these five chicken recipes to find the one that's about to become your new supper staple.