Happy Saturday morning!
I need some culinary advice. My husband isn’t a huge fan of chicken. He much prefers pork or beef, although he will eat Parmesan chicken, fried chicken, chicken wings, and chicken pot pie.
Part of the problem is that I haven’t quite figured out the secret to making super chicken moist. And I’m in need of some more good (preferably healthy) chicken recipes. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
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I use a slowcooker…do you have one? They are great- make sure to get one with several time settings.
I put the whole chicken in, smear with a can of condensed cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup, chop one onion and scatter the peices. Then I close the lid and set it for 8 hours on slow.
I usually do this in the morning before going to work…then when we get home dinner is ready!
It will fall off the bone and the leftovers will make yummy sandwiches.
Hi Dball,
I do have a slowcooker. Thanks for the suggestion!
Ellie
My slow cooker is pressed into service similar to above. I put the whole chicken with a little salt and pepper and about 1/4 cup water. I cook it on high for 4 to 4 1/2 hours (depending on size of chicken). We usually have it first with mashed potatoes and peas. The leftover is used for many things: chicken salad, BBQ chicken sandwiches, chicken with gravy (save that broth from the slow cooker), chicken pot pie, etc. Sometimes I freeze packages of 2 cups for user later (like when we go camping or I need a quick meal).
Why to people put salt in everything? Ellie if I was you I wouldn't put salt on the chicken and less you want to have a Heart attack and die.
Salt brings out the natural flavor in foods. You can overuse salt but salt can turn a good dish into a great dish.
I'll have to try that. Thanks!
Too much salt is definitely detrimental to one's health, but we do need some salt. π
Ellie
Well, this was my original post and I do not put in much salt – maybe a shake or two or three at the most. I also sometimes use lemon pepper. I do not salt it further after cooking. I stopped using much salt after becoming pregnant and never started using it again. I generally tell people to salt it to their taste. I hope this relieves you of your concern for my heart and the hearts of those eating the food I prepare. My husband and I love to entertain and I would never want to add to anyone's health issues. I appreciate your concern.
@anonymous april 9th at 7:31 PM to much of anything can be bad for you. certain people who have different health problems need to above things but some can tolerate (and may need) more then others. this idea of "one size fits all" when it comes to nutrition is outdated and dying out.
We eat chicken all the time! Here's some of our favorite ways to cook it…
1. Salt and pepper chicken tenderloins then wrap chicken tenderloins in bacon. Then wrap the chicken in an aluminum foil "tent." Cook around 350-375 for 10-15 minutes then take the foil packets out of the oven and let them sit to cool. Moist chicken!
2. Cut chicken breasts or tenderloins into cubes, salt and pepper. Put 1 tbsp or so of coconut oil in a skillet and cook the chicken for like 4-8 minutes on medium/high heat. *The longer the chicken cooks the drier it will be.* Halfway through the cooking time add chopped bell peppers and mushrooms and eat either plain or with tortillas or pita.
3. Boil chicken until it's white all the way through, then shred it with two forks. Use shredded chicken as fajitas (recipes on Pinterest!), chicken salad, soup, etc.
4. Greek chicken. Salt and pepper chicken (cubes, tenderloins or however you want it. I think cubes are easiest to eat) and put in casserole dish. Add a can of artichokes, Greek olives, lemon wedges and red onion. Cook and serve with feta cheese.
5. Honey Siracha Chicken- type that into Pinterest to get recipe π
Good luck!
Thank you, Annie! π
Ellie
It seems like my husband and your husband are similar eaters. We were just married in February and it has been tricky finding meals that we both like. I've found that brining chicken helps it stay moist. Here is one recipe:
http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/baked-chicken-breast/
Another recipe that he loves is:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/roast-chicken-with-lemon-and-rosemary-roast-potatoes/#Fk33d2FjyabBe3J1.97
It was the first meal I made for him when we were dating.
If your husband likes BBQ, I do a BBQ pulled chicken. I cheat and use a seasoning packet from the grocery store. But some BBQ chicken on a crusty bun with a side of green beans is a regular meal in our house.
He also loves Shake and Bake. I don't love it but if it helps him eat chicken instead of pizza I'm all for it.
Hi Melissa,
I'm glad to hear from someone whose husband has similar eating habits. I've never brined anything, but it doesn't sound too difficult. I'm definitely going to try your recipes! What is shake and bake?
Ellie
Oops! Maybe it is a Canadian thing.
http://www.kraftcanada.com/products/category/dinners-and-sides/shake-n-bake
It is a flavoured coating for chicken or pork. The coating is similar to fine seasoned bread crumb. It comes in a box with a plastic bag. You put the coating in the bag, add the chicken, close the bag, shake it around, then bake it. It is pretty salty (and I prefer eating as little processed food as possible) but it helps him eat a bit better.
Thanks for clarifying, Melissa. That sounds similar to breadcrumb chicken, which my husband likes, so I might just have to try shake and bake. π
Ellie
Shake and bake is a Kraft brand seasoning mix…you can usually find it at wall Mart in the baking section
Thanks, Cynthia!
Ellie
Check Pinterest! They have everything you'd look for.
Will do! Thanks!
Ellie
For chicken thighs, I cook them skin down in a tray filled halfway with water, for about 45 minuets at 150C (I am Australian – not sure what that would be in Fahrenheit) then drain the water off, turn the chicken over, and spray with oil. Return to the oven and cook for a further 20-30 minutes. And then you get crispy skin, and moist chicken within.
I work at a Christian camp and conference site as the caterer, and so regularly cook large amounts of chicken this way π
Thanks, Jess! That sounds like a fun job.
Ellie
Check out this one. Very easy, healthy and delicious. http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/hit-n-run-traybaked-chicken/#5J7HvaxKOkRXsfOI.97
Seems like jamieoliver.com is a great culinary resource, as someone else posted a recipe from there, as well. Thank you!
Ellie
One of my favorites are chicken and rice and it is super easy. Hope you like it πhttp://m.campbellskitchen.com/recipes/one-dish-chicken-rice-bake-24702?utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot%20provided
That sounds tasty! Thank you, Cynthia!
Ellie
Doesn't like chicken!!!
Never heard of that before!
Plus, everything tastes like chicken! Lol!
Haha! It's not that he dislikes it, but unless it's a really good chicken dish, he would rather eat beef or pork. π
Ellie
My favorite is chicken and rice is the recipe below hope you like it.
1.1 10 1/2 oz can of cream of chicken soup
2.1 10 1/2 oz can of cream mushroom soup
3.1 14.5 Oz can of chicken broth
4.1 cup of Uncle Bens Converted Rice (You can use any kind of converted rice).
Mix Lay chicken pieces on top and put a little bit of lemon juice and a little bit of sugar and melted butter on chicken in a casserole dish. Pepper chicken
Bake at 350 for 2 hours. It's really good.
I suggest you serve chicken less often but when you do opt for buying free range, organic, humanely treated chicken. That way you will be serving a real food that has only natural goodness in it and a genuine flavour. My son who is now 21, saw a video about mistreated farm animals and though he is not a vegetarian he has lost his appetite for some food he was eating. Also hormones and antibiotics are in some meat and the claim is this is done scientifically and responsibly and does not transfer into an effect on people who eat it.
Hi there,
I do try to buy meat without hormones and antibiotics. Costco often has organic meat for a great price.
Ellie
Chicken thighs in a casserole are moist, look for a recipe like that on Google. Get Mr Handsome really hungry and then feed him chicken. A slow cooker might cook the food while you are out.
LOL! You mean like have him run around the house 30 times before dinner?
Ellie
That might do it!
Your husband seems to be a very picky eater! Doesn't like chicken, pasta, or eating vegetarian! I'm not sure how he managed that in such a large family growing up–usually you have to learn to like everything in that situation.
I think you are wise to work on expanding his repertoire, especially before you have children. You'll want to serve leaner, less expensive dishes when you are serving more people.
I would start by replacing ground beef with ground chicken or turkey in your spaghetti sauce, tacos, meatballs, etc. Have you investigated frittata? You can use all kinds of vegetables in those and serve them with hash browns or french toast–something like that.
Here are two chicken recipes that are pretty easy to make and like:
Crockpot Shredded Chicken Tacos with Cilantro and Lime
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
juice from 2 limes
Β½ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
1 packet of taco seasoning
onions
1 can rotel (optional)
Β½ cup water
taco toppings
Add all ingredients except toppings to slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred chicken and mix well with the juices in crockpot.
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili (from budgetbytes.com, a great resource)
1 yellow onion
2 cloves garlic s
1 jalapeΓ±o (optional)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 16oz. jar salsa verde
2 15oz. cans cannellini beans
1 15oz. can pinto beans
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
ΒΌ tsp cayenne pepper
ΒΌ tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chicken broth
4 oz. Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
β’Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Slice the jalapeΕo lengthwise, scrape out the seeds with a spoon, then dice. Place the onion, garlic, jalapeΓ±o, and chicken breast in the bottom of a slow cooker.
β’Drain and rinse the beans, then add them to the slow cooker, along with the salsa, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and freshly ground black pepper.
β’Pour two cups of chicken broth over the contents in the cooker and then give everything a brief stir. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for four hours.
β’After four hours, the chicken should be tender and easily shreddable (if not, replace the lid and cook for one more hour). Carefully remove the chicken breast from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred the meat. Return the meat to the slow cooker. Stir the chili, slightly mashing the beans with the back of the spoon as you stir.
β’Serve the chili hot topped with shredded Monterrey Jack cheese. Other optional toppings include fresh cilantro, diced avocado, freshly squeeze lime, or tortilla chips.
Thanks, Amy. I'm going to try those recipes. It's not that he's a picky eater. He will eat just about anything. But I try to make foods that he really enjoys. I'm confident that there are a lot of good meals out there that he would really like. I just have to find them. π
Ellie
Well that makes sense. I loved introducing my husband to new foods when we first got married. At our first anniversary he told someone the best part of being married to me was that I facilitated his discovery of feta cheese. Oh well! At least he's happy π
That's sweet of him! Maybe I'll try a meal with feta cheese. LOL
Ellie
Wow, what a picky eater! Not allowed in my house, I won't cater to everyone's dislikes!
Boy are you mean. I'm glad I don't live in your house.
Do you enjoy fish? Lean, fatty fish such as salmon is brain food, packed with omega 3's, protein, iron. Buy wild salmon NOT farmed. Cook with lemon juice, olive oil, dill, thyme. Why is your husband not like so many foods? Let him make his own meals then!
Crock pot chicken tacos
5-6 boneless,skinless chicken breast
1 pkg. taco seasoning (I use lawrys)
1- 16oz. jar salsa (any kind)
Put everything in the crock pot, cook on low 9 hours, then shred chicken and return to pot. Make tacos, adding your favorite toppings! Enjoy:)
Thank you!
Ellie
My mother is the guru for chicken. She can't cook beef to save her life (bless her heart) but she is amazing at cooking chicken. My mother's secret to making moist chicken is babysitting it. You have to check very often so that it does not end up dry. Preheat the oven to 350 and put a few tablespoons of butter on the pan and put the pan in the oven. The butter will melt and then when you put the chicken on the pan it will soak up the butter. Also, my mom does not boil or cook her chicken in a skillet. She has found that her chicken cooks the best in an oven. Another trick is not making the chicken so thick. If it is thinner, the center will cook quicker. If it is thick, the outside will get dry by the time it takes the center to cook. I hope that these tips help :). This is what my mom has told me to do and it seems to work.
Thanks for the tips!
Ellie
There's nothing tastier or cheaper than a whole chicken! Rinse and pat dry a whole chicken and make sure any pieces inside are pulled out (neck/bag). Brush a light layer of oil on the top (don't use olive oil because it will smoke at high temps). Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper (you can add more flavor if you'd like such as garlic salt or poultry seasoning). The key is cooking it at a high temp (425) to get a crispy outside and moist inside. Cook for an hour and 15 minutes, then check the thighs to see if the juices run clear. Depending on the size, you may need 5-10 minutes more. It's simple but so tasty! It's my go-to meal when we have company because it frees me up to get everything else ready while it cooks and it makes for a pretty presentation!
Thanks, Rebecca! That does sound tasty!
Ellie
This is one of our family's favourite chicken recipes. It uses chicken drumsticks. My husband prefers not to eat chicken on the bone, but even he loves this! http://www.southernplate.com/2014/01/greek-chicken.html
Thanks, Beth! That looks easy and delicious.
Ellie
Chicken soup! Guaranteed to be moist chicken lol
He may like eggplant Parmesan, even if he doesn't like vegetarian food. It tastes in between chicken Parmesan and lasagna, except it's eggplant! And the eggplant is hearty and filling. Maybe serve some meatballs or sausage on the side if he insists on meat for himself, and then you don't have to eat meat. I've done that before
LOL.
I do like eggplant Parmesan. I'm going to try that!
Ellie
How do you make Eggplant Parmesan?
It's kind of a cross between lasagna and chicken Parmesan, only with eggplant. Did I explain that right?
Ellie
Thanks Ellie! I think you did.
Rebecca is spot on! A whole roast chicken is so delicious, moist, and EASY. I usually put a quartered onion and a sliced lemon inside the cavity, and then rub the skin with butter, salt & pepper, and lemon zest (zest the lemon before you slice it up to put it inside – just the yellow part of the zest, as the white part is bitter).
You just want to be sure you've got a sturdy pan! I use a glass lasagna dish. Otherwise it's really tricky to pull out of the oven without splattering hot liquid everywhere!
Thank you, Emily!
Ellie
http://www.ricardocuisine.com/recipes/6290-30-minute-chicken-and-vegetable-curry
I love this website. You should really check it out.Plus, there is a french version of the site with different receipes. So if you can read french, you have a lot of receipes to try!
Ricardo is very well-known in Quebec.
Thank you! I studied French for five years, so maybe I'll try reading a recipe in French.
Ellie
Brining is an excellent way to keep chicken moist. And after you brine your chicken you can season and cook it any way you please. It will always be moist. After you brine your chicken rinse and pat the chicken dry. Because their is a good amount of salt in the brine use less salt than you normally would too season your chicken, otherwise it will be too salty. Here is a good recipe.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/241483/perfect-chicken-brine/
Thanks for the tip! I've never brined a chicken, but I'm going to give it a try.
Ellie
Check out 100DaysofRealFood.com.
She has some great chicken recipes that are healthy (as in, unprocessed). I've had great success with her White Chicken Lasagna. I love that I can throw the lasagna together into two smaller baking dishes and cook one and freeze the other for a later meal. I've even made the recipe with a penne pasta instead of lasagna noodles (just mixed it all together) and it was still fabulous. I can honestly (and happily) say that every recipe that I've tried from her site and cookbook have worked for me and been a huge hit with anyone I've prepared them for.
How do you make Eggplant Parmesan?
I put a chicken recipe on here a couple of days ago and it show up then it disappear it's like someone deleted it.
Chicken yummy lnstead of corn yummy… My mom always makes it…
Everyone should know about this recipe – IT'S AMAZING! Everyone I serve it to loves it.
It's super simple, quick, and cheap.
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/74180911762/cracklin-chicken
This recipe for Chicken thighs is great! I was just about to post it myself, but then I saw it was already up here.
All you have to do is season them and chuck them in a skillet. it could not be simpler or more delicious.
That looks great. And I love that it's so easy. Thanks!
Ellie
Take a whole roaster and clean well, open a can of your favorite soda and put the chicken over the can and put into your grill or it can be done in the oven if you don't have a grill. ( I use a charcoal barrel grill with a temp gauge) As the chicken roasts all the excess grease drips off but the moisture from the can soda creates a very moist chicken. I sometimes before cooking will use a dry rub of my favorite seasonings of choice.
Because I have a life threatening allergy to eggs and egg products, I use fat free buttermilk to marinate cut up chicken in before I coat for frying or oven baking. The buttermilk also helps to keep the chicken moist. For my coating I use regular and whole wheat flour with my favorite spices ( most premade coatings have egg product in them or have a chance of cross contamination with egg product from manufacturing company)plain crushed cornflakes mixed with your favorite spices make a great coating also. This is great to fry or oven bake. When I oven bake I will usually use the same spices on baby bakers or fingerling potatoes and roast them as well.