Hints, Tips and Recipes for Chicken Breast Perfection

 

 Chicken Breasts are something I always have in the freezer. Chicken was not something we had very often when I was growing up.  It was expensive and considered to be a real treat.

That is something which has changed quite  a bit in recent years. Chicken is much more available these days, and is quite often one of the most affordable proteins we can buy for ourselves. 

Chicken is a very versatile meat. I do prefer the thighs over the breasts as far as flavour goes, but the breast meat is healthier, so we eat that most of the time. 

People can and do struggle quite a bit with Chicken Breasts however.  Whether you are lacking in inspiration or even seeking to find ways to cook it where it doesn't turn out dry and lifeless, I have the perfect solutions for you!

Chicken breast meat is an incredible canvas that you can use for layering on other flavors. When I see a piece of chicken breast meat I am inspired because, to me, they hold a world of opportunity and flavor.

Here are some of my favorite ways of preparing them.  Always delicious, never dry, always exciting.

CREAMY LEMON CHICKEN

Tender and juicy chicken breasts with a lush lemon sauce. With a few simple ingredients and about 45 minutes in time from start to finish you can be eating this incredibly tasty dish, and with a few tweaks it can also be relatively low in fat and calories. With lemon juice, parmesan cheese and some cream or evaporated milk, this is pure and simple deliciousness. Click on the recipe title to go to the complete recipe. 

EASY CHICKEN PARM

Deliciously tender and flavour filled crisp coated chicken breasts, baked atop a flavourful mix of spaghetti and marinara, and topped with oozing mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Although this delicious dish is sized for two it is very easy to multiply the recipe to feed more people.  Quick, easy and delicious.  Click on the recipe title to go to the complete recipe. 

HEAVENLY CHICKEN

 I can tell you that this is even better than my mom’s Maryland Fried Chicken! That's why this is called Heavenly Chicken. When something is called heavenly, you better believe that it is!

Chicken breasts are pounded lightly to an even thickness before coating in a flavourful mixture of sour cream and some seasonings. You then roll the coated breasts  in fine round buttery cracker crumbs, before baking to perfection. Always tender. Always moist.  Always incredibly delicious. 

Click on the recipe title to go to the complete recipe. 

MEDITERRANEAN SAUCED CHICKEN

This is really fresh tasting and delicious! In recent years we have all embraced Mediterranean flavours and tastes.  Not only is the cuisine from this area of the world delicious but it is also much healthier for us.

This quick and easy entrée is no different, filled with fresh tomatoes, capers and sage. Its quite simply lovely.  Click on the recipe title to go to the complete recipe.

CURRIED CHICKEN SAUTE 

This fabulous chicken curry is a very simple dish to make.  Cutting chicken breast meat into cubes or strips always renders it tender. In this case chicken strips are seasoned in a spice mixture and then lightly sautéed. 

It boasts a fabulous sauce of onion, aromatic spices, coconut milk, mango chutney, mint,  and orange juice. Quick and easy to make this fabulous curry always goes down a real treat with whoever I serve it to.  

We like it with rice and crisp poppadum's. Click on recipe title to go to the delicious recipe. 

STUFFED BUFFALO CHICKEN

This is a low carb entrée that will have everyone smacking their lips.  Chicken breasts are stuffed with a lush cheese filling.  This delicious filling combines cream cheese and cheddar cheese, and not a lot of each actually.  Just enough to keep the chicken nice and moist.   

Because the chicken is split the cook time in diminished and the splitting actually helps to keep the chicken tender and moist. If you are a fan of tender moist chicken, filled with flavour you are sure to love this!  Click on recipe title to go to the full recipe.

CRISPY SHEET PAN CHICKEN MILANESE

If you are a fan of sheet pan dinners, prepare yourself to fall in love.  This simple sheet pan dinner is composed of tender crispy coated chicken breasts, crisp buttery roasted potatoes, green beans, and sweet baby plum tomatoes all roasted together to perfection on one pan.

Simple to make, easy to clean up after, with incredibly wonderful Italian flavours. Click on recipe title to go to the full delicious recipe.

SOUR CREAM CHICKEN

Not sure how it works, but the addition of sour cream to this chicken dish always renders it beautifully moist and tender. Juicy and never dry.

Careful timing and the addition of layers of flavour are your friend.  In this dish the flavour comes from a tasty layering of textures and flavours. First the chicken, then a layer of cheese.

Finally some sour cream and herbs, before baking to perfection. This is quite simply scrumptious. See the full recipe by clicking on the recipe title above. 

 

SPICY CHICKEN BURGERS

Do you love chicken burgers as much as I do?  They are one of my favourite sandwiches to eat and when we are eating out in a burger place, I always, always have the chicken burger rather than the beef.

These spicy chicken burgers are exceptional. The chicken is marinated in a mix of beaten egg, oregano, chili powder, hot sauce and a bit of salt before coating in a fabulously tasty crumb made from pulverised tortilla chips.  

Baked to perfection and served in a toasted bun with a homemade coriander lime mayo and plenty of melted pepper Jack cheese, what's not to love!  See recipe link by clicking on the above recipe title. 

 

CHICKEN WITH A PESTO & MUSHROOM SAUCE

Perfectly cooked chicken with a luxurious velvety sauce. The rich and creamy sauce is flavoured with lemon and pesto and is meaty with plenty of sliced mushrooms.  I serve this with mixed vegetables and rice for a supper dish that always pleases.

You can amp up the pesto if that is a flavour you really enjoy. Myself I prefer the flavour to be more subtle rather than slap you in the face.  You can find this delicious recipe by clicking on the recipe title above.

GRILLED CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD

I think Caesar Salad is one of my absolute favourite salads, next to the Cobb Salad and when you add some grilled chicken it becomes even more so!  I create my own Montreal Chicken seasoning to coat the chicken with before grilling it.

The cooked chicken is sliced on the diagonal and served atop a bowl of tasty romaine lettuce, and adorned with little heart shaped garlic croutons, crisp bacon, and grated parmesan cheese before being drizzled with a lush caesar dressing 

Whats not to love?  See full recipe by clicking on the recipe title above.

CHICKEN STRIPS WITH HONEY & MUSTARD DIP

These chicken strips I am sharing are really, really good.  Nicely flavoured and spiced and made from real whole chicken breast which has been sliced into strips.  

Coated, fried to crisp perfection they are delicious served with a wonderful homemade honey and mustard sauce for dipping.  Easy peasy.  

For full recipe click on recipe title above. 

CRISPY LEMON CHICKEN

The sauce for these crisp, yet tender chicken breasts could not be any simpler . . . it uses only a few ingredients.  

Butter, garlic, cream, lemon juice and zest, and some grated Parmesan cheese. Simple. Rich and creamy, and yes . . .  something you would only want to make once in a blue moon as it is rather high in fat and calories  . . .  but oh boy, is it every tasty!

For the delicious recipe simply click on the recipe title above. 

 

GRILLED PEANUT CHICKEN

I love Asian flavours and I quite simply adore this Grilled Peanut Chicken!  This recipe is for a delicious marinade that you can make for marinating chicken.  You could also marinate other proteins, like pork, fish or even tofu in this tasty mixture. 

It is the perfect mix of salty and sweet.  The Asians do that combination so very well. I served it with some sesame noodles and broccoli for the win.

For the easy recipe click on the recipe title above.

HERB MARINATED CHICKEN BREASTS

This is a chicken marinade that I like to use which gives the chicken a really nice flavour. Its filled with lots of lovely chopped herbs, lemon and other seasonings that results in a well flavoured juicy piece of chicken.   

I often marinade chicken breasts and then cook them on my electric grill to have in the refrigerator for use in salads and sandwiches.  Click on the recipe title above to go to the simple and delicious recipe.

So now that you have a few recipes to tempt you as far as cooking chicken breasts go, here are some handy tips that you can apply every time you are cooking chicken breasts that will go a long ways towards preventing you from having dry and flavourless chicken even when you are cooking them in the simplest ways! 

1.  If you are cooking your chicken plain, it is always better to cook your chicken breasts with the skin on rather than it off.  The skin helps to protect the meat and keep it from drying out. You can always peel it off and discard after cooking if you don't want the extra calories. 

2. Chicken breasts can be a bit dry. This is because they are much leaner than other parts of the bird. A marinade, brine or rub goes a long way in adding flavor to the meat and keeping it moist. A basic salt and pepper rub is just fine if you want to keep things simple.

3.  Pounding chicken breasts with the flat side of a meat pounder always tenderises them a bit. Even if you are not going for larger flatter pieces of chicken, a bit of pounding helps to even out the pieces and breaks down the tissues a bit rendering that tiny bit more succulent.

4.  Keeping them all as much the same size as you can. You can do this by pounding, or by slicing them into smaller thinner pieces.  They will also cook faster this way.

5.  Overcooking.  This is the main culprit when it comes to producing chicken breasts which are dry and unpalatable. You need only cook them until the juices run clear. Bear in mind, that they will continue to cook when you remove them from the pan.  Let them rest, lightly covered for a few minutes and you will achieve perfection. 

So there you have it, my hints and tips towards chicken breast perfection and some of my most favourite ways of cooking it!