Pizza Chicken Skillet
Pizza Chicken Skillet
I had a busy day and needed something fast for dinner. I also hate doing dishes so the idea of a one pot meal was very appealing. I looked at what I had on hand and this is the dish I came up with. I started with some basics, browned onion and chicken in a skillet. I also had some fresh tomatoes and peppers and pizza seasoning so it all came together quite nicely. By adding some chicken stock and pasta I was able to finish it all together in the same skillet. It was wonderful just the way it was- but you could top it with shredded cheese, if you like.
Pizza Chicken Skillet
1 T. oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 chicken, cut up
4 c. chopped fresh tomatoes
1 sweet pepper, seeded and diced
3 c. chicken stock- you might need a little more*
2 t. pizza seasoning
8 oz. uncooked pasta- I used rotini**
salt and pepper to taste
In large skillet brown onion in oil. add chicken pieces and brown on both sides. Add tomatoes to skillet and cook a few minutes more. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and bring to a simmer. Place lid on skillet and cook over medium low heat for about 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked. Add pasta and cook, covered, about 12 minutes longer, or until pasta is cooked. Stir from time to time to prevent sticking and to see if you need more stock. Time will vary depending on which pasta you choose. Adjust seasonings and serve as is or with cheese on top. Serves 4.
* Depending on how juicy your tomatoes are you might need a little more stock. I wanted to have some sauce with the dish so I liked the amount of stock I used.
** You could use more pasta just add more stock.
Honey Mustard Chicken
Honey Mustard Chicken
I wanted to add the flavor of honey mustard dipping sauce into chicken I was making the other night. I thought it would be neater to eat the chicken with the sauce already in it as opposed to dipping it and having it be messy. No matter how careful I am I always drip on myself. It worked really well.
I decided to try to do that by using the dipping sauce ingredients as a marinade and then as the base for breading the chicken. I had about 1 1/2 pounds of boneless chicken thighs. I think the thighs stay juicier, but you could use breasts if you prefer or even bone-in chicken but cooking times would be longer.
Here is the marinade recipe
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. whole grain mustard
2 T. honey
salt and pepper to taste
I combined the marinade ingredients and put the chicken in it and put the whole thing in the fridge for a couple of hours. When I was ready to cook the chicken I preheated the oven to 425 degrees. I put some breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl and dredged the chicken pieces in the breadcrumbs one at a time and placed the breaded chicken on a baking sheet. I drizzled the tiniest amount of oil over the chicken and placed it in the oven to bake. I cooked the chicken for about 30 minutes, turning it over after 15 minutes. I checked one of the thicker pieces after 30 minutes for doneness and we were good to go. The chicken tasted just like the honey-mustard dipping sauce I was looking for without the mess. It was moist and juicy on the inside but had browned very nicely on the outside. May try this soon with barbecue sauce.
Easy Chicken Nuggets-Baked!!
Easy Chicken Nuggets
This might be a nice choice for kids to make for Mom. Easy to make and so much better than what is served at fast food places. I often make a big batch and freeze some for later.
Chicken Nuggets
1 egg
3 T. milk
1 t. dried parsley
1/2 t. paprika
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/4 t. garlic powder
1 lb. boneless chicken, cubed into 1-inch pieces
bread crumbs- about a cup
oil
Combine egg with milk and seasonings in a bowl and mix with a fork until smooth. Add the chicken to the egg mixture and stir to coat well. Using a fork remove the chicken pieces and drop in the breadcrumbs, rolling to coat evenly. Place breaded chicken pieces on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a little oil and place in a preheated 450 degree oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until juices run clear and chicken is cooked. Serve with barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce, honey mustard or whatever dipping sauces you like. Serves 3-4.
To freeze for later use you can freeze raw or cooked- I prefer to freeze the nuggets raw and cook when needed. Place nuggets on a baking sheet and place in freezer until hard. Place in freezer container. When using frozen uncooked nuggets- bake in a 425 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.
Chicken with Pasta
Chicken with Pasta
Simple can be so good. When I am pressed for time I often go to skillet meals. Something I can make quickly with plenty of flavor and not too much clean up afterwards. This chicken and pasta dish is one of my favorites. Great when I have company for dinner and I need a nice dinner- pronto.
Chicken with Pasta
8 ounces dry penne pasta
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 c. chicken broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into cubes
1 onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes- I had home-canned tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 cup medium-dry white wine
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and reserve pasta Whisk the cornstarch and chicken broth together in a bowl until smooth. Set aside until needed.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chicken; stir and cook until the chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear, about 10 minutes. Stir in the onion, and pepper; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth mixture, oregano, basil, and wine, if desired. Stir in the cooked pasta, and simmer over medium heat until thoroughly heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese. Serves 4-5.
