KFC Chicken Nuggets (Copycat Recipe)

I admit, I’ve never had the chicken nuggets from Kentucky Fried Chicken. I’ve always been more of a give-me-a-bucket-of-crispy-fried-chicken kind of guy. And usually the hot-and-spicy chicken at that. Well, I have been missing out all of these years if this copycat recipe of the KFC chicken nuggets are even remotely the same as the original. I mean seriously, they’re great. Which begs the question: how many nuggets could you order in the drive-thru before they started to look at you in a strange way? With these little yummies over-indulging is expected. I’m sure they’ve had people order a huge number without even blinking an eye.

If you’re afraid of how they might look at you when you order 100 nuggets next time you’re in the drive-thru, fear not. You can make 100 (or more at home) in no time, actually.

KFC Chicken Nuggets (Copycat Recipe)

Great Flavor In The Perfect Size

I guess if you were making this copycat recipe of KFC chicken nuggets for kids you might leave out the cayenne. I could barely detect it. It was there, enough to add flavor and maybe a hint of spiciness, but certainly not enough to burn or make my eyes water. Heck, for my tastes I’ll probably add more next time! Like I said, I like to get the hot chicken at the restaurant. So it’s not unusual for me to like to make my nuggets hot too!

See You Tomorrow

These nuggets reheat really well, keeping their flavor and texture. That’s another great reason to make extra. Personally, I think they reheat best in an air fryer. It heats them up quickly and keeps that crunch.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

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Also try my KFC bean salad.

Copycat KFC Chicken Nuggets
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3.20 from 5 votes

KFC Chicken Nuggets (Copycat Recipe)

These nuggets are seriously great. Which begs the question: how many nuggets could you order in the drive-thru before they started to look at you in a strange way?
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken nuggets, copycat, KFC
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 321kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oil to 350 F.
  • In a small bowl or pie plate, whisk together the flours, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne and baking powder.
  • In another small bowl or pie plate, whisk together the egg, milk and hot sauce.
  • Working in batches, dip the chicken into the egg mixture, then into the flour mixture, and back into the egg mixture and again the flour mixture. Double dipping will get you that fantastic crunchy coating.
  • Fry for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack-lined baking sheet to drain and cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Or sauces.

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 169mg | Sodium: 1319mg | Potassium: 587mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 527IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 182mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Cajun Fried Chicken Sandwich

Well, here we go again. Another dish that results in my tossing any semblance of self control right out of the window. This Cajun fried chicken sandwich is absolutely packed with flavor. The chicken is oh-my tender, juicy and even has just a bit of a kick. This is the kind of sandwich where you close your eyes before taking each bite. Only one thing matters, and that’s getting these yummies into your mouth. No need to look. Just take a bite! And another!

Cajun Fried Chicken Sandwich

Perfect, Every Single Bite

I tend to use boneless skinless chicken thighs when I make my Cajun fried chicken sandwich. You could use boneless skinless chicken breasts, if you desire. I just like the additional flavor from the thighs. Either way, make sure you pound them out and nice and thin, and more importantly, keep the meat the same thickness throughout. If you don’t it won’t cook as consistently and … it’ll look weird.

Make sure you drain the chicken pretty well after frying. You don’t have to fret over it big time, but get the worst of that oil off of it. A little of that oil is good to help flavor the slaw.

Pick Your Fryer

If it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money. You can also use a Dutch oven to deep-fry in.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

Amazon Basics 3.2-Qt (3.0L) Electric Deep Fryer…
  • FAST-HEATING & FAMILY-SIZE: This powerful…
  • ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE & VERSATILE COOKING: With…

Also try my Buffalo chicken sandwiches and my spicy fried chicken sandwich. In a hurry? My quick fix BBQ chicken sandwiches can be made in no time.

Cajun Fried Chicken Sandwich
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5 from 2 votes

Cajun Fried Chicken Sandwich

This Cajun fried chicken sandwich is absolutely packed with flavor. The chicken is oh-my tender, juicy and even has just a bit of a kick.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword Cajun, chicken, chicken sandwiches, crispy, deep-fried
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 hours 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 3685kcal

Ingredients

For the brine

For the batter

For the slaw

  • 1 12 ounce coleslaw with carrots
  • 2 green onions chopped
  • ¼ sweet onion minced
  • 1 jalapeno seeded, diced
  • ¼ cup Ranch dressing

For the sandwiches

Instructions

For the brine

  • Trim an excess fat from the chicken. Pound each piece flat. I like to put them in a one gallon baggie and then pound them so the chicken doesn't splatter.
  • Whisk together the buttermilk, dressing, and seasoning. Pour into a large resealable container. Add the chicken and seal.
  • Refrigerate overnight.

For the slaw

  • Combine all but the dressing in a large bowl.
  • Drizzle dressing over the top of the slaw and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to make the sandwiches,

For the batter

  • Heat 3" of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or heat a deep fryer filled with oil to 375 F.
  • Whisk together the batter ingredients in a pie pan or shallow bowl.
  • Remove chicken from the brine and shake off any excess. Transfer to the batter mixture and coat well, turning to get all sides.
  • Place chicken in the oil and fry until internal temperature is 160-165 F, turning once. If you pounded the chicken very thin it won't take long to cook, 2-3 minutes per side. The coating will turn a lovely golden brown when it's done.
  • Remove pieces to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain.

For the sandwiches

  • Toast the buns if you wish.
  • Add a piece of chicken to each bun and top with plenty of the slaw and few pickle slices.

Notes

These are also great without the slaw. Just add your favorite condiments.

Nutrition

Calories: 3685kcal | Carbohydrates: 324g | Protein: 152g | Fat: 201g | Saturated Fat: 41g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 581mg | Sodium: 16342mg | Potassium: 4005mg | Fiber: 30g | Sugar: 65g | Vitamin A: 9919IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 1825mg | Iron: 27mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Poor Man’s Lobster Roll

I dream about lobster rolls. Real ones. Loaded with lobster. I’ll take them with or without mayonnaise. My poor man’s lobster roll is not the real thing. It’s not supposed to be. But it is supposed to get as close to the flavor of the real thing without spending a lot of money. And for me, it works.

Poor Man's Lobster Roll

A Great Substitute For The Real Thing

My poor man’s lobster roll is enough to get me by until I can head to Caplinger’s Fresh Catch here in Indianapolis for a fresh lobster roll. But I can enjoy my imitation version without shame. I don’t even have to close the drapes so no one notices that I’m using imitation lobster! Heck, it’s tasty!

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

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Did you know that in some parts of the US McDonald’s has a lobster roll on their menu? Yep. So I made a copycat of that too!

Also try my copycat of Golden Corral’s crab salad.

Poor Man's Lobster Roll
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5 from 1 vote

Poor Man’s Lobster Roll

I dream about lobster rolls. Real ones. Loaded with lobster. I’ll take them with or without mayonnaise. My poor man’s lobster roll is not the real thing. It’s not supposed to be.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword imitation lobster, sandwich
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 473kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces imitation lobster chunky style
  • 1 teaspoon dried tarragon or more, to taste, crushed
  • 1 stalk celery diced
  • 1 medium lemon halved
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise more or less, to taste
  • Kosher salt
  • ground black pepper
  • 2 hot dog rolls split-top are best
  • ½ tablespoon salted butter melted
  • ½ tablespoon green onion sliced, for garnish

Instructions

  • Gently mix the lobster, tarragon, celery, juice of half of the lemon, mayonnaise together in a bowl.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir.
  • Brush the outside of the rolls with the butter and place under the broiler or into 350 F oven until lightly toasted.
  • Divide lobster mixture between the rolls. They'll be very full. That's good!
  • Garnish with green onions.

Notes

Serve with the remaining half lemon for juicing if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 1071mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Panko Fried Shrimp

Mmmmm. Crispy panko fried shrimp. If you ordered these little bites of yumminess at a restaurant how many would you get? Five? Six? That’s just not nearly enough. Not even close. They’re just too good to only eat a handful. They’re seasoned simply, fried quickly, and ready to devour before you know it. And there’s no shortage of great crunch, that’s for sure.

Panko Fried Shrimp

Blank Shrimp Need Not Apply

For a little extra ‘something’ I often sprinkle my panko fried shrimp with just a bit of Old Bay seasoning just before I serve them. Not too much seasoning. But enough that you get that wonderful seafood spice aroma and just a little of that great flavor. You don’t want to bury them in it. Try it and you’ll find yourself doing it too.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

Amazon Basics 3.2-Qt (3.0L) Electric Deep Fryer…
  • FAST-HEATING & FAMILY-SIZE: This powerful…
  • ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE & VERSATILE COOKING: With…

Also try my crispy fried shrimp.

Panko Fried Shrimp
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5 from 1 vote

Panko Fried Shrimp

Mmmmm. Crispy panko fried shrimp. If you ordered these little bites of yumminess at a restaurant how many would you get? Five? Six? That’s just not nearly enough.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword crispy, deep-fried, shrimp
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 379kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place shrimp in a large bowl. Season well with salt, pepper and seasoning salt.
  • Heat 3-4" of oil in a Dutch oven or deep fryer to 350 F.
  • Add panko to a pie plate or shallow dish.
  • Season with salt, pepper and seasoning salt and stir.
  • In a separate pie plate or shallow dish place the flour.
  • Season with salt, pepper and seasoning salt and stir.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the egg and water.
  • Dip the shrimp in the egg and water mixture and coat. Shake off excess.
  • Add the shrimp to the flour. Toss to coat. Shake off excess.
  • Dip again in egg and water mixture. Shake off excess.
  • Toss shrimp in panko crumbs. Coat well.
  • Working in batches if necessary, add shrimp to the hot oil and fry 3-4 minutes, turning once. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Serve with lemon wedges, cocktail sauce or tartar sauce.

Notes

Best served immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 522mg | Sodium: 1468mg | Potassium: 233mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 293mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Chicken or Pork Egg Rolls

As much as we both loved the filling in these chicken or pork egg rolls, let’s face it, it’s all about that crunch. Everyone loves egg rolls for the crispy, crunchy delicious fried wrappers. If the filling was the star we’d just make that and plop it on a plate and call it dinner. Instead, we wrap it in crazy addicting ‘blanket’ of yumminess. It’s really hard not to eat too many of these.

Chicken or Pork Egg Rolls

I Like A Bit Of A Kick

If you don’t want your chicken or pork egg rolls to have a bit of a kick, simply leave out the sriracha sauce. If you like the kick, but don’t have sriracha on hand, dried red pepper flakes are a great substitute. I think they need a bit of heat. It’s just another level of flavor in great bite after great bite.

If I’m feeding a crowd I’ll use my big deep fryer for these egg rolls. But if it’s just the two of us my go-to fryer is the Fry Daddy.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

Amazon Basics 3.2-Qt (3.0L) Electric Deep Fryer…
  • FAST-HEATING & FAMILY-SIZE: This powerful…
  • ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE & VERSATILE COOKING: With…

Make sure you let the egg rolls drain well after cooking. I like to stand them on end so that any extra oil drains out the end.

Also try my turkey and stuffing egg rolls.

Chicken or Pork Egg Rolls
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5 from 1 vote

Chicken or Pork Egg Rolls

Everyone loves egg rolls for the crispy, crunchy delicious fried wrappers. If the filling was the star we’d just make that and plop it on a plate and call it dinner.
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine American
Keyword egg rolls
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 288kcal

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup vegetable oil plus more for frying
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger minced
  • 1 cup celery finely chopped
  • 4 cups coleslaw mix
  • 1 pound ground chicken or pork
  • 6 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce plus more for serving if desired
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha more or less, to taste
  • 1 cup green onions chopped
  • 24 egg roll wrappers

Instructions

  • Heat 1/4 cup of oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium high heat.
  • Stir in the garlic, ginger, and celery. Saute for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not let the garlic burn.
  • Stir in the coleslaw mix. Saute for 5-10 minutes, stirring constantly, until the cabbage is wilted.
  • Crumble in the ground meat, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil and sriracha.
  • Stir fry until the meat is done, about 5 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat and stir in the green onions. Let cool slightly before assembling the egg rolls.
  • Get your egg rolling station ready. You'll want a small cup of warm water for dipping your fingers into.
  • Working in batches, place an egg roll in front of you with a point towards you, like a diamond. Dip your fingers in the water and wet the edges of the roll.
  • Place a tablespoon of the meat mixture on the roll just below the center, towards you. Grab the bottom point and fold it over the mixture. Fold in the sides and then roll the wrapper up towards the furthest tip. Press down on the sides and seams to seal.
  • Heat oil in a deep fryer (3" to deep fry) or pan (about 2" to shallow fry) to 350 F.
  • Working in batches, deep fry the rolls until golden brown and crispy, rotating to make sure all sides get fried.
  • Remove to a wire rack to drain and cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Serve with soy sauce and hot mustard.

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 982mg | Potassium: 479mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 226IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Beer Battered Shrimp and Fries

“I’ll have the beer battered shrimp and fries and… a side salad.” No. No one has ever said that. This isn’t a salad-on-the-side kind of dish. It’s seriously battered, deep-fried decadence, from start to finish. The shrimp are absolutely delicious. I could eat well…. ok, more than a few of them. And the fries? Insane. I opted to double-dip them. They ended up just amazing. Yeah, they’re definitely battered and then some. But they’re sooooo good and different! And huge! All that batter makes them gigantic I tell ya! This isn’t time to fill up on the salad. Save that for tomorrow!

If the double-battered monster fries scare you, they’re actually just as fantastic (or pretty much) single dipped. But really, we’re here for shrimp craziness. So do the double-dip and get ready for shrimp heaven.

Beer Battered Shrimp and Fries

So Crazy Good And Addicting

I used my little Fry Daddy when I made these beer battered shrimp and fries. I’m not sure I can recommend doing that. I mean, sure, they came out fantastic, but you can’t really fry a bunch of either the shrimp or the fries at once, so it’ll take you a while to make a mess of them. The battered shrimp and fries like to stick together, so you can’t crowd them. If you can, I’d recommend using a larger fryer or a Dutch oven. It’s that or do like I did and have a little patience. As a side note, you can munch on the first batch while the second batch is frying, so maybe having a small fryer is a good thing!

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

Amazon Basics 3.2-Qt (3.0L) Electric Deep Fryer…
  • FAST-HEATING & FAMILY-SIZE: This powerful…
  • ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE & VERSATILE COOKING: With…

Also try my blackened fried shrimp.

Beer Battered Shrimp and Fries
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5 from 1 vote

Beer Battered Shrimp and Fries

“I’ll have the beer battered shrimp and fries and… a side salad.” No. No one has ever said that. This isn’t a salad-on-the-side kind of dish. It’s seriously battered, deep-fried decadence, from start to finish.
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine American
Keyword deep-fried, fries, shrimp
Prep Time 6 hours
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 698kcal

Ingredients

For the shrimp

For the shrimp batter

For the fries

Instructions

For the shrimp (note the fries need to soak, so start them well before you plan on eating)

  • Place the shrimp in a bowl and lightly dust with flour. Stir gently to coat. You just want a light coating, so don't use too much flour.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper and the beer. You want the batter to be slightly thick, like a pancake batter. If it's too thick add a small amount of beer and whisk. Let stand for 15 minutes.
  • Heat oil in your deep fryer or Dutch oven to 350 F . If you have a small deep fryer like I do, I recommend warming your oven on the lowest setting so you can put the shrimp and fries in there to keep warm while you cook all of the batches.
  • Working in batches if needed, dip shrimp in the batter and coat completely. Transfer to the oil and fry for 2 minutes per side. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.

For the fries

  • Fill a large bowl with cold water.
  • Cut the potatoes into 1/4" sticks. I did not peel mine, but you can peel yours first if you desire.
  • Transfer the potatoes to the water and soak for at least 4 hours. Ideally, you'll want to drain and add fresh cold water every hour, but if you don't have the time, just soak for 4 hours.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the remaining ingredients except for the oil. You want a pancake batter-like consistency. If it's too thick, add a bit more of beer and whisk some more.
  • Heat oil in your deep fryer or Dutch oven to 350 F.
  • Working in batches, dip the fries in the batter and transfer to the hot oil. Fry for 5 minutes or until just golden but not done. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Note: If you're not double frying, you'll want to extend the fry time and cook the fries until golden brown and crispy.
  • Now it's time for the second fry if you're doing it. Again dip the fries in the batter and fry until golden brown and crispy, 3-5 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and season.

Notes

Grab some cocktail sauce and tartar sauce for dipping!

Nutrition

Calories: 698kcal | Carbohydrates: 120g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 286mg | Sodium: 3808mg | Potassium: 1239mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 971IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 235mg | Iron: 10mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Three Bean Two Meat Chili

When I had lunch last week at my favorite local BBQ joint, I was looking forward to two things. Well, one thing really but in two different ways. First, I was going to enjoy (devour is probably a better word for it) a nice big smoked brisket sandwich. And second I was going home with a pound of smoked brisket for this three bean two meat chili. I wanted that great tender beef with a nice smokiness, the perfect complement to my chili.

Three Bean Two Meat Chili

Meaty Deliciousness

My wife’s not a big fan of chunks of beef in her chili (or anywhere else for that matter) unless they are crazy tender. That’s why she absolutely loved this chili: both the ground beef and brisket were fall-apart delicious.

The Perfect Broth

The broth this chili makes it my favorite. It’s red and that means it’s going to be spicy thanks to plenty of cayenne. The chili powder and paprika don’t hurt either, that’s for sure. I could just drink it right out of the bowl.

I use my trusty, beloved Dutch oven to make this and any other chili. It has the best heat consistency and cleans up nice and easy.

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To make this a Texas-style chili just leave out the beans. I guess. Also try my Indiana chili.

Three Bean Two Meat Chili
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5 from 1 vote

Three Bean Two Meat Chili

The broth this chili makes it my favorite. It’s red and that means it’s going to be spicy thanks to plenty of cayenne. The chili powder and paprika don’t hurt either, that’s for sure. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beef, chili
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings 8 -10 servings
Calories 266kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from The Food Network

Equipment

Ingredients

  • olive oil
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 4 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin Note: My wife doesn't care much for cumin, so I used just about 1/2 tablespoon. Use more or less, to taste
  • 4 tablespoons cayenne Note: This makes for a mighty hot chili. If you like your chili milder, start with 1 tablespoon of cayenne and go from there.
  • 4 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 pound smoked brisket cut into small cubes (I picked up a pound of brisket from one of my favorite BBQ joints. You can also use leftover smoked brisket.)
  • 1 pound ground beef browned and drained
  • 1 16 ounce black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 16 ounce red beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 16 ounce dark red kidney beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 16 ounce diced tomatoes with juices
  • 1 16 ounce petite diced tomatoes with juices

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until just soft, 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the chili powder, cumin, cayenne and paprika. Stir to coat the onion and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the remaining ingredients. Stir well.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover and continue simmering for 1 hour.

Notes

The spices in this chili are meant to be pretty aggressive, and they are. You may want to start with half the amounts stated, taste and adjust from there. Since all of the meats you are adding are already cooked you can taste/adjust to your liking.

Nutrition

Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 153mg | Potassium: 534mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2396IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Big Daddy’s Kick’n Chicken Salad

I love chicken salad sandwiches. But this, Big Daddy’s Kick’n chicken salad, is different than any I’ve had. It’s outrageously good. Although there’s a lot of ‘normal’ chicken salad ingredients in it, there are some really unique flavors too. Like jalapeno. Chicken salad needed a bit of heat (not too much, mind you), and the jalapeno adds just the right amount. You’ll find nuts in a lot of recipes, but roasted pistachios really add a different flavor. In fact, I actually ended up adding smoked pistachios, which were incredible. And there’s chili sauce too! What??? In chicken salad??? Yes! Oh yes!

Big Daddy's Kick'n Chicken Salad

A Great Go-To Recipe

The recipe for Big Daddy’s Kick’n chicken salad (courtesy Aaron McCargo) is spot-on great. I wouldn’t change a thing except to triple the amounts because it’ll disappear in no time at all. This will be our go-to chicken salad recipe for now on, that’s for sure!

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For…
  • Real Mayonnaise Made Like Homemade: Time-honored…
  • A History of Delicious: Our simple…

Also try my spicy chicken salad.

Big Daddy's Kick'n Chicken Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Big Daddy’s Kick’n Chicken Salad

I love chicken salad sandwiches. But this, Big Daddy’s Kick’n chicken salad, is different than any I’ve had. It’s outrageously good. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken salad, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 606kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the chicken salad

  • 3 cups cooked chicken chopped or shredded, as desired
  • 4 large jalapenos seeded, diced
  • ½ cup red onion diced
  • ½ cup pistachios roasted, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons roasted garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 medium lemon juiced
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 2 tablespoons green onions green parts only, sliced
  • kosher salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste

For the sandwich

  • 12 slices bread or use split large croissants
  • green leaf lettuce
  • tomato sliced

Instructions

For the chicken salad

  • Combine all ingredients, seasoning to taste.

For the sandwich

  • Place lettuce and tomato on half of the bread slices.
  • Divide the chicken salad between the sandwiches and add the top bread slice. Serve.

Notes

There’s a lot of ingredients. But the effort is more than worth it!

Nutrition

Calories: 606kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 612mg | Potassium: 467mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 334IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Blackened Chicken Fingers

Come here, my little bites of yumminess! These blackened chicken fingers are scary good. Scary as in there’s no way I was able to control myself around them. Pick up one, dunk it in my favorite dipping sauce, devour. Repeat.

If you’re a fan of the spicy like I am, I highly recommend adding more of the blackened seasoning. And for even more of that great flavor, dust the chicken fingers with a bit more of the seasoning right after they come out of the fryer.

And yes, this recipe also makes great blackened chicken nuggets!

Blackened Chicken Fingers

Great Flavor, Everywhere!

I’m a big fan of adding seasonings (and not just salt and pepper) to my flour when I am making fried goodies like these blackened chicken fingers. You’ll often find me adding Old Bay (crazy good on fried chicken!), cayenne pepper, or even any ole mix I find in the pantry.

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  • It’s not all about one-note black pepper in this…
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If I’m cooking for a crowd, I’ll break out my big deep fryer. But, if it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

Amazon Basics 3.2-Qt (3.0L) Electric Deep Fryer…
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Also try my homemade chicken nuggets. Like them spicy? Yeah, make my spicy chicken nuggets too.

Blackened Chicken Fingers
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5 from 1 vote

Blackened Chicken Fingers

Come here, my little bites of yumminess! These blackened chicken fingers are scary good. Scary as in there’s no way I was able to control myself around them. Pick up one, dunk it in my favorite dipping sauce, devour. Repeat.
Course Appetizer or Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken fingers, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 352kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a few inches of oil to 350 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Place the chicken strips in a bowl and sprinkle with two teaspoons of the blackened seasoning. Toss to coat.
  • In a medium bowl or pie plate combine the flour and remaining blackened seasoning.
  • In another medium bowl or pie plate, whisk together the egg, milk, and hot sauce.
  • Working in batches, dip the chicken pieces in the flour mixture and coat well. Transfer to the egg mixture and coat. Transfer back to the flour mixture and coat one last time.
  • Fry 5-6 minutes until golden brown and crunchy. The thicker your fingers are the longer they may take. Bigger pieces may take longer than 6 minutes.
  • Transfer to a wire rack-lined baking sheet to drain and cool slightly before serving.

Notes

Best served with Ranch dressing for dipping!

Nutrition

Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 203mg | Sodium: 1358mg | Potassium: 718mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 214IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Amazon Basics 3.2-Qt (3.0L) Electric Deep Fryer…
  • FAST-HEATING & FAMILY-SIZE: This powerful…
  • ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE & VERSATILE COOKING: With…

Oh Boy Po Boy

This is not the first time I’ve said it: The messier a sandwich looks, the better it’ll be. Just one glance and you know that this Oh Boy Po Boy is nothing but crazy good. And mighty messy. Like ‘get a bib’ messy. Blackened boneless chicken thighs, tender and as juicy as you can get. Roasted red bell peppers. Caramelized onions. And yes, cheese sauce. And lots of it. Oh heck of a lot of cheese sauce. More if you want more, it’s your sandwich. Heck, serve it with more cheese sauce on the side for dipping. No one is going to judge you.

Oh Boy Po Boy

A Few Thoughts…

The chicken can be cooked on the stovetop or on a grill. For the red bell peppers I’ve found myself using jarred deli strips more and more which are always in season, are reasonably priced and contain no preservatives. They make for a great shortcut. I also like to chop the peppers and add them to omelets. Or just put them on burgers on grilled hot dogs. They’re lightly sweet and are great on fattier (I mean juicier) meaty dishes.

You can substitute store-bought blackened seasoning if you want. I like making it home so I can control the salt. Actually, mine contains no salt!

Mezzetta Roasted Red Bell Peppers, 16 Ounce
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Also try my ham and Swiss po boy.

Oh Boy Po Boy
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5 from 1 vote

Oh Boy Po Boy

This is not the first time I’ve said it: The messier a sandwich looks, the better it’ll be. Just one glance and you know that this Oh Boy Po Boy is nothing but crazy good. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword sandwich
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 1 sandwich
Calories 728kcal

Ingredients

Blackening seasoning

Instructions

  • Warm bread in the oven.
  • Meanwhile, toss the thighs with a splash of oil and blackening seasoning, to taste. I recommend that you not be shy with the seasoning. Get the chicken well-coated.
  • Heat a medium skillet over high heat and add the chicken.
  • Cook, stirring often, until chicken is done and measures 165 F.
  • Remove from heat, let cool slightly then slice into thin strips. Keep warm.
  • Add the onion to the skillet with a splash of oil and saute for 20-30 minutes or until caramelized. Remove and keep warm.
  • Wipe out the skillet, reduce heat to medium and add the cheese.
  • Melt, stirring occasionally.
  • Assemble sandwich by adding sliced chicken, peppers, onions, cheese.
  • Serve with plenty of napkins.

Blackening seasoning

  • Combine all ingredients.
  • Store extra seasoning in an air-tight container.

Notes

You can also grill the chicken after tossing it with the oil and seasoning.

Nutrition

Calories: 728kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 245mg | Sodium: 1500mg | Potassium: 1099mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2361IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 540mg | Iron: 10mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Sale
Mueller Pro-Series All-in-One, 12 Blade Mandoline…
  • Meal Prep MVP – A practical and innovative way to…
  • 12 Diverse Blades – With nine interchangeable…
OXO Good Grips 4 Piece Stainless Steel Measuring…
  • Set includes: 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup and 1 cup
  • Magnetic handles keep Cups together for storage…