Tag: chicken

Copycat Boston Market Tuscan Herb Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

This copycat Boston Market Tuscan Herb chicken is exactly why I bought my Char-Broil Big Easy: crazy good chicken. Sure, I cook a lot of things on my Big Easy, but it cooks poultry like you’ve never had. Perfect every time and easy as you can possibly get. These split chicken breasts were packed with herb flavor. The skin was insanely crunchy and soooo tasty. And oh so moist meat. This may be the best chicken I’ve ever made.

Copycat Boston Market Tuscan Herb Chicken on the Char-B roil Big Easy

Any Chicken Cuts Will Do

You can use skin-less chicken breasts if you prefer, just rub the herb mixture over the meat. The original recipe was for a whole chicken, which you could also do. But make sure you check the meat temperatures in several places before removing the full bird from the cooker. I prefer split chicken breasts when I make this copycat of Boston Market Tuscan herb chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy..

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Also try my KFC roasted chicken and my citrus herb marinaded chicken, cooked up easy and delicious on the Big Easy.

It’s always a good idea to keep a few spare grease trays on hand for your Char-Broil Big Easy.

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Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and all 3 of my huge free Big Easy eCookbooks!

Copycat Boston Market Tuscan Herb Chicken on the Char-B roil Big Easy
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Copycat Boston Market Tuscan Herb Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy

This copycat Boston Market Tuscan Herb chicken is exactly why I bought my Char-Broil Big Easy: crazy good chicken. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword Big Easy, Char-Broil, chicken
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 271kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Fire up your Big Easy. Spray the basket with non-stick spray.
  • Using your fingers, carefully separate the skin from the chicken meat, creating a pocket between the skin and breast.
  • Combine the oil and the basil, oregano, rosemary and garlic.
  • Rub the mixture between the skin and meat. Be generous with it.
  • Salt and pepper the outsides of the breasts.
  • Place into the Big Easy cooker and cook until the breast meat reaches 165 F. Depending on conditions and the size of the chicken breasts, plan on 10-15 minutes per pound.
  • Remove and devour.

Notes

You’ll need the Char-Broil Big Easy Bunk Bed Basket if you want to cook more than 2 split chicken breasts at a time.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1197mg | Potassium: 874mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 102IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

My wife and I really enjoyed the flavors of this super-simple chicken Cordon Bleu casserole. Tender chicken with a bit of ham and crunchy breadcrumb topping. And of course that wonderful Dijon mustard flavor in a creamy cheesy sauce. This is the perfect quick and easy meal for a cool late-winter evening.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Use Thin Chicken Cuts

I prefer to butterfly chicken breasts in just about any recipe where I need them. They cook up more evenly, and a bit quicker. And I like the texture better. I like a big ole thick beef steak, but that’s about the only time I need my meat cut thick. For chicken, I think thinner is better.

Spice It Up

If I’m feeling adventurous the next time I make this chicken Cordon Bleu casserole I might try a little twist or two. Maybe use pepper jack cheese instead of Swiss for a nice kick to the sauce. Or maybe add a pinch or two of cayenne in with the breadcrumbs. Oh, this dish is great as it is, but I hardly ever pass up the opportunity to add some heat.

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Also try my paprika chicken with sour cream gravy.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

 Tender chicken with a bit of ham, crunchy breadcrumb topping, and of course that wonderful Dijon mustard flavor in a creamy cheesy sauce. This is the perfect quick and easy meal for a cool late-winter evening.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword casserole, chicken, ham
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6
Calories 556kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

For the casserole

  • 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless, butterflied
  • 8-10 slices deli sandwich meat ham, thin
  • 1 ½ cups Swiss cheese shredded
  • 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

For the sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 F.
  • Spray a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Layer chicken in the bottom of the dish.
  • Top the chicken with the ham sandwich meat and sprinkle with the Swiss cheese.
  • In a bowl, combine the Panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
  • Sprinkle the Panko mixture over the top of the chicken.
  • Drizzle with the melted butter and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the chicken is done and the Panko has started to brown. Place under the broiler for a minute or two to brown further if desired.
  • Serve with sauce.

For the sauce

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
  • Whisk in the flour and cook for 3 minutes.
  • Whisk in the milk and broth.
  • Continue whisking until the sauce thickens.
  • Whisk in the mustard, Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper and serve.

Notes

Substitute a little pepper jack for some of the Swiss for a little kick.

Nutrition

Calories: 556kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 51g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 180mg | Sodium: 1092mg | Potassium: 794mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 707IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 325mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Chipotle Shake’N Bake

It has been a long, long time since I have made Shake’N Bake pork chops. They were a staple in my bachelor days. I also recall my mom making Shake’N Bake chicken or pork chops back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Honestly, I’d forgotten all about it until the other day when I came across a copycat recipe for Shake’N Bake. I instantly flashed back to the pork chops of years passed, and thought… boy, I really need to make those again. So I made the copycat of the mixture, but of course I had to add my own little twist. That twist came in the form of great, spicy smoky chipotle powder. What a great addition. I so loved these chipotle Shake’N Bake pork chops.

Chipotle Shake'N Bake

Smoky Spicy Greatness

Don’t go crazy adding the seasoning to this chipotle Shake’N Bake. You want just enough to get a hint of smokiness. A hint of heat. Subtle is what you are after and that’s what you’ll ended up with. If you want less subtle and enjoy curry, try my curry Shake’N Bake. My lowcountry smothered pork chops are a true treat too!

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My favorite way to use chipotle Shake’N Bake is on pork chops cooked in my Big Easy.

Chipotle Shake'N Bake
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Chipotle Shake’N Bake

Don't go crazy adding the seasoning to this chipotle Shake’N Bake. I wanted just enough to get a hint of smokiness. A hint of heat. Subtle is what I was after and that’s what I ended up with. 
Course Seasoning Mix
Cuisine American
Keyword pork chops, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 3 cups
Calories 616kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Copycat Shake’N Bake

Instructions

Copycat Shake’N Bake

  • Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
  • Add the oil and stir until the lumps are all gone.
  • Store in an air-tight container for up to 2 months until ready to use.

For pork chops

  • Preheat oven to 425 F.
  • Rinse chops and pat dry.
  • Working in batches, transfer chops to a resealable bag.
  • Add chipotle Shake’n Bake mix.
  • Seal and shake to coat chops.
  • Shake off excess coating and transfer chops to a foil-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until done.

For chicken

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Working in batches, transfer chicken pieces to a resealable bag.
  • Add chipotle Shake’n Bake mix.
  • Seal and shake to coat chicken.
  • Shake off excess coating and transfer chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes for bone-in chicken or 20 minutes for boneless chicken until done.

Notes

Always stir before using.

Nutrition

Calories: 616kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Sodium: 3161mg | Potassium: 338mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1095IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 226mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Ragin’ Cajun Beer Can Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

I could not be more delighted with this Ragin’ Cajun Beer can chicken that I made on the Char-Broil Big Easy. I’ve made tons (literally) of chicken on my Big Easy, the best poultry cooker around. But for some reason I’ve neglected to try beer can chicken on it. Well, let me tell you, this is flat-out great. Crazy moist. Even moister than the Big Easy usually does, which is pretty darned moist. And flavor? Incredible. Just incredible. And crunchy skin. A big bonus!

Ragin Cajun Beer Can Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy

The holder

I picked up a Char-Broil folding chicken roaster to help make this Ragin’ Cajun beer can chicken and am I ever glad I did. It made making beer can chicken an absolute breeze. You simply insert a standard 12 ounce beer can (along with any flavorings you want) into the center of the holder then fold up the ‘arms’. The can is locked into place, which is a great thing if you’ve ever made beer can chicken before. The cans can be flimsy and crush or spill. This holder solves that problem and then some. The chicken then slides down over the holder and beer can. Easy. Very easy.

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The basket

I used a turkey basket (which has a door for easy access), but the basket that comes with your Big Easy works just fine too. You can see the can sticking out of the bottom of the chicken in the picture above.

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For something different, try my beer can cabbage on the Big Easy. It’s different for sure! And on the off chance that you have leftover chicken, beer can chicken jambalaya is a great way to use it up! If you want to skip the beer can but still have that great beer can chicken flavor, try my beer can seasoned chicken. For the real deal, though, also try my Honey Brown beer can chicken!

It’s always a good idea to keep a few spare grease trays on hand for your Char-Broil Big Easy.

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Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and all 3 of my huge free Big Easy eCookbooks!

Ragin' Cajun Beer Can Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Ragin’ Cajun Beer Can Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy

I could not be more delighted with this Ragin’ Cajun Beer can chicken that I made on the Char-Broil Big Easy.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beer can, Big Easy, Char-Broil, chicken
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 480kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Steven Raichlen

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Rinse the chicken in cold water. Transfer to a resealable bag or container.
  • Whisk together 1 can of beer and the liquid smoke. Add to the container of chicken. Seal and refrigerate for 45 minutes, turning every 15 minutes to marinade the chicken.
  • Fire up your Big Easy.
  • Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry.
  • Rub the chicken down with a bit of oil, getting in every nook and cranny.
  • Combine the Old Bay and Cajun seasonings.
  • Rub half of the seasonings all over the outside and inside of the chicken.
  • Open the remaining beer and take a few good swigs. Then add the remaining rub to the beer can. Put your finger over the opening and shake a bit to combine.
  • Place the beer can in the holder, if using. Latch it in.
  • Carefully slide the chicken over the beer can.
  • Transfer the chicken to a Char-Broil Big Easy basket and lower into the cooker.
  • Cook until the chicken is done, reading 175 F in multiple places using an instant-read thermometer.
  • Let rest 15 minutes before carving.

Notes

You’ll want to use a Char-Broil folding roaster to make this even easier. Place inside a Big Easy basket (NOT directly on the bottom of the cooker!) and get to cooking!

Nutrition

Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 482mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1637IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

Incredible flavor. Incredibly tender. Fantastic aroma. This slow cooker Mexican chicken has knocked my long-time easy go-to beef taco mixture off the podium and replaced it at #1. And rightfully so.

This is the perfect mixture for tacos, nachos, burritos, chimichangas, you name it. Anything. Heck you can throw it on a bun and serve it as a sandwich. Or add it to a grilled cheese sandwich for something totally different.

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

Tender Juicy Deliciousness

I prefer using fire-roasted green chiles and tomatoes in dishes like this slow cooker Mexican chicken. The roasting adds so much more flavor to the vegetables. I leave it up to you if you want to drain the tomatoes. I added the juices in since I wanted to make sure the chicken stayed very moist. You can keep the juices and actually eat this as a soup. Just add some cheese and tortilla strips, and maybe a dollop of sour cream.

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Also try my baked smothered chicken burritos!

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
Print Pin
4 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

This is the perfect mixture for tacos, nachos, burritos, chimichangas, you name it. Anything. Heck you can throw it on a bun and serve it as a sandwich. Or add it to a grilled cheese sandwich for something totally different.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, crockpot, Mexican, slow cooker
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 338kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Carlsbad Cravings

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Rub the chicken with the oil and place into a slow cooker set on low.
  • In a large bowl stir together the remaining ingredients. Pour over the chicken and cover.
  • Cook for 7 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Carefully remove chicken (it should be falling apart tender at this point) to a cutting board and shred or chop as desired.
  • Return to the slow cooker and cook another hour, stirring occasionally.
  • Depending on the dish, you may want to drain the chicken before using.

Notes

Serve on tacos, tortillas or nachos.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1442mg | Potassium: 1032mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1037IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Fire-Eater Chicken Meatballs

I was looking for something a little different for an appetizer to serve for the Super Bowl. I’ve done the beef and pork meatballs, and those are great, but I wanted something new. I thought, let’s try chicken and turkey meatballs instead. But let’s make sure they aren’t bland. These fire-eater chicken meatballs are definitely not bland. They are tender and tasty by themselves, but made even more perfect with a kicked-up dipping sauce that also has a bit of sweetness to it.

Fire-Eater Chicken Meatballs

Meatball Sandwiches, Anyone?

I am definitely going to use the meatballs in other dishes. I’m already planning to make meatball sandwiches with them. A hoagie bun, a few fire-eater chicken meatballs, a little of the sauce and some melted habanero cheese and I’m happy! Or, serve them over pasta with a spicy Alfredo sauce (made spicy by adding it a bit of the sauce).

Did you know you can buy a tool to help you make a big ole batch of meatballs in just minutes? People think of everything!

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I used my fire-eater spice rub to give the meatballs and the sauce a great kick. You can substitute any spicy mix you like. Just don’t be shy with it. Also try my sweet-and-spicy meatballs.

Fire-Eater Chicken Meatballs
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Fire-Eater Chicken Meatballs

These fire-eater chicken meatballs are definitely not bland. They are tender and tasty by themselves, but made even more perfect with a kicked-up dipping sauce that also has a bit of sweetness to it.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Main
Keyword chicken, meatballs, spicy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 20 meatballs
Calories 169kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Little Spice Jar

Equipment

Ingredients

For the meatballs

For the sauce

Instructions

For the meatballs

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Place the meatball ingredients into a large bowl and mix well.
  • Form into balls. Depending on how you want to serve them, make smaller or bigger balls. The cook time is for balls that are golf ball-sized so you might want to adjust the cook time depending on how large you make yours.
  • Place balls onto the baking sheets. Do not crowd them.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until they reach 165 F internal temperature.
  • Brush the meatballs with a bit of the sauce and return to the oven for 2-3 more minutes to ‘set’ the sauce.
  • Serve with more sauce on the side for dipping if serving as appetizers.

For the sauce

  • While the meatballs are cooking, place all of the sauce ingredients into a medium saucepan.
  • Bring to boil then reduce to a simmer, whisking often, until the sauce thickens.
  • Remove from heat until ready to use.

Notes

Also great on sub sandwiches!

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 379mg | Potassium: 300mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 43IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken

My wife reminded me of this recipe the other day. It was a favorite of ours years ago, when we started our first blog, Crossroads Of America. I was just starting to learn how to cook. This recipe for slow cooker creamy Italian chicken was simple enough for me to not mess up. But it’s still great tasting and looking. Over the years I’ve changed it up a bit. That same great creamy texture and Italian flavor is still there, though. As simple as it is, it’s a great recipe. I still make it now even though I sure have cooked a lot since starting our first blog so many years ago.

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken

Customizable Tastes

The original recipe for slow cooker creamy chicken calls for using a packet of Italian salad dressing mix. And that’s perfectly fine. Since first making this dish I have come up with my own mix. I think it has a bit more flavor. Making your own also lets you adjust the flavors to your tastes. For me that means adding more garlic salt or onion powder, or just more basil (I love basil).

I like to serve this over rice or pasta. With lots of the sauce.

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Also try my slow cooker Buffalo chicken sliders.

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken
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5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken

 This recipe for slow cooker creamy Italian chicken was simple enough for me to not mess up, but still great tasting and looking. Over the years I’ve changed it up a bit, but that same great creamy texture and Italian flavor is still there.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, creamy, crockpot, Italian, slow cooker
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 481kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Taste of Home

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place chicken into slow cooker set to low.
  • Combine the dressing mix and water and pour over the chicken.
  • Cover and cook for 3 hours.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the mushrooms and sauté until just starting to soften. Remove and let cool slightly.
  • In a large bowl combine the cream cheese and canned soup. Whisk until smooth.
  • Fold in the mushrooms and pour mixture over chicken.
  • Cover and cook another hour or until chicken is done.

Notes

If you use thicker chicken breasts you may need more cooking time. Slice them thin or butterfly them for a quicker cooking time.
You can substitute 1 1/2 pounds fresh chicken tenders for the breasts.

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 207mg | Sodium: 536mg | Potassium: 1276mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 838IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Nashville Hot Chicken

There’s good and then there’s great. Nothing beats Nashville hot chicken when it comes to great fried chicken. The best, light, crunchy coating that you can imagine. Tender, moist chicken. And of course, heat. Plenty of heat. I could make and eat Nashville hot chicken any day of the week.

Nashville Hot Chicken

I Dream Of This Chicken

Because I prefer chicken wings over say, split chicken breasts, I used wings for this dish. They were crazy good. No need for blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce, either. Just pick them up and get to eating.

Nice And Spicy

I don’t recommend being too shy with the spicy coating that you brush on the chicken just before serving. It’s hot, trust me, but I didn’t find it to be so hot that I couldn’t stand it. But don’t get me wrong, your eyes will water. At the minimum.

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.

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You’ll find that the coating is so good you’ll want to use it for other things, like chicken nuggets or fingers.

Also try my Nashville hot pickles.

Nashville Hot Chicken
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Nashville Hot Chicken

There’s good and then there’s great. Nothing beats Nashville hot chicken when it comes to great fried chicken. The best, light, crunchy coating that you can imagine. Tender, moist chicken. And of course, heat. Plenty of heat. I could make and eat Nashville hot chicken any day of the week.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, deep-fried, spicy
Prep Time 12 hours
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 12 hours 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 532kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

For the dry brine

For the dip

For the dredge

For frying

For the spicy coating

For serving

Instructions

For the dry brine

  • Season chicken and place into a baggie or resealable container.
  • Seal and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.

For the dip

  • Whisk together the milk, eggs and hot sauce in a pie pan or shallow bowl.

For the dredge

  • Whisk together the flour and salt in a pie pan or shallow bowl.

For frying

  • Heat a few inches of oil (enough to cover the chicken) in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 325 F.
  • Working in batches, dredge the chicken in the flour. Shake off excess.
  • Dip chicken into the milk mixture. Shake off the excess.
  • Return the chicken to the flour and dredge again. Shake off excess.
  • Transfer chicken to the hot oil and fry until done (165 F internal temperature), flipping occasionally, 10-15 minutes.
  • Place on a rack to cool and drain. (I kept my chicken in a hot warming drawer while I finished cooking the rest of the chicken.)

For the spicy coating

  • When you're done frying the chicken, ladle 1/2 cup of the hot oil into a small saucepan and whisk in the spicy coating ingredients.
  • Brush mixture over the chicken. The more you brush on, the hotter it’ll be.

For serving

  • Serve with dill pickle and white bread slices, if desired.

Notes

Use your favorite chicken cuts.

Nutrition

Calories: 532kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 3593mg | Potassium: 532mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 958IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 210mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Mambo Chicken Wings

Visit my other site, For The Wing, for all things chicken-wing!

It’s amazing how many great chicken wing recipes there are. Everything from the mild to the sweet to the volcanic hot. That’s why I love them, I can have a different flavor every day. Well, almost every day. I don’t actually eat wings every day, although I’m sure I could and never ever get bored with them.

Mambo Chicken Wings

I recently stumbled upon Mambo sauce (among many other great recipes) on a blog by Levy Restaurants, a family of different restaurants around the US. Of course, I thought “Now, here’s something different. A tomato-based wing sauce with Asian flavors. I gotta try it!” So I did, and boy, was I happy I that did.

Mambo sauce, like many great wing sauces, is a combination of sweet (a little pineapple and sugar) and acid (white vinegar and hot sauce), and the best part, a bit of heat (thank you Frank’s RedHot!). You’ll start out thinking you’re having a teriyaki-inspired wing, and finish up thinking you had a Buffalo wing. It’s great, like a journey of flavors.

According to the Levy Restaurant’s blog, Mambo sauce is also great on fries. That seems like a great idea. So does using it as a steak marinade.

I store my homemade sauces in squeeze bottles. If refrigerated, I set them out thirty minutes to an hour before using so they come to room temperature. You don’t want to put cold sauce on hot food!
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Also try Moore’s Buffalo Blue Cheese Buffalo wing sauce.

Mambo Chicken Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Mambo Chicken Wings

Mambo sauce, like many great wing sauces, is a combination of sweet (a little pineapple and sugar) and acid (white vinegar and hot sauce), and the best part, a bit of heat (thank you Frank’s RedHot!).
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword wings
Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 2294kcal
Author Sauce based on a recipe from Levy Restaurants

Equipment

Ingredients

For the wings

For the Mambo sauce

Instructions

For the wings

For the Mambo sauce

  • Place all ingredients into a small saucepan and simmer, stirring, for 20 minutes.

Notes

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 2294kcal | Carbohydrates: 130g | Protein: 140g | Fat: 132g | Saturated Fat: 44g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 566mg | Sodium: 1731mg | Potassium: 2025mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 120g | Vitamin A: 2085IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 10mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Parmesan Chicken Zoodles

This absolutely fantastic pasta-free dish reminds me of one we made years ago, but with pasta. It has all the great flavors, but uses zoodles (zucchini noodles) instead. I recently picked up a zoodler (spiralizer… spiral slicer… I’ve been making up names for it as I go), and just love how they are such a great low-carb substitute for pasta. Parmesan chicken zoodles combine some of my favorite tastes in one bite. First, cream. Gotta have cream. Second, chicken thighs. I love chicken thighs. I prefer them over chicken breasts. Sure, thighs aren’t as lean so if you want, you can substitute chopped chicken breast instead.

Parmesan Chicken Zoodles

Sun-Dried Tomatoes For The Win

Next up? Sun-dried tomato. Sun-dried tomatoes were not something I was exposed to growing up. They were a new flavor experience to me when I started cooking. I really like them. They have such a great texture and deep flavor. The oil they are packed in is absolutely great for cooking (so don’t ever toss it out!).

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If you know me or follow this blog at all, you know I gotta have some kick. Some heat. It doesn’t have to be much, but a little something to offset the sweetness of the cream is necessary in this dish. Use a little or a lot.

Finally, zoodles. Thinly sliced zucchini. Cooked so they have just a bit of crunch. Almost like pasta, and essentially carb-free. Perfect!

Looking for the perfect spiral dessert? Try my apple zoodles!

Parmesan Chicken Zoodles
Print Pin
4 from 1 vote

Parmesan Chicken Zoodles

This absolutely fantastic pasta-free dish reminds me of one we made years ago, but with pasta. It has all the great flavors, but uses zoodles.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, noodles, Parmesan, zucchini
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 457kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Cafe Delites

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ pound chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cut into strips or chunks
  • 1 7.5 ounce sun-dried tomatoes julienned
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • pinch dried basil
  • pinch dried red pepper flake
  • 2 large zucchini or 3 medium, made into zoodles or just sliced thin/julienned

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Season the chicken with salt and add it to the pan. Stir to coat then cook until golden brown on all sides.
  • Lower the heat to medium.
  • Add the sun-dried tomatoes and 1 tablespoon of the oil they are jarred in along with the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to low and stir in the cream.
  • Add the cheese and stir until melted.
  • Season with salt and add dried basil and red pepper flake.
  • Add the zucchini, stir, and cook for about 5 minutes or until al dente.
  • Serve with additional Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top if desired.

Notes

Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 457kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 397mg | Potassium: 645mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 780IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 313mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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