Between a 40-hour workweek, three
school-age children with demanding schedules, and a never-ending list of
household chores (try delegating!), I barely have time to take a
shower (took one today, thank you very much!). While I have good intentions to
be the perfect wife, mother and employee, I fall short of perfection every day.
Let’s face it: I’m lucky to just get through the week! If your life is
equally chaotic and you are
looking for ways to cut corners, try these seven simple and fabulous chicken
recipes. I can’t promise
you’ll have time for a shower today, but I can
promise a delicious dinner tonight.
Fast Chicken Stir-Fry
If you’re on the lookout for tasty
(and easy) chicken recipes, this stir-fry meal is a great place to start. The
angel hair pasta combines beautifully with broccoli florets and Asian Toasted
Sesame dressing—the entire family will be asking for seconds!
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1/2
lb. angel hair pasta (capellini), uncooked
2
cups small broccoli florets
1
lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1/2
cup Asian Toasted Sesame dressing
2
Tbsp. soy sauce
1/4
tsp. each ground ginger, garlic powder, crushed red pepper
1/3
cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
Directions
Cook
pasta
in large saucepan as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water
for the last 3 min.
Meanwhile,
spray
large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat on medium-high heat. Add
chicken; cook 6 to 8 minutes or until done, stirring occasionally. Stir in
dressing, soy sauce and seasonings; cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
Drain
pasta
mixture; place in large bowl. Add chicken mixture; mix lightly. Serve topped
with nuts.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
You can’t go wrong with the French
classic and incredibly scrumptious Chicken Cordon Bleu. A staple among chicken
recipes, this delightful dish is filling and packed with protein. Serve with fresh green beans and you’ve
got a simple and oh-so-satisfying supper.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1
pkg. (6 oz.) Stove Top Lower Sodium Stuffing Mix for Chicken
6
small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.)
6
slices deli ham
1
can (10-3/4 oz.) reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
1
Tbsp. honey mustard
6
Swiss cheese slices
Directions
Heat
oven
to 400ºF.
Prepare
stuffing
mix as directed on package.
Place
chicken
in 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with ham. Mix soup and mustard; spoon over
chicken. Top with stuffing.
Bake
25
minutes or until chicken is done (165°F). Top with cheese; bake 5 minutes or
until cheese is melted.
Make-In-Minutes Fettuccine
Cacciatore
Despite your hectic day, it’s important to enjoy dinnertime with those
you love. Win the
hearts of your family with mouthwatering chicken recipes like this one. From fresh green
pepper and mushrooms to zesty Italian dressing and Italian cheeses, this
dish will soon
become a family favorite.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1/2
lb. fettuccine, uncooked
2
tsp. oil
1
lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1
cup each green pepper strips and sliced fresh mushrooms
1
can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4
cup Italian dressing
1/2
cup shredded Italian cheese blend
1/2
cup chopped fresh basil
Directions
Cook
pasta
as directed on package, omitting salt.
Meanwhile,
heat
oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 5 to 6
minutes or until no longer pink. Add peppers and mushrooms; cook 3 minutes,
stirring occasionally. Stir in tomatoes and dressing; simmer on medium-low heat
5 minutes or until chicken is done.
Drain
pasta.
Toss with chicken mixture; top with cheese and basil.
Herb-Roasted Chicken with Cream Cheese
What do you get when you mix cream
cheese, rosemary and garlic with a whole chicken? This flavorsome recipe that
your family will request time and again. Herb-roasted chicken may sound
complicated, but it will top your list of easy chicken recipes—guaranteed.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
6
oz. (3/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream cheese, softened
1
Tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves
4
cloves garlic, minced, divided
1/2
tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1
whole roasting chicken (3-1/2 lb.)
1 lemon,
halved
1/4
cup olive oil, divided
2
large baking potatoes (1-1/2 lb.), peeled, cut into chunks
2 sweet
potatoes (1-1/2 lb.), peeled and cut into chunks
Directions
Heat
oven
to 375ºF.
Mix
cream
cheese, rosemary, half the garlic and pepper. Starting at neck of chicken, use
handle of wooden spoon or fingers to carefully separate skin from meat of
breast, thighs and legs, being careful not to tear the skin. Spoon cream cheese
mixture under skin; use fingers to spread mixture out to thighs and legs. Place
lemon halves into cavity of chicken. Place chicken in shallow pan. Brush with 2
Tbsp. oil.
Toss
potatoes
with remaining oil and garlic in separate pan. Bake chicken and potatoes 1-1/4
to 1-1/2 hours or until chicken is done (165º F), stirring potatoes every 30
minutes.
Transfer
chicken
to large serving dish, reserving juices in pan. Let chicken stand 10 minutes.
Spoon potatoes around chicken. Skim fat from reserved juices in pan; discard
fat. Spoon juices over chicken and potatoes.
Poppyseed Chicken Salad Crunch
If
you are a health nut like I am, then you are continuously searching for
nutritious chicken recipes. I enjoy salads that have a nice crunch to them, and
this certainly meets—and exceeds—my expectations. It’s best to serve this
chicken salad fresh, as time in the refrigerator can result in wilted slaw.
Servings:
4
Ingredients
4
cups broccoli slaw
2
large red peppers, thinly sliced
4 carrots,
shredded
1
can (8 oz.) pineapple tidbits, drained
1
pkg. (6 oz.) oven-roasted deli chicken breast
1/2
cup creamy poppyseed dressing
1/4
cup cashews
Directions
Combine
all
ingredients except dressing and nuts in large bowl.
Add
dressing;
toss to coat.
Top
with
nuts just before serving.
Chicken Barbecue Sandwiches
Some
nights you’re just in the mood for a sandwich, and this is the perfect chicken
recipe to satisfy your craving. Low in calories and full of flavor, chicken
barbecue sandwiches are versatile (think lunch and dinner) and easy to make.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
3
cups water
1
large red onion, sliced
1
Tbsp. sugar
1/3
cup white vinegar
1/4
tsp. black pepper
2
cups shredded cooked chicken
1/2
cup barbecue sauce
4 whole
wheat sandwich rolls, partially split
4
American cheese slices
Directions
Bring
water
to boil in large saucepan. Add onions; cook 5 minutes. Drain. Place onions in
medium bowl. Add sugar, vinegar and pepper; mix well. Cover. Refrigerate until
ready to use, stirring frequently.
Meanwhile,
combine
chicken and barbecue sauce in saucepan; cook on medium heat 5 minutes or until
heated through, stirring frequently.
Spoon
about
1/2 cup of the chicken mixture onto bottom half of each roll; top with 1 cheese
slice and 1/4 cup of the onions. Cover with tops of rolls.
Mexican Cheesy Chicken
It’s easy to feel stumped when it
comes to creative chicken recipes, but this dish never gets old. Combine cream
of chicken soup, cheddar cheese, taco seasoning and milk, then spoon over
chicken, top with corn chips, and bake for a half hour. Voilà—dinner
is served!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
6
small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/2 lb.), pounded
to 1/4-inch-thickness
1
can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup
1-1/2
cups shredded mild cheddar cheese, divided
1/2
cup milk
1
pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) taco seasoning mix
2
cups corn chips
4-1/2
cups cooked rice
Directions
Preheat
oven
to 375°F. Place chicken in 13x9-inch baking dish.
Mix
soup,
1 cup of the cheese, milk and seasoning mix until well blended; spoon over
chicken. Top with chips; cover.
Bake
30
minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake, uncovered, an additional
10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with rice.
