Hot Wing Barbecue Chicken Drummies

Hot Wing Barbecue Chicken Drummies

Chicken lovers take note! This recipe is the best of both worlds – think hot wings meets barbecue chicken.  I like to be able to taste both the sweetness of the barbecue sauce and the heat of the hot sauce so I use a proportion of 3 to 1.  You can always adjust the recipe on how much heat your taste buds prefer.

Baking chicken is my go-to method of cooking for a busy weeknight supper.  If you have the extra time, these drummies would be delicious cooked on the grill. Either cooking method -  always add the sauce towards the end of the cooking time so that it doesn’t burn.

Enjoy!

Hot Wing Barbecue Chicken Drummies

12 chicken drumsticks (about 3 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup hot sauce

Preheat the oven to 395 degrees.

Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Place the chicken in a roasting pan and lightly coat with the olive oil. Generously season the chicken with salt and pepper. Bake until golden, about 25 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce and hot sauce.

Remove the roasting pan from the oven and spoon 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce mixture over the chicken. Toss to coat. Return the baking dish to the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is caramelized, about 15 minutes.

In a small saucepan or microwave, warm the remaining 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce mixture. Pour the warm sauce over the cooked chicken. Serve warm.

Serves 4.

 

Tequila Chicken Fajitas

Tequila Chicken Fajitas

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo – or any night – with these flavorful chicken fajitas hot off the grill.

Chicken fajitas are always a crowd pleaser, inexpensive, and easy to prepare. In about 30 minutes, you can have a delicious south of the border inspired meal on the table.

The secret trick for flavorful and moist chicken is to marinate it overnight. The lemon juice, tequila, onion, garlic, and spices not only flavor the chicken but also make it more tender. I suggest marinating the chicken in a re-sealable plastic bag so you don’t have a to dirty a dish. And, if feeding your family, don’t be concerned about the tequila in this recipe. When you put it on the grill, all the alcohol burns off.

This whole meal can be prepared on the grill if you like. Instead of sautéing the peppers and onions, grill them instead.  Even the tortillas can be warmed on the grill. Wrap them in aluminum foil and warm on the grill over direct heat for 2 or 3 minutes.

To serve, arrange the chicken and vegetables on a platter. Be sure to set out an assortment of south of the border toppings: guacamole, pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, to name a few. Your guests will enjoy assembling their own fajitas by putting their favorite ingredients in the tortillas.

Tequila Chicken Fajitas

For the chicken:
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons tequila
1 tablespoon hot sauce
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup diced yellow onion (1 small onion)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Vegetable oil, for the grates
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the fajitas:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (1 small onion)
1/2 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper (1 small pepper)
1/2 cup thinly sliced yellow bell pepper (1 small pepper)
8  flour tortillas, warmed
1 cup guacamole (optional garnish)
1 cup pico de gallo (optional garnish)
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (optional garnish)

To make the chicken: In a shallow nonreactive dish just large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer, stir together the lemon juice, tequila, hot sauce, olive oil, onion, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Place the chicken breasts in the marinade and gently toss until well coated. Cover, place in the refrigerator, and marinate overnight.

Preheat a clean grill to medium-high with the lid closed for 8 to 10 minutes. Lightly brush the grates with oil.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off the excess. Discard the marinade. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Place the chicken on the grill. Close the lid and cook, turning once, until no longer pink in the middle, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the grill. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

To make the fajitas: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm 1 tablespoon of the oil until a few droplets of water sizzle when carefully sprinkled in the pan. Add the onion, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.

To serve, thinly slice the chicken across the grain. Arrange the chicken and vegetables on a platter. Serve with warmed tortillas and your favorite toppings. Encourage diners to make their own fajitas by putting the ingredients in the tortillas.

Serves 4.

Cooking Tips:

It is best to marinate the chicken over night. If short on time, marinate for at least 2 hours.

This recipe can easily be made indoors on a grill pan.

 

Recipe from Simply Grilling by Jennifer Chandler.

Photo by the talented Justin Fox Burks.

Chicken Yakitori

Earlier this summer I was looking for new chicken dishes to try on the grill and I tried yakitori. These kebabs are a popular item on the menus of Japanese restaurants and are very simple to make at home.

Yakitori is a traditional Japanese cooking method. In fact, it is one of the fastest and easiest grilling preparations there is.  Your favorite chicken part is cut in small pieces (I prefer chicken thighs because the meat stays juicy and flavorful), skewered, and then lacquered with a sweet, syrupy sauce while grilled over direct heat.

The emphasis on this dish is the sauce … which is both sweet and savory at the same time.  It’s made from a combination of Asian ingredients such as soy sauce, mirin, sake, and fresh ginger. No need to worry about serving this to little ones. Most of the alcohol in the sake evaporates when the sauce is brought to a boil. But if you prefer, unseasoned rice wine vinegar can be substituted for the sake.

To complete the meal, serve the skewers with a bowl of hot steamed rice and a crispy Asian slaw.

Chicken Yakitori

3/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup mirin
1/2 cup sake
2 tbsp. finely grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 lbs. skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
Skewers (if using bamboo, soak in water for 30 minutes)
Vegetable oil, for the grates

In a medium saucepan combine the soy sauce, mirin, sake, ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

Put the chicken in a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the marinade and toss to coat. Cover, place in the refrigerator, and marinate for 30 minutes.

Preheat a clean grill to medium-high with the lid closed for 8 to 10 minutes. Lightly brush the grates with oil.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off the excess. Discard the marinade. Thread the chicken onto the skewers.

Place the chicken on the grill. Close the lid and cook, basting with the remaining marinade and turning frequently to prevent scorching, until no longer pink the middle, about 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

Serves 4.

Cooking Tip: Mirin is sweetened rice cooking wine. It is found in the international section of most larger supermarkets.

Source: Simply Grilling by Jennifer Chandler (Thomas Nelson, 2012)

Photo by the talented Justin Fox Burks.

BBQ Chicken

You don’t have to be a pitmaster to make finger-lickin’ good barbecue chicken. These tips and tricks will have you mastering the grill like a pro.

First, start with the sauce.  Whereas bottled sauces are a tasty convenience, homemade sauces can be much tastier. Surprisingly easy to whip up using pantry staples, homemade sauces have a fresher and brighter flavor than their packaged counterparts. The recipe below is a basic barbecue sauce. But you can doctor it up by adding ingredients like honey, hot sauce and even bourbon to make your own signature sauce.

When preparing your chicken for the grill, be sure to let the meat stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before putting it on the grates.  Taking away the chill will help your chicken cook more evenly and quickly.

For a boost of flavor, an easy trick is to season the chicken with a spicy dry rub instead of just salt and pepper. Brushing the chicken with a little oil before adding the rub will not only help the rub better adhere to the meat but will also help prevent sticking on the grill.

Two-zone grilling is especially helpful for cooking foods like bone-in chicken. Sear the chicken first over direct heat and then move it to an area with no heat to finish cooking by indirect heat. To create an indirect heating zone on your gas grill, simply turn off the burners on one side.  For a charcoal grill, place the hot coals only on one side of the grill. Also, closing the lid is essential when using indirect grilling. A closed lid helps the grill mimic an oven and evenly cook the chicken.

Finally, the key to perfect barbecue chicken is to apply the sauce when the chicken is almost done. This prevents the sauce from burning.

Enjoy!

BBQ Chicken

From Simply Grilling by Jennifer Chandler

For the Homemade Barbecue Sauce:

2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

For the Barbecue Chicken:

Vegetable oil, for grates
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/2 pounds mixed chicken parts, such as breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and wings
1 cup barbecue sauce

To make the barbecue sauce:

In a large saucepan combine the ketchup, water, vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, red pepper flakes, onion powder, dry mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Over high heat, bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 20 to 25 minutes. Measure out 1 cup of sauce. Refrigerate the remaining sauce for another time.

To make the chicken:

Preheat a clean grill to medium-high with the lid closed for 8 to 10 minutes. Lightly brush the grates with oil.

In a small bowl combine the paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2  teaspoon pepper. Brush the chicken with the olive oil. Generously season the chicken with the dry rub.

Place the chicken on the grill. Close the lid and cook, turning once or twice, until no longer pink in the middle, about 12 to 15 minutes per side. During the final 5 minutes of cooking, baste the chicken with the barbecue sauce. Remove the chicken from grill.

Serves 4.

The Photo was taken by the talented Justin Fox Burks.

Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

 

Cinco de Mayo may be this weekend, but you can have a fiesta any night for dinner with this simple and fast recipe.

Cooking “South of the Border” dishes at home is easy thanks to all the wonderful Mexican foods that are now available at the supermarket.

This family-friendly enchilada dish gets its flavor from the distinctive salsa verde. Salsa verde is a tangy green salsa made from tomatillos instead of tomatoes. It is possible to make your own, but it’s more convenient, and equally as tasty, to use the jarred variety.

Using short-cut ingredients like jarred salsas, shredded cheeses, and rotisserie chickens can take the stress out of cooking, without compromising flavor.

These enchiladas can be assembled up to one day in advance and refrigerated, making them perfect for both everyday dinners and for entertaining.

Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

3 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup sour cream
2 jars (16-ounce) salsa verde, divided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 small (4-inch) corn tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the cooked chicken in a medium mixing bowl. Add the sour cream and 1 cup of the salsa verde and toss to evenly coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Evenly spread 1 cup of the remaining salsa verde over the bottom of a 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Warm the corn tortillas according to the package directions. In the center of each tortilla, place 1/12of the chicken mixture (about 2 generous spoonfuls), sprinkle with a generous pinch of the cheese, and roll the tortilla to enclose the filling. Place the enchilada seam side down in the pan. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Pour the remaining salsa verde over the top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake uncovered until the cheese is melted and bubbly on top, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Serves 6.

Cooking Tip: In order to make the tortillas pliable enough to roll, you need to warm them. Warm corn tortillas on an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat for 10 seconds on each side or by wrapping up 4 to 6 tortillas between two damp paper towels and microwaving for 30 seconds.

Source: “Simply Suppers” by Jennifer Chandler

Grilled Herb Chicken with Greek Tomato-Olive Relish

A good relish can make an everyday chicken breast into a show-stopper. This Greek-inspired tomato relish from my new cookbook Simply Grilling is just such an example.

Enjoy!

Grilled Herb Chicken with Kalamata Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese

For the Greek Tomato-Olive Relish:
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/4  cup finely diced red onion (1/2 small onion)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint 

For the Herb Chicken:
Vegetable oil, for the grates
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
4 tablespoons dried Italian seasoning
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

To make the Greek Tomato-Olive Relish: Place the tomatoes, olives, red onion, oil, and vinegar in a medium bowl. Toss to combine. Add the feta cheese and mint and gently toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

To make the chicken: Preheat a clean grill to medium-high with the lid closed for 8 to 10 minutes. Lightly brush the grates with oil.

Season both sides of the chicken with the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the grill. Close the lid and cook, turning once, until no longer pink in the middle, 6 to 8 minutes per side.

To serve, place the chicken on the plate and top with a generous spoonful of the tomato-olive relish.

Serves 4.

Cooking Tips: To evenly cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts, I suggest pounding them to a uniform thickness before grilling.

Dried Italian seasoning is a mixture of several dry herbs. To make your own, combine 1 tablespoon each of dried basil, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried marjoram, dried thyme leaves, dried rosemary, and dried sage. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to six months.

Do-Ahead: The tomato-olive relish can be made 4 hours ahead. Store covered in your refrigerator until ready to serve.

Variation: Fresh basil would be a delicious substitute for the fresh mint.

Grill Pan Friendly: Don’t have a grill or the weather is not so great, this dish can be made inside in a grill pan.

Photo credit: Photo by the talented Justin Fox Burks.

Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

You can have a fiesta any night for dinner with this simple and fast recipe.

Cooking “South of the Border” dishes at home is easy thanks to all the wonderful Mexican foods that are now available at the supermarket.

This family-friendly enchilada dish gets its flavor from the distinctive salsa verde. Salsa verde is a tangy green salsa made from tomatillos instead of tomatoes. It is possible to make your own, but it’s more convenient, and equally as tasty, to use the jarred variety.

Using short-cut ingredients like jarred salsas, shredded cheeses, and rotisserie chickens can take the stress out of cooking, without compromising flavor.

These enchiladas can be assembled up to one day in advance and refrigerated, making them perfect for both everyday dinners and for entertaining.

Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde
From Simply Suppers by Jennifer Chandler

3 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup sour cream
2 jars (16-ounce) salsa verde, divided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 small (4-inch) corn tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the cooked chicken in a medium mixing bowl. Add the sour cream and 1 cup of the salsa verde and toss to evenly coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Evenly spread 1 cup of the remaining salsa verde over the bottom of a 9- x 13-inch baking dish. Warm the corn tortillas according to the package directions. In the center of each tortilla, place 1/12of the chicken mixture (about 2 generous spoonfuls), sprinkle with a generous pinch of the cheese, and roll the tortilla to enclose the filling. Place the enchilada seam side down in the pan. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Pour the remaining salsa verde over the top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake uncovered until the cheese is melted and bubbly on top, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Serves 6.

Cooking Tip: In order to make the tortillas pliable enough to roll, you need to warm them. Warm corn tortillas on an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat for 10 seconds on each side or by wrapping up 4 to 6 tortillas between two damp paper towels and microwaving for 30 seconds.

Chicken with Creamy Dijon Herb Sauce

I am always looking for recipes that are easy to prepare and are dishes that my whole family will love.  This recipe that I found at www.Frenchs.com fits that bill.  And as an added bonus, all the ingredients are ones that I always have in my pantry!

Enjoy!

Chicken with Creamy Dijon Herb Sauce

1/2 cup chicken broth
6 tablespoons French’s® Dijon Mustard
1/3 cup cream cheese spread, softened
1 tablespoon minced herbs (parsley, basil, or chives)
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 (6 oz.) boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon minced garlic

In a small bowl mix the broth, mustard, cream cheese, and herbs until well blended; set aside.

Cook the chicken in hot oil in nonstick skillet until browned on both sides, about 15 minutes.

Stir in the mustard sauce and garlic. Simmer over medium heat until the sauce thickens slightly and flavors are blended, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Serves 4.

Cooking Tip: Substitute 2 tablespoons prepared pesto sauce for the herbs.

Oven Bake: Mix the sauce ingredients. Pour over chicken in greased baking dish. Bake at 375 °F for 30 min. until cooked through.

Chicken Satays with Peanut Sauce

This quick and easy appetizer is sure to be favorite at your next party!

If you have my cookbook Simply Salads, you may recognize the Peanut Sauce.  In Simply Salads, it is a dressing served with dishes such as my Chinese Chicken Salad and my Asian Noodle Salad.  I always joke that it is so good that you will want to drink it!

I have found that this yummy sauce made from Peanut Butter makes an equally delicious dipping sauce for satays (chicken or beef) or spring rolls.

For parties, satays are a great idea because they are simple to prepare yet make a dramatic presentation.  (Plus I don’t think I have ever found a food on a stick I didn’t love!)

Enjoy!

Chicken Satays with Peanut Sauce

Recipe adapted from Simply Salads by Jennifer Chandler

For the Chicken Satays:
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh peeled ginger
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

For the Peanut Sauce:
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh peeled ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup canola oil
A pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped peanuts, for garnish

To prepare the Chicken Satays: In a shallow mixing bowl, combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, vegetable oil, garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes. Place the chicken strips in the marinade and gently toss until well coated. Cover and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at up to 1 hour.

To prepare the Peanut Sauce: In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, peanut butter, ginger, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, canola oil, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour the sauce into a nice serving bowl and garnish with the chopped peanuts.

To finish the Chicken Satays: Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Thread each chicken strip lengthwise onto a skewer.

Place a grill pan over medium heat and brush it with oil to prevent the meat from sticking. Grill the chicken satays for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, until nicely seared and cooked through. Serve the satays with a small bowl of peanut sauce on the side.

Serves 8

Cooking Tips:

Be sure you soak your wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking to prevent burning.

This dish can also be prepared on an outside grill.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

I always tell people …  even though I’m a Cordon Bleu  trained chef, I am a mom first.  I deal with the same challenges of trying to put a delicious, home-cooked dinner on the table after a long day at work or an afternoon of driving the kids around.

I wrote my cookbook Simply Suppers to make dinner time easier. I wanted to show people that preparing a homemade meal doesn’t have to be stressful.

This cheesy stuffed chicken breast sounds and looks fancy, but in reality, it’s a cinch to make at home. And best of all, it is a tasty dish that my whole family enjoys.

This is the basic cooking technique for stuffing a chicken breast.  Experiment with some of your favorite ingredients. For an Italian twist, I like to substitute prosciutto, spinach, and mozzarella.   Spicy Pepper Jack cheese adds a fun kick to this dish.  For an even crunchier (and more savory) coating, try substituting crushed French’s French Fried Onions for the bread crumbs.

Whether following the recipe as listed below or making your own variation, this simple dish will be sure to make the folks at your dinner table think you are a Cordon Bleu trained chef!

Chicken Cordon Bleu
From Simply Suppers by Jennifer Chandler

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra to grease the pan
1 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 thin slices Swiss cheese
4 thin slices baked ham

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom of a baking dish with olive oil. Place the bread crumbs in a shallow bowl and set aside.

Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Place the chicken in between 2 pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap and, using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound to 1/4-inch thickness. Generously season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. On each breast, layer 2 slices of cheese and 1 slice of ham. Tightly roll up each breast and secure with a toothpick. Drizzle the breasts lightly with olive oil and roll them in the bread crumbs to lightly, but evenly, coat. Place the chicken, seam side down, into the prepared baking dish and transfer to the oven. Bake until browned and cooked through, about 30 minutes. To serve, remove the toothpicks and slice crosswise. Serve hot.

Serves 4.

Do Ahead: The chicken can be prepped the night before, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, and refrigerated. This dish also freezes well; thaw before baking.

Freezes well.