Introduction to basics365
Each week we will highlight a Table365 kitchen or pantry basic and a recipe that will help you take a fresh look at the ingredients and tools you may already be using to feed your family, or introduce you to new ones that will increase the health, variation and ease of your daily meals.
Here’s one of our favorite basics, roasted chicken, and an easy recipe that will provide you with almost limitless meal options.
Roasted Chicken
Chicken is a staple in many recipes and a wonderfully versatile protein that is popular with grown-ups and kids. When we found this Barefoot Contessa recipe for roasting chicken breasts it was so easy that it became a game-changer in our meal preparation. It greatly increased our flexibility in meal prep because of the multitude of ways it can be used.
Ten great ways to use cooked chicken meat:
1. Cut up into cubes for kid’s lunches (you can add a dipping sauce, like BBQ or pesto).
2. Shred for tacos, tostadas, or burritos. Add extra flavor by heating with spices like cumin and black pepper.
3. Cube or shred and add to chili.
4. Thinly slice the breast and serve on top of a salad.
5. Make chicken pot pie.
6. Heat in simmering sauce, homemade or prepared (like Tikka Masala), serve over rice.
7. Toss with hot pasta, diced tomatoes, goat cheese and garlic.
8. Make into chicken salad and serve in sandwiches or on a lettuce salad.
9. Add to broth for chicken noodle soup.
10. Cube and add to vegetables, cheese, dressing and pasta for pasta salad.
Adapted from Barefoot Contessa’s Chicken Stew with Biscuits Recipe from Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa Family Style
-Chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
-Olive oil
-Salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place on a baking sheet. Cook the bone-in chicken for 40-45 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165° F.
Variation: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts; they’ll cook faster and are easy to cube. If you are using boneless chicken breasts, reduce cooking time to about 25 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165° F.
Double Batch: You can cook several chicken breasts at a time and have leftovers on hand for lunches and other dinners.
Super Speedy Option: Buy a rotisserie chicken and use the meat. (To increase health value – check the source of the chicken and the fat used in roasting the chicken.)