Accessorize Your Breasts!

Think of the boneless, skinless chicken breast as the ‘little black dress’ of healthy cooking.

So many ways to accessorize or as we say in recipe land, so many ways to garnish!

Either simply with BBQ sauce or elegantly with white wine, capers and lemon. From basic to brilliant, weeknight simple to dinner party fancy. Let’s try on a few food fashions with our LBD of cooking.

Ingredients for Chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 Tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper

Directions for Chicken:

1. Remove the excess fat and sinew from the boneless, skinless chicken breast.

2. Place shiny side down on cutting board and cover with sheet of wax paper.

3. Pound breast with wooden kitchen mallet or a rolling pin to even thickness. This helps them cook evenly.

4. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

5. Heat sauté pan and add enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom.

6. Add the chicken breasts, without crowding the pan.

7. When a half -inch of white shows on the sides of each breast, turn over with tongs. When chicken easily ‘releases’ from the pan, it’s time to turn. 

8. Cook until firm to touch and juices run clear. Of with meat thermometer and internal temperature of at least 165F.

9. Set chicken aside to rest on a clean plate.

Three Delicious Sauces: Pick One!

Each of these sauce recipes is for 2 chicken breasts.

Lemon Caper Chicken – Deglaze the pan with one cup white wine, add 2 Tablespoons rinsed capers, very thin slices of one lemon, and 1.4 cup minced parsley. Add chicken breasts back to pan to warm in sauce.  Serve with orzo pasta or rice. 

Tomato Garlic Chicken –In the same pan you sautéed the chicken, 

Add 2 teaspoons chopped garlic to the pan, 8oz can of diced tomatoes, 1 Tablespoon tomato paste, and ¼ cup red wine vinegar. Place chicken breasts back in pan to warm with sauce.  Serve with roasted new potatoes or penne pasta. 

Taste of Thai Chicken – In the same pan you sautéed the chicken, 

Sauté sliced scallions and shitake mushrooms then remove from pan, set aside on clean plate. In the pan, Stir in 2 Tablespoons tamari sauce (a slightly thicker soy sauce), 2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar and a teaspoon of peanut butter. Add the scallions and mushrooms back to the pan and the chicken breasts to warm. Serve with brown rice or basmati rice. 

Attention Vegetarians!

Substitute a Plant Based Burger or Veggie Burger for the Chicken Breasts and the sauce pairings will be delicious, especially the Tomato Garlic Sauce.