Poultry Essentials Easy Peasy Baked Chicken Recipes

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: EASY CHICKEN, TATERS, VEGGIES

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• You will need a full or half, rimmed sheet pan to make this recipe, and some parchment paper will help with cleanup.
• The spices used in this recipe keep things simple, yet flavorful. Feel free to add, any additional spices that suit your fancy.
• If you wish, you can make more of the marinade and reserve some for after the chicken comes out of the oven, then drizzle it over the chicken and veggies before serving. Yummy.
• Chicken Thighs worked best, and so would legs; however, if you choose breasts, be careful and do not overcook them or they will be dry.
• Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• Whisk the marinade ingredients together in a bowl.
• Add the chicken thighs, toss with the marinade, then cover and place in the fridge for 2 - 3 hours.
• I am using a Ziploc bag for the marinading, however, keeping them in the bowl and covering with a piece of clingwrap would do just fine.
• Place a rack in the upper position and preheat the oven to 380f/195c.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.
• Add the chicken to the parchment-lined sheet pan, then toss the veggies in a bit of oil, salt, and pepper, and add to the pan.
• Place in the preheated oven and bake until the chicken starts turning golden and the veggies are cooked, about 30 - 40 minutes.
• To get the chicken skin even crisper, turn on the broiler function 1 - 2 minutes before the chicken is finished. But keep an eye on it because the broiler can turn golden brown to blackened quicker than you can say: Oops.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Place a piece of the chicken on a plate; along with a portion of the veggies, then serve while nice and hot. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: EASY PEASY BAKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• 3. Add enough cold water to a large bowl (like a mixing bowl), or a pot, to completely submerge the chicken, in my experience it will 3 - 4 quarts.
• 4. Add the salt and honey, then whisk the mixture until the salt has completely dissolved.
• 5. Chef's Note: Many times, depending on the ingredients in the brine, I'll heat it up on the stovetop, and wait an hour or two for it to cool down. In this case, the only solid is the salt, and with enough whisking, it will dissolve; even in cold water. That saves us a ton of time.
• 6. Submerge the chicken in the salt/honey solution, and brine for 2, but not more than 3 hours.
• 7. Chef's Note: During this process, you will want to place the brining chicken in the refrigerator.
• 8. Remove the chicken from the brine and thoroughly rinse, and then pat dry with a few paper towels.
• 9. Add the quartered lemons to the cavity of the chicken and truss up the legs, and tie the wings to the body.
• 10. Sprinkle the dry rub all over the chicken, and allow to rest while you get your oven, grill, or smoker ready.
• 11. Chef's Note: You could use a variety of dry rubs, or you could make one of your own. This is my recipe for an excellent dry spice rub: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/seasoning-mix/rub-essentials-beef-pork-chicken-dry-rub.html
• 12. BAKING THE CHICKEN
• 13. You have three choices for baking this chicken. Method One: Place a rack in the lower position, and preheat the oven 235 (112c). Method Two: Heat up the smoker to 225 (107c). Method Three: Fire up your gas or charcoal grill to 225f (107).
• 14. Oven baking will give you a great chicken, but without some of the additional flavor notes that can be accomplished on a grill, or in the smoker. For example, I use my smoker and 30-minutes into the cooking, I'll add a handful of hickory chips. That's just enough to give the chicken a "hint" of smoke without overpowering the bird.
• 15. COOKING TIME: The chicken is done when the temp of the chicken breast reaches 165f (75c), or 175f (80c), at the thickest part of the thigh. Regardless of the method you are using, that should occur in 3 to 3.5 hours. Your time may vary, based on the size of the chicken, and the actual temperature of the gill, oven, or smoker.
• 16. Remove the chicken from the oven, grill, or smoker.
• 17. PLATE/PRESENT
• 18. Brush with the olive oil, and allow to rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving. Enjoy.
• 19. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: OVEN BAKED SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• 3. Mix all the rub ingredients together in a bowl, and reserve.
• 4. Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 425f (220c).
• 5. Chef's Note: If you have the time, brine the chicken in a salt solution, for about 2 hours.
• 6. Spatchcock the chicken by first using some kitchen shears, or a sharp knife, and cut out the backbone.
• 7. Freeze the backbone for making a good stock.
• 8. Turn the chicken over, spread open, and push down until you hear a snap.
• 9. Chef's Note: Both sides of the chicken should be lying nice and flat.
• 10. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, and coat with grapeseed oil.
• 11. Cut the potatoes and carrots into 1/2-inch (1.3cm) slices. Lay the veggies in the rimmed baking sheet.
• 12. Chef's Note: I am using some carrots from my Winter greenhouse, but if you are using regular carrots, cut them to the same thickness as the potatoes.
• 13. Lay the chicken, skin side up onto the veggies, and press down. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, and evenly sprinkle the rub on the chicken.
• 14. Place in the preheated oven, and allow to bake until the breast reads 150f (65c) on an instant-read thermometer, about 35 to 45 minutes.
• 15. PLATE/PRESENT
• 16. Serve with the veggies, and maybe some nice crusty bread. Enjoy.
• 17. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: CHEESY TOMATO & CHICKEN BAKE

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. Two of my favorite brands of tomatoes are Meir Glen, or Cento; however, another great (more common) brand is Hunts. My favorite brand of marinated artichoke hearts is Mezzetta, and they come packed in oil. Drain the oil before chopping. My favorite brand of diced green chilies, are Hatch. They come in small cans of 5 ounces (142g).
• 3. Gather your Ingredients (mise en place).
• 4. Chef's Tip: I recommend brining the chicken breasts for an hour or two, but that is totally up to you.
• 5. Chef's Note: You will notice that in the photos, I am placing the chicken breasts into individual serving dishes. If you wish, you can place both breasts into a single baking dish, or you could cook the whole thing in an ovenproof skillet. Now that is what I call easy/peasy.
• 6. Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 400f (205c).
• 7. Add the butter and oil to a skillet over medium heat.
• 8. When the foaming subsides, add the onions.
• 9. Cook until the onions soften, and turn translucent, about 4 - 5 minutes.
• 10. Add the garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 60 seconds.
• 11. Reduce the heat to medium low, then add the tomatoes, artichokes, chilies, oregano, basil, parsley, and cumin, and stir to combine with the onions and garlic.
• 12. Allow to simmer until it reduces a bit, and beings to thicken, about 8 - 10 minutes.
• 13. Chef's Note: Add a bit of salt and pepper, to taste.
• 14. Place the tomato sauce into individual, oven-proof baking dishes, or a single dish. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and push them into the tomato sauce.
• 15. Place into the preheated oven, and bake until the internal temperature of the chicken breasts reaches 165f (75c), about 30 - 35 minutes
• 16. Add the Dubliner cheese to the top, and pop under the broiler until the cheese is bubbly, and beginning to brown in spots, about 2 - 3 minutes.
• 17. PLATE/PRESENT
• 18. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and serve while nice and warm. With maybe a small side salad, and some crusty bread. Enjoy.
• 19. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

POULTRY ESSENTIALS: SPICY BAKED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• PREP/PREPARE
• For this recipe, you will need a rimmed baking sheet, lined with parchment paper, and a wire rack. The rack is optional; however, it gives the chicken a crisper crust on the bottom.
• Brining the Chicken: There are times when brining is not necessary, and other times when it is advisable. When I oven back chicken, I usually brine. A standard brine for boneless, skinless chicken breast would be about 2.5 tablespoons of salt dissolved into a quart of cold water, then immerse the breast for about 45 minutes, but no more. FYI: I you do choose to brine the chicken, then do not add the salt to the spice rub.
• Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• Add all of the ingredients together for the spice rub, and reserve.
• Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 425f (220c).
• Cut the chicken in half, lengthwise.
• Coat with the grapeseed oil, and sprinkle the spice rub on both sides of the chicken.
• Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, fitted with a wire rack (if using).
• Place into the preheated oven, and bake until cooked through, and the spices are nice and brown, about 18 - 22 minutes.
• PLATE/PRESENT
• Rest the chicken for about 5 minutes, then slice and serve. Enjoy.
• Keep the faith, and keep cooking.