Chicken is a protein that swings both ways. It has advantages and disadvantages. The upside is that it is quite healthy, as a lean protein low in calories. The disadvantage is that it typically tastes quite bland, unless unhealthy elements are added like fried skin, which then defeats the purpose.
Easy chicken recipes are a good thing to know because it lets you harness the health advantages of chicken while having it in a dish that tastes great. Casseroles are where chicken can really shine as an ingredient, and the following is an easy chicken recipe along with a few ways to vary it.
The base recipe in question is a chicken broccoli casserole. The ingredients include chicken strips or breasts, rice, cream of mushroom soup, French fried onions and broccoli.
Bring a cup of rice to a boil and then let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. While it's doing this, layer a baking dish with either two small or one large cans of cream of mushroom soup. Also start steaming your broccoli.
Start preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, but also precook your chicken strips. They don't have to get cooked all the way through, but they should be tough enough to cut into fork-sized bits that will finish cooking with the casserole. Once the rice, oven, broccoli and chicken are all ready, layer the rice and chicken over the mushroom soup and put the casserole in the oven for 15 minutes.
Once 15 minutes are passed, pull the casserole out far enough to layer French fried onions on the top. Let it sit back in the oven for five minutes to crisp the onions and finish cooking the chicken. Once done, the rice and chicken give you a great combination of carbs and protein that are infused with mushroom, broccoli and onion flavors, all with a little crunch!
For a more modern spin on this Earthy dish, use quinoa instead of rice. The protein component of the dish goes up a little, and you get some healthy fiber to make you feel even more full! The quinoa does need rinsing and soaking more so than rice, but also absorbs flavors more too. Make sure to compensate for this with seasoning. Salt, pepper and particularly lemon pepper work out well here.
Another great twist to add to your collection of chicken recipes is to add nuts to this dish. Walnuts and almonds both fit in well, giving the dish some crunch and added nutrition.
Chicken broccoli casserole is something you make once and eat yourself for days, or you can even withhold the chicken and have a vegetarian friendly entree for guests with dietary restrictions. Consider the range of seasonings and nuts you can put in this Earthy dish, and you'll have a chance to explore the range of flavors you can create easily and on a tight budget.
