Top 10 Quick Ways to Make Chicken

Whether you sear it quickly on the stove, roast it in the oven, or zap it in the microwave, chicken recipes are adaptable and economical. Chicken is lean, quick-cooking protein with a mild flavor and texture both kids and adults like. Whether it’s boneless tenders, legs and thighs, or whole bone-in breasts, chicken is one of the most popular protein meal choices today. Stock-up when chicken is on sale, freeze in commonly-used portions, and you’ll never be far away from a fast and healthy meal.

Here are 10 quick ways to make chicken:

1. Fajitas – Have a skillet? Use it to make chicken fajitas for a fast, flavorful meal. Boneless chicken breasts cut into tenders or strips cook golden brown in less than 15 minutes. They taste great with a variety of seasonings, from onion salt to garlic to soy sauce. If you have two skillets, use one to sizzle some onions and/or peppers and you’ll have the perfect combo to wrap in a soft tortilla. Try this: Chicken Fajitas
 

2. Sandwiches – No matter what kind of bread you have on hand, chicken makes an A-1 sandwich or wrap. Boneless chicken breasts can be split width-wise to create thinner cutlets; after coating with breadcrumbs, crushed crackers or cornmeal/flour, pan-fry in several tablespoons oil until golden brown and crispy. Served with mayo, tomato, and/or lettuce: divine.
 

3. Tacos or Enchiladas – Chicken works as the perfect Mexican filling too. Cooked or leftover chicken can be shredded or cut and used to fill flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or taco shells. Whether simmered in a hot and spicy enchilada sauce or sautéed with onions and Poblano peppers, the mild, tender flavor of chicken is a versatile protein with many possibilities.

4. Stir-fries – Who doesn’t love a good stir-fry? Whether you choose to season it with curry, garlic, orange zest or ginger, chicken adapts to international flavors in a wink: from Chinese and Thai to American and Japanese. The combination of chicken-meets-sizzling-oil plus any vegetables on hand (think onions, carrots, peppers, mushrooms, corn, cabbage—really, anything goes!) is a winner. Quick-cooking grains such as rice, quinoa, or couscous make a satisfying addition.

Try this: Five-Spice Indian Stirfry with Chicken, or add chicken to this 3-Step Stirfry or Pepper-Carrot-Water Chestnut Stir-fry, Leftover Stir-fry or Simple Pasta Primavera

5. Pan-fried – There’s something magical about sizzling food over medium-high heat in a swirl of light olive oil—and chicken is no exception. It creates that golden coating and crisp texture that is so appetizing, so mouth-watering that it doesn’t need any special seasoning to make it taste great. Of course, if you add Adobo, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, or cumin, it steps up the flavor up even more. Add some spaghetti sauce and Parmesan, and you have one awesome meal (Chicken Parmigiana). Add veggies, pasta or potatoes and it's dinner in no time.

Try this: Balsamic-Glazed Chicken with Carrots & Greenbeans or Shake & Sauté Chicken, Chicken-fried Steaks with Gravy

6. Grilled – Fire changed the world of food preparation forever. And just as our ancient ancestors used a spit to suspend their day’s hunt over the life-giving fire, today’s grills give us that beloved fire-roasted flavor with quick convenience. Chicken can be grilled over a gas barbecue, a charcoal barbecue, or even a poolside hibachi. Whether it’s cutlets, legs and thighs, breasts, or even a whole bird, chicken is the perfect accompaniment to grilltime flavors of barbecue sauce, citrus lemon or lime, or good ole salt and pepper.

Try this: grilled chicken with Corn-off-the-Cob: Refreshed or Greek Pasta Salad

7. Salads – Chicken can be the main attraction in a salad, served atop a bed of greens and vegetables to make a satisfying meal. Cooked chicken makes chicken salad in just three steps: shred or cut cooked chicken (or make it extra-easy and open a can!), add a dollop of mayo or plain yogurt and some chopped veggies (celery, parsley, onion, or fennel), and stir together. It can be served with greens, pitas, your choice of bread, or rolled in a wrap for an A-1 lunch. Try this: serve chicken atop this Barley Salad or a tossed lettuce or spinach salad
 

8. Soups – Chicken soup has long been revered as the classic treatment for a cold. But it’s too delicious to use only when illness strikes. Chicken stock is widely available in markets around the country due to its ultimate flavor versatility and richness that it lends to soups, stews, and gravies. Simmering a pot of chicken (whether whole or parts) is the unifying factor for whatever fresh or frozen veggies you have on hand—from onions, carrots, greenbeans, cabbage, peas, corn, and/or tomatoes. Can’t go wrong with chicken soup!

9. Roasted – The intense enveloping heat of a conventional or convection oven sears in chicken's natural juices while at the same time creating that crisp, oven-browned coating that everyone loves. The rule of thumb for baking chicken is that the larger the pieces, the more time needed. If pieces contain the bone they will also need longer time than comparable boneless pieces. A 3-lb. chicken will take between 1-1/2 to 2 hours when baked at 375ºF.  Allow more time if roasting at a lower temperature.

Try this: roast chicken served with Quinoa Potato Patties

10. Slowcooker – When life gets busy, the crockpot is a popular solution to making sure we have a hot dinner upon arriving home. Taking just 10 or 15 minutes to toss some veggies and chicken into the crockpot is one uber-easy meal solution. It can be as simple as coating a whole thawed chicken with barbecue sauce and plopping it in the slowcooker. Set it to cook on low for the next 8 hours and dinner is all set. Chicken pairs well with just about any veggie so when your freezer contains a mishmash of chicken (boneless thighs, split breasts, or legs), it’s just about impossible to go wrong with any combination (potatoes, rice, tomatoes, carrots, onions—you name it), since it all tastes great with chicken!

Try this: slowcooker chicken served with Oven-Fries on the Stovetop
 

There you have it: 10 different ways to put chicken on your table tonight -- fast! What's your favorite quick way to make chicken?