Probably, chicken is the most versatile protein source. It goes well with any type of dish, from salads, to casseroles, and soups. In this article, we provide you some of the best chicken recipes for dinner. But let’s dive into the nutrition facts of the most popular poultries.
What Are the Health Benefits of Chicken?
Chicken is a protein source that is rich in nutrients such as phosphorus, selenium, and niacin. There are many benefits of chicken you can get, such as:
Abundant Essential Amino Acids
Chicken has high-quality proteins which contain amino acids which are important for the production of hormones as well as immune cells. Even, chicken has complete essential amino acids that we need for the body.
You Can Reach The Protein Goals
Protein is essential in the diet because it helps build new cells and also repair it. Eating chicken is the easiest way to reach protein goals because it has complete essential amino acids.
It Helps Improve Mood and Also Cognition
It sounds crazy, right to know that eating chicken can improve mood and cognition. Chicken has important amino acids such as tryptophan. This is an important agent in the production of serotonin that plays an important role in influencing memory and mood.
Studies show that serotonin plays an important role in every system in our body. It is vital for regulating sleep, and digestion, reducing depression and anxiety. Adding food that is high in tryptophan to your diet is an excellent way to make sure your body gets the essential amino acids.
Stronger Bones and Muscles
According to WebMD, eating chicken is good to strengthen the bone and muscles. The amino acids play important roles in building muscle tissue. Even it is important to maintain bone mineral density and decrease the risk of osteoporosis and injuries.
What is the healthiest way to cook chicken?
According to WebMD, make sure to refrigerate the chicken after buying it. Refrigerate it within 2 hours. If you won’t cook the chicken within two days, store it in the freezer using plastic wrap. Then thaw it if you want to cook it. To thaw the chicken, follow this instruction:
- You can thaw it in the refrigerator for a day before cooking.
- You can also submerge the chicken in cold tap water, but make sure to change the water every 1/2 hour.
- Microwave is also good to thaw the chicken but make sure to cook it directly after thawing.
Remember to not leave the chicken in an environment over 40 degrees F when you are thawing the chicken. In this condition, the bacteria are easier to grow.
When you are cooking, focus on the right temperature instead of the cooking duration. Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. Check it by inserting the food thermometer to the thickest part and don’t let the thermometer touch the bone.
How to bake the chicken?
For a 4-ounce boneless chicken breast, you need 20-30 minutes of baking time at a temperature of 350 degrees F. If you bake the chicken with the bone, make sure to bake it longer. You can put it in the oven for around 40 minutes at a temperature of 350 degrees F. If it is stuffed chicken breast, add extra 15-30 minutes to make sure it is cooked well.
Things To Watch Out
According to USDA, it is suggested to limit the portion size of eating protein such as chicken, between 2-6.5 ounces per day. But for physically active people, you may need more.
Make sure to store the chicken properly to prevent bacteria growth that causes foodborne illnesses. Besides, even though chicken is considered a lean protein, it contains cholesterol (even though it is a small amount). If you are limiting cholesterol, make sure to pay attention to the amount of cholesterol in the chicken. It is better to talk with your dietician to be safe.
Best Chicken Recipes for Dinner
Chicken Nachos
Chicken nachos are the best thing to enjoy when dinner. Who can resist the heavenly rich combination of chips, melted cheese, and chicken? All you need is chicken breast, bay leaves, cumin, garlic, chili powder, onion, and nacho toppings. Here is the complete recipe!
Ingredients
- 5 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breast
- 5 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
- 1 onion, cut in half
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2-4 oz cotija cheese
- 8 oz pepper jack cheese
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- 1 avocado, sliced thinly
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 2 radishes. sliced
- 1 salsa verde
Instructions
- Prepare a medium pot then place chicken and then pour water until it covers the chicken. Add chili powder, bay leaves, garlic, cumin, salt, onion, and pepper. Bring it to a boil and then simmer it until the chicken is cooked.
- Next, remove the chicken and let it cool. After that, shred the chicken using forks and mix it with salsa verde. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven.
- Prepare a baking sheet and then spread out the chips. Sprinkle the cheese and then top it with the chicken. Broil until the cheese melts.
- Last, put cilantro, avocado, cotija cheese, and radish on the top. Serve the nacho with extra salsa verde and sour cream.
Marry Me Chicken
Marry Me chicken is one of the most favorite chicken breast recipes for dinner. It is quick and very easy to make with a combination of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, herbs, parmesan cheese, and heavy cream. It is delicious.
You can substitute the chicken stock and sun-dried tomatoes with roasted red peppers and vegetable stock.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 (2 pounds) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp chicken flavor
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 7 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup basil leaves, sliced
- Mashed potatoes or cooked pasta for serving (it is optional)
Instruction
- Pat the chicken to dry and then season it with 1 tsp salt
- Prepare the skillet and heat the oil on a medium-high heat. Add the chicken then cook until golden brown. Set aside.
- On the same skillet, add garlic and then cook until fragrant. Then pour heavy cream, bouillon, chicken stock, sun-dried tomatoes, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, pepper, and the remaining salt.
- Add the chicken and bring the sauce to a simmer. Set the heat to medium-low and cook it until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Use a food thermometer to check it.
- Serve the chicken and top it with Parmesan cheese, basil, and red pepper flakes. Serve it over pasta if you like, or you can enjoy it with mashed potatoes.
Lemon Chicken
Are you looking for quick chicken recipes for dinner? Lemon chicken is the answer! The punchy ingredients boost the flavor. Thanks to a few ingredients such as lemon, garlic, and herbs. These three ingredients give a punchy taste to the plain breast. Here is how to cook it.
- 5 lbs chicken breast (4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 lemon (cut into 6 slices)
Instructions:
- Set the oven to 400 degrees F and heat it.
- Dry the chicken by patting it, and then place them on a baking sheet.
- Using a small bowl, mix thyme, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and pepper until forming a paste. Then, coat the chicken with the paste.
- Using the same bowl, mix garlic, wine, lemon zest, brown sugar, lemon juice, and the remaining salt. Then, pour it over the chicken.
- If you like using lemon slices, nestle it between the chicken and then bake it for 15 minutes. Then, baste the chicken with the juice and bake it again until there is no pink color on the meat and the juices run clear.
FAQ
Does frying chicken destroy protein?
Frying the chicken will not take away the protein, but there is a downside. You might have heard that frying chicken is not healthy. According to a 2017 article published in Women Health Mag, cooking chicken in a pan full of oil is the least healthy because it brings more calories and potentially more sodium. If you fry the chicken with flour, you might add more calories and fat than poached chicken.
If you want a healthier way, use mustard instead of eggs and flour to reduce the fat and calories. Or, you can bake the chicken using a broiler to get the crispiness without adding more fat.
How do I make chicken taste better?
There are many ways of making chicken taste better. You can marinate and season it with herbs to give it a punchy flavor. Besides, frying, baking, and poaching the chicken can also make it taste better.
Which herb goes well with chicken?
Many herbs go well with chicken such as rosemary, thyme, cilantro, oregano, basil, lemongrass, sage, tarragon, parsley, bay leaves, and marjoram.
So, what do you think about the simple chicken recipes above? Which one is your favorite?
Check also our mushroom recipes for vegetarians here.