What's for Dinner?

This is a simple recipe that doesn't take much effort to make. I did kinda squish the whole tomatoes to add a little more juice so you might want to add something if you like yours more saucy. Serve this over egg noodles and you're good to go! Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients

1/3 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
3/4 pound chicken meat, cooked and cubed
1/2 cup whole peeled tomatoes
1/2 cup green beans
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Directions

In a large skillet, saute onion, garlic and bell pepper until soft. Add chicken, then stir in tomatoes, beans and oregano.
Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and serve hot.

Sometimes it's nice to indulge in a old fashioned fried chicken dinner. This recipe is fantastic. I think my 10 year old was quoted as saying "I'm obsessed with this chicken, Mom." When you're not in the mood to count calories, give this one a try! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 (4 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
4 cups oil for deep frying
MARINADE
4 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon monosodium glutamate
COATING
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon monosodium glutamate

Directions

Preheat oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
To Marinate: In a large glass dish or bowl, combine the water, salt and monosodium glutamate and mix together. Add chicken and turn to coat; cover and refrigerate to marinate for 20 minutes, turning a few times.
In a shallow dish or bowl, mix together egg and milk. In a separate shallow dish or bowl, mix together the flour, salt, pepper and monosodium glutamate. Remove chicken from marinade (discarding remaining marinade) and drain. One at a time, dip chicken pieces into flour mixture, then egg/milk mixture, then flour mixture again, making sure each piece is well coated. Stack coated pieces on a plate or cookie sheet.
Drop chicken, one piece at a time, into hot oil. Fry half of the chicken pieces (4 pieces) for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, then fry remaining pieces for the same amount of time. (Note: Stir chicken around halfway through the frying time, so that each piece cooks evenly). Drain fried chicken for about 5 minutes on paper towels or a wire cooling rack before serving.

This recipe only has 5 ingredients and you probably already have them in the house. That makes this super simple to throw together. It's perfect for a weeknight! Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Clean chicken breasts and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder (or whichever seasonings you prefer) on both sides of chicken pieces.
Bake for 25 minutes, then add cream of chicken soup and bake for 10 more minutes (or until done). Serve over rice or egg noodles.

I really liked this recipe. It's kind of like a chicken stir fry. The vegetable stay nice and crisp and don't get soggy. And it's quick! Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients

8 ounces dry penne pasta
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 (15 ounce) can chicken broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes
1 onion, sliced
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 cup medium-dry white wine
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and reserve pasta.
Whisk the cornstarch and chicken broth together in a bowl until smooth. Set aside until needed.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chicken; stir and cook until the chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear, about 10 minutes. Stir in the onion, and green and red peppers; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth mixture and wine, if desired, and season with oregano and basil. Stir in the cooked pasta, and simmer over medium heat until thoroughly heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese.

I don't usually make whole chickens but this one looked so easy that I couldn't resist. The meat was very moist and tender and it was pure comfort food. Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 (4 pound) whole chicken
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1 lime, halved
1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can beer
1 cup water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lime over the whole chicken, then place the halves into the cavity of the chicken. Set the half full beer can in the center of a roasting pan or baking dish, and place the chicken over it in an upright position with the beer inserted into the cavity. Pour water into the bottom of the pan. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil, and place roasting pan and all into the oven.
Roast the chicken for about 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, removing foil during the last 20 minutes. Baste occasionally with the drippings. When finished, the internal temperature of the chicken should be 180 degrees F (80 degrees C) when taken in the meatiest part of the thigh. Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

This is kind of like a ravioli lasagna and it's MUCH easier to make! You can use any kind of ravioli, meat or sauce that you like. Just use whatever you have in the house! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 (25 ounce) package frozen cheese ravioli
2 tablespoons butter
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 (16 ounce) jar prepared Alfredo sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil; boil the ravioli until it floats and the filling is hot, 6 to 8 minutes; drain.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken to the skillet, season with the Italian seasoning, and cook and stir until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle, about 15 minutes.
Spread about 1/2 cup of Alfredo sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange enough ravioli over the sauce to cover the bottom of the dish completely. Top the ravioli with about half the cooked chicken. Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese over the chicken; season with salt and pepper. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used.
Bake in the preheated oven until heated through completely and the mozzarella cheese is melted, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over the top of the dish; return to oven to cook another 5 minutes before serving.

This is a great way to use up leftover chicken. It's very simple but has a ton of flavor. My kids loved to dip them in ketchup. Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

3 cups cooked, finely chopped chicken meat
1 1/2 cups seasoned dry bread crumbs
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups sauteed chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

In a large bowl combine the chicken, bread crumbs, 2 eggs and onion and mix well; if mixture is too dry to form patties, mix in another lightly beaten egg. Then add parsley, salt and pepper to taste, mix well and form into small patties.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and fry patties in oil until golden brown.

This was so good! I used boneless breasts because that's what I could find when I went food shopping. The whole family loved it, even my 3 year old who is finicky at dinner! Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 bone-in chicken breast halves, with skin
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 thick slices bacon
1/2 cup mushrooms, halved
1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Pour melted butter into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add chicken, skin side down; sprinkle with seasoning salt and garlic. Turn chicken over, season, and lay bacon strips on top. Sprinkle with mushrooms.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes to 60 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.
Remove chicken, bacon and mushrooms to a platter and keep warm. Pour juices from baking dish into a small saucepan and whisk together with cream over low heat until thickened. Pour sauce over chicken and serve warm.

This recipe is a good stick to your ribs meal. It's super easy to throw together and because you cook the chicken low and slow, it's almost fork tender when it's done. It's a great recipe for when the weather gets colder. Oh, also I eliminated the curry powder because I am not a fan. Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 (6 ounce) package unseasoned dry bread stuffing mix
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Line bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with chicken breasts. Spoon prepared stuffing mix over chicken. Mix the cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, sour cream, curry powder, and lemon juice. Pour mixture over top of stuffing.
Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour, until chicken juices run clear.

I've made Alfredo from scratch before but never like this. I loved the addition of the vegetables and the Colby jack cheese. If you like Alfredo sauce, I highly recommend you try this variation! Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into cubes
6 tablespoons butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 pound fettuccini pasta
1 onion, diced
1 (8 ounce) package sliced mushrooms
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
3 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions

In a large skillet over medium heat combine chicken, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 cloves garlic, and Italian seasoning. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Saute onion, 2 cloves garlic, and mushrooms until onions are transparent. Stir in flour, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes. Slowly add milk and half-and-half, stirring until smooth and creamy. Stir in Parmesan and Colby-Monterey Jack cheeses; stir until cheese is melted. Stir in chicken mixture, tomatoes and sour cream. Serve over cooked fettuccini.

This is a easy way to make take out at home. There are only 5 ingredients! Instead of using a whole chicken, I used boneless, skinless breasts and cut them up in small pieces and served over rice. My family loved it! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut in half
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

Rinse chicken halves, and pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken cut side down in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine sugar, soy sauce, grated ginger and garlic. Mix well, and pour mixture over chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake chicken uncovered in the preheated oven for 1 hour, basting frequently. Test for doneness, making sure there is no pink left in the meat. Let cool slightly, then cut into smaller pieces to serve.

I love this recipe. It's so easy and so basic but the addition of the pepper makes a big impact. They really add flavor to store bought sauce. Great for a weeknight dinner! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 pound raw chicken tenders or strips
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch wide strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch wide strips
1 yellow bell peppers, cut into 1/2 inch wide strips
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 1/2 cups four cheese Alfredo sauce
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Place chicken and flour in a large resealable plastic bag; seal bag and shake to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Shake excess flour off chicken and saute in oil for 4 to 5 minutes each side, or until golden brown and cooked through (juices run clear). Remove from skillet and place in a medium bowl; set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, reserving 2/3 cup cooking water, and return pasta to pot. Set aside pasta and cooking water.
Wipe skillet with paper towel. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in skillet over medium heat. Add green bell pepper, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, onion and garlic and saute for 3 minutes. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook 3 minutes more or until vegetables are tender.
Stir in Alfredo sauce, cover and heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add to reserved pasta in pot, then add reserved cooking water and chicken. Toss to mix, pour into serving bowls and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.

Umm, this was delicious. It was so simple to make and it was just so yummy and so filling. I wish I didn't get full so fast because it made me want to have more. It's a perfect, quick, weeknight meal. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup pesto
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken and garlic until chicken is almost cooked. Reduce heat and stir in salt, pepper, cream, pesto and Parmesan cheese. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Stir in cooked pasta.

This is a hearty italian dish that is pretty simple to make. You probably already have most of the ingredients at home already! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
6 cloves garlic, sliced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic and olive oil
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 bunch fresh basil, chopped
1 (12 ounce) package dried penne pasta
2 eggs
2 cups bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 pound thin chicken breast cutlets

Directions
Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, and saute for a few minutes. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes, and saute for another minute. Pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, and add the basil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta, and cook for 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain.
In a small bowl, whisk eggs with a fork. Place bread crumbs in a separate bowl. Stir the garlic powder, salt and pepper into the bread crumbs. Dip chicken cutlets into the egg, then press into the bread crumbs until completely coated.
Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken for about 5 minutes per side, or until the coating is a nice dark brown color.
Remove chicken, and cut into slices. Toss the chicken slices into the sauce, and simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in the cooked penne, simmer for a few more minutes to soak up the flavor, then serve.

This is an easy alternative to frying chicken on the stove with oil spattering everywhere. It still gets very crispy and it tastes great. Great meal for kids! I used chicken breasts instead of thighs. Makes 10 servings.

Ingredients
12 chicken thighs
3 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place flour in a shallow plate or bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Put the bread crumbs in another shallow plate or bowl and beat the eggs in another bowl.
Dredge the chicken piece by piece in the flour, then the egg, then the bread crumbs, until all pieces are coated. Pour the oil into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add the chicken to the dish and sprinkle with paprika to taste. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then turn pieces over and bake for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven and drain on paper towels. Enjoy!

This recipe is a little time consuming, but it is worth it. It has a lot of flavor but not too overpowering for kids. It's also easy to adjust the quantity depending on how many people you are cooking for. Makes 6-8 servings.

Ingredients
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (10.75 ounce) can low-fat cream of celery soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
6 ounces low fat mozzarella cheese, sliced
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish, in a single layer. Cover with the celery soup and bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over and bake for another 30 minutes, until browned. Remove from oven.
Combine the mushroom soup, water, onion, garlic and oregano and mix all together. Pour mixture over chicken. Top with mozzarella cheese slices, pushing the cheese down into the sauce. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes more until bubbly and golden brown.

This recipe has such simple ingredients but has a lot of flavor! It's very easy to make and is the perfect amount for a family of 4. Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup water 3/4 cup uncooked long grain rice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Directions
In a large skillet, heat oil and butter. Add chicken, onion and green pepper; cook and stir until the chicken is lightly browned and vegetables are tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Transfer to a lightly greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 375 degrees F for 55-60 minutes or until the rice is tender.

This is a super simple marinade but it packs a lot of flavor. I only had time to marinate my chicken for an hour but it didn't take away from the taste at all. Add your favorite vegetables and Voila! Deliciousness! Makes 12 servings.

Ingredients
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
2 cloves garlic
5 small onions, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces
skewers

Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Before adding chicken, reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking. Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers in the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer the better).
Preheat the grill for high heat.
Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently.

This is delicious! Mixing the bread crumbs and flour together gives the chicken a really nice crust. And it's SO juicy! LOVE! Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients
2 teaspoons garlic powder, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin
1 cup oil for frying, or as needed

Directions
In a shallow dish, mix together the garlic powder, pepper, salt, paprika, bread crumbs and flour. In a separate dish, whisk together the milk and egg.
Heat the oil in an electric skillet set to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dip the chicken into the egg and milk, then dredge in the dry ingredients until evenly coated.
Fry chicken in the hot oil for about 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Remove from the oil with a slotted spatula, and serve.

This is so simple! I had never made a whole chicken before and it's just so easy. I may have to do it more often now! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1 (3 pound) whole chicken, rinsed
salt and pepper to taste
1 small onion, quartered
1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Stuff with the onion and rosemary. Place chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish or roasting dish.
Roast in the preheated oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Cooking time will vary a bit depending on the size of the bird.