Cast Iron Chicken Food

CAST-IRON SKILLET CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 F, or as high as it will go. Preheat cast-iron skillet over high heat. (Note: Chef Gillespie uses an 8-inch skillet to cook 2 servings; use two 8-inch skillets or one 14-inch skillet to cook 4 servings.) Butcher the chicken: First, make a cut along one side of the backbone, as close to the bone as possible. Carefully cut down until the breast and tenderloin can be pulled away from the carcass in one piece; pop the thigh bone out of the joint, and continue cutting from thigh to wing joint to detach the entire half from the carcass. Repeat procedure with the other side of the chicken. (Reserve the carcass for stock.)
• Extend the wing and cut through joint between the flat and the drumette. (Reserve the wing for stock.) Make a cut to separate the breast from the thigh, so you have a leg-and-thigh piece and a breast-and-drumette piece. When the skillet is smoking hot, add the grapeseed oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Pat the chicken pieces completely dry with paper towels; then generously season on all sides with salt.
• Very gently lay the leg-thigh in the skillet, skin side down, and cook until the skin is nicely browned, about 2 minutes. No need to peek or move the chicken-just let it cook undisturbed. When the skin is browned, it will release easily from the pan; flip it over so it's skin side up. Add the breast to the skillet, skin side down. Place skillet in the oven and cook, 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, remove skillet from the oven and check to see if chicken is done: the juices bubbling at the bone should be clear, and the meat should be retracting at the thigh bone. Serve.

CAST IRON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Chop all the veggies in bite-sized pieces.
• Season the chicken with garlic salt, pepper, and a light sprinkle of flour. Brown the chicken in a cast iron or oven safe skillet with a small amount of olive oil. Take the chicken out of the skillet and set aside.
• Place all the veggies in the skillet and season with garlic salt, pepper, dried parsley and add a little olive oil if needed. Toss in the skillet to coat with the chicken drippings.
• Place chicken back on top of the veggies and cook in the oven for about 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked all the way through.

SKILLET ROSEMARY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cover the potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until tender, about 8 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Pile the rosemary leaves, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes on a cutting board, then mince and mash into a paste using a large knife. Transfer the paste to a bowl. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon and the olive oil. Add the chicken and turn to coat.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, cover and cook until the skin browns, about 5 minutes. Turn the chicken; add the mushrooms and potatoes to the skillet and drizzle with the juice of the remaining lemon.
• Add the rosemary sprigs and the squeezed lemon halves to the skillet; transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Per serving: Calories 413; Fat 23 g (Saturated 5 g); Cholesterol 87 mg; Sodium 1,055 mg; Carbohydrate 19 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 32 g

CAST IRON SKILLET CAJUN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken breasts with half the amount of Tony's seasoning. Set aside.
• Warm up the skillet over medium high heat.
• Add lard or butter an allow to melt.
• Add onions and sautee until they look carmelized (they should turn a nice light brown in the cast iron pan, but not burned).
• Add the remaining Tony's, crushed white peppercorns and garlic powder to onions and stir.
• Turn heat down to medium.
• Add chicken breasts and allow them to brown on one side. Flip each breast.
• Spoon onions on top of breasts.
• Add a few Tablespoons water.
• Turn flame down to low/medium and cover pan.
• Simmer for 20 minutes, checking occasionally.
• Serve. The gravy and onions are great over rice.