Creamy Lemon Basil Chicken Food

PAN-SEARED CHICKEN IN LEMON BASIL CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Dry the chicken tenderloins with a paper towel.
• On a plate or shallow dish, mix together the flour and spices: basil, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic, and onion.
• Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture to coat both sides.
• Heat a large skillet to medium high heat. When it is hot, add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil, and swirl to coat.
• Add about half the chicken tenderloins. Don't add them all at once or they will steam, not sear, and that won't get you those nice crispy brown edges. Leave about an inch in between each piece of chicken.
• Sear for about 4 minutes. Keep an eye on it and make sure it's not cooking too quickly. Turn the heat down to medium if necessary.
• Flip the chicken and cook for another 2 minutes or so, until brown.
• Remove the chicken to a plate and sear the other batch, adding more oil if the pan gets dry.
• When the chicken is done and out of the pan, add the chicken broth and lemon juice. Keep the heat on medium high. Scrape up the browned bits with a wooden spoon.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for about 3 minutes.
• Add the cream. Bring to a simmer again and continue simmering for 5-8 minutes until the sauce has thickened some.
• Remove from heat and add fresh basil and lemon zest. Return the chicken to the pan.
• Serve with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, cauliflower rice, etc.

CHICKEN IN BASIL LEMON CREAM

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken with cold water and dry on paper towels, trim off any excess fat and tough tissue.
• Pound out the breast using a meat hammer until tenderized and an even thickness and dredge chicken in flour seasoned with salt and pepper, shaking off excess flour.
• Cook the chicken breasts in a pre-heated non-stick skillet with two tablespoons of the oil over medium high heat until just done.
• Place the breasts aside on a plate and cover while making sauce.
• Heat the chicken stock in a microwave, approximately two minutes on high then heat the remaining tablespoon of oil and butter in a small skillet or saucepan over medium heat, careful not to burn butter.
• Add the flour and stir into a paste to create a roux, continue to cook the roux over medium heat until it becomes a blonde roux, approximately two-four minutes.
• Remove the roux from the heat. add the heated chicken stock to all roux slowly, in stages, being sure to return the roux to a smooth paste or slurry after each addition.
• When all of the chicken stock has been incorporated, return the pan to medium heat and cook until the stock has thickened into a veloute, while still on medium heat, add the lemon juice, lemon zest, basil, white wine, salt and sugar to the veloute.
• Stir and cook for two minutes, then slowly add the cream. At this point, add additional stock or reduce the sauce to the desired thickness and adjust the seasonings to your personal taste.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and pour over the chicken breasts.
• *NOTE: This dish freezes nicely. If you are making ahead, cook sauce, pour 1/2 cup or more over each chicken breast, covering the chicken completely. Store in a refrigerator or freezer. To reheat (if frozen, thaw in the refrigerator the night before the day of consumption) heat in microwave using 70% power for approximately 3 minutes or until hot throughout.

CREAMY LEMON BASIL CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. In large skillet over medium heat add 1 tablespoon olive oil and brown chicken breasts on both sides. If necessary work in batches so the skillet is not crowded. Plate chicken, cover and keep warm.
• 2. If needed add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to same skillet over LOW heat. Add garlic, basil and onion powder and cook for 30 seconds. Add chicken broth and stir to scrap brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add cream and simmer until slightly thickened; approximately 10-15 minutes. Add lemon juice and salt & pepper to taste. Return chicken to skillet and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Top with parsley and fresh lemon slices serve.
• 3. NOTES Cooking time on the chicken in the final step will depend on how much it cooked while browning and how thick it is. You can always slice a small piece and check. If the sauce gets too thick will cooking add 1-2 tablespoons chicken broth. If it is too thin add 1-2 tablespoons cream.

CREAMY LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the flour in a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat, then add the oil. Dredge the chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess, and place in the hot oil. Cook until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a plate.
• Add the garlic to the pan, carefully add the wine and, using a wooden spoon, scrape the bottom of the pan to release any flavor stuck to the bottom. Add the cream, Parmesan, lemon zest and juice and some salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce starts to thicken, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach, stir and return the chicken to the pan. Cook for 1 minute more, until the spinach has wilted. Garnish with basil and lemon slices.

BAKED CHICKEN BREAST WITH LEMON AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Wash chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towels. Trim and discard fat. Tenderize chicken with a meat mallet. Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil on each breast, lightly covering both front and back. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and set on the prepared baking sheet.
• Squeeze juice from one lemon half over the chicken breasts. Sprinkle with basil. Cut 2 slices of lemon from the remaining half and set 1 slice on each breast. Reserve remaining lemon for another use.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken breast is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from oven, cover with foil, and allow to rest for 7 minutes before serving.

LEMON BASIL CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• MELT butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add garlic, and saute 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add half-and-half and chicken broth.
• Bring to a boil, and cook 8 minutes or until reduced by half.
• WHISK together lemon juice and cornstarch until smooth.
• Whisk lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon pepper into butter mixture, and cook, whisking constantly, 2 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from heat.
• DO NOT ADD BASIL UNTIL READY TO SERVE.

LEMON BASIL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Clean and trim fat from chicken, and salt and pepper each side. Place chicken in a baking dish, skin side up.
• Loosen the skin on each piece, and place a basil leaf under the skin, directly on top of the chicken meat.
• Toss the garlic around the chicken in the baking dish.
• Place the lemon slices on top of each piece of chicken and drizzle with the oil.
• Bake for 35 - 40 minutes (depending on whether it's white meat or dark meat), basting with the garlic flavored pan juices every 10 minutes. The skin should be crisp and brown and the meat tender when it's ready to serve.

CREAMY LEMON BASIL-CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic and pepper; cook 1 min. Add half the chicken; cook 2 min. or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Remove from skillet; cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining chicken; return all chicken to skillet.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Mix reserved water with Neufchatel and bouillon until blended. Add to chicken with lemon zest; mix well. Cover; cook on low heat 5 min. or until chicken is done. Stir in pasta, lemon juice and basil; cook; uncovered, 1 min. or until heated through, stirring frequently. Add mozzarella; cook and stir 1 min. or until melted.