Crispy Lemon Basil Chicken With Loaded Bacon Mashed Potatoes And Broccoli Food

LEMON BASIL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make 4 pieces (try to make them equal sized for an even cooking). Set aside.
• Prepare the marinade. In a large glass bowl combine lemon juice, honey, water, garlic and basil. (You can also use a large ziplock bag: add all the ingredients, seal and shake to combine).
• Place chicken in the marinade bowl (or ziplock bag) and toss so that all the breasts are covered with marinade. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, refrigerate and marinate for one hour (or at least 30 minutes).
• When chicken has marinated, heat olive oil in a non stick skillet, on high heat. Remove chicken from marinade, paying attention to remove all the garlic and basil leaves that may have sticked to the breasts (they would burn while cooking).
• When skillet is very hot, brown chicken breasts 2 minutes per side (4 minutes total). Pour the marinade in the skillet and mix well to get all the meat juices. Bring to a boil (this will happen very quickly) and cook for one minute.
• Reduce to a rapid simmer (medium heat) and cook for 5 more minutes, basting the sauce over the chicken breasts regularly. Chicken is ready when no longer pink inside (don't over cook to make sure chicken isn't dry).
• To serve, place chicken on a plate, and spoon sauce on top. Scatter fresh basil or parsley, if using, and serve.
• Sides suggestion: mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower to soak up all the sauce, with a green salad on the side.

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.

BAKED CHICKEN, POTATO, AND BACON CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels.
• Arrange potatoes in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, then arrange on top of the potatoes. Drizzle the chicken dish with olive oil; sprinkle with thyme and rosemary. Crumble the bacon over the top of the dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the centers and potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.

MASHED POTATOES WITH BACON & GARLIC

Steps:

• Roasted garlic: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves; place in center of a sheet of foil. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top and season generously with salt. Wrap in foil and bake in the oven until golden and tender, about 1 hour.
• Potatoes: Cut peeled potatoes into ½-inch dice. (Note: Potatoes can be peeled and diced 1 day in advance. Store completely submerged in cold water in the refrigerator, changing the water every few hours to prevent browning.) Place diced potatoes into a pot filled with cold salted water (as "salty as the sea"). Bring to a boil over high heat, 6-8 minutes. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook until fork tender, 15-20 minutes.
• Bacon bits: In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp and browned, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon bits to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the bacon fat in a small bowl and set aside.
• Return the pan to stove over low heat, and add just enough half-and-half to coat the bottom of the pan. Use a wooden spatula to deglaze the pan, scraping up all the browned bits (or "fond"). When small bubbles form around the edges of the pan, add the rest of the half-and-half. Stir until warmed through, then remove from heat.
• Potatoes are done cooking when you can easily cut a piece in half with a fork. Drain potatoes in a colander, then add back to the pot. Turn heat to medium-low and let them dry, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 1-2 minutes. When the bottom of the pot is dry, turn off the heat: they are ready for the potato ricer. Transfer potatoes to a large bowl. Work all the potatoes through the ricer and back into the pot. Fold in half of the warm half-and-half and gently stir to combine; avoid overmixing the potatoes, which could lead to a gluey texture. Add another ½ cup of half-and-half, and stir again. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat, and stir to combine. Add more half-and-half as needed to reach desired consistency. Then season to taste with salt and pepper (keeping in mind that the bacon bits will also add salt).
• Squeeze roasted garlic out of its skin into a small bowl, and use a fork to mash it into a paste. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to thin out the paste and continue mashing. Fold the garlic paste into the potatoes and stir to distribute evenly; then add half the bacon bits and gently stir to incorporate. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl, garnish with remaining bacon bits, and serve immediately.

LEMON-BASIL POTATOES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes, chicken stock, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes and place in a serving bowl. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil. Add the lemon zest and 3 tablespoons of the basil. Toss well and garnish with the remaining chopped basil.

LEMON-MUSTARD CHICKEN WITH CHIVE MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Put the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with cold water; season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until tender, 15 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup cooking water, then drain the potatoes; return to the pot. Add the sour cream, butter and reserved cooking water and mash with a masher or fork. Stir in the chives and season with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, place the chicken skin-side up on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Bake 20 minutes; remove from the oven.
• Mix the mustard, lemon juice, garlic, 2 teaspoons olive oil and the thyme; brush on the chicken and push to the sides of the pan. Toss the broccolini with the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil in the middle of the pan; season with salt and pepper. Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the broccolini is tender, 10 minutes. Serve with the potatoes.

EASY CREAMY LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until lightly browned on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Place in a baking dish.
• Stir lemon juice and zest into the leftover butter in the pan, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in half-and-half slowly. Stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese until sauce is smooth. Pour sauce over chicken.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 20 to 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese on top.

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.