Three Alarm Blackened Chicken Food

BLACKENED CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the penne, then drain and set aside.
• Place olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add chicken; cook until cooked through, turning chicken halfway through. Remove from pan and slice into bite-sized pieces. Return chicken pieces to pan with mushrooms, tomatoes, green onions and minced garlic. Saute together while tossing occasionally for 2 minutes. Add heavy cream, Parmesan, Creole seasoning and noodles to chicken and vegetables and cook, stirring frequently to heat noodles and melt cheese. Taste and add more Creole seasoning until it's just right. If you are brave enough to toss all the ingredients in the pan, do it! We love to catch the flame just right and it creates a wonderful show for the guests to watch.

BLACKENED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Let the chicken come to room temperature before using.
• Cover chicken with butter until well coated.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot.
• Roll each chicken breast into about 1/2 tsp. seasoning mix (I use my hands).
• Immediately place the chicken pieces skin side down in the skillet to sear.
• Pour about 1 teaspoon of the butter on top.
• Cook about 2+ minutes, until a crust forms on the underside.
• Turn and pour another 1 teaspoon of the butter on each of the chicken pieces.
• Cook until just cooked through.

THREE ALARM BLACKENED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut chicken into bite sized pieces.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet.
• Combine cayenne pepper, cinnamon, Cajun seasoning, paprika an salt in a bowl.
• Rub spice mixture into chicken.
• Place chicken in skillet and cook until cooked thoroughly.
• Serve with Alfredo (recipe #4205) and your choice of noodles.
• Variation: If you are using this recipe for something besides pasta, pound chicken breasts to 3/4 inch and cook as directed.
• Variation: If you want to downgrade to One Alarm Blacken Chicken: use 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and Cajun seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon paprika and salt.

GRILLED BLACKENED CAJUN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Brine the chicken: Combine 4 cups water, 2/3 cup salt, and the brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and whisk until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Turn off the heat and transfer to a bowl or pot large enough to submerge the chicken. Stir in 6 cups of ice water and let cool completely. Submerge the chicken in the cooled brine, cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
• Take the chicken out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Remove from the brine and pat dry completely.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high indirect heat: For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes turn off one of the middle burners. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups. (Be sure to consult the grill manufacturer's guide for best results.)
• Whisk together the paprika, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, cayenne, garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Brush the chicken all over with the melted butter, and then pat on all of the dry rub mixture.
• Grill the chicken: Place the chicken breast-side up on the indirect side of the grill, with the legs facing the hotter side of the grill. Cover and cook until an instant-read thermometer reads at least 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone), 50 to 60 minutes. The chicken will be quite dark and blackened in spots.
• Remove from the grill and let rest on a cutting board for at least 20 minutes before carving.