Chicken That’s Ready in 30 Minutes!
Quick, Easy, Versatile, and Tasty Chicken!!
3 Ingredients…That’s It!!
Chicken Breast, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Seasoning!
Whole Food Eating Made Easy For Busy Living!
Do you like the idea of eating more whole foods, but life gets in the way?
Things like:
You are short on time to spend in the kitchen
You are not sure where to begin
Your family is on different schedules, running in opposite directions, at different times of the day
Your family has different tastes and dietary needs, which can feel overwhelming to navigate
I can relate to all of the above!
When I started approaching my health issues with nutrition, the kitchen was not exactly my happy place. My cooking style was slow, cautious, stressful, and meticulous. I was so uncomfortable in the kitchen that my husband used to tease me that if I had a cooking show it would be called “The Paranoid Chef!” LOL
Whatever length of time a recipe says it takes to make, it takes me 3xs as long!
A recipe might say all you need is 15 minutes, but that’s often not taking into account the 30 minutes of chopping and prepping the meal.
I tell you this because I want you to know that I am being honest when I say that this chicken takes a legit 30 minutes…from taking the chicken out of the refrigerator, to being cooked and ready to eat!
It’s not a fancy recipe…but that does not mean it is lacking in flavor!
In this Post You Will Find:
Suggested ways you and your family can enjoy this versatile chicken
Things to be mindful of when selecting your seasoning
Step-by-step instructions on how to make this seasoned chicken
The Different Ways You and Your Family Can Enjoy This!
This is a great option to make ahead of time!
If your family members have different tastes, this chicken is a great building block that each person can customize to their liking!
Suggested ways to enjoy it:
Have it as the main protein in a traditional meal, rounded out with sides of vegetables and/or maybe a side salad.
Have it on top of a salad, for either lunch or dinner. Make this an even easier meal by using a bagged salad mix.
The chicken has enough flavor that it tastes great as it is. But it is subtle enough to be customized with favorite dipping sauces… like BBQ, ranch, or for little kiddos (or kiddos at heart) ketchup.
You can use it to make a wrap (lettuce or regular)…such as Chicken Caesar, or Chicken Bacon Ranch.
It makes a great protein option for breakfast. Out of the box idea, I know, but it works!
Another option is to heat it on a roll, adding your preferred sauce and melting cheese on top. My one son’s specialty was making it into a Buffalo Chicken-style sandwich.
They also freeze great! You can put individual-sized servings in BPA-free freezer bags. You can defrost them the night before in the refrigerator, or defrost quickly by placing the bag in a bowl of cool water.
This chicken is a great, ready-to-grab-and-go staple for whoever would like it, whenever they want it, however they want it!
Things to be Mindful of When Selecting a Seasoning
Often, seasonings can contain unnecessary ingredients. I encourage you to read the detailed list of ingredients on the back of the container.
Ingredients to avoid when possible:
Sugar
Maltodextrin (aka sugar)
MSG
Natural flavors
Artificial flavors
Seed oils
Preservatives
Any product that has a number and/or a color listed as an ingredient.
Favorable things to look for, as well as things to consider for your personal dietary needs:
Organic
Non GMO (meaning it does not have genetically modified foods as ingredients)
Gluten free
Any personal allergens you need to look out for
If you struggle with inflammation and/or have an autoimmune condition, you may benefit from avoiding nightshade ingredients, as they can trigger an inflammatory response within your body. Nightshade foods are tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and white potatoes (including potato starch). There are also spices in the nightshade family, such as cayenne pepper, paprika, and spices derived from both bell peppers and hot peppers.
The general term “spices” is something to be mindful of, especially if you have inflammation and/or an autoimmune condition. The reason is that, since it is a general term, you have no way of knowing what specific ingredients are in that product.
I like this AIP seasoning by Paleo Powder. It’s great if you have an autoimmune condition, as it is compliant with the elimination phase of the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP).
The ingredients are:
Himalayan pink salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, sage.
They do have other seasonings to pick from, including one specific to a Low FODMAP diet.
You can find their products on their website www.paleopowderseasoning.com
You can also find them on Amazon.
FYI…I am not an affiliate of this company. I just really like their products, so I am happy to tell people about them!
Quick and Easy Steps for Seasoned Chicken
Arrange the oven racks with one rack on the second shelf from the bottom, and another rack on the second shelf down from the top
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper (preferably unbleached paper)
Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts. What you see pictured is 3 lbs. of chicken.
Trim the chicken breasts
How to Cut the Chicken for Quick Cooking and Extra Flavor
Trim off the smaller part of the chicken that is on the side of the breast. Place that on one tray.
Then slice the larger part of the breast in half horizontally, like a cutlet. Place the larger portion on one tray and the smaller portion with the first trimmed off pieces.
Being thinner and smaller helps the chicken cook faster and adds additional flavor.
Chicken Prepared for the Oven
Brush with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and sprinkle with seasoning on both sides.
To prepare the chicken, start with the tray that has the larger breasts. Brush them with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and then sprinkle them with seasoning. Flip them over and repeat the same steps on that side.
Place them in the oven on the second rack from the bottom and set the timer for 15 minutes.
While those are starting to cook, repeat the above steps to prepare the 2nd tray of chicken with the Extra Virgin Olive Oil and seasoning. This takes about five minutes.
When the second tray is prepared, place that in the oven on the rack second from the top. At this point, your timer should have about 10 minutes left.
When the timer goes off, check the first tray that you put in. Check the internal temperature of the thickest part of one of the breasts to see that it is 165 degrees.
If so, remove them from the tray and place them in a glass serving dish or storage container.
Then check the second tray you put in. Check the internal temperature of the thickest part of one of those pieces to be sure the temperature has reached 165 degrees.
If so, remove them as well, and place them with the others in the glass serving dish or storage container.
And Voila!!
Quick and easy chicken ready in 30 minutes!!
Let me know if you make this, and what your family’s favorite way to have it is!
Enjoy!!