Dress It Up, Spice It Up, Shake It Up: 5 Exciting and Delicious Chicken Recipes

Dress It Up, Spice It Up, Shake It Up: 5 Exciting and Delicious Chicken Recipes

By:  Jennifer U. Williams

Whether you need a quick appetizer for game day, a healthy dish for a family dinner, or anything in between, there are a variety of chicken recipes that are suitable for all occasions. Chicken is one of those great ingredients that not only provides a healthy protein option, but can also be prepared in hundreds of different ways whether you're baking it, frying it, or breading it.

And, we have a list of great chicken recipes that are easy (and quick) to make – so you can say goodbye to the excuses. Trust us, you'll have plenty of time to whip up these fantastic dishes. Here are five chicken-centric recipes that promise to satisfy your taste buds and impress your family and friends:

Mango Orange Chicken

You'll be dreaming of life on a tropical island with this exotic mango orange chicken. A combination of sauce and dressing gives it a kick, and you can serve it with couscous or rice to make a full meal.

4 servings

1 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)

2 tsp. oil

1 cup whole wheat couscous, uncooked

2 mangos, peeled, chopped

¼ cup orange juice

¼ cup sesame dressing

2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onions

2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

Mix spices; sprinkle over both sides of each chicken breast.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 6 to 7 min. on each side or until done (165ºF).

• Meanwhile, cook couscous as directed on package, omitting salt and oil. Combine remaining ingredients. 

• Spoon couscous onto platter; top with chicken. Cover to keep warm. Add mango mixture to skillet; cook 1 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Spoon over chicken.

Refrigerate any leftovers.

Grilled "Cola-Q" Chicken
This recipe is quick and easy. And best of all, it combines two great flavors into a healthy dish that your whole family will love.

6 servings

1 cup cola
½ cup barbecue sauce
2 Tbsp. hot pepper sauce
1 whole broiler-fryer chicken (3 lb.)

Heat grill to medium heat.

Cook cola and barbecue sauce in saucepan on medium heat 10 min., stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in hot sauce. Reserve 3/4 cup sauce to serve with the grilled chicken.

Cut out back bone of chicken carefully with kitchen shears or sharp knife.

Place chicken, skin-side up, and press down firmly to flatten.

Place chicken, breast-side down, on covered grill over direct heat. Grill 15 min.; turn. Grill chicken over indirect heat, on covered grill, 25 to 30 min. or until done (165ºF), turning occasionally and brushing with remaining barbecue mixture for the last 15 min. Serve with reserved sauce.

Refrigerate any leftovers.

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

This ooey-gooey dish is sure to impress kids and adults alike. It combines chicken, tomato and mozzarella for an irresistible dish that can be served for dinner – and is just as good as leftovers the next day.

6 servings

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg. (6 oz.) stuffing mix
½ cup water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Mix tomatoes, stuffing mix, water and garlic just until stuffing mix is moistened.

Layer chicken, basil and cheese in 3-qt. casserole or 13x9-inch baking dish.

Top with stuffing. Bake 30 min. or until chicken is done.

Refrigerate any leftovers.

Creamy Chicken, Bacon and Tomato Pasta

A great spin on an old Italian favorite, this chicken and bacon pasta bake can be whipped up in less than a half-hour and is a great addition to every dinner party.

4 servings
3 cups whole wheat farfalle (bow-tie pasta), uncooked
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
3 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) neufchatel cheese, cubed
½ cup water

¼ tsp. pepper
3 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese

Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.

Meanwhile, cook chicken in large skillet on medium heat 5 to 6 min. or until done, stirring occasionally. Add next 5 ingredients; mix well. Cook 3 min. or until neufchatel cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently.Drain pasta; place in large bowl. Add sauce; mix lightly. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Refrigerate any leftovers.

Caribbean BBQ Chicken

If you're looking for a summer grilling treat that your family will love, check out this great recipe for Caribbean BBQ chicken. It combines that delicious smoky barbeque flavor with several different spices for a wonderful and healthy meal.

5 servings

1 broiler-fryer chicken (3 lb.), cut up
1 tsp. each garlic powder and onion powder
½ tsp. each ground red pepper (cayenne) and black pepper
½ tsp. dried thyme leaves
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. lime juice
½ cup brown sugar & hickory barbecue sauce

Heat grill to medium heat. Trim and discard excess fat from chicken.

Mix seasonings in small bowl until well blended; stir in lime juice to form paste. Rub onto chicken.

Place chicken, skin-side up, on grill; cover with lid.

Grill 25 min., turning and brushing with 1/4 cup barbecue sauce after 15 min. Turn chicken over; brush with remaining barbecue sauce. Grill 5 min. or until chicken is done (165°F).

Refrigerate any leftovers.