Everyday Eclectic: Super, Simple Chicken Dinner

      If you’re like me, when you get home from work the last thing you want to do is cook a huge meal. I’ve found a super simple way to make QUICK and EASY meals instead of eating pre-packaged frozen or fast food.  It saves money, time, and it’s actually healthy!   

   Are you ready for my secret?

   FREEZER BAGS. That’s right, freezer bags have changed our family meal time.

    Last year I started buying fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts at our local Sam’s Club store. Obviously my family couldn’t eat an entire flat of chicken in one setting so I needed a way to utilize the rest of the value priced meat. That’s where freezer bags came in…

   At first I just froze the extra. But when we defrosted the chicken it was usually a little dry, or just plain boring. I rummaged around in my cabinets and came across some marinade packets that we had bought for grilling. It was like lightning struck my brain! I’m sure I heard angels singing as I looked between those dry marinade packets and that pile of poultry.

     Are you ready to get started on your super, simple chicken dinner? Just grab a few items and get going.

   

Materials:

Large Knife

Cutting Board

Spoon

Gallon Freezer Bags

Sharpie

Ingredients:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Marinade Packets

Oil

Vinegar (white or apple cider)

                                                    Water 

Step 1: Prep your space

• ·      Get out (AND OPEN) 1 bag per 1-1.5 lbs. of chicken *Trust me, you do not want to open these with chicken juice all over your hands!
• ·      Use a sharpie to label your freezer bags (write the name of one marinade on each bag)
• ·      Set out your cutting board and knife
• ·      Pull out the marinade packets and other ingredients (*different marinade packets require slight variations of additional ingredients, but water, oil, and vinegar are standard)

Step 2: Mix your marinades

• ·      Mix each marinade in a small bowl
• ·      Set the marinade packet for each mix in front of the bowl

Step 3: Put it together

• ·      Butterfly cut each chicken breast (cut it horizontally to make thinner cutlets)
• ·      Place 3-4 chicken breasts into each gallon freezer bag
• ·      Pour one marinade over each bag of poultry
• ·      Squeeze out as much air as possible and zip the bag shut
• ·      Lay the bags flat in the freezer

Now comes the best part!

      When you’re ready to make your super, simple chicken dinner, pull the Ziploc bag out of the freezer. Set it in a large bowl (or your clean, kitchen sink) and run warm tap water over it. I let it sit in the water while I change out of my work clothes and into my p.j. pants and fluffy slippers. Dinner’s well under way while I’m already starting to relax! 

     When the chicken has thawed, flip on your grill. While the grill pre-heats, put on some fast-fix sides. We like to microwave baked potatoes and toss a quick side salad or heat up some canned veggies (don't groan-at least they're vegetables!).

     Grill your chicken (or ask your spouse to cook the meat if you really want a nice break). Fixing our chicken this way really lets the marinades saturate the meat for a flavorful dish. Plate your chicken and simple sides and serve.  

Sometimes we have extra chicken left over that is terrific for chicken roll-ups, chicken salads, and chicken nachos! YUM!!

I hope this super, simple chicken dinner idea gives you a little more time to unwind in the evening! Feel free to leave an idea or comment of your own. J