5 Effortless Chicken Dinners
No dredging, no searing, no carving: just simple meals with minimal steps.
By Lynn Andriani
Roasted Chicken in 35 Minutes (No, Really)
Moist and rich-tasting roasted chicken need not be something you only enjoy on a weekend when you have hours to spend in the kitchen—chicken parts can roast in less than 40 minutes. Use drumsticks and thighs, since they cook quickly but will stay juicy. Toss a handful of cherry or grape tomatoes onto the pan for the last 15 minutes of cooking, and then serve them alongside as a sweet, chunky sauce.
Get the recipe: Roasted Chicken (the Speedy Way)
Poached Chicken That Departs from the Usual
Poaching chicken is one of the easiest, healthiest and least messy ways to cook the bird. Traditional poaching uses water flavored with aromatics such as herbs, celery, carrots, salt and pepper, but this Asian-inspired version has you mix lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce and slices of chili pepper into the water. In 15 minutes, you'll have tender meat that you can eat just as it is, or shred for use in a salad.
Get the recipe: Shredded Lime and Chili Chicken on Basil Leaves
Tandoori Chicken Without a Special Oven or 25 Ingredients
The cylindrical clay ovens you see in Indian restaurants certainly look impressive, but Raghavan Iyer, author of
Indian Cooking Unfolded, says they aren't necessary to turn out spicy, succulent chicken that's worthy of any buffet. To make his supereasy take on the classic dish, you combine yogurt and spices (just 3 of them) in the blender, let chicken breasts sit in the sauce for a half-hour, and then grill or oven-roast.
Get the recipe: Tandoori Chicken
The No-Brainer Roast You Can Make for Company (Or Yourself, with Lots of Leftovers)
Don't be scared off by the list of ingredients in this dish—the only things that require chopping are scallions. Once you've done that, just put everything—including chicken pieces and chicken sausage—in a roasting pan and slide it into the oven. An hour or so later, you'll have succulent chicken and sausage, tender vegetables and a pan sauce that's terrific with crusty bread.
Get the recipe: Roast Chicken with Green Beans and Artichokes
Grilled Chicken Kabobs with a Kick
A chicken dinner doesn't get much easier than throwing a few breasts on the grill (or grill pan or cast-iron pan), but if you're looking for something beyond the usual olive oil, salt and pepper, try this recipe from chef Charlie Trotter. He makes a marinade with olive oil, garlic, orange juice, lime juice, cilantro and a poblano pepper. And although Trotter soaks the chicken in the dressing for 30 minutes before cooking,
new research suggests you can also just brush the marinade on
after grilling—and still get tons of flavor.
Get the recipe: Cilantro and Orange Chicken Kabobs
Next: What to serve with chicken
Published 10/30/2013
