I was recently at my friends house enjoying an afternoon catch-up. Her daughter came by and started picking my brain about an easy, but impressive, meal she could prepare for a dinner party she was hosting.
I immediately thought of chicken recipes. Chicken’s regularly on sale so fits within her limited budget, and you can add many layers of spices and ingredients to turn something basic into a magical meal.
Kathy Sills’s (Harrisville, MS) Tuscan Chicken Bruschetta with Lime and Olive Salsa “is perfect for a light meal,” says Kathy. “For a party cut into bite size pieces and add salsa to the top!” The lime olive salsa is so very good and offsets the flavorful chicken perfectly.
“Just about everyone who’s ever tried my Balsamic Chicken Garden Medley says [this is] one of the tastiest chicken dishes they’ve ever eaten,” Lisa Crum (Delbarton, WV) shares. This recipe is very yummy, and with warmer weather fast approaching it’s a great way to cook from your garden.
While delicious, Lisa’s recipe looks extensive but is actually very easy to prepare. Most prep work can be done in advance. It’s a great way to serve guests an impressive meal and still have time to visit with them!
Barbara Mayo’s (Collierville, TN) Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken Breast with Southwest Yellow Rice Salad is a lovely, light and flavorful dinner! “This is so, so easy to prepare and can be served hot or cold,” explains Barbara. “I make my rice the night before so all I have to do while the chicken is resting is mix [the] salad.”
The chicken has the yummy cilantro and lime flavors from the marinade. They’re subtle, definitely not overpowering. The corn salad does have some heat, but it pairs very well with the chicken. If you’re able to get your hands on fresh corn, it’s definitely worth using.
“I came up with this Cajun Party Chicken Boats recipe while I was living in New Orleans and had surprise guests for dinner and no time to run to the store,” reveals Mary R. Morris (Western Grove, AR). “It is quick, cheap and looks like you worked all day.”
If you love crawfish, then this is a recipe you should check out. The chicken is a vessel for some pretty yummy crawfish. The crawfish cooks down in the butter and onions and is a perfect complement to the mild chicken breast. This is simple and will definitely amaze guests.
Super impressive and super easy is how I’d describe Josee Lanzi’s (New Port Richey, FL) Chicken Parmesan & Creamy Tomato & Basil Spaghetti. “This is a fresh new take on an old recipe,” states Josee. “It’s loaded with fresh ingredients and my family loves it.”
Basically, Josee made a chicken Parmesan recipe but elevated it to a whole new level. Fresh chopped tomatoes, chopped basil, creamy melted mozzarella cheese all nestled on top of spaghetti. Yum… my mouth is watering thinking about the dish. Add a nice glass of red wine, and guests will immediately dig in.
Cooking does not have to be complicated. If you’re looking to create an impressive – but easy – meal, try one of these Blue Ribbon recipes. Do you have an impressive go-to chicken recipe? Share it with us… Happy Pinching!