Chicken Parmigiana Cheat!

Chicken is an easy thing to throw on the grill or in the oven and has long been my stand by for a quick dinner. It's really hard to ruin chicken. (Unlike steak which I can ruin in a nanosecond.)

Chicken Parmigiana Cheat is an easy slap together meal for busy nights or when just don't feel like cooking. (You know, like every day!)

What you need: 

• Chicken (I get the bag of chicken breasts from Costco)
• Francesco Rinaldi sauce (your choice of flavors) 
• Can of chopped tomatoes (gives it some extra texture and a good fake) 
• Provolone cheese slices
• Cheddar cheese shredded  (get the bag of shredded to save time-I keep a bag in the freezer for just such emergencies) 

• Spray a baking pan with cooking spray.
• Lay out chicken
• Put in oven for about a half hour.  400 degrees.
• Set the timer. 

Have some wine while you relax on the couch and watch that episode of Judge Judy recorded today. That's about a half hour so it's a good way to time the chicken. 

Timer goes off.

Put on a pot of water to boil for pasta.

Pull chicken out of oven and drain any moisture. Use one of those measuring spoons to scoop out the oily stuff and discard.

Easy Chicken Parmigiana

• Mix Francesco Rinaldi sauce with the chopped tomatoes and spread over chicken. 
• Layer on the Provolone and sprinkle cheddar cheese shreds on top. 
• Put back in oven to melt cheese.  
• Boil pasta. 

Pour the wine and Enjoy! 

CHICKEN SURPRISE # 1 ~ Quick & Easy Chicken Recipes

Go to Costco and get one of those big bags of Chicken (breasts, thighs, drumsticks - whatever floats your boat.) This will stock you up for a few dinners depending on your family size. If you don't have a Costco membership, get one! Buying in bulk can usually reduce the cost. Or search for a great chicken sale in your grocery store and stock up. 

Spray baking pan with Pam or generic equivalent. I use store brand cooking spray because it's cheaper and works just as good. (Save the money for wine.) 

Arrange chicken in pan. 

Check out the selection of salad dressing in your fridge. Italian dressing works best, but Ranch or Caesar can  add an interesting flavor to the dish. 

Spread dressing over chicken. You can either use a spoon to smoosh it around or put the dressing and chicken in a Ziplock bag and give it a shake to cover. 

Take bread crumbs, I use 4 Seasons Gluten free Italian. Shake them over the tops of the chicken in the pan. 

Take your cooking spray and spray the bread crumbs (that you placed on the chicken.) Just a light coat so they look a little wet. 

Bake. 400 degrees for 30 to 45 mins. Stick a fork in one piece and give a little twist. The meat should break a little and then it's done. Okay, I'm not sure if that's Alton Brown's technique but it works for me. :) 

Sit back, pour the wine and put your feet up. You worked hard, rest. 

Get Me Out of the Kitchen!

I'm starting this blog to share the shortcuts I've discovered in the kitchen. Quick and easy recipes that are sure family pleasers you can put together on busy nights. In this house, all nights are busy nights! 

From 10 ways to make Chicken a SURPRISE! To what to do with ground beef...again, I invite you into my kitchen to discover easy ways to get out of the kitchen. Or get out of cooking...we'll have tips on that trick, too!

Pour the wine and let's get cookin' ~ so we can go sit on the couch and watch Judge Judy!