Pioneer Chicken Recipes

PIONEER FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix all the dry ingredients except for the reserved 1/4 cup cornstarch.
• Add the water and whisk.
• Put 1/4 cup of cornstarch in shallow pan and coat chicken with it.
• Dip the chicken that has been coated in cornstarch into the wet batter until completely coated.
• Let drip for a couple of seconds and gently lower into pot of oil.
• Fry in 350 degree peanut or canola oil. for 8-10 minutes until cooked through in small batches.
• Drain on metal rack, not paper towels, that would make it soggy.

PIONEER CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325*.
• Wash and dry chicken pieces.
• Slice each potato into 4 long slices.
• Saute the garlic in olive oil. Remove garlic and discard.
• Brown chicken pieces well in olive oil but don't cook through. Remove to a dish and season with salt and pepper.
• In a baking dish, alternate a piece of chicken, a slice of sweet potato, a slice of white potato and a few rings of onion. I usually stand them on edge so they are not flat in the pan.
• Decorate the top of the chicken with the lemon slices and rosemary.
• Cover with foil, tightly. Place baking pan on a sheet pan (it may boil over - I sometimes use a turkey baster to draw off the juices - save them and boil them down to make a nice sauce for the top) and bake for two hours or until the chicken is cooked through. Uncover and bake until it browns a little, 20 minutes or so. Save a wing for me!

GRILLED CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• For the topping: Add the artichoke hearts, red onion, diced tomato, lemon juice, olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Toss to combine and set aside.
• For the filling: In a separate large bowl, mix the olive oil, rosemary, red pepper flakes, garlic, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the chicken and toss to combine and coat the chicken.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. When hot, add the chicken to the grill, cook until well marked and golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Chop into small pieces and add the chicken pieces to a serving bowl.
• Lay out the bowl of chicken, the topping, the lettuce leaves, cheese, balsamic glaze, pesto and basil on a platter or board and have everyone build their own wraps.
• To make a wrap, take one of the butter lettuce leaves and fill with some of the grilled chicken. Add a teaspoon of prepared pesto, then spoon some of the tomato and artichoke topping onto the chicken. Drizzle over the balsamic glaze, sprinkle on the Romano cheese and garnish with fresh basil.

EASY TEX-MEX CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper and turmeric. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and the spices are toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and green chiles, chicken and both bags of rice. Stir together and cook until the rice is heated through and beginning to absorb some of the liquid, about 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and sprinkle the pepper jack over the top. Cover with a lid and allow the cheese to melt completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle over the cilantro and serve.

PEPPERONI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Use a sharp knife to slice both chicken breasts in half through the middle, resulting in 4 thinner chicken cutlets. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat and add the butter and olive oil. Cook the chicken until it has nice color on the outside and is cooked through, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Remove the chicken to a plate.
• Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet and cook, stirring, to heat through. Nestle the chicken cutlets in the sauce, then arrange some pepperoni slices over the top of each one. Lay some cubed mozzarella on top, then cover the skillet with a lid and cook until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the parsley.
• Serve immediately with a side salad or over pasta, with marinara spooned over the top.

ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking tray with foil.
• Place the softened butter in a bowl with the lemon zest. Strip the leaves from 1 sprig of rosemary, finely chop and add along with some salt and pepper. Mix everything together.
• Lay the chicken on the foil-lined baking tray, breast-side up. Use your fingers to smear the butter mixture all over the chicken, under the skin and inside the cavity.
• Squeeze the juice of 1 of the lemons over the chicken, and then place the 4 lemon halves (if they fit!) inside the cavity of the chicken along with the 3 whole remaining sprigs of rosemary.
• Put the chicken in the oven and roast it until done, about 1 hour 15 minutes. The skin should be deep golden brown and the juices should be sizzling.