chicken breast – It's Good Though…

Chicken Francese, and Artichoke

June 9, 2026 vscson Comments 0 Comment

Yield: 4

Adapted from: NY Times

Inspired by chicken francese, a popular Italian American breaded chicken dish, this lemony breaded chicken-and-artichoke recipe creates a bright, one-skillet meal. This recipe embraces the traditional flavor profile — “Francese” means French in Italian, acknowledging the origins of the butter-and-lemon sauce — but otherwise veers from tradition: The chicken breasts are cut into bite-size pieces (rather than being thinly pounded) to mirror the size of the artichoke hearts. The breaded chicken and artichokes are all prepared in the same pan, then lacquered with the wine and lemon butter sauce. Fried lemon slices add visual flair and tart flavor. A smattering of parsley makes this meal feel like a restaurant-quality dish.

1cup AP flour
3TBS finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2tsp kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal), plus more to taste
1tsp cornstarch
2lemons
3eggs
½cup extra-virgin olive oil
114-oz can artichoke hearts, drained, halved and patted dry
1lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
4TBS unsalted butter
1cup white wine
2cups chicken stock
freshly cracked black pepper
¼cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Prep:

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, cheese, salt, cornstarch and the zest of 1 lemon. Reserve 4 TBS of the flour mixture for the sauce in Step 6.

In a second shallow bowl, beat the eggs with 3 TBS of water.

Slice the remaining whole lemon crosswise into thin rounds, discarding seeds.

Fry:

Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Dip the artichokes in the flour mixture followed by the egg wash to coat completely, then immediately fry them in batches in the oil until golden-brown, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Transfer the artichokes to a large platter or baking sheet and season with salt. Repeat the entire process with the chicken, cooking it 3 to 4 minutes per side, and then the lemon slices, frying them 1 minute per side then placing them on the platter.

Remove the pan from the heat and pour off the oil. Wipe out the pan.

Sauce:

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Sprinkle in the reserved flour mixture and whisk until it begins to brown. Add the wine and the juice from the zested lemon, whisking constantly to combine. Add the chicken stock and allow the mixture to bubble and thicken, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the chicken and artichokes and cook over low, stirring to coat, until warmed, about 5 minutes.

Serve:

Spoon the chicken and artichokes onto a serving platter.

Garnish with the fried lemon slices and chopped parsley and serve.

Chicken Francese

June 9, 2026 vscson Comments 0 Comment

Yield: 4 Servings

Adapted from: NY Times

Chicken Francese, sometimes called chicken French, is one of those rare restaurant dishes that’s truly easy to cook at home. If you can make chicken cutlets, you can make this lemony, buttery recipe; the only difference is an easy pan sauce that brightens the whole plate. This version includes lemon slices browned in butter, which are pretty and tasty but entirely optional. Although the name suggests that it’s a French or Italian dish (“Francese” means French in Italian), it’s neither: Like spaghetti and meatballs, it’s a mostly Italian American invention. Serve with something starchy to soak up every drop of the sauce; pasta is traditional.

eggs
2TBS whole milk
1tsp salt, plus more for seasoning
½tsp ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1cup AP flour
⅓cup olive oil
⅓cup vegetable oil
4-6large boneless, skinless chicken cutlets (buy the cutlets thinly sliced, or buy regular boneless breasts and slice them in half horizontally to make thin pieces)
3-6TBS unsalted butter
1lemon, thinly sliced, seeds removed (optional)
½cup dry white wine
freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon, more to taste
2cups chicken stock
3-4TBS freshly minced parsley

Prep:

In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper until blended.

Place the flour in a separate bowl. Line a baking sheet with paper towels.

In a wide skillet, heat olive oil and vegetable oil over medium heat until shimmering.

Fry cutlets:
Working in batches to avoid crowding the pan, lightly dredge the chicken in flour and shake off any excess. Dip into egg batter, let excess batter drip back into the bowl and place it in the skillet. Fry, turning once, until golden-brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Adjust the heat as the cutlets cook so they brown slowly and evenly, with a steady bubbling. Transfer to the paper-towel-lined pan and repeat with remaining cutlets.

When all cutlets are browned, remove the pan from the heat and pour off the oil. Wipe out the pan with paper towels. Return the pan to low heat.

Brown butter lemon slices:

Melt 3 TBS of the butter and then scatter the lemon slices over the bottom of the pan. Cook, stirring gently occasionally, until the lemon slices are golden and start to brown around the edges, about 3 minutes. Scoop out the lemon slices and set them aside.

Sauce:

Add 3 TBS of butter, ½ cup white wine and juice from a whole lemon and bring to a boil. Boil until the liquid is syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the stock, bring to a boil and cook until thickened into a sauce, about 5 minutes. (It will thicken more when you add the cutlets.) Taste and adjust the seasonings with lemon, salt and pepper; it should be quite lemony and not too salty.

Reduce the heat, tuck the cutlets into the pan and simmer very gently until the sauce is velvety and the chicken pieces are heated through, for about 4 minutes. Turn the cutlets over occasionally in the sauce. Place the browned lemon slices on top. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve, spooning some of the sauce over each serving.

Jennifer Garner’s Chicken Enchiladas

February 19, 2026 vscson Comments 0 Comment

Yield: 4

Adapted from: The Kitchn

These are barely related to enchiladas—but they are quite good and easy to make.

Note: They’re quite tasty. I used 1 pack of Costco chicken that weighed 1 lb 6 oz. Only 2 large stalks of celery because the rest were past their prime. Shredding the chicken with the mixer was amazing. I used mild green chili.

8-12flour tortillas
2cups cooked chicken (we poach ours and shred by hand)
4TBS butter
1can cream of chicken soup or 1 can of cream of mushroom and a heaping tsp of BTB chicken
24-oz cans green chilis, mild, medium or hot as you prefer
1medium onion, diced
4stalks of celery, diced
1lb Monterey Jack or Tex-Mex cheese
1cup sour cream

Poach your chicken! We put three boneless, skinless breasts in cold water (just enough to cover it) with onion, salt, peppercorns – basic brothy things you like, but not overboard. Bring to a boil, lower to medium, and start checking it between 10-15 minutes, until a thermometer reads 165°F inside the breasts. Shred.

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Sauté onion and celery in butter. When softened add shredded chicken.

Combine chicken soup, green chilis, and sour cream. Put a layer of this mixture into a casserole prepared with butter or baking spray.

Heat the tortillas in a microwave or dry pan to make them flexible.

Fill each tortilla down the middle with ¼-½ cup of shredded chicken mixture, the amount depends on tortilla size. Roll tortilla tightly and place seam side down into the pan.

Spread most of the soup mixture on the tortillas and finish with your cheese on top.

Bake for 30 minutes, until browned!

Serve with Mexican/Spanish/Cajun Rice. Some medium pico de gallo would be nice too.

6 tips for making the garners’ chicken enchiladas:

Shred your chicken in the stand mixer:

Don’t waste time or risk burnt fingertips by hand-shredding chicken. Use the paddle attachment on your stand mixer and stir the poached chicken breasts for about 30 seconds for perfectly shredded chicken. Seriously, it’s way easier.

Mind your tortillas:

The recipe doesn’t specify a size. I used eight-inch flour tortillas and could fit eight (instead of the 12 called for) in a 9×13-inch pan. Six inches would be too small. If you use something in between, simply adjust the amount of filling in each.

Use standard cans:

The recipe doesn’t specify can sizes, so I went with a 10.5-ounce can of Campbell’s cream of chicken soup and two 4-ounce cans of diced green chiles.

Don’t mess with measuring cups:

The recipe calls for 1 cup each of diced onions and celery. One medium onion and four stalks of celery will do.

Ease up on the sour cream:

Jennifer did, and it helps balance the richness. Again, don’t dirty a measuring cup; just eyeball it.

But don’t skimp on butter:

You’re using lean chicken breast, and the butter adds much-needed fat and flavor.

Jambalaya, New Orleans BJ’s CC

January 29, 2026 vscson Comments 0 Comment

Yield: 4-6

Blackened chicken breast | sautéed shrimp | chicken-andouille sausage | bell peppers | onions | tomatoes | Cajun-spiced broth | rice pilaf
Perhaps nowhere in America is there a culinary tradition as distinctive as that of New Orleans. The origins of New Orleans cuisine come from all over: Spain, France, West Africa and the southeastern United States. Of course, you won’t have to travel far to enjoy a big bite of the Big Easy when you visit BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. The star of this show is a trio of meat and seafood. Blackened chicken breast, sautéed shrimp and chicken-andouille sausage combine to create a dish that’s bursting with flavor. Of course, it wouldn’t be jambalaya without onions and bell peppers, so we add those to the mix, along with tomatoes for a creole-style tang. Our special Cajun-spiced broth rounds things out with a spicy bite, and it’s all served over rice pilaf. Big, bold flavor like this deserves a big, bold beer to go along with it.
Prep: 15 Cook: 30
Protein:

1lb chicken breast (cut into bite-sized pieces),
½-1lb andouille sausage (sliced),
1lb raw shrimp (peeled and deveined).

Produce:

1cup diced white onion,
1cup diced green bell pepper,
1cup diced celery (the “trinity”),
4cloves minced garlic,

Tomatoes & broth:

1(14-oz) can crushed or diced tomatoes,
3-4cups low-sodium chicken broth.

Rice & seasoning:

1-1½cups uncooked long-grain white rice,
2-3TBS Cajun seasoning,
1tsp dried thyme,
1tsp dried oregano,
1bay leaf.

Fat & garnish:

Olive oil or butter for sautéing,
green onions and parsley for garnish.

Prep and sear:

Season the chicken with Cajun seasoning. In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat 2 TBS of oil over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken, then remove it from the pot. Add the sliced andouille sausage and brown, then remove.

Sauté trinity:

Add a little more oil to the pot if needed. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery. Sauté until tender (about 5-7 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

Simmer:

Stir in the tomatoes, Cajun seasoning, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, chicken broth, and browned meats. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the rice is tender.

Add shrimp:

Stir in the shrimp and cook for another 3-5 minutes until they are pink and cooked through.

Finish:

Remove the bay leaf. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with chopped green onions and parsley before serving.

Szechuan Chicken & Green Bean Stir-Fry

January 19, 2026 vscson Comments 0 Comment

with Ginger Rice & Candied Peanuts

Yield: 2

Adapted from: Hello Fresh

This sweet-savory-spicy stir-fry has tender dark meat chicken and green beans in an addictive Szechuan sauce that’s got just the right touch of heat. Everything’s served over steamy, ginger-infused rice, then topped with crunchy candied peanuts. Prep: 10 Cook: 30

1thumb ginger
2scallions
1oz peanuts
2TBS Szechuan paste
6oz green beans
¾cup jasmine rice
10-12oz chicken breast strips
4TBS sweet soy glaze
salt & pepper
sugar
cooking oil
butter

Prep:

Wash and dry all produce.

Peel and mince or grate ginger. Trim green beans, if necessary, cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.

Cook rice:

Melt 1 TBS butter in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add half the ginger, cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.

Stir in rice, 1¼ cups water, and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender, for 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Cook green beans & nuts:

Meanwhile, place green beans in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Add a splash of water, then cover with plastic wrap. Microwave until tender, 1-2 minutes. Uncover, drain, and set aside.

Heat a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Add peanuts, 1 tsp sugar, and 2 TBS water. Cook, stirring, until water has evaporated and peanuts are coated and lightly toasted, 3- to 5-minutes. Turn off heat, transfer to a small bowl. Wash out pan.

Cook chicken:

Pat chicken dry with paper towels.

Heat a drizzle of oil in pan used for peanuts over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 4- to 6-minutes.

Make stir-fry:

Stir green beans, scallion whites, remaining ginger, and 1 tsp sugar into pan with chicken. Cook, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan, until ginger is fragrant, 1 minute.

Stir in Szechuan paste, sweet soy glaze, and ¼ cup water. Cook, stirring, until everything is thoroughly coated in sauce, 1- to 2-minutes. Remove pan from heat.

Tip: If ginger and scallions begin to brown too quickly, reduce heat to medium low.

Finish & serve:

Fluff rice with a fork, season with salt and pepper. Taste chicken stir-fry and season with salt and pepper.

Divide rice between bowls and top with chicken stir-fry. Sprinkle with scallion greens and peanuts.

Serve… with pot stickers or an egg roll!

Creamy Herbed Lemon Chicken Spaghetti

January 16, 2026 vscson Comments 0 Comment

with Peas & Chili Flakes

Yield: 2

Hello Fresh

Simple, flavorful, and elegant, this 30-minute weeknight-friendly dish has it all. You’ll place golden seared chicken cutlets seasoned with Italian spices atop al dente spaghetti dotted with sweet green peas, all coated in a creamy homemade lemon sauce with a sprinkle of chili flakes. It’s hearty yet light, and guaranteed to put a smile on any pasta-lover’s face. Prep: 5 Cook: 30

1clove garlic
12oz chicken cutlets
1tsp chili flakes
1lemon
6oz spaghetti
1TBS Italian seasoning
1TBS flour
4oz cream sauce base
4oz peas
salt & pepper
cooking oil
butter

Prep:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce.

Peel and mince or grate garlic. Zest and quarter lemon.

Cook pasta:

Once water is boiling, add spaghetti to pot. Cook until al dente, 9-11 minutes.

Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water, then drain. (Keep empty pot handy for Step 4.)

Cook chicken:

Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Place between two large pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a mallet or rolling pin until chicken is about ½ inch thick. Season with Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Place flour on a plate. Working one piece at a time, press chicken into flour until fully coated, then shake off any excess.

Heat a large drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken, cook until browned and cooked through, 3- to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board.

Tip: Cook in batches, if necessary, lower heat if chicken browns too quickly.

Make sauce:

Heat 1 TBS butter in pot used for pasta over medium heat. Add garlic, half the lemon zest, and a pinch of chili flakes if desired. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, for about 30 seconds.

Stir in cream sauce base and juice from two lemon wedges. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens, 1- to 2 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Toss pasta:

Add drained spaghetti and peas to pot with sauce and toss until evenly coated.

Tip: If needed, stir in pasta cooking water a splash at a time until pasta is thoroughly coated in sauce.

Finish & serve:

Slice chicken crosswise if desired.

Divide pasta between bowls and top with chicken. Sprinkle with remaining lemon zest and a pinch of chili flakes if desired. Serve with remaining lemon wedges on the side.

Smothered Chicken with Onion Gravy

January 16, 2026 vscson Comments 0 Comment

Plus Mashed Potatoes & Garlicky Green Beans

Yield: 2

Hello Fresh

Season a pair of chicken cutlets with garlic and rosemary, seared to perfection in a hot pan, then drape them in a rich, velvety onion gravy. On the side are buttery sour cream mashed potatoes with even more of that luscious, savory gravy, and garlicky roasted green beans. After this meal, the rest of the evening should be …well, gravy! Cook: 35 – 45

12oz potatoes
3TBS sour cream
1oz beef stock concentrate
6oz green beans
1tsp garlic powder
½tsp dried rosemary
1TBS flour
12oz chicken cutlets
1onion
salt & pepper
olive oil
cooking oil
butter

Prep:

Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425°F. Wash and dry produce.

Dice potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Trim green beans if necessary. Halve, peel, and finely dice half the onion.

Cook potatoes:

Place potatoes in a large pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes. Reserve 1 cup potato cooking liquid, then drain.

Return potatoes to pot. Add sour cream and 2 TBS butter, mash until smooth and creamy, adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as needed. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover and set aside until ready to serve.

Roast green beans

While potatoes cook, toss green beans on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, half the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Roast on top rack until browned and tender, 12-15 minutes.

Cover with foil to keep warm until ready to serve.

Season & Cook Chicken:

Pat chicken dry with paper towels, place between two large pieces of plastic wrap. Pound with a mallet or rolling pin until chicken is about ½ inch thick. Season all over with the rosemary, remaining garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken, cook until browned and cooked through, 5- to 7 minutes per side.

Turn off heat, transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Wipe out pan and let cool slightly.

Make gravy:

Melt 1 TBS butter in pan used for chicken over medium-low heat. Add diced onion, cook, stirring, until softened, 2- to 3-minutes.

Sprinkle onion with flour, stir until coated. Whisk in ½ cup water and stock concentrate. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 2- to 3-minutes.

Tip: If gravy seems too thick, stir in another splash of water.

Serve:

Divide chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans between plates. Spoon onion gravy over chicken and mashed potatoes. Serve.

Chicken with Sugar Snap Peas

October 27, 2025 vscson Comments 0 Comment

Yield: 4

Adapted from: The Kitchn

Ok, this sucks. Looking for a replacement.

For marinating the chicken:

3boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced crosswise
2tsp cornstarch
2tsp soy sauce
2tsp vegetable oil

For the rest of the dish:

3TBS vegetable oil
2cloves garlic, chopped
1lb snap peas or sugar snap peas, trimmed and washed
2TBS Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
3TBS soy sauce
2tsp toasted sesame oil
1tsp sugar
black pepper, to taste

For slurry:

⅔cup chicken stock
2TBS cornstarch
Steamed rice, for serving

Toss the chicken with the marinade ingredients and set aside for 10 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Combine the ⅔ cup chicken stock with 2 TBS cornstarch to make a slurry (stir out any lumps) and set aside.

When you’re ready to cook, heat a wok or skillet over high heat almost until smoking. Add 3 TBS oil and sear the chicken just until browned. Remove the chicken from the wok and set aside.

Add the garlic and snap peas to the wok and stir-fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the chicken back to the wok, along with the Shaoxing rice wine (or sherry), soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and pepper. Then give the cornstarch slurry a stir and add it to the wok. Stir-fry for another 30 seconds, until the sauce has thickened. Serve with rice.

Lemon Roasted Chicken Breasts with Cauliflower & Peppers

October 12, 2025 vscson Comments 0 Comment

Yield: 4

Adapted from: WaPo

Lemon Roasted Chicken with Cauliflower and Peppers. You can use just about any crunchy vegetables in place of the cauliflower and peppers. The simple, aromatic seasonings used on both the vegetables and chicken are what really carry the day and make the dish so adaptable.

Note: The skin comes out flabby, better to use boneless, skinless breasts.
Prep: 20 Cook: 35

1medium head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into 1½-inch florets (5½ cups)
1red bell pepper, seeded and cut into chunks similar to the florets
1green bell pepper, seeded and cut into chunks similar to the florets
3TBS olive oil, divided
½tsp fine salt, divided
¼tsp freshly ground black pepper, divided
4garlic cloves, minced or finely grated
1TBS finely chopped fresh rosemary
1½tsp finely grated lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
4boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3 lb total) or bone-in, skin-on
2TBS fresh lemon juice (from the same lemon)
8large pitted green olives, such as Castelvetrano, sliced (¼ cup)

Position a rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 425°F.

In a 9-by-13-by-2-inch ovenproof baking dish, toss the cauliflower and bell peppers with 1 TBS of the olive oil, ¼ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp black pepper.

In a small bowl, combine the garlic, the remaining 2 TBS of olive oil, the rosemary, lemon zest, and the remaining ¼ tsp of salt and ⅛ tsp of black pepper.

Arrange the chicken in the baking dish, nestling the pieces into the vegetables. It’s okay if the chicken is resting on top of some of the vegetables. Rub the garlic mixture all over each piece of chicken, including under the skin if using bone in, skin on breasts.

Transfer the dish to the oven and roast for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast away from the bone, and the vegetables are tender.

Drizzle everything with lemon juice and scatter the olives on top. Divide the chicken among plates, then stir the vegetables in the pan with the accumulated juices and divide among the plates. Serve right away, removing the chicken skin, if desired, right before serving.

Linguini Lemon Parmesan with Chicken

June 14, 2025 vscson Comments 0 Comment

Yield: 2

Scott Nowell

Linguini noodles in a lemon parmesan sauce with roasted zucchini, Roma tomato, spinach, then topped with parmesan and parsley. Copycat version of Noodles & Co, LEANguini Lemon Parmesan.

6-8oz chicken breast, split in half horizontally to form two paillards
salt & pepper
5-6oz linguini
1Roma tomato, seeded and diced small, ¼-inch
½zucchini, seeded and diced small, ¼-inch
2oz baby spinach chopped

Sauce:

½cup parmesan cheese, shredded
2tsp parsley, minced
½cup heavy cream
2tsp fresh lemon juice
zest of ½ lemon

Linguini:

Cook the linguini to barely al dente, reserve ½ cup of pasta cooking water, drain, and set aside.

Chicken:

Season chicken paillards with salt and pepper on both sides.

Add 1 TBS olive oil to a medium skillet over medium heat.

Add chicken to skillet and cook for 2-3 per side until almost done, 150°F. Set aside

Sauce:

Melt the butter in the skillet over medium heat.

Add the garlic, zucchini and spinach and cook for a minute.

Pour in the cream, lemon juice and zest.

Bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes or until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. Reduce the heat, then add the Parmesan, parsley and the linguini to the skillet and mix to coat. If the linguini needs more time, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water and cook until linguini is done.

Finish:

Return the chicken to the skillet and coat with sauce.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve.