Recipe: Pesto Tomato Chicken Grill Packets

Grill packets are great for a barbecue because you can prepare them ahead of time, pop them on the grill and leave them alone for a bit to create a delicious meal, and there's less clean up afterwards!

Although we normally recommend chicken with bones and skin for grilling, in this case, since it's wrapped in foil, boneless will cook faster so it's okay to use. This recipe packs in a ton of fresh summer flavors anyway, with tomatoes, onions, and that quintessential summer basil treat - pesto!

Pesto Tomato Chicken Grill Packets
(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

Fresh pesto is delicious & easy to make! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4 chicken breasts, skin and bone removed
4 ripe tomatoes, each quartered
1 medium sweet onion, quartered
1/2 cup basil pesto
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 Tbsp butter, divided

Directions:

• Prepare the grill to medium-high heat.
• Tear off 4 large sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil and place a chicken breast on each one.
• Top each with the tomatoes and onion, evenly distributing each.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the pesto and mayonnaise.
• Spoon this mixture over chicken and veggies, then cut the butter into quarters and place a pat of butter on each.
• Fold foil over tightly, sealing the packets.
• Put on grill on indirect heat, close cover, and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, spinning the packet around once during this cooking time.
• Remove and let sit for 5 minutes before opening.

Barbecue: An American Summer Tradition

Next to baseball, nothing says summer like the sizzling sounds, enticing aromas, and mouth-watering flavors of barbecuing. In fact, according to a recent survey commissioned by Hormel Foods and conducted by Harris Interactive®, 90 percent of respondents2 agree that barbecues make them think of summer.

Where does America barbecue? According to the survey, 89 percent prefer to hold family barbecues right in their own backyards, compared with 3 percent who prefer a public park or picnic area. Barbecues are a great way to bring the family together, entertain friends and family and enjoy the summer nights-right in the backyard!

A few simple tips can make your next grill-out even easier and more fun:

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• Marinating Musts: Marinating meat adds flavor and tenderization before cooking. Every marinade should contain an acidic ingredient, such as vinegar or wine; an oil, such as olive or avocado; and seasonings, such as herbs and spices.

• Barbecue in Bulk: Got leftovers? No problem. Barbecue meals freeze well, and often become more flavorful when the sauce and spices are reheated at a later date. Once you have fired up the grill, cook as much as your pit can handle since your food will maintain its flavor for future meals. Then thaw, reheat and just add sauce for a delicious leftover meal in a jiffy. This will maximize the results of the time and effort spent lighting and heating the grill.

• Deck Out Your Deck: Minimal meal preparation time gives you a chance to focus on the details. To make your barbecue spectacular, set the mood by hanging lanterns around the yard, blending a signature summertime cocktail and presenting the meal on brightly colored plates.

Now that the days are long and school is out, it's a great idea to step outside and cook dinner on the grill. A relaxing backyard barbecue dinner will melt the stress of the workday away. Your family will love the meal, and you'll love the convenience and flavor!

Recipe: Healthy Homemade Chicken Fingers

With these homemade chicken fingers, you won't have to drive anywhere to have a tasty meal even the kids will love! Baked instead of deep-fried, these healthy chicken strips are very easy to make at home, and you will know what's in them - no mystery meat here!

Healthy Homemade Chicken Fingers

Ingredients: 

Cornmeal breading (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 large egg
1 or 2 dashes of hot sauce
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
1 lb organic or naturally raised chicken breast, bones and skin removed, cut into strips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put a cooking rack on a shallow baking sheet.
• Get out 2 shallow dishes. In one, whisk together the egg and hot sauce. In the other, mix together the cornmeal, garlic powder, black pepper, and thyme.
• Coat your chicken pieces first by dipping into the egg mixture, then in the cornmeal mixture, shaking to remove excess. Lay each piece as it's coated onto the rack covering the baking sheet.
• When all the chicken is coated and on the rack, put in the preheated oven and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the chicken pieces are slightly browned and the chicken is thoroughly cooked. You will want to turn the chicken pieces once during this cooking time.
• Remove and let cool slightly on rack before serving.
• Serve with your favorite healthy homemade dipping sauces if you wish.
• Serves 2 but can easily be doubled or tripled for larger gatherings.

Low-Carb Recipe: Crockpot Smoky Chicken Barbecue

Another popular dish that you may not think of using the crockpot for is barbecue chicken. This is a great way to make this classic dish even easier, and the smoky sauce is tangy rather than sweet. This recipe replaces traditional barbecue sauce (typically high in carbs) with smoked paprika, crushed tomatoes, and vinegar, giving the same flavor profile without all the sugar and carbs.

Crockpot Smoky Chicken Barbecue
(Serves 6-8.)

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp smoked paprika
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp kosher salt
8 organic or naturally raised chicken pieces, bones and skin removed
1 medium onion, diced
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes

Directions:

• Put the first 6 ingredients in a bowl and stir together. Add chicken pieces and toss with the dry spices until coated well.
• Put onion in crockpot, sprinkle the vinegar over, then pour the crushed tomatoes over the top.
• Arrange the chicken evenly over the top, then sprinkle whatever remains of the spices from the bowl over the top of the chicken.
• Turn crockpot on LOW, cover, and cook for 7 to 8 hours or until chicken is tender.
• You can serve your "BBQ" chicken as is, in whole pieces, spooning the sauce over the top, or you can shred it up and mix it into the sauce in the crockpot for a pulled 'pork' style. Serve in lettuce cups or on top of a bed of coleslaw for a low carb dinner.

Video - Grilled Beer Can Chicken

If our last post had you hankering for some barbecue, here is an easy recipe for grilled chicken that will have you drooling! (Seriously, I think I almost wet the front of my shirt just watching the video - it looks THAT good.) The chickens are grilled whole, so plan to let them grill for a couple of hours, but the ingredients and preparation are drop-dead simple. This would be a great one for a weekend grill-out with the neighbors, friends, or just the family.

Enjoy, but be prepared for some serious chicken cravings after watching this!

Beer Can Chicken Barbecue by the BBQ Pit Boys
The BBQ Pit Boys show you how to barbecue up two tender and juicy 4lb. chickens on the grill, Beer Can Chicken Style. And, it's real easy to do. All you need for this barbecue chicken recipe favorite is two cans of beer (or water if you must), salad ...


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