7 Healthy Ways To Cook Chicken So It Doesn't Taste Like A Cardboard Box

Jun 29, 2019

Cardboard tasting, dried out chicken - YUCK!  Who’s been there? I know I have overcooked my chicken a time or two when I first started cooking!  Nothing is worse than getting dinner ready, 

you’re starving, your kids are screaming because they’re starving and you sit down, take a bite and you just. keep. chewing.  And chewing. And chewing. DAMMIT! WHYYYY?!  

Sorry family - it’s dried out chicken again tonight.’ Let's never say that again!  K?

These 7 tips will ensure you never serve your family dried out chicken, ever again!  I’ve included some new flavor ideas for you to try too, in case you need to add some new chicken recipes into your dinner rotation! :) 

Tip #1 To Cooking Yummy Chicken:  In the crockpot!

THE CROCKPOT!  My holy grail of fast, easy cooking!  What is easier than cooking in a crockpot?  Basically, nothing. You literally just throw everything in - it doesn’t have to look pretty, 

cook it for a few hours (depending on how much chicken you put it and if you cook it on high or low), and VOILA, yummy, juicy, shreddy, chicken!  Crockpot chicken is a staple in my house!  

I love to add some salsa in there, too.  I usually do 3-4 chicken breasts, pour a jar of salsa over them, cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or until it shreds easily.  

I’ll keep the leftovers in my fridge and eat it throughout the week.  I like to make it into shredded chicken tacos, taco salad, or some Mexican lasagna!  Yum!

Tip #2 To Cooking Yummy Chicken:  In the oven!

This is probably your go-to chicken cooking method, am I right?  It’s easy to do BUT it’s also easy to mess up! Nobody wants to eat cardboard chicken, mama!  And you shouldn’t have to!

The most important part of this step is the cooking time.  I get it - you’re scared about serving your family raw chicken, so you keep it in there for an extra 5-10 minutes juuuust to be safe. Stop it! Don’t do that!  

Average size chicken breasts can cook at 350 for 12-15 minutes and be cooked through. And be juicy and delicious! Don’t second guess yourself, you got this!  

Of course, you can still cut one open when you take it out of the oven to double check (your family isn’t grading you on appearance).  Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be baking restaurant quality chicken weekly!  

Tip #3 To Cooking Yummy Chicken:  On the stove in a pot! 

Boiling chicken is less common but super convenient if you need shredded chicken, quick, for a recipe you’re making.  Of course, crockpot shredded chicken is tastier because it absorbs all the 

flavors you mixed in, while it cooks.  But if you’re in a time crunch, throw some chicken breasts into boiling water, let ‘em go for 12-15 minutes and that’s it!  

Boiled chicken is so versatile because you’re seasoning it after its cooked.  You’ll be able to add your cooked chicken to any recipe throughout the week.

Tip #4 To Cooking Yummy Chicken:  On the grill!

I LOVE me some grilled chicken!  It’s so juicy and flavorful. And the char gives it that little added crunch!  I love to use marinades when I’m grilling chicken to really add in some flavors.  

An added bonus of grilled chicken - it’s awesome leftover!  Sometimes reheating chicken can dry it out but since grilled chicken holds so much moisture, it tastes (almost) as good as when it was fresh off the grill.

Depending on the thickness of your chicken, cook an average sized breast on 500 degrees for about 6 minutes on each side.  Bonus tip - only flip it once! 

Tip #5 To Cooking Yummy Chicken:  In an Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker!

This is another quick and easy way to cook chicken.  It’s just as easy as the crockpot in that you just throw everything in and let it cook but it cooks way faster than the crockpot.  

You can have an entire meal ready in about 20 minutes!  You can even add veggies and/or potatoes in with the chicken and cook it all together.  

Instant Pots or pressure cookers are a little pricey but definitely worth the investment if you often find yourself rushing to get dinner together every night but still want to make something healthy.

Tip #6 To Cooking Yummy Chicken:  On the stove in a skillet!

My favorite way to cook chicken on the stove is to first cut it into even sized chunks, add a little olive oil (or oil of your choice) and add different seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.  

The seasonings really coat the chicken as the moisture cooks off, leaving you with some tasty, bite-sized pieces.  Be sure to stir it around as it cooks and in about 10 minutes, you’re ready to eat!

Tip #7 To Cooking Yummy Chicken:  Under the broiler! 

If you have a broiler inside, on the top of your oven, this method is for you.  If your broiler is on the bottom of your oven or in a drawer, I wouldn’t suggest trying this as your chicken will probably burn.  If you’re outside the US, it is probably the ‘grill’ setting on your oven.  

Season your chicken first and then turn your broiler to ‘high’ and cook it for about 12-15 minutes.  You can go from undercooked to burnt really fast so you have to keep an eye on it! Try adding some fresh herbs for extra flavor!

Check out this FREE chicken cooking cheat sheet for cooking times and flavor ideas!

There you have it!  Experiment with these 7 methods and let me know what you think!  It’s time to step away from the cardboard chicken - you deserve better than that! 

If you find yourself needing some extra guidance, leave me a comment or send me an email at [email protected] and I will be happy to help!   

Cheers!

-Jazzy

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