Quick Barbecue Chicken Dinner 
I'll admit it! I was not in the mood to cook tonight, but I was in the mood for barbecue chicken. How was I going to get a full meal done with very little effort? I did not want to turn on the oven, even though cooking the chicken would have been a easy clean up. I didn't want to wait too long. I wanted my chicken to take as long as making a batch of mashed potatoes (25 minutes.)
HERE'S WHAT I DID
I cut up enough spuds to have mashed potatoes for tonight and tomorrow night, when I make meatloaf. While the spuds were cooking, I defrosted three chicken breasts in the microwave. Yes, I actually used the defrost features on my microwave so I didn't accidentally precook them. I only defrosted the breasts enough to make them easy to cut up into 1/2 inch round slices.
I quickly tossed a green salad (green leaf lettuce, carrots, garlic stuffed olives, sliced onion), it's all I had on hand.
Next, I heated up a little olive oil (enough to coat the bottom) in a nonstick pan on medium high heat. Tossed in the sliced chicken, seasoned with salt and pepper and cooked until fully cooked and lightly brown on both sides. Then, I turned down the heat to medium low and added my favorite barbecue sauce. I used approximately 3 tablespoons of sauce and a tablespoon of water to quickly coat the chicken. When the sauce began to bubble, I turned off the heat. I was ready to make mashed potatoes. I like to watch how Chef John over at FoodWishes.com makes them.
Now, my family cannot eat barbecue without baked beans, so I opened up a can of Bush's baked beans and warmed them in the microwave. Ta-da! We were ready to eat! And all in the time it took to cook the potatoes, just like I wanted.
I'm sure there are some Foodies out there that just rolled their eyes at this post and vowed never to return. I'm cool with that. Simple Daily Recipes exists for families that need quick ideas that will please all the kids, big and small. I hope this dinner idea finds its way to your family. I hope your kids gobble it up and ask for more. I hope it allows you more time to do something else, like snuggling up on the couch with your family.
Girl that was a cool idea and lucky you it all timed out in the end. I love this blog of yours I have it on my Google Reader so I get it ASAP. Keep up the good work.
Thanks John!
Balancing time for God, my husband, the kids, the house, friends and working Simple Daily Recipes into something worth bookmarking is an everyday challenge.
I’m grateful to have so many new friends in the blogosphere that inspire and encourage me to keep workin’ it!
Hi Jill!
I’m really happy to have stumbled upon your web site because it’s no joke being a wife, having to think of nutritious and yummy food to prepare three times a day. Your recipes would be a refreshing touch to my menus (which I must have recycled several times already) I’m gonna try this recipe tonight – as well as Chef John’s mashed potatoes. You guys are awesome!
God bless you and your family always!
Hi Jill,
Your recipe was perfect! I had it ready in less than 30 minutes and the only regret I have is I should’ve cooked all three chicken breasts instead of just two because after I fried them and all the juices and oil came out, the meat shrank and what used to be a pan-full of meat was no longer full! haha! I served it with rice (it’s our staple food) and I think for an Asian twist, you could add grated ginger to it. For rice-lovers out there who want to try this, you might want to increase the amount of sauce a little so that you can smother your rice with it.
P.S.
I’m helping put together a cookbook for my alumni foundation. The rule is, we’d submit recipes we’ve tried and loved. Is it okay if I include this recipe? Thanks!
YEAAAAH Louella!
THANK YOU for sharing a recipe with us- that’s a great idea using rice.
And yes, you can submit this recipe. If there’s a line to say where it originated, will you please let them know it came from SimpleDailyRecipes.com?
That’s all I ask in return.