Chicken Recipes for Dinner

What’s for dinner? The age-old question. To make dinner, or to not make dinner. First time home cooks are often daunted by the thought of cooking their first meat dish, for fear of serving a bad meal, or worse, an undercooked meal. Here is a no-fail recipe that only requires a few ingredients and even fewer steps.

Chicken can be cooked or baked, savory or sweet, roasted over a spitting fire, or tossed into a hearty stew. Whichever unique way you choose to cook this dish, one thing can be guaranteed; it’s delicious! Here is a simple chicken recipe that anyone, regardless of skill level, will be able to cook.

For this recipe, I like to pick up one or two packages of raw chicken tenderloins. These are smaller and bake faster in the oven. I find most people typically go for chicken breast, but I find those large chunks of chicken take considerably longer to bake and this recipe is all about simplicity. If you need more chicken recipes, check out Corrie cooks.

One ingredient you absolutely must have is olive oil. I prefer to use extra virgin olive oil, but a light olive oil would work just as well if you’re trying to cut calories. Olive oil is the magic ingredient in this recipe. The next thing you’ll want to collect is 2-6 of your favorite spices. You can go as simple as salt and pepper, of course, but I like to add a little more flavor to my chicken. Here is a shortlist of dried spices and rubs I have incorporated into this recipe, though not at all once!

-Salt & Pepper
-Oregano
-Garlic (minced or powder depending on your level of garlic addiction)
-Onion Powder
-Basil
-Red Pepper Flakes (if you’ve got a spicy-tooth)
-Herbs da Providence
-Italian Seasoning
-Marjoram
-Savory
-Rosemary
-Thyme
-Parsley
-Sage

Just to name a few. First, preheat your oven to 375°F. You’re going to start by quickly rinsing your chicken tenderloins. Pour just a little of the olive oil into the bottom of your pan; I find glass casserole dishes work best. Lay the tenderloins upside down (whichever way you deem to be the “bottom”) and try not to let them touch. This helps keep them from sticking to each other as they bake. For the “bottom” of the tenderloins, I keep it simple, just a dusting of salt and pepper. Now flip them over so they are “right side up” again. The trick to getting great tasting chicken, I’ve found, is to rub all of your spices in. Start with whatever spice is closest to you. Give a good dusting and then rub it in for two to three seconds. Each time you sprinkle a new spice on the tenderloins be sure to rub it in. The last spice I add is salt and pepper; just a quick dusting over each tenderloin. We don’t want the chicken too salty as we want the flavors of the spices to shine. Once you’ve added all of the spices it’s time to use that magic ingredient – olive oil! Pour a little olive oil into the palm of your hand, hover over the tenderloins, and slowly pour over individual tenderloin, then gently press the olive oil in. I usually just pick up each tenderloin to ensure an even coating of olive oil. The reason for this is the olive oil helps lock in all those delicious spices amping up that flavor profile. It also keeps the chicken from drying out during the baking process which is a common mistake a lot of new home cooks make. No one likes dry chicken.

Once all of the tenderloins have been sufficiently spiced and oiled, it is time to put the chicken in the oven. Bake at 375°F for about 40-50 minutes. I typically take them out at the 40-45-minute mark and cut one of the tenderloins in half. If the fluid is clear and the chicken has no pink left, it is done!

With just a few quick steps you’ve turned boring chicken into a dinner favorite!

No Fail Chicken Dinner

Ingredients
– ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
– ¼ teaspoon onion powder
– ¼ teaspoon dried basil
– ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
– Salt & pepper to taste
– ½ cup of olive oil (plus a little extra for the pan)
– 1 to 2 packages of chicken tenderloin (packages typically come with 6-8 tenderloins)

Instructions
1.) Preheat oven to 375°F
2.) Coat bottom of pan with olive oil
3.) Lay tenderloins in pan so they do not touch and are “upside down”
4.) Give each tenderloin bottom a dusting of salt and pepper, turn right side up
5.) Sprinkle each tenderloin with equal parts garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil and dried Italian seasoning, being sure to rub each spice in.
6.) Quick dusting of salt & pepper
7.) Drizzle olive oil over each tenderloin and rub or press into each individual tenderloin to be sure each is coated evenly and thoroughly.
8.) Bake at 375°F for 40-50 minutes until cooked through, checking chicken by cutting one in half, making sure no pink is left.

Simple Baked Chicken

Ingredients

– Cooking spray, or olive oil
– 2 cups rice of choice
– 1 (10.5-oz.) can cream of chicken soup
– 1 (10.5-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
– 1 cup water
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
– Kosher salt
– Freshly ground black pepper
– 1 (1-oz.) package onion soup mix
– Freshly chopped chives for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1.) Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly pour olive oil into the bottom of your baking pan. I recommend a 9-12-inch glass baking dish.

2.) In a large bowl mix together your uncooked rice, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, water, and oregano. Once this is well combined pour this mixture into your baking dish. 

3.) Season chicken with salt and pepper then place on top of rice mixture. Try not to let the chicken breasts touch as they may stick together as they bake. Sprinkle onion soup mix over chicken then cover with aluminum foil and bake 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (no pink) and rice is tender.

Garnish with chives before serving.