Confessions of a Foodie

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Thursday, December 4, 2025

Chicken Recipes

Here are six Chicken Recipes to help you through the day, including Hot Chicken Salad Casserole and Chicken Stroganoff. Enjoy!

QUICK CHANA MARSALA

This is from Keya Wingfield at Epicurious.

For this incredible recipe, Keya wrote, "This chana masala recipe is simple and straightforward—it’s a go-to weeknight meal that can be made in less than an hour. I almost never have the time to soak dried chickpeas the night before I make this dish, or the simmering time required when you start from dried—but then again, who does? What I do have is a trick that will make them taste like you made this dish the slow way: Boiling the canned chickpeas with their liquid helps them mimic the texture you would get from soaking dried ones overnight. (And another trick from my sister-in-law—grating the tomatoes—saves you tons of chopping.)

"You can serve this hearty chana masala with basmati rice, naan, crusty bread, even tortillas, if that’s what you have on hand. Sometimes my happiest move, though, is to ladle the chana masala on a large heap of tortilla chips with some cheese, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeños, and cilantro to make a delicious pile of chana masala nachos.

"You can adjust the liquid to play with the texture. If you like the dish a little soupier, feel free to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water in addition to the liquid we’re using from the canned chickpeas.

The recipe also states, "This chana masala recipe is part of our pantry-friendly Vegetarian Comfort Food Meal Plan.

Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/quick-chana-masala.

Ingredients

1 large red onion; plus more thinly sliced for serving (optional)

2 plum tomatoes

2 15-oz. cans chickpeas (do not drain)

3 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. cumin seeds

6 garlic cloves, finely grated

1 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely grated

2 tsp. garam masala

2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1-1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt

1 tsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. amchur (dry mango powder)

1/2 tsp. ground turmeric

1/2 tsp. Kashmiri or other red chile powder

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus leaves with tender stems for serving

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter (optional)

Steamed rice, naan, or crusty bread (for serving)

Preparation

Grate 1 large red onion on the large holes of a box grater; set aside. Cut ends off 2 plum tomatoes and grate flesh down to skins; discard skins. Set aside separately.

Bring two 15-oz. cans chickpeas with their liquid to a boil in a medium saucepan; cook, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas swell slightly and are a bit lighter in color, 10–15 minutes. Remove from heat. Meanwhile, heat 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium. Cook 1 tsp. cumin seeds, swirling pan, until seeds start to pop and sputter, 10–20 seconds. Add 6 garlic cloves, finely grated, one 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely grated, and reserved grated red onion. Cook, stirring often, until most of the water has evaporated, 7–9 minutes.

Add reserved grated tomatoes to skillet and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 2 tsp. garam masala, 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1-1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt, 1 tsp. ground coriander, 1/2 tsp. amchur (dry mango powder), 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric, 1/2 tsp. Kashmiri or other red chile powder, and 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until fragrant and color deepens slightly, about 2 minutes.

Add chickpeas with their liquid to pan, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often, until mixture thickens and takes on a slightly shiny appearance as the oils start to separate, 10–15 minutes. Stir juice of 1/2 lime, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, and 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter (if using) into chana masala.

Divide chana masala among bowls and top with cilantro leaves with tender stems and sliced red onion (if using). Serve with steamed rice, naan, or crusty bread.

CHICKEN TERIYAKI

This recipe is from Sujan Shrestha and adapted by John T. Edge in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, John wrote, "Teriyaki is derived from the Japanese root words teri, which means “to shine,” and yaki, which means “to broil or grill.” That’s the way traditional teriyaki looks: shiny and incised with grill marks. In Japan, teriyaki is a mix of soy sauce, sake and the rice wine mirin, which imparts a subtle sweetness. The teriyaki found throughout Seattle, of which this is an adaptation, is a bit more showy. Cooks sweeten with white sugar and pineapple juice. They thicken with cornstarch. Ginger and garlic go into the mix because of the Korean ancestry of many cooks. It is not at all traditional, but it is simple to prepare and a pleasure to eat. Be sure to plan ahead as you do need to marinate the chicken before cooking. An overnight stay in the fridge is ideal, but many readers have been happy with a quick marinade of an hour or so."

Total Time: 30 minutes, plus marinating; Yield: 8 servings

This was featured in "A City’s Specialty, Japanese in Name Only," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012984-chicken-teriyaki. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

1 cup soy sauce

1 cup granulated sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar

6 garlic cloves, crushed in a press

2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

13-inch cinnamon stick

1 tablespoon pineapple juice

8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Preparation

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients except cornstarch and chicken. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and stir until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Discard cinnamon stick and mix in 1/2 cup water.

Place chicken in a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Add soy sauce mixture, seal bag, and turn to coat chicken. Refrigerate for at least an hour, ideally overnight.

Remove chicken and set aside. Pour mixture into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low. Mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water and add to pan. Stir until mixture begins to thicken, and gradually stir in enough water (about 1/2 cup) until sauce is the consistency of heavy cream. Remove from heat and set aside.

Heat a broiler or grill. Lightly brush chicken pieces on all sides with sauce, and broil or grill about 3 minutes per side. While chicken is cooking, place sauce over high heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a bare simmer, adding water a bit at a time to keep mixture at a pourable consistency. To serve, slice chicken into strips, arrange on plates, and drizzle with sauce.

CHICKEN STROGANOFF

This is from Ham El-Waylly in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Ham wrote, "This Brazilian stroganoff is a riff on the classic Russian-American beef, mushroom and sour cream stew that was considered peak haute cuisine in the United States during the 1950s. In Brazil, stroganoff is often made with beef, chicken or shrimp, but with a tomato base, and heavy cream instead of sour cream. The biggest difference is in the accompaniments: The stew is served with rice and topped with crispy potato sticks. Do not omit the crunchy potato; it may be a garnish, but it is essential. If sticks are hard to find, replace them with lightly crushed chips. Straying from tradition, this recipe opts to poach the delicate chicken breast at the end, for more tender results, rather than to sauté it at the beginning."

Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023694-chicken-stroganoff. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 pound button mushrooms, wiped clean and cut into quarters

Kosher salt

1 large yellow onion, finely diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 fresh or dried bay leaf

1 cup heavy cream

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 cup tomato purée or passata

1 tablespoon ketchup

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/3 cup parsley leaves, roughly chopped

Freshly cracked black pepper

Cooked white rice, for serving

Crispy potato sticks, for serving

Preparation

Place a medium pot over medium-high heat and add the butter. When the butter has started foaming, add the mushrooms, toss to coat and season with a large pinch of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms have released all their liquid and are a deep mahogany brown, about 15 minutes.

Add the onion, garlic and bay leaf and cook, stirring frequently, until onion and garlic are fragrant, softened and a little brown along the edges, about 5 minutes.

Add the heavy cream, scraping off any stuck-on bits with a spatula or wooden spoon. Add the chicken, tomato purée, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and a large pinch of salt. Stir to combine, bring to a gentle simmer and cook until flavors meld and chicken is fully cooked, about 10 minutes.

Take the pan off the heat, remove and discard the bay leaf and stir in the parsley. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve on top of white rice and garnish with a handful of potato sticks.

FREEZER BAG CHICKEN FAJITA STIR-FRY

This yumminess is from the Food Network, and begins, "This Mexican-inspired stir-fry is the perfect quick weekend project: peppers, onions and chicken are tossed with a chili-spiced oil and frozen."

Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes (plus freezing and defrosting time); Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/freezer-bag-chicken-fajita-stir-fry-3885886.

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 green bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

1-1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

12 small flour tortillas, warmed

Guacamole, salsa, sour cream and lime wedges, for serving

Directions

Whisk together the oil, chili powder, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds black pepper in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add the garlic, peppers and onion and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave until the vegetables are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and let cool completely.

Transfer the vegetables with the marinade to a large resealable plastic bag and add the chicken. Squeeze out most of the air and seal, then toss gently to coat the chicken with the marinade. Freeze until ready to use. Let thaw in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before cooking.

Pour the chicken, vegetables and marinade into a large skillet and heat over high heat. Cook, stirring often, until the chicken is cooked through, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide the chicken and vegetables among 4 plates. Serve with 3 tortillas each and the guacamole, salsa, sour cream and lime wedges on the side.

Cook’s Note

Steam corn tortillas in the microwave so they stay pliable and don't split under the weight of taco fillings. Wrap a stack of tortillas in damp paper towels or a damp kitchen towel, then wrap in plastic wrap or place in a microwave-safe resealable plastic bag (keep the bag open to vent). Microwave until warm and flexible, about 1 minute.

CHICKEN & AVOCADO BURRITOS

This is from Campbell's, and begins, "Chicken & Avocado Burritos stuffed with chicken, avocado, cheese and sour cream, cooked until browned and crisp on the outside? Yes, please! The best part is that with this recipe, you don't have to prep and cook the chicken- canned chicken is the perfect time saver! Learn how to make these chicken burritos. It really couldn't be easier, and it's easy to customize, too! Want to use whole wheat tortillas? Go for it. Is shredded Cheddar cheese your favorite? Use that instead! This Chicken & Avocado Burritos recipe is foolproof, and ready to eat in less than 20 minutes!"

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 18 minutes; Serves: 4

To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/swanson/recipes/chicken-avocado-burritos/.

Ingredients

1 can (12.5 ounces) Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained

1/3 cup Pace® Salsa Verde

2 tablespoons light sour cream or plain nonfat Greek yogurt

4 flour tortilla (10-inch), warmed

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese or Cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)

1 avocado, pitted, peeled and diced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 lime, cut into quarters

Instructions

Stir the chicken, salsa verde and sour cream in a bowl.

Place the tortillas onto a work surface. Spoon the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Top with avocado, cheese and cilantro. Fold in two sides of each tortilla and roll up to enclose the filling.

Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the burritos for 4 minutes. Turn the burritos over and cook for 4 minutes or until hot. Serve with the lime wedges and additional salsa verde, if desired.

HOT CHICKEN SALAD CASSEROLE

This is from Better Homes and Gardens.

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Bake Time: 30 minutes; Stand Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr; Servings: 6

To view this online, go to https://www.bhg.com/recipe/hot-chicken-salad-casserole/.

Ingredients

3 cup cubed cooked chicken breast (about 1 pound)

2 stalks celery, sliced (1 cup)

1 large yellow or red sweet pepper, chopped (1 cup)

3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar or mozzarella cheese (3 ounces)

1 10.75 ounce can reduced-fat and reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup

1 6 ounce carton plain low-fat yogurt

2 green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup crushed cornflakes

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large bowl stir together chicken, celery, sweet pepper, cheese, soup, yogurt, green onions, lemon juice, and black pepper. Transfer to a 2-quart rectangular baking dish.

In a small bowl stir together cornflakes and almonds. Sprinkle evenly over chicken mixture.

Bake, uncovered, about 30 minutes or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

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