I used to believe chicken breasts were dull and uninteresting until I changed my approach to them. Instead of viewing chicken breasts as the centerpiece of recipes, I now consider them merely a basis to enhance the recipe’s flavor. In this BBQ Cheddar Baked Chicken recipe, the chicken breast serves as an excellent filling base, bringing the flavorful BBQ sauce, creamy cheddar, spicy green onion, and fresh cilantro suitable to your taste and taste buds. When you cook chicken breast, as in this recipe, I’m all about it.
TIPS FOR BAKING CHICKEN BREAST
Baking chicken breasts correctly will require some knowledge. If you’re looking to avoid dry or overcooked chicken breasts, here are some tips:
The baking time should be adjusted to the size of the chicken breast. Thicker or larger breasts of chicken require more time to cook (20-25 minutes), While smaller or thinner breasts will cook faster (15-18 15-18 minutes).
Use a mallet or a rolling pin to lightly crush the thick part of your breasts of chicken to give the breasts a more uniform thickness. This will help them cook faster and evenly.
Make use of a meat thermometer to get the optimal results. Chicken breasts must cook until they attain temperatures of about 165oF. The longer it cooks past this point, the more likely it will dry out and become challenging.
Allow the chicken breast to cool after the baking process. Be sure to let the breast of the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes following baking to lessen the pressure of steam within the meat. This ensures that the juices remain inside the heart after they are cut instead of being released to leave behind a dry, hardcore.
CAN I USE BONE-IN CHICKEN?
This recipe is ideal to chicken with skinless and boneless breasts and thighs. Bone-in chicken requires a longer time to cook, and your BBQ sauce may with a longer cooking time.
WHAT KIND OF BBQ SAUCE IS BEST?
I generally choose Sweet Baby Ray’s if you want a low-cost but delicious BBQ sauce. However, I highly recommend using any BBQ sauce you enjoy the most. While every fBBQ sauce flavors are suitable for this recipe, I would favor something more spicy or savory instead of sweeter BBQ sauce.
INGREDIENTS
Two skinless, boneless poultry breasts (about 1.3 pounds in total) ($7.58)
1 tsp smoked paprika ($0.10)
1/2 1 tsp of garlic powder ($0.05)
1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
14 tbsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
1/4 cup BBQ sauce ($0.13)
1 cup shredded cheddar ($0.85)
Red onion diced 1/4 cup ($0.05)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro ($0.09)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 400oF. If the chicken breasts are highly thick or uneven in their thickness, Use a mallet or rolling pin to begin pounding them to an equal thickness. Cut the breasts of the chicken in half, resulting in four pieces.
Mix the smoked paprika, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Clean the chicken using paper towels. Sprinkle the seasoning mix onto the whole piece of chicken.
Place the chicken pieces you have seasoned on a baking tray, then pour 1 Tbsp BBQ sauce on the top of each piece, spreading it from edge-to-edge over the chicken.
Roast the chicken in a heated oven preheated to 400oF for around 18 mins (less than that for the smaller or fewer pieces).
The chicken should be removed from the oven, and decorate each piece with shredded cheese. Re-insert the chicken in the range, and continue baking for 5 minutes until it has reached an internal temperature of 165oF.
When the oven is finished baking, let it sit for five minutes, and then sprinkle with diced red onions and chopped cilantro right before serving.
