Oven Baked Chicken Breast - Money Saving Tips For a Healthier Meal
Oven baked chicken breast is an easy dish to make. It requires little preparation time, does not need to be watched closely while baking, and tastes great. Boneless skinless chicken breast recipes are very alluring as an entrée for either lunch or dinner and everyone seems to like them.
However, you may want to know how to save money when preparing them.
Meat Preparation To Save Money
The cost of boneless skinless chicken breasts may be prohibitive when compared to other meats. Processing a whole chicken into more usable parts at home will help you save money.
A whole chicken is usually much less expensive than boneless skinless chicken breasts because of less handwork by the butcher. If you perform the same tasks the butcher would to reduce an entire bird into more usable pieces then you are applying your labor instead of paying cash for it at the store.
It is not difficult to process a whole chicken. You can often find whole chickens on sale so buying a few while on sale and storing the butchered pieces in your freezer will save you money.
A side benefit is that you end up with skin and bones, which can be boiled and converted to make rich chicken broth. Broth can be used for chicken soups of all types or in other recipes for flavoring.
By allowing the fat to float to the top of your finished broth while it is stored overnight in the refrigerator will allow you to easily remove it. A low-fat chicken broth is much healthier and more flavorful.
Chicken broth can be used in many ways when you are formulating your healthy diet plan. To eat healthy you must plan ahead. Otherwise you will eat whatever is available when you get hungry.
Unfortunately, this is usually fast food and fast food is bad for you.
Oven Baked Chicken Breast Recipes
These recipes are easy to make. Whether served for lunch or dinner they will add a reliable source of protein to your meals.
Try this simple yet elegant dish for an easy family-friendly meal.
Marinated Chicken Breasts With Dip
Place boneless skinless chicken breasts in a bowl or plastic bag. Add your favorite Italian or other olive oil based salad dressing. Cover bowl or seal plastic bag. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
When ready to bake place marinated breasts into an oven-safe pan or baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for approximately 30-45 minutes. The cooking time will differ depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
They are done when cooked through with no red blood or meat visible when a cut is made in the thickest portion of the breast.
You can serve the chicken with the same dressing you marinated it in or another to use as a dip. Creamy dressing such as Ranch or blue cheese (as well as Roquefort) work great as dips.
Serve with a large salad containing many different colorful vegetables and wild rice cooked in chicken broth from your homemade chicken broth.
Oven-Baked Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Breasts
1 Egg, beaten with a splash of water
3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large jar marinara sauce
1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
Mix Italian breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Dip chicken breasts in egg wash (beaten egg and a splash of water) then roll in Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and Parmesan mix. Bake uncovered in a glass baking dish at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
Breasts are done when cooked through with no red blood or meat visible when a cut is made in the thickest portion of the meat.
Warm the marinara sauce in a covered sauce pan.
Place cooked chicken breasts on a serving platter, spoon marinara sauce over them, and then sprinkle with low-fat mozzarella cheese.
Serve remaining marinara sauce over whole grain pasta (whole wheat, spelt, brown rice, etc.) and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.
Begin the meal with a large salad. An olive oil based dressing is preferred because of the health benefits this healthy oil offers.
Making oven baked chicken breast recipes is easy.
Eating oven baked chicken breast is even easier.
Eating a healthy diet plan while saving money is possible. Plan ahead and prepare good healthy foods your family and guests will enjoy.
| Dale Heil, D.C. For additional tips, tricks, and healthy recipes please visit: http://www.eat-healthy-diet-plan.com/Healthy-Dinner.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Dale_Heil |  |
