Costa Vida Chicken

I can't remember if I've been to a Costa Vida before. I get that and Café Rio mixed up. I DO know that I have been to Café Rio and it is FAB. Think Chipotle/Qdoba but better!! This recipe is a costa vida knock off and it is awesome. The kids weren't big on it for some reason which is weird because it's not spicy at all, actually has more of a sweet flavor. Even though they didn't care for it I have to add it to my favorites because I thought it was so good.

"Costa Vida" Chicken 5 Chicken Breasts(I use frozen breasts)
1 16 oz bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing
1Tbsp Chili Powder
1Tbsp Cumin
3 Garlic Cloves minced

Place Chicken Breasts in Crock pot. Combine wet ingredients and pour over Chicken Breasts.  Cook on low 4 hours.  Shred Chicken and cook on low for 1 more hour.

Creamy Lemon-Pesto Chicken

I am extremely picky when it comes to pasta meals. I was a little worried about this one as I was making it but it turned out SO good.

INGREDIENTS
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup bottled lemon pepper marinade (I used Ken’s)
2 tsp dried basil

2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup milk
1 tsp lemon zest
1/3 cup pesto

12 oz linguine
DIRECTIONS

Combine lemon pepper marinade and dried basil. Pour over chicken and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. (I usually marinate the chicken overnight)

Grill chicken for 12-15 minutes, or until done (165 degrees).

While the chicken is grilling, cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Set pasta aside and keep warm.

Meanwhile, prepare the pesto sauce. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Whisk in flour until it thickens and bubbles, then whisk in milk and lemon zest. Continue to whisk mixture and cook until slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Add pesto and mix well.

To serve, slice chicken into strips. Toss cooked pasta in the pesto, top with chicken

Spicy Chicken Stew

INGREDIENTS

      2 baking potatoes (about 1 1/2 lb.), peeled and cut into chunks (3 1/3 cups)

1 (10 oz.) package frozen sweet corn

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks (1 cup)

1 onion, thickly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (12.5 oz.) jar salsa

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon chile powder

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast, halved (about 1 lb.)

4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 10.5 oz.)

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

4 (6 inch) fresh corn tortillas, cut into strips

 

Dump everything in crockpot and cook on low 6 hours or until ready to eat.

Slow Cooker Barbeque Chicken

Love slow cooker/crock pot recipes!!

Ingredients

4-6 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts (i threw them in frozen... even easier!)
1 bottle BBQ sauce (sweet baby ray's all the way!)
1/4 c vinegar
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 - 1 tsp. garlic powder
DIRECTIONS

mix BBQ sauce with all ingredients listed under it. place chicken in crockpot. pour sauce over it and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. you pretty much don't even have to stir it... how easy is that!?

Baked Lemon Herb Chicken

INGREDIENTS

4 split chicken breasts, skin on

Kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon sliced in wedges, 6-8 slices

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

9 cloves minced garlic- about 3 Tbs

1/3 cup dry white wine

1 Tbs grated lemon zest (2 lemons)

 2 Tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice

1½ tsp dried oregano

1 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves, plus 4 sprigs

 

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Bake @ 425, uncovered 30 minutes or until done. Place Chicken in a 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Slice lemon and place among the chicken. Heat oil in sauté pan to med-high heat. Saute garlic. Turn off heat. Add white wine, lemon juice, oregano & thyme. Pour over chicken.

Easy Calzone Rolls

INGREDIENTS

• 2 loafs frozen bread dough, thawed
• 1/2 pound sliced ham
• 1/2 pound sliced hard salami
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup jarred marinara sauce

 

DIRECTIONS

 

1. Roll each loaf of dough into a rectangle about 8 inches by 12 inches.

2. Layer ham and salami down the center of each rolled loaf lengthwise.

 

3. Top meats with 1 cup shredded mozzarella for each roll.

4.  Fold short ends of each loaf in about 1/2 inch and seal. Roll from the long sides and pinch well to seal the entire loaf. You should have 2 long rolls.

 

5.  Bake, seam side down on a greased baking sheet in a 375 degree F oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

 

6.  Cut each roll into 8 slices and serve with marinara for dipping

Sweet Honey Chicken

Our friends, the Geetings, made this for us when they had us over for dinner last month. It was SO good. Great served with rice and steamed broccoli! It makes enough extra sauce to spoon over everything.

INGREDIENTS

3 lbs chicken
1 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 TBSP ketchup
salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Heat oven to 375.
Place chicken in glass baking dish. Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
Whisk together other ingredients to make the sauce.
Pour over chicken.
Bake for 1 hour or until done.