I usually eat chicken once or twice a week and I was in need of a new variation. I still love my tried and true trio, but since it is Fall, I decided I need a new way to spice things up. Behold, orange spice chicken. The sweetness of the orange is subtle but so delicious and the cinnamon gives it beautiful background note. I am actually cooking this again today because I enjoyed it so much last week! It is the quintessential Autumn chicken recipe.
Orange Spice Chicken
Ingredients:
+ 3 Chicken Breasts
+ 1 Large Orange (zested and juiced)
+ 1 TB Dried Rosemary
+ 1 Β½ Tsp Cinnamon
+ 1 TB Dried Parsley
+ 1 Tsp Onion Powder
Directions:
+ In a large plastic Zip-Lock bag, combine the orange zest and juice, and all the spices. Then trim and clean the chicken and toss those in the bag as well.
+ Get most of the air out as best you can and coast, massage the bag to incorporate the flavors into the chicken. Then place the bag in the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes.
+ Preheat the oven to 350Β°F. Lightly wipe some EVOO or non-stick spray in a baking dish. Then lay out the chicken and pour the marinade on top. Sprinkle some more Parsley on the Chicken beasts as well to make them look pretty!
+ Next just place the dish in the oven and cook for 45 minutes or until done.
(Chicken photographs so beautifully right? Haha, no!)
This was so good! I had the left overs the next day and it was even better! But I think chicken always tastes better the next day once it has had to time sit and absorb all the flavors it was cooked with. P.S. I ate most of mine without ketchup! Shocker I know, but the orange was so perfect by itself I didn't want to miss out on any flavor.
I think I have an addiction. I can not get enough plantains! It is the most perfect side to anything. Once you master the technique and find exactly how you like them baked, you will be eating them by the dozens I'm warning telling you! I have only ever used them as baked fries or baked chips, but all these plantain breads and pancakes are starting to really spark my appetite, I will have to try these variations soon too, but until then I will just share my tried and true method for baked fries and chips!
Plantain Fries and Chips
Ingredients:
+ 1 Yellowish Plantain (I find that once I let almost all the green disappear the plantain is sweet enough yet not too ripe and cooks best. Like this:
+ The spices: I love plantain fries with Smoked Paprika, that is the best. But I recently have been loving them with a mix of Smoked Paprika and Cinnamon as well. But this time I got really crazy and used just Cinnamon and...Coconut Flakes! (Unsweetened of course!). But you can get creative and use what ever you like.
Directions:
+ Preheat the oven to 390Β°F.
+ Take your plantain and cut the ends off. Then make a slit all the way down one side and peel back the peel!
+ Nest decide it you want either traditional fry shape or disc/chip shape. This time I chose the chip shape. So slice the plantain up for what ever you chose.
+ Then foil and oil (or non-stick spray) a baking sheet and lay out your plantain pieces. Then just pour on your spices and get your hands messy and toss everything around to coat them up.
+ Now just cook them for about 30 to 40 minutes. Flip them half way through. My kitchen smelled so good when these were cooking. Cinnamon and Coconutty goodness!
(Perfection!)
I have to admit that I even used a bit of ketchup on these, haha! But not a lot because the coconut and cinnamon was perfect alone.
Remember to link up your recent eats with Jen's WIAW! My favorite blog link-up, thanks Jen!
So tell me:
Are you a plantain junkie like me? Or have you not hopped on the bandwagon yet? If you haven't I strongly suggest you do!
Ketchup, yay or nay? I put it on everything and anything!
I have a half-day of school for our monthly teacher in-service, so I am a happy camper today! I hope you have a happy Wednesday too, see you tomorrow!
burpees4breakfast
I love plantains so much. I have the chips from Trader Joe's, but now I need to make those!
Strength and Sunshine
Yea, because these are baked "fries" type chips with no oil and extra things! They are so good and so sweet if you use a yellow plantain!
Jo-Lynne {Musings of a Housewife}
that chicken looks so tasty! and I have NEVER bought plantains. i really want to give them a try.
strengthandsunshine
Plantains are one of the greatest things ever! You must try them ASAP!
Barb Hoyer (@BarbHoyer)
Those orange spiced chicken breasts look so yummy!
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Barb! I hope you get a chance to give the recipe a try π
Kierston @candyfit
Yes please! The plantain chips look awesome!
strengthandsunshine
They are so good!
Courtney Dyson
I absolutely love plantain chips! I eat them whenever I can. I'm not a big fan of ketchup, I prefer BBQ sauce.
xx
chaseallyourdreams.blogspot.com
strengthandsunshine
Haha! What ever works! Plantains rock π
dishofdailylife
Sounds really good! I love using orange flavor on meats! I'll definitely have to try this! Thanks for linking up with us at LOBS!
strengthandsunshine
It brings such a lovely sweetness to the chicken. And I always love linking up!
Kristin @ Dizzy Busy and Hungry!
I have never tried plantains! I will think I am going to have to after seeing how yummy they look here! Pinning this (and putting plantains on my shopping list!)
I would love for you to come over and link up at Wine'd Down Wednesday if you get a chance. We are partying from now until Friday! Hope to see you there!
(Just stop by my site and you will see the party, one or two posts down on the home page!)
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Kristin, you will not be disappointed! I'll go check out your link-up right now!
Britni Newton Vigil
This sounds absolutely delicious and I'm always looking for new chicken recipes. Thanks for the great idea. Going to follow you on FB now so I get all of your great ideas!
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Britni! Let me know if you try it and thank you for following!
catfoodisgoodforyou
I'm totally on the plantain bandwagon! I saw those chips on the Healthy Maven and they've been on my mind since then-I think it's a sign I have to make them now! I like to fry them in a little coconut oil and throw them in yoghurt with tons of cinnamon π
strengthandsunshine
You can never go wrong with cinnamon!
Health, Love, and Chocolate
I usually make my plantain chips with cinnamon but I never thought to coat them with coconut, I love that idea!
strengthandsunshine
They did come out lovely so I think I'll keep the coconut version in my flavoring rounds! But my absolute favorite way is with smoked paprika still!
Julie
Wow, I can't believe you made plantain chips!
strengthandsunshine
They are incredible! Give it a try!
Kaitlin
Oh I put ketchup and BBQ sauce on EVERYTHING. My friends think it's odd, but hey, whatever works π
strengthandsunshine
Haha! Ketchup love! I always go for an organic brand that has no added sugar or salt (or at least very low sugar and salt) But I really want to try making my own soon!
Kaitlin
I find the organic type as well but that's a great idea to make your own!
Nikki @ The Road to Less Cake
I love your flavour combinations. The chicken looks beautiful.
strengthandsunshine
Haha Thanks Nikki, I wish the photos were still better!
Amy @ The Little Honey Bee
Love this chicken recipe! Thank you π
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Amy! Let me know if you try it out!
Taylor Ryan (@femininemuscle)
The plantain chips look amazing!
strengthandsunshine
I have a very green plantain staring at me on the kitchen counter right now and I am begging it to ripen!
Caitlin
oh my gosh both of these things look so tropical and delish and easy to make. i can see them making up the perfect summer meal. pinned!
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Caitlin! I am making that orange chicken right now and I am loving the smells coming from the oven up to my room!
Deborah D. @ Its All About Me Fitness
The plantain chips look SWEET! π
strengthandsunshine
They are "sweet" in the sense that they are awesome, but they actually aren't very sweet in taste!
Deborah D. @ Its All About Me Fitness
Haha! Awesomeness is what I was referring too! I love plantains!
Juli
The chicken and banana looks amazing!
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Juli! (But Plantains are not bananas, they are completely different!)
Juli
ooops π we haven't got them here. What do they taste like?
strengthandsunshine
It is a much starchier version of a banana. It really has only a slight flavor. You can eat them green or when the yellow, but you have to cook them before your eat. As they yellow they get a bit sweeter, but when they are green they really don't have much taste!
Juli
Thank you π
Jessie
What a unique, yet delicious sounding chicken recipe. I'm curious, what did you pair the chicken with for dinner?
strengthandsunshine
Plantain fries of course!