When summer weather hits, ice cream, watermelon and frosty drinks might top your list of summer menu items, but traditional meal staples like chicken never go out of season. Summer chicken dishes are light, fresh and a snap to whip up when it's too hot to leave the oven on for hours at a time. Pairing chicken with the bounty of the summer season also keeps your budget in check while keeping your family and guests coming back for more.
Cooking Methods
Chicken is adaptable to a variety of summer-friendly preparations so you can keep the inside of your house cool and still deliver fast, satisfying meals for your family. Keep the heat outdoors with grilled or barbecue chicken. An electric griddle or grill plugged in outdoors will spare you the temperature without sacrificing flavor. Instead of heating up your whole house with the oven, opt for skillet cooking chicken and you'll still end up with juicy chicken with a bit of crust.
If you want to avoid the heat completely, invest in precooked chicken breast or strips in the refrigerated section of your local deli -- they are ready to top your salads or heat up quickly in the microwave.
Summer Marinades
Marinating your chicken is particularly useful during the summer months because you can prepare the marinades the evening before, coat the chicken in the morning and then let the pieces sit in the refrigerator while you go about your day until it's time to toss the chicken on the grill.
Take advantage of summer fruits with citrus marinades for your skinless breasts. The juice from lemons, oranges, pineapples or limes give you a starting point for adding fresh grated ginger, soy sauce or honey to create a sweet, tangy marinade. For your bone-in wings and legs, opt for bolder, spicier marinades like chipotle barbecue or teriyaki.
To make your own marinade, start with ketchup and then add spices like cumin, curry powder, garlic powder or ground ginger.
Cold Dishes
Though warm chicken dishes are good for the soul in colder months, cool, refreshing chicken dishes keep your summer menu light and filling.
Reserve any leftover chicken from your grilled meals and keep the pieces in a plastic container for re-purposing later in the week. Turn salads into main dishes with ample slices of chicken. Keep them summery with citrus dressings and salad-friendly fruits like mandarin oranges or fresh berries. Chicken is also a protein-rich addition to cold pasta salads. Amp up the flavor with curry seasonings or Mexican spices for a twist on the traditional approach.
Hand-Held Meals
Hand-held chicken meals and finger foods are simple to prepare and ideal for on-the-go families with a busy schedule of summer activities. Instead of fat-heavy quesadillas, opt for a lighter chicken-stuffed whole-wheat pita. For a Mexican twist, add sour cream, chopped tomatoes and a dash of cumin.
Greek-inspired chicken pitas get flavor from feta cheese, Greek dressing and chopped kalamata olives. Take advantage of chicken's built-in hand-held form by grilling drumsticks or chicken wings after marinating with your preferred honey barbecue or spicy buffalo sauce. Kids love dipping, so provide a range of creamy dressings and condiments for their dipping pleasure.
Hannah Tello - I am a high school English teacher and freelance writer from New England. I received my undergraduate degree in English from Mount Holyoke ...
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