How to make chicken not so bland?

quartknee11
quartknee11 Posts: 141 Member
edited November 14 in Food and Nutrition
Without adding too many calories to it?

I've been eating a lot of chicken and turkey taco meat. I can eat the turkey taco meat all day without a problem but the chicken is really hard for me. I Cook it then freeze it and just pull it the night before I'm going to eat it and then heat it up. I've seasoned it with season salt but it just doesn't taste great.

What do you all do?
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Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Joe's Stuff. Amazing.

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  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    The door of my fridge is filled with various types of hot sauce and marinades.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Depends on what kind of chicken dish I'm making...I have a ton of different marinades or rubs I use when grilling...this time of year, it tends to go into stews and enchiladas.
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    When you heat it up after it's been in the fridge...do you stick it in the microwave? If so, try adding a bit of water into the dish to create steam so it's not as dry.

    I like hot sauce, dipping it in a bit of ranch, or I experiment with different seasoning shakers from the grocery store.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    Depends on what kind of flavor profile you want.
  • kelseymallen
    kelseymallen Posts: 85 Member
    I really like shake n bake. There are several different flavors to choose from and none of them are terribly high calorie. About 35 calories per serving.
  • albertabeefy
    albertabeefy Posts: 1,169 Member
    Various flavours of Mrs Dash, a good BBQ rub, etc. are all worth trying. Marinades and sauces that fit in your chosen macro and caloric profile...
  • quartknee11
    quartknee11 Posts: 141 Member
    Various flavours of Mrs Dash, a good BBQ rub, etc. are all worth trying. Marinades and sauces that fit in your chosen macro and caloric profile...

    When you're making it all at the same time, how do you count the calories per serving?
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I use it in a stir fry, pizza, soup, salad, sandwich if I have pre-cooked meat.
    Herbs, spices, garlic, onion, hot sauce, salsa. If you like a seasoning blend try Mrs. Dash seasoning blends.
    Reheat cooked chicken more slowly in oven or stove top instead of microwave.
  • MsAmandaNJ
    MsAmandaNJ Posts: 1,248 Member
    Salt, pepper, marjoram, garlic or onion powder. Don't be afraid to over season, it takes more than you think.
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    I marinate skinless chicken thighs in teriyaki sauce and roast them in the oven. The teriyaki sauce I use adds a minimal amount of calories (maybe 20 or so per serving) and the outcome is so tasty, especially with rice and steamed veggies.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I really like shake n bake. There are several different flavors to choose from and none of them are terribly high calorie. About 35 calories per serving.

    I <3 pretzel shake n bake.
  • JodehFoster
    JodehFoster Posts: 419 Member
    You may never like it. I can't stand left over chicken unless it's cold, it just gets a really gross taste to me when it's reheated.
  • jennkain97
    jennkain97 Posts: 290 Member
    Various flavours of Mrs Dash, a good BBQ rub, etc. are all worth trying. Marinades and sauces that fit in your chosen macro and caloric profile...

    When you're making it all at the same time, how do you count the calories per serving?

    Figure out how much you're making, then divide by the number of servings

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    You may never like it. I can't stand left over chicken unless it's cold, it just gets a really gross taste to me when it's reheated.

    I don't like it reheated either. Same with turkey. I like both cold though.
  • laur357
    laur357 Posts: 896 Member
    You can put your chicken plus additional ingredients or sauces in the recipe builder and divide it into portions. By taco meat, I'm guessing you mean it's ground chicken?


    Things I regularly add to chicken:
    Marinara sauce
    Lemon, garlic, and white wine
    Salsa
    Taco seasoning packets
    Soy sauce, ginger, garlic
    Cajun seasoning
    Chili in adobo
    Barbecue sauce
    Buffalo or hot sauce

  • meeemy
    meeemy Posts: 26 Member
    I put it in marinade the day before i will prepare it.

    200 gramm chicken breast ( cut in cubes or just leave it in 1 piece)
    1 teaspoon oil
    1 teaspoon yogurt
    1 teaspoonlemon juice
    1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    Salt and pepper
    1/2 teaspoon paprika powder
    1/2 onion

    Mix it all 2gether n let the chicken marinade in it till u prepare it.
    Tastes amazing if u grill the chicken breast or prepare the chicken breast cubes in a frying pan
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    I always use chicken thighs instead of breasts. Way more flavorful in my opinion and much more forgiving if you overcook them. Chicken breasts are way too bland for me, even when cooked properly.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    For something like boneless, skinless chicken breasts, I usually add it to something strong and yummy; chicken taco soup, chili, but my fav is curry.
  • bricate14
    bricate14 Posts: 3 Member
    My leftovers I usually cut in to pieces, mix with pre-chopped peppers, add in an avocado and stir. You can add anything into it, onion, spinach, etc. Voila no mayo chicken salad!
  • 212ackley
    212ackley Posts: 431 Member
    I love Cajun seasoning-like season salt but spicy!!! Also love sweet / spicy Asian sauces...they have sugar but don't take a ton to gain flavor!
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    I always use chicken thighs instead of breasts. Way more flavorful in my opinion and much more forgiving if you overcook them. Chicken breasts are way too bland for me, even when cooked properly.

    So much this... and chicken thighs are so much cheaper... Usually $.89 a pound here.
  • lulalacroix
    lulalacroix Posts: 1,082 Member
    I like making a chicken salad with the leftovers. That way I don't have to reheat.
  • brewerfan13
    brewerfan13 Posts: 183 Member
    Fry it but only eat half
  • rldeclercq4
    rldeclercq4 Posts: 269 Member
    I just had chipotle chicken tacos the last couple days: 1) Cast iron 2) coconut oil 3) diced chicken breast seasoned generously with salt, pepper, and chipotle spice rub 4) cook in hot oil for about 8-10 minutes (small dices cook faster). They tasted great! Served on a small sized soft flour tortilla. About 150 calories per taco
  • SadDolt
    SadDolt Posts: 173 Member
    put lots of pepper
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    edited January 2017
    Various seasonings - I, personally, like Italian seasonings, but my wife doesn't :shrug: - and various ways of cooking the chicken.

    Bake it with some onions, cheese, and bacon, with some tomato thrown on after? F yeah.

    Fried, with mustard? F yeah 2x.

    Diced, and cooked in salsa? ubetchurass
  • nmcknny
    nmcknny Posts: 479 Member
    Lemon juice adds a little salt flavor--it's a salt substitute in a salt-free diet--and it would help with dryness. Depends on how much leftover chicken you have but just a little would be enough. Or, try lemon pepper.
  • kentkoester
    kentkoester Posts: 4 Member
    Make a slit in it and stuff it with jalapenos.
    You could also get a dutch oven, wrap the insides with bacon and then put the chicken in that.

    If you want shredded chicken for tacos, 1 packet ranch dip mix, chicken broth, chicken breasts, and 1 packet taco seasoning. Put all of it in a crock pock, set on Low, and let it cook for 8-10 hours. Shred the chicken and you have delicious shredded chicken tacos!

    Alternatively you could just cover the chicken in various seasonings and find one you like.
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