4 Ways to Cook Chicken for a Casserole

Take a look at this video to learn some really fantastic tips for learning how to poach chicken! 

- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a healthier option, but can be less flavorful and are more expensive than bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts.

- Bone-in chicken breasts have more flavor because of the bone, but have a higher fat content because of the skin. They are a cheaper option than boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1. Arrange bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts on a baking sheet, skin-side up. Drizzle the chicken breasts with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. Rub each chicken breast to ensure even coating of oil and seasoning.

2. Roast the chicken at 350 degrees F for 35-45 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check the meat. The thickest part of the meat should read 165 degrees F.

3. Let the chicken breasts rest for 30 minutes. This helps the chicken hold on to its juices. Then, separate the meat from the skin and bones.

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1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Rub the chicken with a bit of olive oil.

3. Place the chicken in a covered baking dish and bake for 30-40 minutes.

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1. Place chicken in a saucepan that is large enough to fit the chicken in a single layer.

2. Add cooking liquid to the pan. There are many things that can be used as cooking liquid such as water, chicken broth, or even apple cider. You can add additional flavor by adding such ingredients as salt, onion, celery, garlic, lemon, and herbs. Just make sure the flavors don’t clash with the recipe you’ll be using the chicken for.

3. Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to simmering and cover the pan with a lid. Cook the chicken until it’s no longer pink and the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts take about 30 minutes to cook. Halved boneless, skinless chicken breasts take about 15-20 minutes.

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1. Pound the chicken breast so it has a uniform thickness and will cook evenly. Use a paper towel to dry the chicken. This will help create a golden crust on the chicken.

2. Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When the oil is heated, add the chicken breasts to the skillet.

3. To fully cook the chicken, sear the chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side. If the chicken will be used in recipe that will finish cooking the chicken, sear the chicken for 1 1/2-2 minutes per side.

NOTE: Partially cooking the chicken is safe only if you are making a recipe that will finish cooking the chicken, such as a slow cooker casserole.

To get the complete infographic, click on the photo below.

- After you’ve cooked the chicken, you can shred or dice it and freeze it. That way you have cooked chicken on hand when you want to make a chicken casserole. Divide the cooked chicken into 1-2 cup packages to allow for easy use later on.

- Short on time? Use a precooked rotisserie chicken or canned chicken.

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