How Funky is Your Chicken?

Finding ways to pack protein on a budget is not always easy. One solution to providing the protein your family needs is to make more chicken dishes. There are plenty of options to choose from, and the following ideas may help you to becoming a more creative provider of protein packed meals.
One way to turn chicken into a savory salad is by making Crunchy Poppy seed Chicken Salad. This recipe involves 15 minutes of prep and makes 4 delicious servings.

Simply combine 4 cups of broccoli slaw, 2 large red peppers thinly sliced, 1 can of pineapple tidbits, drained, a package of Oscar Mayer Oven Roasted Chicken Breast Cuts (6 oz.) and a quarter cup of Planters Cashews. Add 1/2 cup of Kraft Creamy Poppy seed dressing and toss the salad to coat evenly. Top with additional cashews just before serving.

This salad is great to serve with a summer meal or bar-b-que. Chicken can also be replaced with previously and leftover cooked chicken. A great way to use up leftovers and provide a nutritious salad!

Another fun chicken solution is Simply Saucy Chicken.

Simply Saucy Chicken takes about ten minutes of prep and 25 minutes total time. Just take 4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves and 1 Tbsp of oil and 1/4 cup chicken broth. Cook the chicken in hot oil in a large covered skillet on medium-high heat 5 min. on each side or until browned. Then, stir in 1/4 cup of Special Collection Creamy Poppy seed Dressing, the chicken broth and 2 minced garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp of ground ginger. Bring the mix to a boil and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Next, add 1 can of peach slices, drained and a cup of peas, stir to combine. Cook for 2-4 minutes or until vegetables are tender. The saucy chicken goes quite well with brown rice or wheat noodles. There are also ways to substitute other Kraft dressings and you are free to mix and match with seasoning and other frozen vegetables.

Chicken Mango Spinach Salad is also a great chicken recipe high in vitamin A and C. The salad takes about ten minutes and makes 5 delicious servings. Simply take a bag of baby spinach and toss it with 1 medium mango, peeled and sliced. Add 1 medium sliced and peeled avocado and 1 small red onion, thinly sliced. Add 2/3 Cup of Kraft's Light Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing and serve onto 5 plates. Top the salads with a few strips of cooked chicken strips and serve immediately. This salad also works great with slivered almonds or poppy seeds as a garnish. The Avocados and spinach are roaring with Vitamin A and this salad's sweet mango is sure to be a favorite among kids and adults.

For a great BBQ Grilled Chicken, simply place 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves in a large reseal able plastic bag along with 1/3 cup of Kraft Classic Caesar Dressing. Refrigerate the chicken for 30 minutes to an hour to marinate and discard the marinade.

Next, heat the grill to medium heat. Place chicken on the grill and cover it with a lid. Grill the chicken for 6-8 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked. Brush the chicken with 1/4 cup of Barbecue sauce during the last few minutes of grilling time.

This simple and quick chicken goes great with a side salad or as a barbecue chicken sandwich. It is an alternative to the typical cheeseburger grill and it is also a healthier and low-fat source of protein. When cooking chicken, make sure that you cook just until the juices run clear and the chicken is cooked through at a temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

The chicken can also be placed on a baking sheet in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until cooked thoroughly.

For a spicy and savory chicken dish try southwestern grilled chicken with mango salsa. This recipe requires about 20 minutes of prep time and a total time of 1 hr and a half.

You will need to mix an envelope of good seasons Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe mix with 1/2 cup of oil, 1/4 cup of lime juice, 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro and 1tsp of chili powder until the mix is well blended. Pour 1/2 cup of the dressing over 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves in a resalable plastic bag. Seal the bag and allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for one hour. Mix the remaining dressing, 2 peeled and chopped medium sized mangoes and 1/2 cup of chopped red pepper and a half cup of chopped green onions in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate the mix until ready to use.

After removing the chicken from the marinade, discard the marinade and grill the chicken on medium to high heat for 6-8 minutes on each side. Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked, top each piece with the mango mixture and enjoy!

Each of these ideas work great for turning chicken into a meal, and providing the nutrients your family needs.