Products to Dress Up a Simple Chicken Meal

My family eats chicken at least three times per week. Partially we make this selection because of health reasons; however, it is also a very economical choice. Most often our meal consists of broiled or baked skinless chicken breasts with a vegetable, bread and starch (such as rice). Although tasty and delicious, just eating basic chicken can become dull and boring. Consequently, I've found several products that help me "spice up" my chicken and add taste and zest to every meal.

Chicken Marinades

When one thinks of marinades they think of red meat. Chicken however can also benefit from a good marinade. Marinades not only make meats more tender, but it can also provide a burst of flavor. Although you can make your own marinade, there are several pre-made products on the market.

Lawry's (the seasoning specialists) makes several marinades that work well with chicken. Some that work great with chicken include the Hawaiian (an exotic and fruity taste), Mesquite (a smoky and zesty taste) and Louisiana Red Pepper (when wanting lots of spice) marinades.

Other quality marinades include products by Mrs. Dash, Jim Beam and Paula Dean.

Grilling Sauces for Chicken

Unlike marinades grilling sauces are added to chicken in the last several minutes of of cooking. These sauces add zest to chicken prepared on an outdoor grill or in the broiler.

Tastefully Simple products are sold via independent distributors. I first found out about the company when invited to a home party. Although somewhat expensive, Tastefully Simple offers many fantastic products including dips, desserts, bread mixes and meat marinades/sauces. They have several wonderful grilling sauces such as their Pomegranate Chipotle (both sweet and spicy) or their Sassy Sangria Grill Sauce (a very flavorful and chunky fruit sauce).

One of the most popular sauces used in grilling chicken is that of barbecue sauce. There are a variety of barbecue sauces on the market including some that are extremely spicy and others that are really sweet. Some of my favorites include products by Sweet Baby Ray's, Corky's and the Neely's (of Neely's Barbecue out of Memphis).

Rubs and Special Seasonings for Chicken

Another way to spice up chicken is with rubs (or special seasonings). These herbs/spices can be used when grilling, baking or broiling chicken. Make your own rub by combining your favorite spices, or consider a number of pre-made rubs.

Rubs are typically used in combination with an oil (such as olive oil). First the oil is rubbed over the chicken followed by the rub (which is "rubbed" over both the front and back of the chicken). McCormick (Grill Mates) offers a chicken rub made of lemon, garlic and various spices. This rub can be purchased at almost any grocer. Another favorite is Tastefully Simple's Green Tea and Peppercorn Rub.

Use any of these techniques, or combine a couple of them to create a gourmet chicken meal.