Chicken can often be bland and flavorless, especially pre-cooked chicken that has been sitting in the fridge for a few days. Luckily, there are many quick and easy ways to add delicious flavor to pre-cooked chicken so it tastes juicy and delicious. Whether you are meal prepping chicken for the week, making a fast weeknight dinner, or using up leftovers, amping up the flavor is simple with just a few extra ingredients and techniques. Read on for tips on how to make your pre-cooked chicken flavorful.
Use marinades and seasoning blends
One of the quickest and easiest ways to add tons of flavor to pre-cooked chicken is by tossing it in a marinade or seasoning blend. Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight for maximum flavor infusion. Some easy marinade ideas include:
– Greek yogurt marinade with lemon, garlic, and herbs like oregano or dill
– Tandoori marinade made with yogurt, Indian spices like garam masala, ginger, and garlic
– Soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger for an Asian flair
– Pesto or chimichurri sauce for an herby marinade
– Teriyaki or hoisin sauce marinade
– Italian dressing, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and Italian herbs
You can also use store-bought seasoning blends like:
– Ranch seasoning
– Taco seasoning
– Jerk seasoning
– Italian seasoning
– Cajun seasoning
– Lemon pepper
– BBQ rub
Let the seasoning blend coat the chicken evenly and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before cooking to let the flavors penetrate the meat.
Sauté aromatics
Sautéing onion, garlic, and aromatic vegetables like bell pepper in oil or butter before adding the chicken is an easy way to build a flavor base. Let the vegetables cook until softened and fragrant, 3-5 minutes, then add the chicken and let it heat through to absorb all the delicious flavors. Try variations like:
– Onion, garlic, jalapeño, and cumin for Tex-Mex chicken
– Onion, carrot, celery, and thyme for classic chicken flavor
– Garlic, ginger, green onion, and sesame oil for Asian chicken
– Onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian herbs like basil and oregano
Make a fast sauce
Simmer pre-cooked chicken in a flavorful sauce for 5-10 minutes to let the chicken soak up the sauce and become infused with flavor. Easy sauce ideas include:
– Barbecue sauce, honey, chili powder, garlic
– Coconut milk, red curry paste, ginger, garlic, and lime
– Salsa, black beans, corn, and taco seasoning
– Marinara sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan
– Peanut sauce with soy sauce, peanut butter, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger
– Creamy mushroom sauce with sliced mushrooms, garlic, thyme, cream, and parmesan
Use flavorful cooking methods
The way you cook the pre-cooked chicken can also add a ton of flavor. Try:
– Grilling over medium heat, basting chicken with a barbecue or teriyaki glaze
– Sautéing in olive oil with lots of garlic, lemon, and herbs
– Roasting in the oven with potatoes, onions, and rosemary at 400°F for crispy skin
– Cooking in an air fryer or shallow frying in olive oil for crispy, flavorful chicken
– Smothering chicken tenders in hot wing sauce or Buffalo sauce and baking
– Making chicken quesadillas with pepper jack cheese, salsa, peppers, and onions
Add flavorful toppings
Dress up your pre-cooked chicken with flavor-packed toppings right before serving. Ideas include:
– Sautéed veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, or broccoli
– Chopped fresh herbs like parsley, basil, cilantro, or chives
– Crumbled feta, Parmesan, cotija, or queso fresco cheese
– Sliced avocado
– Salsa, pico de gallo, or guacamole
– Crispy bacon pieces
– Caramelized onions or fried shallots
– Toasted nuts or seeds like almonds, walnuts, pepitas, or sunflower seeds
Use flavorful side dishes
Complement your chicken with flavor-packed side dishes that can also enhance the flavor of the chicken. Try serving it with:
– Cajun-seasoned rice and beans
– Garlic parsley butter noodles or pesto pasta
– Greek salad with feta, olives, onion, tomato, cucumber
– Skillet cornbread or jalapeño corn cakes
– Garlic sautéed greens like spinach, kale, Swiss chard
– Roasted vegetables like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots
Make a flavorful broth for cooking
For extra moist and flavored chicken, simmer or cook the pre-cooked chicken in a homemade broth. Simmer chicken broth with aromatics and herbs/spices like:
– Onion, carrot, celery, garlic, peppercorns, thyme, rosemary
– Lemon slices, lime slices, ginger, garlic, cilantro stems
– Jalapeño, onion, cumin, garlic, oregano, chili powder
– Mushrooms, garlic, parsley stems, white wine
– Coconut milk, lemongrass, lime leaves, ginger, garlic
Conclusion
Pre-cooked chicken can transform from boring to delicious with the simple addition of marinades, sauces, aromatics, herbs and spices, flavorful cooking methods, tasty toppings, and complementary side dishes. With a little creativity, you can easily pump up the flavor of any pre-cooked chicken to make it taste like it just came fresh off the grill or rotisserie. Next time you need to use up leftover cooked chicken breasts or thighs, try one of these easy tricks to make it mouthwateringly delicious.