Bite Size Chicken Pot Pies + More Easy Dinner Recipes with Chicken

by Mindi Cherry on March 5, 2014

Bite Size Chicken Pot Pies + More Easy Dinner Recipes with Chicken

If you are looking for an some easy dinner recipes with chicken that you can whip up rather quickly, you will want to try this bite size chicken pot pie recipe! It can be quickly thrown together with items that you likely already have in your home. You can serve it as an appetizer at parties!

I am not usually a fan of using pre-made cream of chicken soup (or cream of anything soups).  One of these days I am going to whip up a big batch of homemade cream of chicken soup and can it myself for recipes just like this.  Just need to find more time in each day!

To make it, you will need:

bite size chicken pot pies ingredients

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped in to bite-size pieces
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 pkg Crescent Rolls
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
6 oz Frozen Peas & Carrots
Salt & Pepper to taste

Making it is easy!

Preheat your oven to 375

Heat oil in a non-stick skillet and saute the chicken until no longer pink.

mini chicken pot pie mix

Add chicken soup and 5 oz water to the skillet and mix until blended. Add vegetables and cook until they are thawed and softened

Spray muffin tins with non-stick spray.

mini chicken pot pie cook

Separate crescent rolls and place each one in a muffin tin, swirling it around as needed to form a “cup”. Fill each cup with chicken & vegetable mixture.

Bake for 12 – 15 minutes or until done.

Serve & enjoy!

You might want to try these other easy dinner recipes with chicken:


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Homemade Corn Dogs Recipe | Kid Friendly and Freezer Friendly!

by Mindi Cherry on February 21, 2014

homemade corn dogs recipe

My children absolutely love corn dogs. I mean seriously love them. When we have homemade corn dogs in the freezer, they know that it is an easy lunch that they can make on their own (they just stick them in the microwave for a minute). I have had many an argument with my oldest over the number of corn dogs that he can eat at one sitting. Granted, he is a 12-year-old boy and his appetite is increasing exponentially, but I have to draw the line at no more than 2 corn dogs for any meal!

We had been buying pre-made corn dogs for years, but now that we have this homemade corn dogs recipe, we won’t be buying them any longer.  These are so easy to make, the kids love them and they freeze beautifully! I can even get my children involved in making them and they really love helping.  Sure – I’m not yet ready for them to be cooking with boiling oil, but they can help with everything else – and they love being able to make one of their favorite meals!)

You can make these with full-size hot dogs, but I prefer to cut the hot dogs in half and make “half dogs”. By doing it this way, I have ready appetizers as well as portion-controlled meals. My oldest may eat all 4 “halves”, my middle child will eat 3 “halves” and my daughter will eat 2 “halves. It cuts down on wasted food!

To make homemade corn dogs, you will need:

homemade corn dog recipe ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 1 package Hot Dogs
  • 1 cup Flour
  • 1 cup Cornmeal
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 cup Sugar
  • 3 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 1 quart Vegetable Oil (for frying)
  • 16 Wooden Skewers

Making them is easy (scroll down for detailed directions)

Just mix up your batter.

homemade corn dog recipe process

Transfer the batter to a tall glass or mason jar. This will make dipping the hot dogs in the batter easier! Then just stick the skewers in the hot dogs, dip them in the batter and fry ‘em up!

homemade corn dog recipe process 2

You might also want to try these kid-friendly recipes!

Print
Homemade Corn Dogs Recipe | Kid Friendly and Freezer Friendly!

Rating: 41

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Homemade Corn Dogs Recipe | Kid Friendly and Freezer Friendly!

Ingredients

  • 1 package Hot Dogs
  • 1 cup Flour
  • 1 cup Cornmeal
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 cup Sugar
  • 3 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 cup Milk
  • 1 quart Vegetable Oil (for frying)
  • 16 Wooden Skewers

Instructions

  1. Mix together cornmeal, flour, salt, sugar and baking powder.
  2. Add in eggs and milk and mix until blended.
  3. Transfer mixture to tall glass or mason jar.
  4. Preheat oil in a saucepan over medium heat until oil reaches 360F
  5. Cut hot dogs in half.
  6. Insert skewers into hot dog halves and dip in batter until well coated. Rotate to allow excess to drip off.
  7. Fry corn dogs one or two at a time until lightly browned.
  8. Remove corn dogs from oil and drain on paper towels.
  9. Serve with ketchup and mustard for dipping
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Easy Dinner Idea | Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

by Mindi Cherry on February 8, 2014

easy dinner idea ham and cheese pinwheels

With all the running around that we do, sometimes we just want an easy dinner that we can throw together quickly and that our children will enjoy. These ham and cheese pinwheels are exactly that! It takes just a few minutes to assemble them and they cook in just about 12 minutes. As an added bonus, they can also do “double-duty” as an appetizer/finger food at parties!

These are made with cheddar cheese, but give other cheeses a try. My children prefer when I use mozzarella cheese or even American cheese, as they end up being more “gooey” once they are cooked. I just think they look better with cheddar!

To make them, you will need:

pinwheels ingredients

Making them is easy!

pinwheels assemble

Simply unroll the crescent rolls and pinch together the seams to form a solid sheet.  Top with the mustard or mayonnaise (optional), ham and cheese.

pinwheel roll

Starting at one end, tightly roll the sheet up in to a log.

pinwheels bake

Using a very sharp knife, slice the roll in to about 10 even pieces.  Place on cookie sheet and bake!

Scroll down for the complete directions!

You might also want to try these other easy dinner ideas:

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Easy Dinner Idea | Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Rating: 41

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 17 minutes

Easy Dinner Idea | Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Ingredients

  • 1 package refrigerated Crescent Rolls
  • 5 - 6 oz Sliced Cooked Ham
  • 2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or cheese of your choice)
  • 2 tsp mustard or mayonnaise (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray or line with parchment paper
  3. Unroll dough onto prepared sheet and crimp together all seams to form a solid sheet.
  4. Spread mustard or mayonnaise over dough (optional)
  5. Spread cheese evenly over the dough. Top with the ham.
  6. Starting from the long side, roll up tightly to form a log.
  7. Slice into 10-12 slices with a sharp knife.
  8. Place slices on baking sheet and cook for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.
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Hot Corn & Black Bean Dip | Game Day Recipe!

by Mindi Cherry on February 2, 2014

hot corn black bean dip recipe

If you are looking for a last-minute dip recipe for your party (or to take to a party), look no further than my Hot Corn & Black Bean dip! Full of ooey-gooey cheesy goodness, this dip is sure to satisfy!

This recipe is a tweak of the Tricia Yearwood Corn Dip.  I always thought that dip was  a little bland (and I don’t like using canned corn). I also like adding the black beans to give the recipe a little “bulk” and more color!  Serve this dip with tortilla chips and you will have a happy crowd! To make it, you will need:

Ingredients:

  • 1 16 oz bag frozen corn
  • 2 4-oz can chopped green chiles
  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese (or 1 cup of Cheddar and 1 cup of Monterey Jack Cheese)
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt (I use Lawry’s)
  • 1 small tomato, seeded and chopped
  • 2 scallions, chopped
  • 3 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350?F
  2. Spray a 9×9 inch pan with non-stick spray.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix together the corn, black beans, chiles, cheeses, seasoned salt and mayonnaise until combined.
  4. Spread the mixture in to the prepared dish and bake, uncovered for about 25 minutes or until completely heated through and bubbling around the edges.
  5. Remove from oven and sprinkle the top with tomatoes, onions and cilantro.
  6. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

Do you have a favorite last-minute dip to throw together?

You might also want to check out these other game day recipes:

hot corn black bean dip recipe cheese

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Bacon Wrapped Smokies with Brown Sugar Glaze

by Mindi Cherry on January 31, 2014

bacon wrapped smokies
If you are still looking for a recipe for your Super Bowl party, these bacon-wrapped smokies with a brown sugar glaze are just about one of the easiest things that you can make….and will probably be one of the first to be gobbled up from the table! The brown sugar glaze is the perfect complement to the saltiness of the bacon and the savory smoky sausage!

Making them is easy….you can even assemble them in advance and pop them in the oven 15 minutes before you are ready to serve (they really are best served hot!)

You will need:

  • 1 pkg (16 oz) Lit’l Smokies (I use Hillshire Farms)
  • 1 pkg (12 oz) thick cut bacon
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with foil (this will make clean-up MUCH easier)
  3. Cut each bacon slice in to 3 or 4 pieces.
  4. Wrap each bacon piece around a sausage allowing for a slight overlap – don’t wrap them too tight).
  5. Secure with a toothpick and place on foil-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the bacon & sausages.
  6. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the sausages
  7. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes until the bacon is browned and the sugar is melted.
  8. Serve immediately.

I don’t think that these really need any dipping sauce, but I usually serve them with a small bowl of ketchup or mustard!

Enjoy!

You might want to also try these great recipes for your Game Day party!

bacon wrapped smokies 2

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Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls Recipe | Game Day Recipe!

by Mindi Cherry on January 27, 2014

pepperoni pizza crescent rolls
Sometimes you just have to go back to the most basic of recipes! A nice baked brie with apricot jam is fun, but sometimes (and especially for football parties), you just want simple “guy food”.

These pepperoni pizza crescent rolls fit that requirement quite well! Not only does it make a great appetizer recipe, it would even make a nice quick dinner recipe for the kids!

You can use just pasta sauce or jarred pizza sauce, but I find that those tend to be too “runny”. I like just doctoring up a can of tomato paste. You get plenty of flavor without the cooked pepperoni pizza crescent rolls being a gloppy mess!

To make them, you will need:

pepperoni pizza crescent rolls ingredients

  • 1 can Crescent Rolls
  • 24 slices pepperoni
  • 2 Mozzarella String Cheese
  • 1 6oz can Tomato Paste
  • 4 oz Water
  • 2 tsp Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tbsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tbsp Basil

Scroll down for complete directions!

You might want to try these other appetizer recipes, perfect for game day!

Print
Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls Recipe | Game Day Recipe!

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls Recipe | Game Day Recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1 can Crescent Rolls
  • 24 slices pepperoni
  • 2 Mozzarella String Cheese
  • 1 6oz can Tomato Paste
  • 4 oz Water
  • 2 tsp Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tbsp Onion Powder
  • 1 T dried Basil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375.
  2. Combine tomato paste, water, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar and basil in a small saucepan.
  3. Heat over medium heat until well blended and warm.
  4. Cut each string cheese in half lengthwise and then in half the other way (you want it half as wide and half as thick).
  5. Open crescent roll can and separate out the triangles and place them on a cutting board
  6. Spread small amount sauce near wide end of crescent.
  7. Place 3 slices of pepperoni on top of the sauce. Top with 1 piece of the cheese stick.
  8. Carefully roll the crescent roll like you normally would and place, seam side down on a cookie sheet
  9. Bake for about 12 minutes.
  10. Remove from heat and serve immediately
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Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe

by Mindi Cherry on January 23, 2014

homemade soft pretzels recipe
I have lived in or just outside of Philadelphia for 40 of my 44 years. I grew up on soft pretzels.

I remember growing up, there was a guy who would stand in the median strip on City Line Avenue just outside our neighborhood selling soft pretzels in brown paper bags for just $1 per bag of 3 pretzels. It wasn’t just our neighborhood…they were all over the city (although I don’t see as many of them as I used to when I drive in to the city….probably something to do with people not wanting their soft pretzels with a side of car exhaust fumes). My stepfather would always stop to buy a bag from him – he was there for almost 20 years!

This was long before there were Philly Soft Pretzels stores dotting the landscape of the East coast. Back then, the guys hawking pretzels in the street were at the Federal Pretzel Baking company at 4:00am to pick up pretzels. They would bag them and then stand out on the street all day selling them! Gotta love that entrepreneurial spirit!

Being from Philadelphia, I have to tell you…there are a few ground rules for soft pretzels:

  1. Mustard is the only acceptable condiment for them…preferably the cheapest yellow mustard that you can find! Cheese sauce MIGHT be acceptable in some cases, so long as it is melted Cheez Wiz (the ONLY time that I will eat that stuff).
  2. You must eat them “from the outside in”. That means that you eat the outer loops first, then save the “inside knot” for last.  The soft doughy texture of the knot is your reward.  So it is written, so it shall be done!
  3. It is perfectly acceptable to slice your soft pretzel in half horizontally and make it in to a “sandwich bread”. This is especially good for grilled ham & cheese sandwiches (just make sure that you use mustard, not mayonnaise)

So as you can see, I am serious about my soft pretzels!  Finding a homemade soft pretzel recipe is not as easy as it seems.  Sure there are a bunch of recipes out there, but I wanted one that be really close to a Philly Soft Pretzel…and I think this is it!

A few tips:

  1. This recipe is made easier if you have a stand mixer with a dough hook, but you can always mix it the old-fashioned way and mix it by hand.
  2. Do not skip the water bath part of making them.  It is an important step to get the to “puff up” and to help create a crispy crust when they bake.
  3. Add the baking soda to the water bath before you start heating it.  Trust me on this – if you add baking soda to boiling water, it will bubble up and over the pot and you will have a mess!

Scroll down for the recipe – and let me know how you like them!

Print
Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Yield: 8 pretzels

Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels Recipe

Ingredients

    For the Dough:
  • 1 1/2 cup Warm Water
  • 1 tbsp Sugar
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 2 1/2 tsp or 1 pk Active Dry Yeast
  • 4 cups Flour
  • 2 oz melted Butter
    • For the Water Bath
  • 10 cups water
  • 2/3 cup baking soda
    • For the Egg Wash
  • 1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
    • For the Topping
  • Kosher or Sea Salt

Instructions

    To Make The Dough
  1. Combine water, sugar and salt and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer.
  2. Let sit for about 5 minutes or until it starts to foam.
  3. Attach dough hook to your mixer. Add the flour and butter and mix on low speed until combined.
  4. Increase speed on mixer to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl (about 5 minutes).
  5. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with towel and sit in a warm place for about an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
    6. Assemble The Pretzels
  6. Bring the water and baking soda to a boil in a large pot
  7. Preheat the oven to 450.
  8. Line 2 baking sheets pans with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray or brush with vegetable oil.
  9. Lightly oil a cutting board and turn out the dough
  10. Divide the dough into 8 pieces.
  11. Roll out each piece of dough into a 2 foot rope.
  12. Flip ends of the rope across each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the baking sheets.
  13. When water is boiling, place pretzels (1 at a time) in to the boiling water for about 30 seconds.
  14. Remove pretzel from the water and place back on the baking sheet
  15. Brush the top of each pretzel with the egg wash and sprinkle with the pretzel salt.
  16. Bake 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.
  17. Transfer to a cooling rack.

Notes

Serve with mustard for dipping!

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Bacon Cheeseburger Pockets | Game Day Recipe

by Mindi Cherry on January 15, 2014

bacon cheeseburger pockets
My children and family love the commercial “pocket sandwiches”, but I am always looking for healthier alternatives. I made these as bacon cheeseburger pockets, but you can always customize them with your favorite fillings. Maybe some ham & swiss? Chopped up meatballs, pizza sauce and cheese? Get creative with this recipe and your favorite fillings!

This is also a great recipe for the freezer. Simply assemble and cook them. Once they are cooled, stick them in freezer bags and in the freezer. To reheat, you can either microwave them for a minute or stick them in the oven on 350 degrees (thaw them first) until they are heated completely. I actually like to make them and put them in bags of 3 in the freezer.  That way, my husband can just grab a bag on his way to work and pop them in the microwave at work (he keeps ketchup packets in his desk!)

This would be a great recipe for either dinner or as an appetizer for any party (including your Super Bowl party). Just put them out with some bowls of ketchup and mustard for dipping and you will have a fabulous “guy snack”!

Making these bacon cheeseburger pockets is easy.  You will need:

bacon cheeseburger pockets ingredients
INGREDIENTS
8 pack Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
1/2 lb Ground Beef
1/4 cup chopped Onion
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
4 slices Bacon cut in small pieces
8 slices Cheddar Cheese

To make them, just fry the bacon and set aside. Brown your ground beef and onions. Drain excess fat. Add the garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce.
brown ground beef
Flatten out a biscuit and layer in the beef mixture, bacon and cheese. Roll up and bake! bacon cheeseburger pockets assembly

Scroll down for the complete directions!

Make sure to also try these other game day recipes:

Print
Bacon Cheeseburger Pockets | Game Day Recipe

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 8 pockets

Serving Size: 2 pockets

Bacon Cheeseburger Pockets | Game Day Recipe

Ingredients

  • 8 pack Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
  • 1/2 lb Ground Beef
  • 1/4 cup chopped Onion
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 slices Bacon cut in small pieces
  • 8 slices Cheddar Cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon pieces until crispy and set on paper towel to drain.
  2. Brown ground Beef, chopped onion, garlic powder and Worcestershire in a skillet and drain.
  3. Preheat the oven to 425.
  4. Flatten out each biscuit dough with a rolling pin and top them with cheddar cheese, hamburger/onion mixture and bacon pieces. Of desired, add a little ketchup,chopped pickles or mustard
  5. Grab the edges of the biscuit dough, pull them up and gather them up at the top and pinch together.
  6. Place onto a greased cookie sheet (or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper) with the gathered side on the bottom.
  7. Bake at for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Serve with ketchup and mustard for dipping!
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Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

by Mindi Cherry on January 3, 2014

buffalo chicken dip
The playoffs start tomorrow and if you are looking for a dip to serve at your party (or just to munch on while you are watching the games), look no further than my Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe!

Even when football season is over, this is a great dip to serve all year and an easy way to use up any leftover chicken! It tastes best when served warm so if you are having an all-day party, you can easily keep it warm in your slow cooker!

To make it, you will need:

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Package Cream Cheese Softened.
  • 1/2 Cup Hot Sauce (I used FRANK’S Red Hot)
  • 1/2 Cup Blue Cheese Dressing (you can also use Ranch Dressing)
  • 2 Large boneless skinless cooked chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
  • 1 Cup Shredded Cheese

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl combine all of your ingredients.
  3. Transfer your mixture to a 1 quart baking dish
  4. Bake for 30 minutes
  5. Stir and serve with vegetables or crackers.

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Best Dip For Doritos Recipe

by Mindi Cherry on December 31, 2013

dip for doritos recipe

Ok – I know what you are thinking – Doritos are fine all on their own. Who needs a dip for Doritos recipe? I used to think that way too! Then a new family moved on to our street with a son the same age as our oldest and we quickly became friends. Many LATE nights of hanging out while the kids played, playing cards together and drinking copious amounts of “adult beverages”.

I don’t even remember the first time that Karen introduced me to this dip. We seemed to live at each other’s homes and one day she put out a bowl of Doritos and a bowl of this dip. After a few minutes, I asked if she had any chips for the dip…because…you know…Doritos DON’T NEED dip! She told me that this was a recipe given to her by a friend who called it the “Gay Divorcee Dip” and that I should really try it. I have Googled “Gay Divorcee Dip” and the only thing that comes up is my post from 2009 about this dip, so I am SURE that there is a fabulous story about how this dip got its name. Just wish I knew it!

Hennyway – if you are looking for a dip for Doritos recipe (or even if you didn’t know that Doritos COULD be dipped in anything and still taste good), you HAVE to try this one. I have only tried it with “traditional” Doritos (nacho cheese) as well as Cool Ranch, as those are the only ones that I like. If you find that this dip tastes great with other flavors of Doritos, please let me know!

Scroll down for the recipe!

You might want to try these other easy recipes:

Print
Best Dip For Doritos Recipe

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours, 5 minutes

Best Dip For Doritos Recipe

You can try to be healthy and serve this with carrot or celery sticks...but let's face it - it tastes best with Doritos!

Ingredients

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 8 oz sour cream
  • 1 small can (4 oz) chopped green chiles
  • 1/3 cup Bacon Bits
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder (although I use 1/2 tsp…I like garlic!)

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients together and allow to chill for at least 3 hours for the flavors to blend.
  2. Top with additional bacon bits right before serving
  3. Serve with crackers, chips or raw veggies. (Doritos are best!)
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Ground Chicken Recipes

by Mindi Cherry on December 23, 2013

Every year people make resolutions to lose weight or eat more healthy foods. One way to do this is to eat more chicken instead of beef. I have a bunch of easy dinner recipes with chicken, but want to start using more ground chicken in my recipes

The problem is, except for chili, there aren’t a whole bunch of ground chicken recipes out there (or that look like anything I want to eat). Here are some recipes that we will definitely be adding to the menu plans for 2014!
chicken sofficinii
Chicken Sofficini – I saw this recipe and immediately thought “That’s BRILLIANT!”. My family loves chicken cordon bleu, but whenever I make it (or any kind of cheese-filled meat recipe), the filling tends to spill out on me. With this recipe, the filling is completely encased in the ground chicken, then sauteed to create a crisp crust and seal in the moisture and then finished off in the oven!

bflo-meatballs-037-1024x681
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs – my husband would absolutely love these. Bits of blue cheese right in the meatballs and a spicy sauce. Served as a appetizer or on a long roll as a sandwich, I think we will be making these soon!

thai-chicken-soup

Thai Inspired Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup – this looks so stinkin’ good. Some of the ingredients may require a little work for some people to find, but I looked and between the Asian grocery and Wegmans or Whole Foods, I should be able to find everything!

lettuce-wraps

Lettuce Wraps – no list of ground chicken recipes would be complete with this one!  I know that they are considered an appetizer, but I love them so much that whenever we go to a restaurant that has them on the menu, I order them as my meal!  I am finally going to learn how to make them!

What are some of your favorite ground chicken recipes?

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Baked Brie With Apricot Jam and Cranberries

by Mindi Cherry on December 21, 2013

The recipe is always a crowd-pleaser! It takes about 5 minutes to assemble and will always make you look like “the ultimate hostess”

You can customize it to your liking simply by changing the jelly/jam/preserves! Don’t be afraid of using puff pastry. It’s really not that hard to work with and coupons for it should start showing up soon as we enter the “holiday baking season”. This recipe makes 2 (since there are 2 puff pastry sheets in the box) and you can easily freeze the 2nd one for a future party

Ingredients:

  • Pepperidge Farm frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed as directed
  • 19.6 oz Presidents round Brie, cut in half or 2 approx. 10 oz Brie
  • 4-6 heaping tablespoons Apricot jam, jelly or preserves (I’ve used raspberry as well – try your favorite!)
  • 2 handfuls of nuts (hazelnuts are best…but really anything but peanuts will work well)
  • dried cherries or dried cranberries (optional, but makes it SO much better at Christmas parties!)
  • Egg Wash: 1 egg, beaten with a little water

Directions:

  1. Thaw and roll pastry sheet just enough to roll in the seams and make it a little bigger.
  2. Put each Brie half on a pastry sheet and top the Brie with 2-3 heaping tablespoons of jelly, jam or preserves.
  3. On top of the jelly, add a handful of nuts and a handful of dried cherries or cranberries (you want them in the jelly so that they stay put)
  4. Using a sharp knife, cut the corners off the pastry to make it more of a circle, saving the cut-off corners.
  5. Gather the pastry up around the cheese like a “pouch” and pinch the edges to seal and press down on top of the bundle. Since this will NOT look pretty at this point, cut those pastry corners into 1/4? strips and twist them and lay them over the top seam as a decoration
  6. Brush the whole bundle with the egg wash and bake at 350 degrees until brown
  7. Serve with Carr’s water crackers and/or sliced pears and red grapes for garnish (to provide a color-contrast and make it look pretty!)

Note: to use one that you have frozen, let set out 20 minutes before baking. It needs to be chilled when it goes in the oven or everything will spill out of the pastry making a big mess!

Thanks to my mom, since this is something that she made one day and shared the recipe with my sister and I. There are very few parties in my family that don’t include this recipe!

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