I originally thought of is as a post under the "good idea" category, but it can also make a delicious dinner idea so that's a double-duty post for you!
I've posted before about prepping chicken & freezing it until you're ready to use it. It saves time all around, for sure.
But recently, I've found it's more cost-effective and MUCH easier to buy the bone-in-breasts and roast them. After they cool, I cube & shred & freeze some delicious chicken. The chicken tastes so much better when it's roasted first!
So before the holiday season gets TOO busy for you, find a sale (bone-in breasts were on sale for $1.00/pound here recently), roast & prep some chicken for your freezer.
You'll be ready for those busy-busy holiday nights and you'll have chicken all ready to bring a yummy dinner to a holiday party too!
Double-bonus: These are great straight out of the oven, paired with a salad & some cornbread, for example - they're a perfect, quick dinner. AND/OR - allow chicken breasts to cool, place in Tupperware & save for a quick lunch the next day.
Enjoy!
Roasted Bone-in Chicken Breasts
Bone-in chicken breasts
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
- Preheat oven to 375*F.
- Line baking pan(s) - not a cookie sheet! - with heavy duty foil, if desired. (It makes clean-up a breeze!)
- Trim excess fat and skin from chicken breasts. (I bake mine skinless, but it's up to you.)
- Place chicken breasts about 2" apart in the baking pan. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
- Bake 35-40 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Serve, if making dinner.
- OR - Set aside until cool enough to handle, if you'll be shredding or cubing.
- After chicken breasts have cooled a bit, remove meat from the bones (you can use the bones to make a delicious homemade chicken broth!). Shred/cube chicken.
- Place in freezer bag(s) in desired quantities.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
