Busy moms often have so much going on that there is little time to get dinner on the table. You know it isn't healthy to stick to hot dogs or cereal, but sometimes, you really need something quick! Trying to be frugal is important as well, so buying fast food or going out isn't in everyone's budget, nor is that a healthy way to eat, and it certainly doesn't bring the family around the table at dinnertime for those family times that we all need. That is why I was excited to find this method of pan roasting a chicken in a cast iron skillet in about half an hour.
This recipe is taught by Chef Kevin Gillespie, the winner of Fan Favorites on Top Chef! He just seems like such a down to earth, kind person and he really knows how to cook! I remember rooting for him on his season.
In this lesson, Kevin teaches how to cut up a chicken and brown it in a cast iron skillet. Just like Chef Anita Lo taught in this post about Chicken Cacciatore, Kevin reiterates that you always start browning presentation side down. The neat thing about this recipe is that you only season with salt and that is it, yet the flavor is so good! Chef Kevin preheated his skillet quite a while before adding the oil. (We love lodge brand cast iron. Here and here are a couple of links besides the one above.) Kevin browns the chicken in grapeseed oil, which I don't have, but he says it is okay to use vegetable oil. Do not use olive oil or butter because they will burn. One other thing he taught that I found fascinating is that you should dry your chicken pieces with a paper towel really well before putting them in the oil or they won't brown as well and they will stick to the pan more if they are wet. I did what he said and I had no sticking problems!
Here is my first side all browned.
After the chicken is well browned on both sides, you put it into a 500 degree oven for about 15-20 min.! I was shocked! I have never had my oven set all of the way to 500 degrees! It kind of scared me! He even said that it would set off the smoke alarms! You should see the smoke when he pulls his chicken out of the oven! Mine got smokey, but the alarms didn't go off.
My husband was so excited to see this chicken when he got home from work! He loves a good chicken, roasted or fried. It was very delicious. I didn't cut up a whole chicken for this like Chef Kevin did. I had leg quarters, so that is what I used. But, what a great way to get a nice roasted chicken and salad on for dinner in about half an hour!
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We had to start with an owl, of course.
Last but not least, I just had to show you this skillet, Ha Ha! For your rock and roll chefs!
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