all things food
Enjoy the best crunchy chicken with savory homemade shake and bake. This easy breading mix has all the seasonings needed to make juicy, flavorful chicken, pork chops, or fish in the oven or air fryer.
Flavorful beef smothered in a creamy poblano sauce.
Flavorful beef smothered in a creamy poblano sauce. I brine large chicken breasts, then coat them in a sweet and savory spice rub to create the juiciest grilled chicken you’ve ever tasted!
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During grilling season, I make this Grilled Chicken for my family at least once a week. It’s one of those simple recipes that works for even the pickiest eaters! I brine large chicken breasts, then coat them in a sweet and savory spice rub to create the juiciest grilled chicken you’ve ever tasted! Everyone at my house loves this chicken, and the delicious char from grilling takes the flavor to the next level.
Juicy grilled chicken is a staple at my house this time of year. I never have to worry if my picky toddler will finish her dinner or if my husband will go back for seconds. It’s one of the magical recipes that’s a winner every time. The best part is, the leftovers are great to use in just about every Budget Bytes chicken salad recipe we have on the blog which makes lunches the rest of the week a no-brainer. To top it all off, using the grill means my house isn’t sweltering hot in the middle of the summer! Need I say more?
Here’s what you’ll need to make grilled chicken:
I love serving this grilled chicken sliced over a fresh green salad, but it’s truly so versatile! Lemon butter green beans, cheesy broccoli rice, or grilled vegetable pasta salad would all be delicious with this tasty chicken recipe. A light drizzle of Homemade Balsamic Glaze can take your grilled chicken to the next level!
I recommend storing leftover grilled chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze, wrap individual chicken breasts in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place them in a Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
When I was looking for a grill for us to use in the Budget Bytes kitchen, I wanted one that was easy to find, simple to set up, easy to clean, and didn’t make me miss my charcoal grill. I went with the Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Grill after contemplating a few different ones that would be widely available at Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
The cheapest grill option I found was a simple and small camping charcoal grill. That’s also a great option if you want to grill outside, get that smokier grill flavor, and don’t mind keeping charcoal on hand.
The Ninja Sizzle Smokeless Grill we ended up deciding on comes with a grill top and a flat top, so it’s perfect as a quick, clean option for grilling at home or even in an RV/camper. (I have since bought one for my chef kit and my in-laws bought one for their camper!)
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Create your wet brine: Combine 1/4 cup kosher salt and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in 2 quarts of cold water. Whisk to combine.
With a fork, poke holes all over 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts and then transfer to a Ziplock bag. Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch with a tenderizing mallet or rolling pin inside a Ziplock bag.
Pour the wet brine into the Ziplock bag with the tenderized chicken breasts. Close the bag and allow it to brine at room temperature for 30 minutes, or in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Make the seasoning blend by combining 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp cayenne, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, and 1 tsp brown sugar in a bowl.
Remove the chicken breasts from the brine, pat dry on both sides with paper towels, drizzle with olive oil, and rub with the seasoning blend on both sides.
Preheat grill to 475°F. Note: If you are using an indoor grill, we found putting the chicken on the grill while it’s preheating helps get the middle of the breast to temperature in a timely manner and keeps the outside from overcooking and burning. If your chicken has been in the refrigerator, allow it to come to room temperature for at least 10 minutes before starting the grilling process.
Cook the chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until the internal temp reads between 155-160°F. The chicken will continue to cook while it’s resting (because it’s so hot and juicy!) so you can remove it a little early, just make sure it reaches the internal temperature of 165°F while resting, or you may need to throw it back on the grill for a couple more minutes.
Juicy, tender, and full of flavor, this grilled chicken is a winner every time!
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Are you on the lookout for a delicious, nutritious, and kid-friendly veggie burger recipe? Look no further! These are the Best Veggie Burgers packed with wholesome ingredients, full of flavor, and sure to be a hit with both kids and adults. If you love my black bean burgers and lentil chickpea burgers, you’ve got to…
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Are you on the lookout for a delicious, nutritious, and kid-friendly veggie burger recipe? Look no further! These are the Best Veggie Burgers packed with wholesome ingredients, full of flavor, and sure to be a hit with both kids and adults. If you love my black bean burgers and lentil chickpea burgers, you’ve got to try these next!
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below*
Step 1: Place the bulgar wheat and water in a pot. Bring to a boil, cover then reduce to a simmer for 13 minutes. After the bulgur has cooked, place in a bowl and let cool.
Step 2: Place the pinto beans in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
Step 3: Add the cooked bulgur wheat, cheese, carrot, salt, garlic and onion powder to the beans in the food processor and pulse to combine.
Step 4: Form mixture into 4 evenly sized patties.
Step 5: Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and cook the burgers for 3-4 minutes on each side.
Step 6: Place patties on buns, add desired toppings and serve.
Veggie burgers pair well with tons of sides. Make the perfect meal for the whole family and serve your veggie burgers with any of these delicious, easy side dishes.
Yes! You can prep veggie burger patties ahead of time and keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours or freeze for longer storage.
After forming the patties and before cooking, place them on a baking sheet in the freezer for 1 hour. Then transfer to a zippered bag or other freezer safe airtight container. Defrost in the refrigerator before cooking.
These are the best veggie burgers you can make! They’re super easy, delicious and kids will love them. If you make these burgers let me know what you think by leaving a rating and comment below!
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These vegetarian Shroom Burgers will rock your world! Take a crispy fried portobello mushroom with loads of melted cheese, add your toppings and be ready to say “YUM!”. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will love this delicious shroom burger recipe. Why You’ll Love This Recipe The Ingredients For the Shroom Burgers: For the Faux ShackSauce: *For…
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These vegetarian Shroom Burgers will rock your world! Take a crispy fried portobello mushroom with loads of melted cheese, add your toppings and be ready to say “YUM!”. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will love this delicious shroom burger recipe.
For the Shroom Burgers:
For the Faux ShackSauce:
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions see the recipe card below*
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Place the mushrooms on a parchment lined baking sheet, rub with oil and sprinkle with salt on both sides. Place mushrooms gill side down and roast for 30-35 minutes or until slightly golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Step 2: Slice the mushroom caps horizontally being careful to make sure to cut directly through so both sides are even.
Step 3: For the cheese filling, place the cheeses, onion and garlic powder and one egg in a medium sized bowl and stir to throughly combine. Form the mixture into 4 even sized disks just smaller than the mushrooms. Place a disk of the cheese in between each mushroom to create a sandwich and press to secure. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Step 4: Create a breading station. Place the flour in a deep bowl or pie plate. Whisk 3 of the eggs in a similar sized bowl and the panko in a third bowl.
Step 5: Dredge each stuffed mushroom in the flour, then the whisked eggs and finally coating with the panko, pressing to adhere.
Step 6: Heat a large sauté or cast-iron pan with 1/2 inch of oil over medium high heat (if using a candy thermometer it should read 350 degrees). Fry the burgers on each side for 3-4 minutes or until golden and crisp. Transfer the burgers to a paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil.
Step 7: Make the faux ShackSauce. Place the sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
Step 8: Place a shroom burger on the bottom a bun, top with avocado slices, tomato, lettuce and ShackSauce (if desired) add the top bun.
Yes! Spray or brush both sides of the burgers well with oil and air fry at 400°F for 13-15 minutes or until golden outside and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Store any leftover fried mushrooms in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to retain crispiness.
Serve shroom burgers with a side of Air Fryer French Fries, Oven Baked Fries or Sweet Potato Fries! You can’t go wrong with a burger and fries combination. Or opt for a fresh salad with citrus herb vinaigrette.
With their crispy exterior, gooey cheesy center, and customizable toppings, these homemade Shroom Burgers are sure to become a family favorite in your household. If you make this recipe and love it, leave a rating and comment below!
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These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and perfect for a quick & easy lunch or dinner meal.
The post Air Fryer Chicken Tenders appeared first on Budget Bytes.
I’m on a roll with these air fryer recipes y’all! And since I loved how well my air fryer chicken nuggets turned out, I wanted to try some air fryer chicken tenders next. This time I combined panko and regular breadcrumbs for the perfect texture and I used chicken breast tenderloins to make things super easy. They’re perfectly golden and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and a lot fresher than frozen chicken tenders! So get your favorite dipping sauce ready, because these air fryer chicken tenders are perfect for a quick & easy lunch or dinner meal.
Here’s everything you need to make these crispy air fryer chicken tenders:
Wanna make your own dipping sauce for these chicken tenders? Well here are some of our favorites:
Enjoy these easy chicken tenders with a side of roasted broccoli, air fryer french fries, or a simple Caesar salad. These tenders would also taste great with a side of oven baked steak fries or a simple pasta salad. And of course you can never go wrong with classic homemade mashed potatoes or homemade applesauce.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Place 8 boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders on a cutting board. Season them on both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Next sprinkle 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour over the chicken tenders and toss to coat evenly.
In a shallow bowl, add 2 large eggs and whisk them together. In another shallow bowl, add 1/2 cup regular breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika. Mix the seasoning into the breadcrumbs.
Now line up the chicken tenders, beaten eggs, and breadcrumb mixture. Using tongs or your hands, begin to coat the chicken tenders by first dipping them on both sides in the egg mixture, then transfer them to the breadcrumbs. Pat the breadcrumbs into the tenders and coat them evenly on both sides. Set the coated chicken pieces to the side on a clean plate or cutting board.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken tenders in the basket in a single layer, making sure no pieces overlap. About 4 tenders at a time. Spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking spray.
Air fry for 7 minutes then flip the chicken tenders over. Spray the tops of the chicken again with cooking spray and air fry for another 6 minutes until golden brown.
Remove the chicken tenders from the air fryer basket and repeat with the second batch of tenders.
Let the chicken tenders cool for 3-5 minutes, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
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The perfect blend of bold flavors and nutritional goodness.
The perfect blend of bold flavors and nutritional goodness. Taco seasoning is a versatile spice used in so many of our favorite dishes. This homemade taco seasoning recipe allows you to control the spices and add a little less or a little more heat! Let the spices meld and enjoy it in your favorite recipes.
Niçoise salad is protein-packed, crunchy, and oh-so-satisfying– perfect for meal prep to keep you full all week long.
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Springtime is salad season, and boy, do I have the perfect hearty salad for you! Niçoise salad is protein-packed, crunchy, and oh-so-satisfying. It’s perfect for meal prep and will keep you full all week long. I love the mixture of textures and flavors in this salad, and while it takes a bit of work to make, it is so worth it! The hard-boiled eggs, protein-packed tuna, crispy green beans and creamy potatoes are the defining ingredients of this salad, in my opinion. The unique-yet-familiar ingredients are what make this salad a classic– and for good reason! This is one of the recipes I always whip out whenever I have a friend who could use a little meal prep TLC when they are super busy. Trust me, it’s a winner!
Niçoise salad is a filling and flavorful salad that traces its origins to Nice, France. The term “Niçoise” literally means, “in the style of Nice”. This tasty salad is chock full of tomatoes, onions, hard-boiled eggs, tuna, green beans, and roasted potatoes and is tossed in a light dressing. It makes a great meal prep lunch for the long week ahead! It’s a classic!
Here’s what you’ll need to make Niçoise salad:
Niçoise salad is pretty flavorful on its own, so I recommend a light dressing like a lemon vinaigrette that helps cut the richness and elevates the flavors. For something a little creamier, try our favorite lemon dill tahini dressing! Our honey mustard sauce pairs well, too!
Niçoise salad is a great vehicle to use up those veggies taking up space in the fridge (or pantry!). I like to add:
I recommend storing the salad separately from the dressing for the best results. The components will keep in separate air-tight containers for up to 3 days in the refrigerator and can be tossed together before serving. If you’re meal prepping, add a bit of everything to your airtight containers and keep the dressing on the side. Then, just grab and go!
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Choose your favorite salad dressing.
Combine 1/2 Tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder and 1/2 tsp dried dill in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. Quarter the 1/2 lb baby potatoes, toss in the olive oil and herbs.
Air fry 1/2 lb quartered potatoes at 400°F for 15 minutes, shaking halfway through (OR roast the potatoes at 400°F until golden and tender, about 30 minutes.)
Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a medium pot or large saucepan. Remove any stems from green beens. Blanch 1 cup green beans by tossing them into the boiling water and then turning off the heat. Allow them to sit in the hot water for a very brief period of time, about 3 minutes, until they are bright green. Quickly, transfer them to an ice bath to stop them from cooking any further. Set aside.
Hard boil, peel, and halve 4 eggs. Chop 2 heads of romaine lettuce, halve 1 cup of grape tomatoes, julienne 1/2 a red onion, halve or quarter 7 radishes, peel and chop 1 cucumber, and strain 1/4 cup of olives.
Strain the 2 cans of tuna and break it apart with a fork.
Toss all ingredients together and lightly dress your salad. Finish with a crank of freshly ground pepper and sea salt.
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The best Thousand Island dressing is super creamy & sweet with a bit of tang. Not only does it make for a great dressing on tossed salad, but it’s also an amazing condiment for burgers and even a dip for French fries!
