If Chicken’s Boring, You’re Doing It Wrong 🍗


Hi Reader,

I’ve always thought chicken gets a bad rap. People talk about it the way they talk about wallpaper—necessary, but boring.

Ever since The One came on the scene, though, chicken has never been bland. There's his quick weekday roast he makes when he has three minutes and an attitude, the jug-cooked chicken from my cookbook that he swears could cure heartbreak, and a simple and simply superb Sunday supper: his brined roasted chicken that sits on a raft of carrots, onions, and potatoes so all that schmaltzy goodness renders into the veggies. The first time he made it, it made me question all my life choices.

Magnificent Meryl: As Versatile as Chicken

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The truth is, chicken is like Meryl Streep: it can play any role. Humble weeknight dinner? Done. Elegant centerpiece for company? Easy. Comfort food when the world feels a little jagged? Absolutely.

If your chicken is dull, it’s not the bird—it’s the script you’ve given it.

So here’s my advice: stop thinking of chicken as a fallback and start treating it like the star it is. Because when a bird comes out of the oven golden, fragrant, and sputtering with juices, napkins will be waved like standing ovations. And yes, you deserve that applause.

How to Make Sure Your Chicken Gets a Standing Ovation

  1. Brine = Insurance: A simple saltwater soak makes chicken juicy, tender, and anything but boring.
  2. Spice with Intention: From smoky paprika to cumin to lemon zest, think bold. Chicken can handle it.
  3. Don’t Fear High Heat: A hot oven or grill delivers crisp skin and deep flavor—skip the timid cooking.
  4. Use the Pan Juices: That golden liquid is liquid gold. Make a quick pan sauce or gravy—instant drama.
  5. Think Beyond the Breast: Thighs, legs, wings—they bring flavor, richness, and often cost less. The understudies can steal the show.

WHAT'S INSIDE...

Batter-Fried Chicken (Easy & Extra-Crispy)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.75 from 172 votes

This batter-fried chicken calls for the pieces to be quickly brined and then dipped in a seasoned batter for a crisp Southern-style crust. Simple as can be. This is the real deal. Includes secrets for that crunchy crust.
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Pan-Fried Chicken Tenders

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.88 from 16 votes

Pan-fried chicken tenders are an easy and tasty way to get dinner on the table in a hurry. Covered in a crisp batter, the toothsome filets of white meat beg to be dipped and devoured.
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Ina Garten's Lemon Chicken

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.84 from 24 votes

Ina Garten's lemon chicken is "the best roast chicken I've ever made." That's what we hear time after time from everyone we know who makes this roast chicken from the Barefoot Contessa. Tasting is believing.
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Breaded Oven Fried Chicken Thighs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.53 from 17 votes

These breaded oven fried chicken thighs come together quickly with just a handful of pantry ingredients. They have all the crispy goodness of fried chicken, without the mess and hassle of deep frying.
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French Onion-Skillet Chicken

Take the elements of French onion soup--beef broth, a hunk of bread, tons of caramelized onions, and a raft of cheese--and mash it up with perfectly seared chicken thighs, and you have French onion-skillet chicken. Sounds weird, I know, but I swear it works.
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French Roast Chicken ~ Poulet Rôti

Poulet rôti, or French roast chicken, is a classic of the Franco culinary empire. And it's so simple: just season a chicken with herbs, place it on top of root vegetables, and, for extra flavor, baste it with plenty of butter. C'est incroyable, non?
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Chicken Shawarma

Serve this incredibly flavorful chicken shawarma with your favorite sides and toppings for an easy weeknight meal everyone will love. Plus, nothing beats a sheet pan dinner, am I right?
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Pan Seared Chicken Breast

This pan seared chicken breast from Cook's Illustrated calls for just four ingredients—chicken, olive oil, salt, and pepper—but boasts shatteringly crisp skin, tender meat, and a stovetop that isn't spattered with grease. This is going to change your weeknight chicken game.
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Rosemary Chicken & Beans in a Creamy Cider Broth

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.86 from 14 votes

This recipe for rosemary chicken, beans, and leeks is a cozy weeknight meal that combines tender roasted chicken, cannellini beans, and leeks in an apple-infused broth. The simplicity of the recipe and the outstanding flavor will have you returning to it over and over again.
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Cornmeal Crusted Fried Chicken

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8 from 10 votes

This cornmeal-crusted fried chicken from Sydney Meers, thanks to a quick brine and an easy dredge in flour and cornmeal, turns out tender, juicy meat, and shatteringly crisp skin. Here's how to make it.
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