Thursday, March 29, 2012

Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken & Onion Rings

This chicken turns out super juicy and couldn't be easier. The baked onion rings are the perfect side. The recipe calls for Ritz crackers for the breading, but I think panko breadcrumbs would also be delicious!

Crockpot BBQ Beer Chicken
3 large chicken breasts
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion powder
1 t. smoked paprika (key ingredient!)
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 bottle beer
1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

Place chicken in crockpot and sprinkle with seasonings. Add beer and 1/2 the bottle of bbq sauce. Cook on low 8 hours, stir occasionally. Shred chicken with 2 forks and add remaining bbq sauce or more to taste. Serve on fresh buns.

Baked Onion Rings
1-2 large onions, peeled and sliced thick into rings
Approx. 40 Ritz crackers (crushed, or Panko breadcrumbs would be good)
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. + 2 T. flour
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray large cookie sheet and set aside.
Mix cracker crumbs or panko in one bowl with cayenne pepper.
Mix buttermilk, salt, pepper, and 2 T. flour in another bowl.
Place remaining flour in a large resealable bag and add all the onions and shake to coat.
Dip each ring in buttermilk, then crumbs (try to keep one of your hands in the dry bowl and one in the wet bowl). Place on cookie sheet, and spray all the rings with cooking spray. Bake 20 minutes and sprinkle with salt while hot.




BBQ Chicken & Pineapple Quesadillas

I used the leftovers to make this:

BBQ Chicken & Pineapple Quesadillas
8 tortillas (I used whole wheat)
Fresh pineapple, cut in small chunks
8 oz. monterey jack cheese, shredded
Leftover bbq chicken
Jalapenos, chopped (optional)
Butter or cooking spray

Spray or lightly butter a large skillet over medium heat. Add a tortilla and lightly crisp on one side. Flip over and add a sprinkle of cheese, bbq chicken, pinapple pieces, jalapeno (if you want some heat), and another sprinkle of cheese.
NOTE: Try not to add a lot of the juice from the chicken, otherwise it gets too juicy in the pan and your tortilla won't get crispy.
Top with another tortilla. When brown, lift up quesadilla and add another spray or a little more butter and gently flip over. Brown on the other side and remove from pan when both sides are brown & crispy.

Creamsicle Fruit Dip

I've been trying lots of recipes off Pinterest lately, so I'll post the ones we loved! This is the perfect summer dessert, enjoy!

Creamsicle Fruit Dip
12 oz. cream cheese, softened
7oz. jar marshmallow fluff
1/3 c. powdered sugar
1 orange, juiced and zested

Mix until light and fluffy and serve with assorted fruit...my favorite with this dip was fresh pineapple!