Cooking Hickory Bbq Chicken Steak: Muscle Food Style

If you're looking for a delicious and healthy meal, look no further than Muscle Food's Hickory BBQ Chicken Steak. This mouth-watering dish is not only packed with flavour but also offers a good source of protein, making it a great option for those who are fitness enthusiasts or simply looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The chicken is meticulously hand-trimmed and marinated in a unique BBQ glaze, resulting in a lean and juicy cut that's easy to prepare. In this article, we'll guide you through the cooking process, providing step-by-step instructions and useful tips to ensure your chicken steak turns out perfectly every time.

Flattening the chicken breasts

If you don't have a meat mallet, you can use other heavy kitchen tools or objects, such as a rolling pin, a heavy pan, or a wine bottle. Just make sure that whatever you use is clean and sanitised to prevent any bacteria from contaminating your food.

When flattening the chicken breasts, try to get them to an even thickness across the entire surface. This will help them cook more evenly and prevent undercooked or overcooked spots. Aim for a thickness of around 1-inch (2.5 cm) for the best results.

Once you've finished pounding, you can move on to the next step of marinating the chicken. The marinade will add flavour and moisture to the chicken, and the flattened surface will allow the marinade to penetrate the meat more effectively.

Flattening chicken breasts is a simple but important step in preparing "Hickory BBQ Chicken Steak". It ensures even cooking and enhances the flavour of the dish. By following the above steps, you'll be able to create delicious and evenly cooked chicken steaks.

Marinating the chicken

To begin, you will need to flatten your chicken breasts with a heavy mallet, or a rolling pin, to ensure even cooking. Place the chicken breasts in a medium bowl and add your chosen marinade ingredients. Coat the chicken thoroughly, ensuring that the marinade is evenly distributed over each breast.

There are many different marinade recipes to choose from, but a simple and delicious option is a mixture of soy sauce, sriracha sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, honey and brown sugar. You can also add olive oil, herbs, black pepper and lemon to your marinade for an extra kick of flavour.

Once your chicken is coated, cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to marinate. For best results, leave the chicken to marinate for at least 20 minutes, or overnight if possible.

If you want to prepare your marinated chicken in advance, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Simply place the coated chicken breasts in a Ziploc freezer bag, ensuring you squeeze out any excess air. When you are ready to cook, thaw the chicken by placing it in the refrigerator overnight, or by submerging the bag in a bowl of cold water for a few hours.

Grilling the chicken

To begin, you will need boneless chicken breasts. Flatten the chicken breasts with a heavy mallet to ensure even cooking. Place the chicken breasts in a medium bowl and add your choice of marinade ingredients. Coat the chicken thoroughly. You can use a simple combination of soy sauce, sriracha sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, honey and brown sugar. Or, if you are short on time, you can use a store-bought BBQ glaze.

Marinate the chicken breasts for 20 minutes or overnight. Then, preheat your grill pan and brush it with olive oil. Place the chicken fillets on the grill pan and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side. The chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer to check, if you have one.

If you are using a BBQ sauce, baste the chicken on each side while grilling. You can also add cheese to your chicken. Sprinkle some shredded cheese on top of the chicken breasts and microwave for 30-45 seconds to melt the cheese.

Some tips to keep in mind:

• Flattening the chicken breasts is important for even cooking.
• If you don't have a meat mallet, you can use a rolling pin or another heavy object.
• If using a grill pan, the chicken will take longer to cook due to less surface area contact. Keep the heat at a medium-high level and avoid turning it up, as this will burn the outside and leave the inside undercooked.
• For aesthetic grill lines, press gently with a spatula when you place the chicken on the grill pan and let it cook untouched for a few minutes.
• You can also use a frying pan, skillet, or outdoor grill. These options will cook the chicken faster, so adjust your cooking time accordingly.
• Marinating the chicken before cooking adds flavour and helps reduce the formation of harmful chemicals that can occur during grilling.

Basting the chicken with BBQ sauce

Basting is a great way to add flavour and moisture to your chicken. BBQ sauce is a classic choice for chicken, and with good reason—it's a delicious combination! Here are some tips and tricks for basting your chicken with BBQ sauce:

First, choose your BBQ sauce. There are many options available at your local grocery store, or you can make your own. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even add some salsa to your BBQ sauce for an extra kick of flavour.

Next, prepare your chicken. For this recipe, you'll want to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Flatten the chicken breasts with a meat mallet or a rolling pin to ensure even cooking. You can also pound the breasts evenly flat with your hands if you don't have a mallet or rolling pin.

Now, it's time to grill! Place your chicken breasts on a grill, grill pan, or skillet. Cook for 6-7 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.

While the chicken is grilling, it's time to baste! Use a brush to generously coat the chicken with BBQ sauce. Make sure to get both sides of the chicken and don't be afraid to use plenty of sauce.

If you have any leftover sauce, you can pour it over the chicken after it's done cooking. Just be sure that there isn't any raw chicken juice mixed in with the sauce from basting.

And that's it! You now have delicious, flavourful BBQ chicken that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Serve it with your favourite sides, such as sautéed vegetables, French fries, rice, or mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

Serving suggestions

There are endless serving suggestions for muscle food hickory BBQ chicken steak. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Sauteed vegetables and French fries: This is a classic side dish that pairs well with the chicken steak. You can choose your favourite vegetables, such as mushrooms, to sautee.
• Rice: Chicken and rice is a tasty combination. You can shred the chicken and add it to rice for a delicious bowl.
• Mashed potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes go well with the chicken steak, adding a comforting element to the meal.
• Garlic pasta: Try serving the chicken steak with a creamy garlic pasta for a more indulgent option.
• Salad: For a lighter option, serve the chicken steak on a bed of salad leaves with your choice of vegetables.
• Sandwiches: Use the chicken steak as a sandwich filling. You can add your favourite sauces and vegetables to create a tasty sandwich.
• Wraps: Similarly, you can use the chicken steak as a wrap filling. This is a great option for a quick and easy lunch.
• Pizza topping: Chicken steak goes well with pizza. You can shred the chicken and add it as a topping to your favourite pizza.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. You can get creative and experiment with different sides and dishes to serve with your muscle food hickory BBQ chicken steak. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions