Blackened Hen – Rachel Cooks®

Cajun and Creole cooking positively embraces a “extra is extra” mindset, and that’s form of why I like it. All these layers of taste make each chew scrumptious, whether or not it’s Cajun rooster pasta, jambalaya, or this blackened rooster recipe.

The primary key to blackened rooster is blackening seasoning, a mix of herbs and spices rubbed onto rooster or fish earlier than cooking. The seasoning is generously utilized so it varieties a pleasant crust if you cook dinner the rooster in a skillet—and sure, this crust does flip fairly black! However don’t fear, it’s a flavorful and scrumptious deeply browned form of black, not burnt-and-tastes-like-charcoal black.

Though the ingredient record would possibly look lengthy, nearly all the pieces you want is a pantry staple! You most likely have all of the spices readily available in your kitchen already.

Seasoned Blackened Hen

Not the identical previous rooster breasts. Boneless skinless rooster breasts are a weeknight staple, however put together them the identical method week after week and so they can develop into monotonous. Blackened rooster jazzes issues up!

Fast and straightforward to make. As a result of this rooster is made on the stovetop, it takes simply 10 minutes to cook dinner and prep time is minimal too. That is the quintessential fast weeknight dinner!

Versatile. Blackened rooster could be served in so many various methods—sliced over a salad, on a sandwich, plated with a aspect dish, or tucked into tortillas for tacos.

Ingredient Notes

• Boneless, skinless rooster breasts: You may swap in boneless, skinless rooster thighs should you favor darkish meat however observe that they take a bit longer to cook dinner.
• Blackening seasoning: Smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, onion powder, dried thyme, cayenne, black pepper, and oregano.
• Olive oil: Use a “common” olive oil or cooking olive oil slightly than extra-virgin olive oil, which has a decrease smoke level. You probably have one other oil that you just prefer to fry with, that’s nice.
• Lemon: I prefer to serve lemon wedges with the rooster. A squeeze of recent lemon juice livens up its taste.

Make Blackened Hen

Make the seasoning. Combine collectively all of the spices in a small bowl. 

Warmth the skillet. Set a heavy skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high warmth. Heat it up till it’s scorching scorching. As a result of we’re cooking the rooster on the stovetop, it’s vital to have the skillet scorching so the skinny items of rooster cook dinner shortly. This retains it from getting rubbery.

Season the rooster. Pat the rooster cutlets dry with paper towels, then rub each side with the blackening seasoning.

Prepare dinner. Pour the olive oil into the pan. As soon as it’s shimmering, add the 4 slices of rooster breasts. If there’s not sufficient room within the skillet for them to lie flat, not overlapping, cook dinner them in batches. Prepare dinner for about 5 minutes on either side. Bear in mind, it’s okay for the outside to be black, or a minimum of very darkish brown.

Relaxation. Switch the rooster to a plate and let it relaxation for 3 to five minutes. The warmth retained within the rooster really cooks it a bit longer, bringing the inner temperature up. Resting ensures that your rooster can be completely completed, crisp on the skin and juicy on the within.

Serve. Reduce the blackened rooster into strips or serve it as is. Don’t neglect so as to add a squeeze of recent lemon!

Suggestions for Making This Recipe

• Be sure that your spices are recent. Previous, stale spices provides you with lackluster blackened rooster. Though you may examine the expiration date in your spice jars, one of the best check is giving them a sniff; in the event that they’re not fragrant or just scent musty, they’re due for substitute.
• Alter the spicy warmth to your liking. You should utilize as a lot or as little cayenne as you want. 
• Don’t overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding the pan can result in uneven cooking and forestall a pleasant crust from forming on the rooster. Prepare dinner in batches if crucial.
• Use a meat thermometer. The surest approach to know when rooster is fit for human consumption (and likewise stop it from overcooking and turning into dry and rubbery) is to make use of an instant-read thermometer. The inner temperature ought to attain 165°F. Nonetheless, this is usually a little difficult with skinny items of rooster. One other approach to examine is to make a small slice within the thickest a part of the rooster. The within shouldn’t be darkish pink (a really gentle pink is okay); the juices ought to run clear.

What to Serve With Blackened Hen

Fridge: Switch any leftover blackened rooster to an hermetic container and refrigerate it for as much as 4 days. 

Freezer: For longer storage, you may freeze blackened rooster for as much as 3 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw it within the fridge earlier than reheating.

To reheat: Reheat the rooster in a 350ºF oven or air fryer till it’s warmed via, or in a skillet over medium warmth with a splash of oil. The microwave additionally works, nevertheless it’s extra more likely to make your rooster rubbery, so I like to recommend leaving that as a final resort.

Prepare dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

• Rigorously butterfly every rooster breast, creating two skinny cutlets from every breast. If you happen to bought cutlets, skip this step.

  2 boneless, skinless rooster breasts

• In a small bowl, combine collectively smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and dried oregano to create the blackening spice combine.

  2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to style, ½ teaspoon coarse floor black pepper, ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

• Warmth a heavy skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high warmth till it’s extremely popular.

• Pat the rooster breasts dry with paper towels. Rub every rooster breast with the spice combine, till it’s nicely coated on each side.

• Add oil to the new pan. Rigorously place the seasoned rooster breasts within the pan. Prepare dinner for about 5 minutes per aspect or till the inner temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the outside is blackened and crusty.

  2 tablespoons olive oil

• Take away the rooster from the pan, place on a plate, and let it relaxation for 3 to five minutes.

• Slice the blackened rooster or serve the cutlets entire. Squeeze recent lemon juice excessive if desired.

  Recent lemon wedges for serving

• If you happen to’d slightly not minimize the rooster your self, you would purchase skinny cutlets as a substitute of entire breasts.
• Alter the extent of cayenne pepper in line with your spice desire. If you happen to prefer it spicier, be happy so as to add extra.

Serving: 1cutlet, Energy: 232kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 30g, Fats: 11g, Saturated Fats: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g, Monounsaturated Fats: 6g, Trans Fats: 0.02g, Ldl cholesterol: 91mg, Sodium: 602mg, Potassium: 570mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.2g, Vitamin A: 647IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 1mg

Vitamin info is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

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