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Broccoli Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad

By 22 Comments

This Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad could possibly be the best pasta salad ever. Really! It’s that good. A wonderful pot luck, crowd pleasing pasta salad with bacon, broccoli and cheese tortellini. With cherry tomatoes and a creamy unique dressing, this one is worth a look.

Pasta salad made with tortellini.

What To Expect From This Recipe

One day, just for fun, I decided to Google “the best pasta salad ever”. What was the return? A pasta salad with cheese tortellini and broccoli. A new idea for me. I took the basic recipe and made it my own.

This Cheese Tortellini Pasta salad is loaded with cherry tomatoes, crisp bacon bits, broccoli florets and sliced green onion. And being the coleslaw lover that I am, I’ve smothered it in a sweet and tangy bottled coleslaw dressing to make this one delicious creamy tortellini pasta salad.

Pillowy cheese tortellini never had it so good.

It’s hearty, comforting and with Summer pasta salads in demand from Memorial Day to Labor Day, this Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad will be your best friend this Summer.

This summer side salad deserves it’s place right up there with my favorites, Old Fashioned Potato Salad, and my Chicken Macaroni Salad. Both very popular recipes.

This pasta salad recipe will go with any grilled entree, but my favorite way to serve it is with my recipe for Grilled Chicken.

Let’s take a look.

Ingredients to make Cheese Tortellini pasta saald.
  • Cheese Tortellini: You can use cheese tortellini found in the frozen food department. Or cheese tortellini found in the refrigerator section. Both will work well here.
  • Fresh Broccoli Florets
  • Bacon, Preferrably thick cut, cut into bits and cooked crisp.
  • Cherry Tomatoes, halved.
  • Bottled coleslaw dressing: Surprisingly, the dressing for this tortellini pasta salad is simply bottled Coleslaw Dressing. I can find two brands. Light House Cole Slaw Dressing in the refrigerator section of the produce department. And Hidden Valley Ranch dressing on the bottled salad dressing aisle. There’s always the option of making homemade coleslaw dressing.
  • Green Onions

Chef Tip: I like to purchase Cherub brand tomatoes. Cherubs are a variety of grape tomatoes which have a stronger outer skin and meatier, less watery flesh. They are easier to slice for salads, hold up better during cooking or roasting and are reliable year round with their mild, sweet flavor.

Step by Step Instructions, It’s So Easy

Cooking bacon to make Cheese tortellini pasta salad.
  1. Step 1: Cook The Bacon: Cut the bacon into small squares and cook until golden and starting to crisp. This will take about 15 minutes if using a good quality thick cut bacon.
Adding ingredients to cooked cheese tortellini to make Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad.
  1. Step 2: Cook the cheese tortellini according to package instructions and drain well. Place the tortellini in a large bowl and add the ingredients on top.
Cheese tortellini pasta salad ingredients combined.
  1. Step 3: Using a large spoon, gently stir until well combined. To stir, it’s better to dig under the ingredients with the spoon and gently fold over. Remember, the cooked cheese tortellini is delicate and you don’t want to break them open.

Tips For Success

  • Tortellini: I have used both Buitoni and Rani brand refrigerated cheese tortellini. Both work well for this broccoli tortellini salad.. I have also used a frozen brand, which can be harder to find.
  • Be careful not to over-cook the tortellini. If the pasta shells get too soft, they’re more likely to fall apart when you stir in the ingredients. I recommend cooking the tortellini 30 seconds less than instructed time for al dente.
  • Pasta salads like this one always taste better the next day. But pasta is notorious for absorbing more sauce once it sits for awhile. Simply stir in some more coleslaw dressing or even a drizzle of milk if needed.

Storage

Store any leftovers covered or sealed in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Cheese Broccoli Tortellini Pasta Salad

Best Pasta Salad. Tortellini, tomatoes, broccoli onions.

This Tortellini Pasta Salad is quite a tasty recipe, and, as always, much better after sitting in the fridge overnight, gotta give those ingredients a chance to get to know each other better.

I have taken this pasta salad with cheese tortellini to countless pot lucks, BBQ’s and parties. It never fails, someone always asks for the recipe.

And if you’re looking for even more side dishes for picnic style gatherings, don’t miss this line-up of Summer cook-out sides. I’m positive you’ll find something you love. And take a look at this pot-luck-perfect side dish for Old Fashioned Pea Salad with Eggs. Bacon and cheese make this a popular recipe.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Cheese tortellini pasta salad served in a blue bowl.
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5 from 2 votes

Broccoli Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad

This Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad could possibly be the best pasta salad ever. Really! It's that good. A wonderful pot luck, crowd pleasing pasta salad with bacon, broccoli and cheese tortellini. With cherry tomatoes and a creamy unique dressing, this one is worth a look.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10
Calories: 3656kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 19 ounce package Cheese tortellini Package sized vary from 19 – 20 ounces.
  • 1 pound Thick cut bacon chopped and fried until crispy, grease drained.
  • 4 cups broccoli cut small into florets
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes halved
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • 1 cup Coleslaw dressing bottled.

Instructions

  • Cook The Bacon: Cut the bacon into small squares and cook until golden and starting to crisp. This will take about 15 minutes if using a good quality thick cut bacon.
  • Cook the cheese tortellini according to package instructions and drain well. Place the tortellini in a large bowl and add bacon bits, broccoli florets, cherry tomatoes, green onions, and coleslaw dressing.
  • Using a large spoon, gently stir until well combined. To stir, it's better to dig under the ingredients with the spoon and gently fold over several times. Remember, the cooked cheese tortellini is delicate and you don't want to break them open.

Notes

  • Tortellini: I have used both Buitoni and Rani brand refrigerated cheese tortellini. Both work well for this recipe. I have also used a frozen brand, which can be harder to find.
  • Be careful not to over-cook the tortellini. If the pasta shells get too soft, they're more likely to fall apart when you stir in the ingredients. I recommend cooking the tortellini 30 seconds less than instructed time for al dente.
  • Pasta salads like this one always taste better the next day. But pasta is notorious for absorbing more sauce once it sits for awhile. Simply stir in some more coleslaw dressing or even a drizzle of milk if needed.
*please note, I believe the calorie calculator is not taking into consideration that the bacon has been cooked and drained. Therefore a very large calorie and fat content is being registered.

Nutrition

Serving: 10people | Calories: 3656kcal | Carbohydrates: 477g | Protein: 170g | Fat: 118g | Saturated Fat: 38g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 449mg | Sodium: 5195mg | Potassium: 332mg | Fiber: 42g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 682IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 1550mg | Iron: 28mg

Broccoli Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad … it’s What’s For a Side Dish

Crispy Pan Fried Chicken With Homemade Fried Chicken Gravy

By 27 Comments

Country style Pan Fried Chicken is lightly seasoned and deliciously crisp. You don’t need a deep fryer to make a good crispy fried chicken. This is a recipe for pan fried chicken that will make some of the best fried chicken gravy you’ve ever tasted.

Pan fried chicken with potatoes and fried chicken gravy served with green beans.

Table of contents

What You Can Expect From This Recipe

Being a third-generation Kansas farm girl, I know my pan fried chicken. And I know my fried chicken gravy. I grew up on my mother’s family recipe for pan fried chicken using Crisco. Served with mashed potatoes and Old Fashioned Green Beans, this is surprisingly the first meal I learned to prepare as a very young cook.

Crisco Fried chicken with gravy ended up on our dinner table several times a week during Summer harvest months. It was a rewarding and easy way to feed a table full of hired hands helping my father with the farm work. 

The preparation to make pan fried chicken is simple, but attention to details important. The right kind of oil, at just the right temperature, and knowing when to turn the chicken are important.

In this article, I’ll give you step by step instructions so you can make perfect fried chicken, and fried chicken gravy.

oil to use for fried chicken

Oil: I’ve never fried chicken in anything but Crisco. As far as I know Crisco fried chicken is simply the best.

Breading: For pan fried chicken, the “breading” is nothing more than salt and peppered all-purpose flour. Never did we jazz it up with things like buttermilk, corn flakes or herbs. Keeping things simple, lets that chicken flavor shine. 

Equipment: And use a deep fryer??? Never. You simply can’t make fried chicken gravy without a skillet with chicken drippings which consists of oil and those little pieces of crispy skin that have stuck to the bottom of that skillet.

I wouldn’t touch our classic recipe. The results, sweet milk fried chicken gravy over creamy mashed potatoes and perfectly crunchy fried chicken.

You can use one whole fryer chicken cut into pieces, or select individual pieces of chicken, like breasts, thighs, and chicken drumsticks.

You can’t have fried chicken gravy without pan fried chicken, so let’s get started.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients to make fried chicken and fried chicken gravy.
  • Chicken: Use a whole fryer chicken, cut up. Or choose chicken pieces of your choice. A mix between chicken thighs, breasts, drum stick or even wings. The weight should equal around 3 pounds.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour will be used for dredging chicken for frying. Do not use self-rising flour.
  • Crisco: Crisco is an American brand of vegetable shortening. It’s a solid fat product with a high smoke point, making it good for frying. In my humble opinion Crisco fried chicken is the best.
  • Milk: Full fat please. This is not the time to skimp on fat calories by using a low fat milk product. Your gravy will be creamier and sweeter using full fat milk.
  • Spices: Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper

Step by Step Instructions

Tip: Since we’re making Fried Chicken with Fried Chicken Gravy, you’ll more than likely want to serve this with mashed potatoes. I like to make the mashed potatoes first, then transfer them to a slow cooker to keep warm until the rest of the meal is ready.

Important: Before you drain those potatoes, fish out a cup of the starchy cooking water. We’ll use it to make chicken gravy.

Optional: You can brine the chicken pieces in salted water for an hour before frying. Remove from water and use paper towels to thoroughly pat dry before flouring.

Dredging chicken in flour to make pan fried chicken.
How to pan fry chicken for fried chicken and fried chicken gravy.
  1. Set up your dredging station. Place chicken pieces on one plate. The salt and peppered flour on the next plate. Then have a plate ready to place the floured chicken pieces. Once pieces are floured, shake off excess flour. Let them sit 10 minutes to set the flour. Dinner plates work well here.
  1. Melt the Crisco over medium high heat, in a large heavy skillet with deep sides. You’ll need enough oil to cover the chicken pieces about ⅓ of the way up. Once the oil has reached a temperature of 365 degrees, gently place the chicken pieces in the hot oil. Brown each piece on one side until golden. This will take about 7 – 10 minutes per side. Turn the pieces to brown on the other side. Chicken is done when internal temperature reads 165 degrees.

Tip: How to tell when fried chicken is done on one side and ready to turn.

How to make pan fried chicken and fried chicken gravy.
How to make pan fried chicken with fried chicken gravy.
  1. Photo #1: Use a fork to lift one of the pieces of chicken to take a peek to see if the chicken pieces have reached that golden brown color. This chicken drum is not golden brown and not ready to turn.
  2. Photo #2: I’ve just turned this chicken thigh.  Now that’s perfect.
Cooking chicken pieces in crisco to make pan fried chicken.
Cooking chicken breasts on all sides to make pan fried chicken.
  1. Step 3: As the chicken pieces cook, remove them to a plate lined with a paper towel. This gives you a chance to turn some of the remaining pieces to make sure they’re browned on each side. Legs and breasts may need extra attention.
  1. Step 4: Use a meat fork to hold the breast on it’s side so it cooks on the sides. We want to make sure each side has that crispy crust. Now we’re ready to make fried chicken gravy.

Nothing will make your mouth water more than a platter of crispy pan fried chicken.

A platter of pan fried chicken pieces.

Total time to fry a full pan of chicken is about 30-40 minutes. Remove the cooked chicken pieces to a large platter and tent with foil while you make the white chicken gravy.

How To Make Fried Chicken Gravy

Fried chicken gravy may be the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. Easy to make following this simple procedure. Mashed potatoes never had it so good.

using potato water from boiled potatoes

Remember at the beginning of this article, I instructed you to prepare the mashed potatoes and before draining, fish out a cup of the starchy potato cooking water. This water will be combined with the milk to make a creamy fried chicken gravy.

Adding flour to oil in frying pan to make fried chicken gravy.
Stirring flour to with oil to make fried chicken gravy.
  1. Step 1: Carefully pour off the oil leaving ¼ cup in the fry pan. Make sure you don’t let any of those brown chicken crunchies on the bottom of the pan escape. That’s what really makes a gravy flavorful. With burner on medium low, add ¼ cup of all purpose flour
  1. Step 2: Stir into a roux.  You can make more gravy by leaving more of the grease in the pan. Just make sure you are adding equal part of flour to oil.
Making a roux in a fry pan to make fried chicken gravy
Adding milk to roux in fry pan to make fried chicken gravy.
  1. Step 3: Stir until well blended and the roux is starting to turn golden in color. Make sure you’re scraping up every bit of the chicken bits from the bottom of the pan.
  1. Step 4: Add 1 cup of milk and ¾ cup of the reserved potato water.
Stirring in milk to thini fried chicken gravy.
How to make fried chicken gravy in a skillet.
  1. Step 5: Stir constantly and continue to cook as it bubbles and thickens. If the gravy seems thick, add milk, a little at a time to achieve that perfect gravy consistency. Each time you add milk (if needed) let it simmer for at least 1 minute to thicken before you determine if more milk is needed.
  1. Step 6: Keep stirring until nice and creamy. Serve immediately with Fried Chicken and Mashed Potatoes.
Fried chicken gravy in a black bowl with a ladle for serving.

Transfer your homemade fried chicken gravy to a serving bowl and serve over mashed potatoes.

Questions You May Have

Can You Make Healthier Fried Chicken By Removing The Skin?

Don’t you dare try to get all healthy on me and remove the skin…it won’t work…don’t bother. Making cast iron skillet fried chicken is not the time to count fat calories. It’s all about that crispy skin.

How Do You Make Gravy Without Lumps

Once you add the liquid to the roux, you can not add any more flour. Doing so will create lumps in gravy, without recovery.

Can I Use A Different Oil Product From Crisco?

Crisco vegetable oil is a good substitute. Peanut and Canola oil have high smoking points and are also good choices here. Keeping in mind, I’ll never use anything other than Crisco shortening.

Equipment

You’ll need a large heavy bottomed skillet with high sides. A 15″ cast iron skillet works well here. I also like All-Clad 12 inch skillet. With a smaller skillet, you’ll most certainly have to cook the chicken pieces in batches. Avoid a non-stick skillet. Most non-stick skillets are notorious for not generating heat high enough to get a good sear of frying.

How To Serve It.

Mash potatoes with some butter and milk and just enough salt and pepper.  My mom always served this meal with this Old Fashioned green beans recipe. that have been tossed with some cooked chopped onion and bacon pieces. 

Another great side dish for fried chicken is this recipe for Honey Butter Skillet Corn.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 – 5 days. Store fried chicken pieces, potatoes and gravy all in separate containers.

To reheat: I personally like to eat left over fried chicken cold. And it’s great to take on picnics. If you want to reheat, avoid the microwave because it will soften that crispy chicken crust. Reheat left over fried chicken in a 300 degree oven for a few minutes, or use an air fryer to keep the skin crispy. Use that microwave to reheat potatoes and gravy.

Tips For Success:

  • Before placing the raw chicken into the hot oil in the pan, make sure the oil is hot enough. If it’s not, the chicken will absorb the oil which will keep it from getting nice and crispy. Use a digital read thermometer to register 365 degrees. Don’t have a digital read thermometer? My mom used to sprinkle in a bit of flour to the hot oil. If it created a good sizzle, she knew it was ready for the chicken.
  • When placing the chicken pieces in the fry pan, don’t over-crowd. I usually pan fry chicken in batches. During cooking, if grease is splattering too much, lower heat.
  • Don’t purchase “factory farmed” chicken. This individual pieces of chicken will be too large, making it hard to fit in the pan, and making it hard to get cooked through. Choose a chicken from a small smaller company like Red Bird Farms. Responsible companies such as this, don’t use methods to grow over-sized birds for harvest.
  • When Making Fried Chicken Gravy: Once you add the milk and starchy water to the flour oil mixture to start the gravy process, you can’t add more flour. It will simply clump without recovery.

Recipe for Pan Fried Chicken With Fried Chicken Gravy

Fried chicken with gravy has been my favorite comfort food recipe for as long as I have memories. I’ve been making it since I was a young girl. A family recipe that I’d like to pass along to your family.

More Chicken Recipes

And if you’re looking for more chicken recipes, don’t miss my Chicken Category. You’ll find lots of great recipes including the most popular on my site for Chicken Macaroni Salad. A cold macaroni salad thats sweet, tangy and wonderful.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

Pan fried chicken with homemade fried chicken gravy.
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Pan Fried Chicken with Homemade Fried Chicken Gravy

Good old fashioned pan fried chicken, with authentic creamy white fried chicken gravy. Step – by – step instructions.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Brine time1 hour
Total Time2 hours 5 minutes
Course: Main Course Chicken
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 508kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds Whole Chicken Cut into pieces, or purchase individual pieces of your choice.
  • ½ cup Crisco Shortening enough to cover the chicken pieces half way up
  • 2 cups flour for dredging chicken
  • 2 Tablespoon Kosher Salt divided
  • ½ teaspoon Freshly ground pepper
  • For the Fried Chicken Gravy:
  • ¼ cup oil drippings oil from the fried chicken
  • ¼ Cup All purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk and more to insure gravy consistency
  • ¾ cup starchy water from boiling potatoes
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  • 1 hour before frying chicken, place chicken pieces in a large bowl of water and add 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Drain chicken pieces and pat dry with paper towels.
  • In the meantime, prepare the Mashed Potatoes. Peel and cube potatoes, cover with salted water and place on stove top to boil. Once tender, remove ¾ cup of the starchy cooking water and set aside. Keep the potatoes warm in a crockpot on low.
  • For The Pan Fried Chicken
  • Place flour on a large plate and use a whisk to stir in salt and pepper. Dredge chicken pieces in the flour coating all sides, and shaking off any excess flour. Place each piece on a clean plate. Let sit for 10 minutes to let the flour "set in".
  • Melt Crisco shortening in a deep sided skillet or large fry pan. When oil reaches around 375 degrees start placing the floured chicken pieces in the hot oil, skin side down. You want to oil to come about ⅓ of the way up the chicken. Cook each piece until golden brown. You don't want to over-crowd the chicken pieces. More times than not, I fry chicken in batches.
  • Using a meat fork, turn chicken pieces over to brown on the other side.
  • Use a digital read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees. And no pink juices are coming from the chicken.
  • Remove pieces to a plate lined with paper towels and tent with foil to keep warm.
  • For The Fried Chicken Gravy:
  • Drain all but ¼ cup of the oil fro the skillet. Return to medium heat and add ¼ cup flour to the pan. Please note, you can make more gravy by reserving more oil. Just remember you need a 1 – 1 ratio of oil and flour.
  • Cook 2 – 3 minutes or until flour is starting to turn a light golden brown. Be sure you're aggressively scraping the chicken crumb bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Add milk and reserved starchy water from the potatoes. Let it bubble until thickened, at least two minutes. This is important to let the flour flavor blend with the oil. Drizzle in more milk if necessary to get a gravy consistency that's perfect for you. Remember, each time you add a little milk, let it simmer for a couple of minutes to allow the gravy to re-thicken.
  • Note: Once you add the liquid to the flour oil mixture to start the gravy process, you can't add more flour. It will simply clump without recovery.

Notes

TIPS FOR SUCCESS:
  • Before placing the raw chicken into the hot oil in the pan, make sure the oil is hot enough. If it’s not, the chicken will absorb the oil which will keep it from getting nice and crispy. Use a digital read thermometer to register 365 degrees. Don’t have a digital read thermometer? My mom used to sprinkle in a bit of flour to the hot oil. If it created a good sizzle, she knew it was ready for the chicken.
  • When placing the chicken pieces in the fry pan, don’t over-crowd. I usually pan fry chicken in batches. During cooking, if grease is splattering too much, lower heat.
  • Don’t purchase “factory farmed” chicken. This individual pieces of chicken will be too large, making it hard to fit in the pan, and making it hard to get cooked through. Choose a chicken from a small smaller company like Red Bird Farms. Or purchase chicken from Whole Foods.  Responsible companies such as this, don’t use methods or purchase chicken that are over-sized birds for harvest.
  • When Making Fried Chicken Gravy: Once you add the milk and starchy water to the flour oil mixture to start the gravy process, you can’t add more flour. It will simply clump without recovery.

Nutrition

Calories: 508kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 183IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg

Pan Fried Chicken With Gravy … It’s Whats For Dinner

Cheesy BLT Burger with Tarragon Dressing

By 33 Comments

Try this unique spin on your next BLT burger by slathering with some homemade Tarragon Dressing. Adding a pat of butter to the burger patty while cooking makes the meat extra-delicious.

A BLT burger with tarragon dressing.

What You Can Expect From This Recipe

Anyone can make a simple blt burger, all you need is bacon, lettuce and tomato and a burger … right?

But this recipe add a creamy tarragon dressing that blends and elevates this burger to stardom.

You can make this BLT burger stove-top in a cast iron skillet, or of course turn it into one of your favorite backyard grilled burger recipe.

It’s a straightforward burger recipe topped with cooked bacon, a leaf of lettuce and a slice of fresh Summer tomato. But adding homemade Tarragon recipe elevates this flavors of this simple burger to outstanding-ly unique.

This Tarragon Dressing is reminiscent to the flavor of a creamy Russian Dressing. And it works very well as a sauce for this burger.

This recipe comes with quite the pedigree, from chef Laurent Tourondel , Food and Wine Magazine’s 10 Best Chef’s Of the Year, and Bon Appetit’s Restauranteur of the year.

Let’s Take A Look.

Ingredients To Make The Tarragon Dressing

Ingredients to make tarragon dressing.
  • Ketchup and Mayo make up the base of tarragon dressing.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: Will brighten flavor and bring a zesty tang.
  • Grated Onion
  • Chopped Parsley
  • Dried or fresh Tarragon
  • Worcestershire Sauce

Ingredients To Make The BLT Burgers

Ingredients to make BLT Burgers.

We can’t make a BLT burger without bacon, lettuce and tomato. For this recipe we’re also going to add:

  • Onion: Use either sliced sweet onion or red onion.
  • Butter: We’re going to add a pat of butter to the top of each patty while cooking.
  • Ground Chuck, or ground beef.
  • Cheese: I personally like American cheese to make any type of cheeseburger, but Cheddar is also a good choice here.

Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy

A bowl of tarragon dressing for BLT burgers.
  1. Step One: Make The Tarragon Dressing: Whisk the mayo, ketchup, red wine vinegar, onion, parsley, tarragon and Worcestershire sauce until blended. Refrigerate until ready to use. Easy!
Three BLT Burger patties.
  1. Step 2: Make the BLT Burger Patties: Gently mix the ground chuck with salt and pepper. Form the meat into fat patties.
Pan frying BLT Burgers with a pat of butter on top of each.
  1. Step 3: Cook The Burgers: Place the patties in a heavy skillet or on a pre-heated grill. Make a small indent in each patty. Add a pat of butter. Grill or cook in skillet over medium high heat for 9 minutes for medium well, turning once or twice. Top the burgers with the cheese during the last-minute of cooking and let melt.

Why Put Butter on Burgers?

Adding a pat of butter to burger patties as you cook them doesn’t necessarily add butter flavor. Rather the butter fat will make them juicier and richer and flavor. And will add a little crunch to the exterior of the patty. When grilling burgers, you can also melt the butter and brush each patty as they cook.

Notes About Burger Patties

I like to make ⅓ pound patties, which stating the obvious, one pound of. burger will yield three good sized burgers. You can also make ¼ pound patties from a pound of meat. And purchase 1 ⅓ pounds beef if you want to make four ⅓ pound burgers.

Tips For Success

  • Try dipping the burger patties in ice water for just a couple of minutes and then brush them with unsalted melted butter while grilling.  The natural sugars caramelize making the burger flavors even more delicious.
  • You can make the tarragon dressing several days in advance. Just keep it in the refrigerator in a sealed container until ready to use.

And don’t miss my recipe for Buffalo Burgers. A beautifully seasoned bison burger patty topped a special homemade secret sauce.

And if you’re burger fanatics like us, take a look at my category for Hamburger Recipes. I’m positive you’ll find something you’ll fall in love with.

BLT Burger with creamy tarragon dressing.
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Cheesy BLT Burgers with Creamy Tarragon Dressing

These BLT Burgers are made extra special with a slather of creamy tarragon dressing.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time16 minutes
Total Time31 minutes
Course: Main Course Beef
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 burgers
Calories: 1121kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • FOR THE TARRAGON DRESSING
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 3 Tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon grated onion
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • ½ teaspoon dried tarragon
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • FOR THE BLT BURGER
  • 9 Slices Bacon thin or thick slices, cooked
  • 1 pound ground beef chuck
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into chunks for the burgers
  • 3 slices sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3 hamburger buns split and toasted
  • 3 lettuce leaves iceberg or bibb
  • 3 slices of tomato
  • 3 slices onion

Instructions

  • Whisk the mayo, ketchup, red wine vinegar, onion, parsley, tarragon and Worcestershire sauce until blended. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Cook the bacon until crisp. Drain and set aside. You'll use three slices per burger.
  • Light a grill or heat a heavy skillet stove top. Gently mix the ground chuck with salt and pepper. Form the meat into fat patties. Make a small indent in the patties and place a pat of butter on each.
  • Grill or cook in skillet over medium high heat for 9 minutes for medium-rare meat, turning once or twice. Top the burgers with the cheese during the last-minute of cooking and let melt.
  • Spread the Tarragon dressing on the buns. Set the lettuce leaves and tomato slices on the bottom halves and top with the burgers, sliced onion and bacon.

Notes

Tips For Success: 
  • Try dipping the burger patties in ice water for just a couple of minutes and then brush them with unsalted melted butter while grilling.  The natural sugars caramelize making the burger flavors even more delicious.
  • You can make the tarragon dressing several days in advance. Just keep it in the refrigerator in a sealed container until ready to use. You’ll have dressing left over, use it over the next few days as a salad dressing.
The calorie count for this recipe is very high because the program things you’re using all of the tarragon sauce. When in fact you’re only using about 1 – 2 tablespoon per burger. 

Nutrition

Serving: 3g | Calories: 1121kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 89g | Saturated Fat: 33g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Monounsaturated Fat: 32g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 207mg | Sodium: 1600mg | Potassium: 824mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2757IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 319mg | Iron: 5mg

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.

BLT Burger with Tarragon Dressing … It’s What’s for Dinner

Chicken Marengo Recipe

By 22 Comments

Chicken Marengo Recipe. A beautiful over the top braised chicken recipe that’s perfect for entertaining for your next dinner party. Hearty and with a sauce that’s full of amazing flavors. 

Chicken marengo chicken thighs served with peas and mashed potatoes

History of Chicken Marengo

Before I prepared this Chicken Marengo Recipe, I googled Chicken Marengo. Wikipedia was the first result with the history: An Italian savoury dish, so named for being the dish that Napoleon Bonaparte ate after the Battle of Marengo.

According to history Napoleon demanded a quick meal after the battle and his chef was forced to work with meager ingredients.  Chicken sliced up with a saber and crawfish were among the choices.  Napoleon reportedly liked the dish and (having won the battle) considered it lucky. He refused to have the ingredients altered on future occasions.

After the history lesson, I reviewed about 10 different Chicken Marengo recipes. I guess we’re not as superstitious as Napoleon as each recipe I reviewed offered a different set of ingredients. 

Not once did I see crawfish listed, but the common theme for Chicken Marengo is chicken braised in a tomato sauce.

For my final plan I referenced one of my most trusted sources, Dairy Hollow House Bed and Breakfast and found a less tomato-ey version. Perfect.

This definitely turned out to be a rich-sauced delicious dish. It took a total of about 3 hours from start to finish, but what  better way to spend a cold and rainy afternoon? 

Elegant enough to serve to guests for a dinner party, I believe this could be prepared in advanced and easily reheated for an impressive meal.

Serving the Chicken Marengo with a simple green salad with a flavorful vinaigrette and a delicious dessert should result in some impressed guests.

How To Make Chicken Marengo

Browned chicken thighs in a Red Le Creuset Dutch Oven for Chicken Marengo.

In a large fry pan add 2 T each butter and olive oil. Add 8 chicken thighs and brown on both sides. As they brown, transfer them to a Dutch oven.

In the same pan that you cooked the chicken, sautee onion until soft. Add garlic and flour. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, then add white wine and Chicken Broth

  • Stir constantly for about 3 minutes until the pan is deglazed and the sauce is smooth and creamy.  Then stir in the chopped tomatoes
  • Pour this over the browned chicken in the Dutch oven. Sprinkle the chicken and sauce with golden raisins, fresh ground black pepper, thyme, basil and rosemary. Add a bay leaf
  • Stir well to combine, bring to a boil, turn down heat and let simmer partially covered for about an hour. Meanwhile in 2 T. olive oil saute onions, mushrooms and carrots.
  • When vegetables are slightly softened, remove them from heat and add them to the Dutch oven. Sprinkle the vegetables in the dish with the juice of one lemon and sliced black olives.
  • Cover and simmer about 15 minutes.

Serve piping hot over buttered egg noodles or mashed potatoes, drizzling sauce over all.

 

Chicken Marengo Recipe

I hope you give this chicken marengo recipe a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating.

Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes. And if you have a favorite French inspired chicken recipe, let me know, I'd love to give it a try.

Looking for more Chicken Dinner Recipe Ideas? Take a look at my Chicken Category. You’ll find a ton of idea. And the most popular chicken dish on my site, Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup.

If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.

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Chicken marengo chicken thighs served with peas and mashed potatoes
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5 from 2 votes

Chicken Marengo Recipe

This is a beautiful, and over the top Chicken Marengo Recipe. A French inspired chicken recipe that's perfect for entertaining. Hearty and with a sauce that's full of amazing flavors. 
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Main Course Chicken
Cuisine: French
Servings: 6
Calories: 639kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
  • 8 chicken thighs
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • ⅓ cup flour
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 ½ cups Chicken Broth
  • 3 medium tomatoes rough chopped
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon each thyme and basil and rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 6-12 Pearl onions (optional ingredient) peeled, left whole
  • ½ pound  mushrooms sliced
  • 2 large carrots sliced
  • juice of one lemon
  • 1 cup large pitted black olives sliced in half
  • ¼ Cup brandy

Instructions

  • In a large fry pan add 2 T each butter and olive oil.
  • Add the chicken thighs.
  • As the pieces brown, transfer them to Dutch oven. In the same pan that the chicken was browned, saute onion until soft. Add garlic, flour and cook abut 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  • Add the white wine and Chicken Broth
  • Stir constantly for about 3 minutes until the pan is deglazed and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  • Stir in the chopped tomatoes
  • Pour over the browned chicken in the Dutch oven. Sprinkle the chicken and sauce with raisins, pepper, thyme, basil and rosemary. Add the bay leaf.
  • Move the chicken around so the sauce will surround them. Bring to a boil, turn down heat and let simmer partially covered for about an hour.
  • Meanwhile in 2 tablespoons of olive oil saute the pearl onions, mushrooms and carrots.
  • When vegetables are slightly softened, add them to the Dutch oven.
  • Sprinkle the vegetables in the dish with the juice of one lemon and the olives. Add the brandy.
  •  Return the sauce to a boil, stirring often for about 15 minutes. This will reduce and intensify the flavor of the sauce.
  • Fish out the bay leaf. Serve piping hot over buttered egg noodles or mashed potatoes, drizzling sauce over all.

Notes

*Fresh pearl onions are not readily available. You can find them in the freezer section. This is an optional ingredient. I personally don’t use them, because I think the flavor is strong. 

Nutrition

Calories: 639kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 158mg | Sodium: 741mg | Potassium: 869mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 4844IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg

Crispy Panko Fish Tacos with Hoisin Tarter Sauce

By 34 Comments

Panko fish tacos with hoisin tarter sauce is a unique fish taco treat.  Incredible with flavor, A recipe from Hankook Taqueria in Atlanta.

Panko battered fish tacos with hoisin tarter sauce

Have you ever found yourself preparing dinner and during the process start 2nd guessing your recipe selection skills? “Looked good on paper”, “what was I thinking?” “overpowering odd crazy sauce”, … “I’ve never liked tilapia and still hate it”…

That was me while preparing this recipe last Friday night. As I was stirring up the sauce and after a small taste test I just knew the recipe was a quirky flavored dud. I mean c’mon Hoisin Tarter Sauce? 

After plating and upon first bite, I was stunned, Bob swooned and this panko fish taco recipe in my permanent data base with the comment section reading “kick-ass tacos”.  

When this taco is assembled in its steamy shell, everything comes together and all ingredients are quickly on a first name basis.  And using Hoisin Sauce to make a tarter sauce? Genius.

Tilapia Fried Fish Tacos with Hoisin Tarter Sauce

This Panko Fish Taco recipe is from Food and Wine Magazine.

Recipe for Panko Fish Tacos

Here’s the recipe and as always Food and Wine Magazine comes through with a great recipe.  I’m not a big fan of tilapia, but have made this recipe twice.

Once with tilapia and once with cod. Both times the fish cooked up beautifully in texture, and the panko breading was just right in the crispy crunchy arena. And that unique fish taco sauce, rocks.

More Mexican Seafood Recipes

And don’t miss my category for Mexican Food Recipes, you’ll find lots of great recipes, including the most popular on my site for this old fashioned Taco Salad Made with Catalina Dressing.

 A battered fish tacos recipe from Hankook Taqueria in Atlanta. Enjoy.

Panko battered fish tacos with hoisin tarter sauce
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Crispy Panko Fish Tacos with Hoisin Tarter Sauce

Panko-breaded fried-fish tacos with hoisin tarter sauce make this crispy fish taco recipe a unique treat. Incredible with flavor, A recipe from Hankook Taqueria in Atlanta.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time4 minutes
Total Time34 minutes
Course: Main Course Seafood
Cuisine: American/Asian
Servings: 12
Calories: 753kcal
Author: Lea Ann Brown

Ingredients

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 1 ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
  • 1 pound tilapia fillets cut into 4-by-1-inch strips
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 3 cups panko bread crumbs
  • 3 cups vegetable oil for frying
  • 12 corn tortillas warmed

Instructions

  • Shredded green cabbage, lettuce leaves, cilantro and sliced scallions, for serving (I added a sliver of avocado and of course some cilantro.)
  • In a bowl, whisk the mayonnaise with the hoisin sauce, pickle relish and lemon juice.
  • In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and white pepper. Seal the bag and shake. Add the fish and shake to coat.
  • Put the eggs and panko in separate shallow bowls. Dip the fish in the egg and then in the panko. Transfer the fish to a wax paper-lined platter.
  • In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil to 350°. Add half of the fish and fry over moderate heat, turning once, until golden, about 3 minutes. Drain the fish on a paper towel-lined platter. Repeat with the remaining fish. Serve the fish in the tortillas, passing the hoisin mayonnaise, cabbage, lettuce, cilantro and scallions for serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 753kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 65g | Saturated Fat: 46g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 907mg | Potassium: 224mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 82IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg

Pairing Suggestion: A Margarita made with 100-percent agave tequila: Patrón Silver.

Crispy Panko Fish Tacos with Hoisin Tarter Sauce  …It’s What’s For Dinner.