Chicken On The Barbie is a dish invented by chef Emeril Lagasse. It consists of cut-up pieces of chicken and rice with sautéed vegetables, shrimp, and herbs in a tomato cream sauce.

The dish is made with Velveeta cheese that has been seasoned with herbs and spices. This dish is typically served over pasta or rice pilaf.

Chicken On The Barbie was named initially to make fun of the Barbie Doll, which was thought to lack physical features for girls to identify with,

But Emeril M. Lagasse found new meaning when he began serving the dish since he noticed that people would wait in lines to taste his dish. The dish was first performed at Emeril’s restaurant in New Orleans.

A derivative of this main recipe is the Grilled Chicken on Barbie, which is made with sliced chicken breasts instead of cut-up pieces, but it tastes almost identical to the original recipe.

Emeril Lagasse created a simplified version of this recipe to use up leftover grilled chicken and barbeque sauce.

How To Prepare Chicken On The Barbie?

To Make Chicken On The Barbie, Combine the first 12 ingredients in a large bowl.

Ingredients:

1 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces.
1 1/2 cup uncooked plain rice
1 1/4 cup grilled chicken, chopped or sliced (see note below)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 medium stalks celery, sliced thin.
4 green bell peppers, sliced thin.
6 to 8 medium carrots, peeled and cut into .5 inch slices.
2 cups mushrooms, cleaned and halved (if small) or quartered (if large).
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley.
1/3 cup fresh thyme leaves.
3 tablespoons lemon juice.
2 tablespoons brown sugar.

Method To Prepare Chicken On The Barbie

1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Set aside.

2. Serve over cooked plain rice or pasta, garnished with parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

3. Chicken and vegetables can be prepared 1 day ahead. Heat to boiling, occasionally stirring, before serving.

Nutrition Facts Of Chicken On The Barbie

Servings Per Recipe: 4

Nutrition	Amount
Calories	335
Total Fat	14g
Saturated Fat	4g
Cholesterol	35mg
Sodium	290mg
Potassium	822mg
Carbohydrates	31g
Dietary Fiber	5g
Sugars	8g
Calcium	4%
Iron	15%

Can I Store Chicken On The Barbie In Fridge?

Chicken On The Barbie can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and frozen in airtight containers for up to 6 months. Place plastic wrap or a large leak-proof plastic bag over the dish before sealing it.

Can I Cook Chicken On The Barbie In Microwave?

Yes, Chicken On The Barbie can be cooked in a microwave oven. Follow the directions above and add 2 minutes to the cooking time by microwaving at 50% power setting.

10 Serving Ideas of Chicken On The Barbie

1. Add 1/4 cup of Water chestnuts, 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms, 1 chopped red bell pepper, and 2 cups cooked long-grain rice to the sauce and microwave on high for 3 minutes.

2. Omit the lemon juice, brown sugar, and oil in the recipe above and add 2 tablespoons of water instead.

3. Chicken On The Barbie is an excellent substitute for ground beef in spaghetti sauce. Mix up all of the ingredients above and cook according to your favorite spaghetti sauce recipe (except use chicken).

4. Turn chicken, rice, and vegetables into a Mushroom-Chicken Barley Soup:

5. Add 2 to 3 cups of cooked brown rice, 1 cup of cooked Wild Rice, 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro to the sauce and warm in a Dutch over or high heat on the stove.

6. Add 2-3 tablespoons of tomato paste to the sauce. If desired, use this as a topping for Focaccia bread.

7. Add a few tablespoons of white wine (optional) to the sauce and use this as a topping for spaghetti noodles.

8. Use this recipe for a vegetarian chili or stew.

9. Use this recipe for a delicious side dish with grilled chicken, shrimp, or pork chops.

10. Chicken on The Barbie is good any time! Heat in a glass saucepan and add grated cheese, chopped green onion, and corn to the sauce for an easy Chicken Alfredo style dish that is good for dinner, lunch or dinner on the run!

Note: This recipe can be tripled and makes excellent leftovers. For even more servings, increase the number of vegetables by one or two and add a little more water for a fine texture.

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