The blue & orange in the name of this recipe refers to the blue cheese & orange marmalade used in the recipe, not the Chicago Bears football team, even though we do live in Chicagoland. If the Bears were in this year’s playoffs leading up to Super Bowl LIV, this intro would definitely have a Bears theme to it, but our local team didn’t get there during regular play last Fall, so I’m not going there with this post.

Instead, I’ll concentrate on the savory & sweet interplay between two of the ingredients in this chicken dish. Blue cheeses tend to be strong and a bit spicy in taste, but there are some milder versions of blue cheese for those who prefer a less piquant & creamier flavor & texture. Gorgonzola & Danish Blue cheeses will both be milder than something like a Roquefort or a Maytag Blue will be. The sweetness of orange marmalade is a wonderful counterpoint to the sharpness of the blue cheeses we prefer, and balances out the chicken superbly. This is definitely not the same old, every day, average, chicken dish!

Blue & Orange Chicken

Blue & Orange Chicken (adapted from tasteofhome.com) Time Required: 25 minutes, Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Directions:

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and salt. Place the bread crumbs in another shallow bowl. Pound the chicken to a uniform 1/2-inch thickness.

Pound the chicken to a uniform thickness.

Dip the chicken in egg, then in bread crumbs, patting the crumbs onto the chicken to help them adhere.

Dip the chicken in the egg then the bread crumbs.

In a large skillet, heat half the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook 3-4 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink. Add more oil to the pan as needed to prevent sticking. Take the chicken off the heat.

Saute the chicken . . .

Warm the marmalade in the microwave for 30 seconds on half power. Top the chicken with the marmalade then top the pieces with the cheese.

Pour the marmalade over the chicken then the blue cheese.

Cover the pan and let the chicken stand, covered, until the cheese begins to melt. Serve over rice, if desired.

It’s ready!

This is a nice blend of sweet & savory!

I like to play on the unconventional side!  ~Linda

Blue & Orange Chicken (adapted from tasteofhome.com) Time Required: 25 minutes, Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Directions:

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and salt. Place the bread crumbs in another shallow bowl. Pound the chicken to a uniform 1/2-inch thickness. Dip the chicken in egg, then in bread crumbs, patting the crumbs onto the chicken to help them adhere.

In a large skillet, heat half the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook 3-4 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink. Add more oil to the pan as needed to prevent sticking. Take the chicken off the heat. Warm the marmalade in the microwave for 30 seconds on half power. Top the chicken with the marmalade then top the pieces with the cheese. Cover the pan and let the chicken stand, covered, until the cheese begins to melt. Serve over rice, if desired.