Ranch Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

If you're looking to add a little variety to what seems to be a consistent family favorite across the board, you should try this recipe. If you are trying to appease a picky eater, you should try this recipe. If you have a busy holiday night ahead of you, you should try this recipe.  In short, just try this recipe.

If you couldn't tell from the scoring of these recipes on the Olivia Factor, I house a picky eater. It gets a little tiresome considering she shares the table with three non-picky eaters, but such are the facts. I have made baked chicken so many ways I could probably devote an entire blog to them, but I have never actually tried this specific combination. And what's even better is that it comes with a matching side dish, which is a big deal to me. Aubrey always makes fun of me for trying to "match" my foods.

Ranch Chicken & Mashed Potatoes
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I use two and cut them in half, like when you butterfly meat; the portion is better for my family---hence the fish-looking fillet in my picture)
1 pkg. ranch dressing mix
1 c. crushed cornflakes
1 c. grated parmesan cheese
1 stick butter, melted
1 recipe of mashed potatoes

Melt butter in a shallow dish. Mix half a packet of ranch dressing mix, cornflakes and parmesan cheese together in a second shallow dish. Dip chicken in butter and cornflake mixture. Place in a greased baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until done. Make your recipe of mashed potatoes and add the second half of the ranch packet.

I made this on the busiest night of the week for us: Wednesday. It took me literally less than 10 minutes to get it in the oven which gave me plenty of time to get the other dishes ready and get myself ready for youth. I even made and frosted cupcakes while I waited for everything to finish. But the biggest plus: I was able to enjoy my meal with my family without rushing through it, which was wonderful! It's such an easy recipe to follow; I made it once and it's already committed to memory. It's definitely going in my recipe box under Chicken: Variations of a Theme.

RATINGS (out of 5 Yummies):

TASTE: 4 

although an ordinary recipe, the simplicity of this meal is appealing and this recipe means the chicken will come out perfectly tender and crunchy every time

PRESENTATION: 4 

it looks like fried chicken to me, which is a mouth-watering vision in any form but it's wholesome simplicity keeps it from wowing

EASE OF PREPARATION: 5

there is no question about the ease of this recipe; the Debra Barones of the world will have no problem pleasing their families with this meal

OLIVIA FACTOR: 4 

she ate all of the chicken, but didn't ask for more (although that could be the Christmas cookie before supper talking) and gagged on the mashed potatoes, which really is a testament to their texture more than anything; she's appalled that potatoes come in any other form than fried and frenched

COMPOSITE: 4.3

I think this is a staple and the one to beat for Olivia's affections