Chicken Chesapeake Recipe

Chicken Chesapeake Recipe - Chicken is adored by everyone, whether it's in the form of chicken salad, chicken marsala, chicken bites, chicken chipotle, or any other chicken-based dish. However, the affection for chicken reaches new heights when savoring the delectable Chicken Chesapeake.

The renowned Chicken Chesapeake recipe has been in existence for quite some time, and you may have come across it before. If not, it presents an excellent opportunity for you to elevate your chicken-cooking skills.

So, whenever you yearn for succulent and flavorful chicken breast, you can turn to the swift and uncomplicated Chicken Chesapeake recipe. It will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on your taste buds with its unique chicken twist.

How to Make Chicken Chesapeake 

The Chicken Chesapeake recipe necessitates two primary ingredients: chicken breasts and crab meat. This combination of seafood-filled chicken serves as an irresistible main course, elevating the ordinary chicken to new heights.

However, it's the sauce that truly sets it apart. The filling made with crab is called an imperial sauce, crab imperial, or Chesapeake sauce. However, it's important to note that these terms aren't interchangeable.

The imperial sauce comprises mayonnaise, spices, egg, and seasoning. It transforms into crab imperial when the crab meat is introduced into the sauce and baked until it turns a golden brown color.

This recipe entails the creation of a simple-to-make, tantalizing, and flavorsome chicken dish infused with spices and stuffed with crab. If you're seeking a delightful and quick solution after a long day, there's no better way to uplift your mood than with this Chicken Chesapeake.

Without further delay, here are the ingredients you'll need for this recipe.

Ingredients

(2 servings)

For crab imperial:

• 1 pound of crab meat
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp sour cream
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 egg
• 8 whole crushed crackers
• Salt and cayenne pepper
• 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
• ½ tsp paprika

For chicken: 

• 5 to 6 large boneless chicken breasts
• 2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
• Salt and cayenne pepper

Instructions

The original Chicken Chesapeake recipe requires minimal time and effort to prepare. It can be whipped up in under an hour, making it ideal for quick cooking. Additionally, it serves as a great option for promoting healthier eating within the family.

While there are several variations of ingredients for this dish, the core ingredients remain consistent. Spices are the main variable. Furthermore, optional ingredients such as Parmesan or cream cheese can be included if desired.

However, we have focused on narrowing down the ingredients to the "traditional" ones and using crab imperial as the stuffing for the chicken breast to create an authentic Chicken Chesapeake.

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F and begin by preparing the crab imperial. Ensure that the crab meat is free from shells and cartilage, and rinse it with clean water.

Step 2

Combine all the ingredients for the crab imperial, excluding the crab meat, salt, and pepper, in a bowl. Then, add the remaining three ingredients and thoroughly mix them.

Step 3

Grease a baking dish and pour the crab mixture into it. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, and once removed from the oven, allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.

It is not necessary to pre-bake the crab imperial before using it as a stuffing. Alternatively, you can mix the ingredients with the chicken breasts and bake them together to save time.

Step 4

Moving on to the chicken breasts, place them inside a Ziploc bag and pound them with the flat end of a hammer to ensure uniform thickness.

Pro tip: To enhance the flavor of the chicken, marinate it in a mixture of white wine and extra virgin olive oil. Alternatively, you can pour melted butter over the stuffed breasts.

Next, butterfly open the chicken breasts to create a pocket-like incision in the center of each breast.

Step 5

Season the breasts with salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning. Grease a baking dish and set it aside.

Step 6

Stuff 2 tablespoons of crab imperial into the pocket of each breast and place them on the prepared baking dish. Secure the chicken with toothpicks and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes until they turn golden brown.

Alternatively, you can coat the chicken breasts with bread crumbs and cook them in a skillet before transferring them to the oven.

Allow the chicken to cool for 10 minutes, and then serve it with french fries, salad, rice, or garnish it with lemon wedges. Enjoy it as is.

Ingredient Substitution

As mentioned before, the Chicken Chesapeake recipe can vary in terms of its ingredients. Typically, it includes crab meat, chicken breast, imperial crab sauce, spices, and seafood seasoning.

However, there is room for experimentation with the ingredients to create something new and introduce different flavors to the dish.

Cajun Seasoning

For some individuals, Old Bay seasoning is just as crucial as the crab meat and chicken breasts in the Chicken Chesapeake recipe. Some even consider it incomplete without Old Bay seasoning.

However, Cajun seasoning utilizes many of the same herbs and spices as Old Bay, making it an excellent alternative in this context, despite having a different ingredient mix.

You can use Cajun seasoning in a 1:1 ratio as a substitute. It's worth noting that Cajun seasoning tends to be slightly spicier.

Soy Sauce

If Worcestershire sauce is not readily available in your kitchen, soy sauce serves as a great substitute for the crab imperial in this recipe. A 1:1 swap is the best approach, even though soy sauce may not possess the same tartness or spiciness as Worcestershire sauce.

However, it offers a similar consistency and blends well, seamlessly integrating into the dish.

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