New Progesso Recipe Starters: Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken and a Giveaway!!

Back to school means back to busy weeknight schedules.  Between homework, activities, practices, work and class, preparing a delicious home-cooked meal can be quite a challenge, and getting started is often the hardest part. Let new Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ cooking sauces give you a head start to a home cooked meal, and you’ll ace the dinner time routine this year!

 Progresso Recipe Starters sauces are available in five flavorful varieties that can each be used as a starter to create numerous home-cooked meals. For added inspiration, Progresso created 80 recipes utilizing this new line of cooking sauces that can be found on Progresso.com/RecipeStarters. Many of these recipes are classic family favorites, such as Bacon Mac n’ Cheese, Chicken Pot Pie and Chicken Parmesan, and utilize ingredients your family may already have on-hand. In addition, all of the recipes on the site include a Rate and Review feature, so we encourage you to leave a rating and review of your own, in which you can even include a link back to your blog post about that recipe! Look for Progresso Recipe Starters in the soup aisles!

Inspired by the five “Mother” Sauces that form the basis of classical French cooking, including Béchamel, Velouté, Tomato, Espagnole and Hollandaise, Recipe Starters use a variety of ingredients and the best techniques to make sure you have delicious options to take on the school days dinner dilemma. The five varieties are:

•  Creamy Parmesan Basil: This creamy, full-bodied and indulgent sauce that was inspired by alfredo and creamy pesto sauces can be used to make dishes such as Crispy Garlic-Parmesan Chicken, Creamy Chicken Alfredo, Basil Chicken Ravioli Carbonara and Basil Chicken Thai Noodle
• Creamy Roasted Garlic with Chicken Stock: With caramelized, roasted chicken broth, garlic and a touch of cream, this stock is perfect for dishes such as Creamy Lemon Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie and Chicken Enchiladas
• Fire Roasted Tomato: A medium-thick tomato sauce, accompanied by flavors of roasted, caramelized tomatoes, oregano and bell peppers, which can be used as a great way to begin creating  Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, Easy Weeknight Chicken Parmesan, Cheese-stuffed Mini Meat Loaves and Mole Tacos
• Creamy Portabella Mushroom: Creamy and highly indulgent, this smooth sauce is rich with sautéed Portabella mushrooms,  giving you any easy way to start delicious dishes like Easy Weeknight Beef Stroganoff, Steak and Mushroom Sandwich and Tetrazzini
• Creamy Three Cheese: Rich and creamy with a blend of yellow and white cheeses, and a savory background of chicken stock, onion, garlic and cracked pepper, this is a great way to satisfy cheese lovers with Easy Weeknight Bacon Mac & Cheese, Twice-Baked Potato Pizza and Cheesy Egg Breakfast Tacos.

I decided to first test out the Creamy Parmesan Basil Cooking Sauce:

Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
from Progresso.com
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts *
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 can (18 oz) Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ creamy Parmesan Basil cooking sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2/3 cup Progresso® Italian style panko crispy bread crumbs*
2/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan or Asiago cheese
 Hot cooked pasta or mashed potatoes, if desired

Garnishes, If Desired
 Additional shredded Parmesan or Asiago cheese
 Chopped fresh basil or parsley

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper to taste.

2. In shallow dish, mix butter, 3 tablespoons of the cooking sauce and the garlic powder. In another shallow dish, mix bread crumbs and cheese. Dip chicken into butter mixture, then dip into bread crumb mixture to coat. Place on cookie sheet.

3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F) and coating is golden brown. Meanwhile, heat remaining sauce until hot. Serve chicken with pasta and sauce. Sprinkle with additional cheese and basil.

 * I used chicken tenders and made my own breadcrumbs out of crackers.  I also doubled the recipe to feed my family of six.

****This was so delicious!! The Parmesan Basil flavor made it amazing!! It was easy to make and it was a HUGE hit with the family!

Now for the fun part!! I have a Progresso Recipe Starter gift pack to give one lucky reader:



Two cans of Progresso Recipe Starters
$10 Gift Card to purchase your recipe ingredients
Progresso Recipe Starters recipe book, including 5 recipes to get you started
Baking dish
Measuring Cups
Sauce Scraper

 

To enter follow the directions below:

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28202f4/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can download a printable coupon for $.65 off the purchase of 1 can of Progresso® Recipe Starters Cooking Sauce here. 
Good Luck and Enjoy!!