Is it just us or does it seem like 2024 is on a bullet train hurtling at light speed to 2025? It's hard to believe the first day of Summer is days away, but we sure are loving the extra daylight hours as we reach the Summer Solstice. Along with those long summer days comes an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables which has inspired us here in the Springer Mountain Farms kitchen.
Chicken generally plays well with others in the food world, especially when it comes to fresh fruits. A quick perusal of the internet will result in an abundance of recipes featuring chicken using an assortment of fruits like apples, apricots, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, citrus fruits, mango, pineapple, peaches, pears and more. The fruits can be used to make salsas to top grilled or roasted chicken breasts, thrown in with a casserole, tossed in or topping a salad, topping a pizza or used to make a glaze or sauce for the chicken.
We've got 6 incredible recipes to help kick off the summer fun thanks to the addition of fresh fruits.
BBQ Chicken With Mango Tajin Salsa
Ansley from @tidal_tastes on Instagram shares one of her summer favorite recipes featuring Tajin, a popular Mexican seasoning, that is all the rage right now. It's zinginess from chili peppers, sea salt and lime bring out the natural sweetness of the fruit and pair well with the tangy BBQ chicken.
Sheet Pan Chicken Street Tacos
Slice of Jess created a very patriotic taco just in time for our Nation's birthday celebration on July 4th. Her red, white & blue Sheet Pan Chicken Street Tacos tacos are a breeze to make using Springer Mountain Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Chunks topped with a tangy blueberry coleslaw and fresh red jalapeños.
Honey Lime Chicken Tacos with Watermelon-Pineapple Salsa and Feta Cheese
The honey and lime of the seasoned chicken and the sweet fruits along with the salty tang of feta cheese hit all of the tastebuds at once for a flavor explosion in every bite. Easily tone down the salsa and adapt it to your taste with a green bell pepper or a poblano pepper if jalapeños aren't your thing.
Grilled Chicken & Peach Pesto Pizza
Feeling adventurous with the grill? Grilled fruit and grilled chicken are a match made in heaven, especially when used to top a grilled pizza! Don't be afraid to utilize your grill for pizza night. Start with a pre-made crust to get the hang of cooking pizza on the grill and then graduate to making your own dough for the pizza. We promise it's worth the effort! Grilled peaches, grilled chicken and fresh mozzarella cheese top the grilled flatbread slathered with pesto sauce.
Grilled Chicken Berry Spinach Salad
The sweet tartness of fresh summer berries pair beautifully with Springer Mountain Farms Fully Cooked Breast Strips and a reduced Honey Balsamic Dressing for a quick and easy summer meal from Chef Mark Phillips.
Balsamic Chicken With Strawberry Basil Bruschetta
Instead of a tomato basil combo for grilled balsamic chicken, substitute fresh strawberries for the tomatoes. The chicken is flavored by marinating the pieces in a simple pre-made balsamic dressing before cooking and then topping with chopped strawberries, fresh basil and a balsamic reduction or glaze. Marinate the chicken overnight for optimal flavor. Serve over a green salad or along side one for a quick, light summer meal.
BONUS RECIPE: Blueberry BBQ Sauce for Grilled Chicken
Since June is Georgia Blueberry Month and is one of the largest fruit crops grown in our beautiful home state of Georgia, Chef Jonathan created a tantalizing blueberry BBQ sauce to celebrate all things blueberry. Slather this savory sweet sauce on a piece of grilled chicken and then place it back on the grill a few more minutes to set the sauce and enhance the tart-sweet combo from the blueberry BBQ sauce. You could also try serving poolside with Springer Mountain Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Strips, Chunks or Nuggets for the perfect summer time snack!
