Malibu Chicken: Best Cheeses For A Tropical Dish

Malibu Chicken is a popular dish that features a breaded, baked chicken breast topped with ham and Swiss cheese. It is usually served with a honey mustard sauce, which is made from a combination of mayonnaise, mustard, and honey. While the chicken is baking, the sauce can be made by whisking together mayonnaise, dijon mustard, yellow mustard, and honey. The chicken is then served with the sauce as a dip.

Malibu chicken is made with Swiss cheese

Malibu chicken is a popular dish that is relatively easy to make. It is made with Swiss cheese, chicken breasts, and a variety of other ingredients. The chicken is coated in a breading and then fried until golden brown. It is then topped with Swiss cheese and baked until the cheese is melted. The Swiss cheese is an integral part of the dish, as it adds a creamy, melty texture and a tangy flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients.

The recipe typically calls for boneless, skinless chicken breasts that are pounded to a thin, uniform thickness. The chicken is then coated in a flour and egg mixture before being breaded with seasoned breadcrumbs. This breading process creates a crispy exterior for the chicken. The chicken is then fried in oil and butter over medium heat until golden brown.

After frying, the chicken is placed on a baking sheet and topped with Swiss cheese. The amount of cheese used can vary, but typically, each piece of chicken is topped with a slice or two of Swiss cheese. The cheese can be torn or cut to fit the chicken nicely. The chicken is then baked in the oven until the cheese is melted and the chicken is fully cooked.

In addition to Swiss cheese, Malibu chicken is also typically made with ham. Thin slices of ham are placed on top of the chicken before adding the cheese. This combination of Swiss cheese and ham creates a savory and flavorful dish.

Malibu chicken is often served with a tangy dipping sauce or honey mustard sauce. This sauce is made with mayonnaise, mustard, and sometimes honey, adding a creamy and tangy dimension to the dish. Overall, Malibu chicken is a delicious and relatively simple dish to prepare, and the use of Swiss cheese is a key component that enhances its flavor and texture.

You can substitute Swiss cheese with mozzarella or provolone

Malibu Chicken is a dish made popular by the restaurant chain Sizzler. It features a breaded, baked chicken breast topped with ham and Swiss cheese, and served with a honey mustard sauce.

While Swiss cheese is the traditional choice for this dish, you can substitute it with mozzarella or provolone. These cheeses have a similar melting ability to Swiss cheese, resulting in that desirable, gooey texture. They also have a mild flavour that won't overpower the other ingredients.

Mozzarella is a popular cheese for pizzas and other baked dishes, so it's a good option if you want to give your Malibu Chicken a more familiar taste. Provolone is a slightly harder cheese, so it will add a bit of bite to the dish. It has a mild, nutty flavour, which will complement the chicken and ham nicely.

If you're looking for a more adventurous substitute, you could try a stronger-flavoured cheese like cheddar or gouda. These cheeses will add a sharper taste to the dish, but be aware that they don't melt quite as easily as Swiss cheese, mozzarella, or provolone.

So, if you're looking to switch up your Malibu Chicken recipe, why not give mozzarella or provolone a go? They're mild-flavoured, melting cheeses that will complement the other ingredients in the dish.

The chicken is coated in seasoned breadcrumbs

Coating the Chicken in Seasoned Breadcrumbs

The first step in making Malibu Chicken is to prepare the chicken. You will need to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and it is recommended to pound them down to an even thickness. This will ensure that the chicken cooks evenly and gives the dish a more uniform look.

After pounding the chicken, you will need to set up a dredging station with three separate containers or bowls. In the first bowl, add some all-purpose flour. You can season the flour with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder if desired. The second bowl should contain a mixture of buttermilk and egg. You can add a splash of water to this mixture to thin it out slightly. The final bowl should contain the breadcrumbs and seasonings. For the breadcrumbs, you can use regular or Italian-style panko breadcrumbs. For the seasonings, you can use a combination of Slap Ya Mama® seasoning, garlic salt, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Now that your dredging station is set up, it's time to coat the chicken. Start by patting the chicken dry with paper towels. This step is important because it helps the coating stick to the chicken. Next, dip the chicken into the flour, making sure to coat it evenly. After that, dip it into the buttermilk mixture, letting the excess drip off. Finally, coat the chicken with the breadcrumb mixture, gently pressing the breadcrumbs so they stick to the chicken.

Once all the chicken pieces are coated, you can start frying them. Add some vegetable oil and butter to a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat. You want the oil to be hot enough so that the chicken sizzles when added but not so hot that it burns. Fry the chicken in batches, cooking each side for about 6-8 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

The chicken is fried until golden brown

Frying chicken is an art, and getting that perfect golden brown colour and crispy texture is a skill worth mastering. Here's a detailed guide to achieving that mouth-watering fried chicken for your Malibu Chicken.

Firstly, choose a deep pan with a heavy bottom. This helps minimise oil splatter and ensures your chicken floats and is surrounded by oil. A deep pan will also retain heat better. Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in the pan to 340°F (171°C) to 350°F (177°C). You can use peanut oil, vegetable oil, or a combination of oil and butter, as some chefs prefer.

Now, prepare your chicken. You'll want to pound the chicken breasts to a thin, uniform thickness. This ensures even cooking. Then, create a dredging station with three separate containers: one with flour, the second with a buttermilk and egg mixture, and the third with breadcrumbs and seasonings. You can use regular flour or Italian-style panko breadcrumbs. For the seasonings, a simple combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder works well, but feel free to experiment with other blends like Slap Ya Mama® seasoning, garlic salt, or red pepper flakes.

Pat the chicken dry, and it's time to coat! Start by dipping the chicken in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, coat it with the buttermilk mixture, letting the excess drip off. Finally, gently press the chicken into the breadcrumb mixture so the crumbs adhere well. You can also try a flour, egg wash, and cracker meal coating for an extra crunchy texture.

With your chicken coated, carefully place it into the hot oil. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding, and cook for approximately 6-8 minutes per side, or until that beautiful golden brown colour is achieved. Keep an eye on the heat—if the oil is too hot, your chicken may brown too quickly and develop burnt spots. Adjust the heat as needed.

Once your chicken is golden and crispy, remove it from the oil and place it on a paper-towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil. Then, transfer it to a wire rack over a sheet tray while you fry any remaining pieces.

And there you have it! Golden brown, crispy fried chicken, ready to be topped with Swiss cheese, ham, and served with a tangy dipping sauce for the perfect Malibu Chicken dish. Enjoy!

The chicken is served with a honey mustard sauce

Malibu Chicken is a popular dish that combines crispy, tender chicken with the perfect amount of cheese and a tangy sauce. While the cheese is a highlight, the star of the show is the honey mustard sauce, which takes this dish to the next level.

The honey mustard sauce is what sets Malibu Chicken apart from other dishes. It adds a tangy, creamy kick to the dish and perfectly complements the crispy chicken and melted Swiss cheese. The sauce is typically made with a combination of mayonnaise, mustard, and honey, creating a unique sweet and savoury flavour profile. This sauce is so beloved that some people enjoy it as a dipping sauce for the chicken, taking the dining experience to new heights.

The process of making the honey mustard sauce is straightforward. It involves combining mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, and honey in a small bowl and mixing them together until smooth. The ratios of each ingredient can be adjusted to taste, allowing for a personalised sauce that suits individual preferences. This customisation ensures that the sauce can be tailored to complement the other flavours in the dish.

The honey mustard sauce is an essential component of Malibu Chicken, and its absence would be sorely missed. It provides a contrast to the crispy texture of the chicken and the creaminess of the cheese, making the dish more exciting and indulgent. The sauce also adds moisture to the dish, ensuring that each bite is juicy and flavourful.

The versatility of the honey mustard sauce is another reason for its popularity. It can be drizzled over the chicken, used as a dipping sauce, or even spread on a bun to enjoy Malibu Chicken sandwich-style. This adaptability ensures that the sauce can be enjoyed in various ways, making it a versatile addition to any meal.

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