Comfort food is sometimes the simplest food…
When we were growing up my parents always managed to have a home cooked meal on the table. I know now that they had some go to dishes that were easy to put together and would easily feed our family of six. When I come home I sometimes struggle to think of something to make that will just feed the two of us. Why is it soooooo hard?!?! It’s not coming up with a recipe that is challenging, it is trying to pick something that is simple enough to cook so that we are not eating dinner at 10:00PM. I sometimes suck at kitchen time management. I seriously doubt I could ever compete on a timed cooking show…
When I recall the meals we ate as a kid during the week I think of dishes that my mom could put together in minutes. These are some of the dishes that created sensory memory. I remember the smells they generated in the house. It is a strange thing when I stand in front of the stove cooking away; I don’t smell the aromas as strongly as those who walk through the door. I am almost envious of them for being able to smell the food in a way I can’t. The smell is something that can linger and generate a feeling or a memory. There was one dish I remember that smelled like it must have taken all day to cook. I don’t know what it was called but perhaps it was mom’s version of chicken cacciatore, a well known Italian dish made with tomatoes and peppers. Maybe it was the shortcut version that mom could whip together fast enough to feed us all. Whatever it was it was delicious!
As I reflect on this dish I am immediately taken back to those nights at our large dining room table. My mom would not typically make a dish with polenta since there were picky eaters among us. I wouldn’t say that I was the picky one, I was actually known for eating pretty adventurous things for a little kid. There wasn’t a piece of cheese that I wouldn’t eat or a pickled vegetable that I did not hesitate to devour. I decided to prepare this with polenta as I have come to see polenta as Italian comfort food and you are probably reading this going “duh” but you’ll just have to cut me some slack for not being wise to all of those Italian comfort meals out there!
Anyhow, this dish is simple, delicious and comforting (I think you picked up on this already). Something you can quickly assemble on a weeknight and maybe even something the kids will enjoy!
Ingredients
- 4-5 Chicken Thighs (skinless and boneless preferred)
- Italian Seasoning or All Purpose Seasoning
- 1 Jar (26oz) Marinara Sauce
- 1 Pkg. Polenta (Pre-cooked)
- 2 Tbsp. Butter
- 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil divided
- Salt & Pepper
- Italian Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven 375. Season chicken thighs on both sides with Italian seasoning or all-purpose seasoning. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tbsp. olive oil to the pan. Swirl to coat the pan. Place the chicken thighs in the pan and sear to golden brown on both sides. Remove chicken from pan and place in a baking dish. Cover with marinara sauce. Cover baking dish with foil and place in the oven to continue baking for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked all the way through.
- While chicken is baking heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Take pre-cooked polenta and cut in to 5-6 1/2 inch disks, season with salt and pepper on both sides then set aside until ready for use. Add butter and remaining 2 tbsp. of olive oil to the pan swirling to coat the pan. Place the polenta disks in the pan and sear until golden brown on one side, flip and repeat the step on the other side. Remove disks and place on a plate with a paper towel to allow for the excess butter and oil to drain before serving.
- Remove chicken from oven. Depending on the type of chicken used you can chop the chicken in to smaller pieces or you can serve a whole piece over the polenta, I shredded the chicken before serving.
- Place the polenta on the plate and then top with chicken. Drizzle extra sauce over the dish and garnish with your favorite Italian cheese.
This looks amazing! It would be super easy to make for two and then have leftovers. I feel that struggle too. theadventuresofnutrigirl.wordpress.com
Thanks Mairead! Yes, it is a challenge cooking for two but this is really easy and perfect for leftovers.