Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian Season 1 Episode 3 Bird on a Budget

In season 1 episode 3 of Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian, titled "Bird on a Budget," Melissa shows viewers how to make delicious chicken dishes without breaking the bank. Throughout the episode, Melissa provides tips for saving money on ingredients, including buying bone-in chicken instead of boneless, and using inexpensive cuts like thighs and drumsticks.

The first dish Melissa prepares is Chicken with Tarragon Cream Sauce, which she adds to roasted broccoli and wild rice for a complete meal. She starts by sautéing garlic and shallots in butter before adding chicken broth, cream, and tarragon. Melissa also demonstrates how to pan roast chicken, a technique that involves starting the chicken in a hot pan and finishing it in the oven.

Next, Melissa makes a classic favorite: Fried Chicken. She adds a flavorful spice mix to flour before coating the chicken and frying it until crispy. Melissa suggests serving the fried chicken with homemade coleslaw and mashed potatoes.

For the third dish, Melissa takes inspiration from Mexican cuisine with her recipe for Chicken Tinga Tostadas. She slow cooks chicken thighs with chipotle peppers, garlic, and tomatoes before shredding the meat and serving it on crispy tostadas with beans, cheese, and avocado.

Finally, Melissa shows viewers how to make Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff, a hearty and comforting dish perfect for cooler days. She uses boneless chicken thighs and sautés them with garlic and mushrooms before adding chicken broth, sour cream, and egg noodles.

Throughout the episode, Melissa offers tips for making the most of ingredients, including using leftover chicken in salads or sandwiches, and freezing extra chicken broth for future use. She also demonstrates how to properly season and cook chicken, ensuring that it is always flavorful and juicy.

Overall, "Bird on a Budget" is a helpful and informative episode of Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian, offering creative and budget-friendly ways to prepare chicken dishes that the whole family will love.