Chicken is America’s comfort staple food. With a zillion different ways to prepare and serve chicken, we still tend to run out of ideas when it’s meal prep time. So now it’s time to think outside the bone… uhh.., box.

Try some ingredients in your chicken recipe that you may not have considered before:

• Pancake syrup – Some meats taste absolutely divine when their natural sweetness is brought out. Unfortunately, chicken doesn’t lend itself to the idea of a sweet meat, so a light drizzle of off-the-shelf syrup during the last part of cooking can add that flavor. Brown sugar and Karo syrup work in the same manner.
• Root beer – Root beer and sodas with a touch of ginger can also add a zing of sweetness when chicken is soaked (and even cooked) in them.
• Nutmeg – This spice is often overlooked in the kitchen. It’s most familiar use is in sweet dishes, however, it adds a flavorful richness to savory dishes. Nutmeg is a great flavor to add to beef dishes and soups, but chicken can also benefit from it’s addition.
• Allspice – This ground fruit delivers a rush of aroma to the senses unlike most other spices. The smell is often compared to a mixture of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. A few dashes sprinkled directly on each piece of chicken can be a real treat.
• Apple pie spice – Used similarly to nutmeg and allspice above, apple pie spice can add a surprising new flavor to meat dishes including chicken. Apple pie spice is a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. Cinnamon is another often overlooked spice for savory dishes.
• Salad dressings – Also good for flavorful meat marinades, dressings can add that final kick of flavor you may have been missing in your chicken dish. Ranch, blue cheese, Italian and French are some basic choices that work well.
• Vinegar – Vinegars, when used correctly, can both enhance the natural flavor of chicken and add to the overall taste. Some favorites are red wine vinegar, especially good for marinating, and apple cider vinegar. Use ACV in a marinade or sprinkle a bit on each piece of meat. Be careful not to overdo this strong flavor.
• Duck sauce – Got a few leftover packets of duck sauce from your Chinese food run? Duck sauce is a nice mix of sweet and sour that goes well with poultry and beef.
• Horseradish and wasabi sauce – Looking for a bit of kick and some bite? These two sauces will add some tooth to any chicken dish.
• French Fried Onions – Making a crunchy chicken dish? Crush some French Fried Onions in a food processor or in a baggie with a rolling pin and sprinkle atop the meat. This item is a good substitute for ordinary breading.
• Parmesan cheese – Whether you go with the inexpensive shelf version or a finer version of the cheese, parmesan adds a distinct mild tang to chicken. Sprinkle it directly onto cooked meat or mix it with a bit of butter and rub it onto the meat during the final phase of cooking.

Here’s a quick recipe:

Mix equal parts parmesan cheese and mayonnaise together. Add some minced garlic. Spread the mix over each piece of chicken for a tangy garlicky surprise. For even more flavor, add some minced fresh rosemary to the spread.

Got kids around?

Kids love colors, so why not add color to bland chicken? Food coloring can be added to nearly any meat marinade or even injected into meat with a meat syringe. Imagine kids being treated to a plate full of red, green and blue chicken legs!

What’s your favorite flavorful chicken addition?