Chicken is a classic main dish for wedding reception meals -- possibly because almost everyone, no matter the age and background, likes chicken. However, the fact that chicken is a traditional choice does not mean your wedding meal will be unimaginative or boring. With a little imagination, you can use chicken to create a memorable meal.
Individual Portions -- Non-Stuffed
The most common means of serving baked chicken at a wedding is by using the individual breasts with the bones and skin removed. This provides a straightforward palate on which to paint any culinary creation you desire; plus, it is easy to eat. If you wish, you can also serve breasts or other cuts with the bones and skin left on, which tends to hold moisture better; skinless, boneless breasts tend to dry out more easily, but have a quicker cooking time.
Individual Portions -- Stuffed
Featuring a stuffed chicken dish for a wedding dinner adds sophistication to the meal, but also significantly more time investment during its preparation. Stuffed chicken dishes commonly require boneless chicken breasts to be pounded to about 1/8 of an inch thick; if you wish, you can purchase pre-pounded breasts to save time. Typical ingredients to use in the stuffing include cheese, mushrooms, ham, bacon and onions; the specifics can vary widely.
Whole Chicken
If you plan to have a buffet-style dinner at your wedding, you can use a recipe for whole chicken and set up a carving station to serve as one of the buffet's cornerstones. Of course, this style of serving chicken at a wedding works best when the guests all walk up to get their food; it is less convenient for a dinner where the plates are brought out to the guests. You can use a variety of rubs, marinades and seasonings when preparing this type of chicken, from a simple lemon pepper topping to a sophisticated olive oil and paprika infusion.
Finger Food
For a less formal wedding meal -- especially one at which children are present -- you may wish to serve chicken that can be eaten by hand rather than with a knife and fork. If not served as the main dish, this type of chicken works very well as an appetizer or side dish. Bite-size popcorn chicken is one such option, and works especially well when it is served with a selection of different sauce flavors, such as buffalo, ranch and honey mustard.
