Foster Farms® has been our chicken of choice for decades so when they asked me to create a recipe utilizing one of their new chicken options I immediately said yes! I’m thrilled to let you know that in addition to their regular fresh chicken (Foster Farms® Fresh & Natural), there is now Foster Farms® Simply Raised (without antibiotics) and Foster Farms® Organic. Fresh & Natural and Simply Raised are locally grown and widely available in California, Oregon, and Washington.  Organic is available at Costco and select supermarkets.

But what will this new premium chicken cost?  Not as much as you think. The Fresh and Natural will sell for about $5.99/lb., Simply Raised is just 50 cents more per pound at $6.49/lb., and Foster Farms Organic will sell for $8.99/lb. While organic is my first choice and worth the premium price, until it’s readily available here, I’ll be choosing Simply Raised. For my family, antibiotic-free is important and worth the few pennies more.

Foster Farms Logo

Why have I always chosen Foster Farms?

Well, for several reasons. First, their commercials in the early 2000’s were humorous and brilliantly done. But more importantly, they educated me on a process that other manufacturers were using to “plump” their chickens. Until then, I had no idea that the cheap chicken I was buying very likely had water and chemicals added to them. That discovery started me on a quest to find out more about the food my family was eating and a journey to find the best quality products I could.

Secondly, I love that they’ve been a family-owned and operated company since 1939. Plus they raise their chickens here on the West Coast which creates a shorter trip from farm to table and a fresher product for my family. By growing locally, they have less impact on the environment from shipping, and that means they create a smaller carbon footprint.

Chicken Fajita-Style Quesadillas - New Foster Farms Fresh Chicken Options ad

Foster Farms’ New Trio of Fresh Chicken Choices

With their new trio of fresh chicken products, come some new farming standards. The Foster Farms Fresh & Natural brand is American Humane Certified™ and 100% natural which means they’re raised cage-free in California, Oregon, and Washington. Then they’re processed minimally, with no additives, preservatives, sodium, steroids, or hormones and delivered fresh within 48 hours to grocery stores.

Foster Farms Simply Raised chickens are fed 100% vegetarian feed,  American Humane Certified™, and grown in California, Washington, and Oregon. Like their Fresh & Natural counterparts, they’re minimally processed and never contain additives, steroids, hormones, sodium, or preservatives, the difference is that these chickens will never be given antibiotics.

Foster Farms Organic Fresh Chicken is tops in quality. These West Coast grown chickens are free-range birds who graze on organic land and enjoy the sunshine. They are American Humane Certified™ and processed minimally without additives, preservatives, steroids, antibiotics, or sodium. But what makes these birds unique is that they’re raised by Foster Farm farmers who’ve received their USDA Certified Organic credentials. That means they’ve met the standards of providing certified organic lands, organic vegetarian feed, and they’ve complied with a no genetic engineering mandate. They’ve also committed to farming practices that conserve natural resources and biodiversity. Curious what it takes to be certified organic? Check out the USDA Certification website.

Why It Matters Where My Chicken Comes From

But why is it important to me how the chickens are raised? Sure, I’m a vegetarian, so humanely raised chickens is important to me. But the reason I care is that I’m feeding my family, and I want them to live as long and as well as possible. For us, that means chickens without chemicals and ones that raised in the best conditions possible. I believe in doing what’s fair and ethical for the world, and Foster Farms just made that a whole lot easier.

Which of these three new fresh chicken options from Foster Farms is right for your family?

Fajita-Style Chicken Quesadillas
Make extra because these reheat beautifully in the oven and make a great lunch!
Author:
Cuisine: Mexican
Type: Chicken
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 Foster Farms Organic chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
  • 2 TBL vegetable oil
  • 1 medium for green pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips
  • ½ large onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp chopped garlic
  • 12 6-inch white corn tortillas
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 8-10 oz Four-Cheese Mexican Blend shredded cheese
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and sliced into thin strips
  • fresh lime juice
  • 2 TBLS fresh cilantro
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Garnish with lime wedges, cilantro, and pico de gallo if desired
Instructions
  1. In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, heat 1 TBL of vegetable until hot (a drop of water should bounce over the surface). Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning several times until it's golden brown on both sides. 5-7 minutes
  2. Slide the chicken to sides of the frying pan and into the center of the pan add another tablespoon of vegetable oil. Let the oil get just to the smoking point and then add onion, peppers, and garlic. Saute the veggies and chicken together for 3 to 5 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and browned, and the chicken is completely done. Remove from heat.
  3. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel (wear a hot pad if necessary) and reduce heat to medium.
  4. Spray the frying pan with the non-cook spray and then one side of a tortilla. Place the tortilla into the hot pan, sprayed side down and top with a pinch of cheese, then onion/chicken mixture, a little more cheese, then tomatoes, cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice all evenly distributed and not piled up in the center. Finish with another pinch of cheese then spray one side of a second tortilla and place it on top, spray side up. Let the tortilla stack cook for 2-3 minutes or until the first side is browned. Carefully flip the entire stack over and brown the second side. Should your fillings fall out, just use the spatula to push them back inside. Use cheese to "glue" any loose pieces as necessary.
  5. Cook 3-5 minutes until the second side is browned. Remove the tortillas from the pan and allow to cool slightly while you continue with the rest of the tortillas and fillings. If necessary, keep them warm in the oven by placing them on a baking sheet.
  6. Serve with pico de gallo and sour cream, and garnish with cilantro if desired.
Foster Farms Simply Raised Chicken Fajita-Style Quesadilla Recipe - ad

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Foster Farms®.