Category Archives: chicken

Herbed Quinoa Chicken Salad

Posted in chicken, cut calories, dairy-free, gluten free, salad, side dish, SP friendly, Standard Process Friendly, weight loss ideas by

Pomegranate Mint Quinoa Chicken Salad

Hearty and healthy chicken salad bursting with fresh herbs

Prep: 15 minutes

 Cook: 15 minutes

 Total: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

This pomegranate mint quinoa chicken salad with lime dressing is satisfying and delicious! Eat alone, on toasted bread as a sandwich, or on top of fresh spinach.

Ingredients

Salad

• 3 cups quinoa, rinsed, cooked and cooled

• 2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded

• 1 cup pomegranate seeds (or dried cranberries)

• 1 bunch fresh cilantro or parsley leaves, packed and chopped (approximately 1/4 cup) (parsley

• 1 bunch fresh mint finely chopped (approximately 1/4 cup)

Dressing

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 teaspoons lime zest

• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (approximately 1 lime)

• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Cook quinoa ahead of time and allow it to cool. 

• In a large bowl, combine quinoa, chicken, and pomegranate seeds.

• In a small bowl wish together the dressing ingredients.

• Add dressing to the quinoa mixture.

• Season and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until just chilled.

• Just before serving, add finely chopped mint and cilantro (or parsley) mixing gently to combine.

Notes

1. 1 cup of dry quinoa yield about 3 cups of cooked quinoa.

Nutrition

Calories per 257g* Serving: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g |Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 65mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g

Chicken with Wine and Mustard Sauce

Posted in chicken, main meal, Weeknight Meal by

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 55 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes 

Servings: 4 -6 (Adapted from chef Julia Frey’s classic recipe)

Instructions

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs ((bone in or boneless skinless)
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 shallots sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3-4 thyme sprigs
  • 3 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup/125ml white wine
  • 1 cup/250ml chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup/125ml 1/2 and 1/2 (Optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F/180C
  • In a large oven proof frying pan or casserole dish (ie enameled cast iron) heat one tablespoon of olive oil and brown chicken parts seasoned with salt and pepper on each side until golden but not cooked all the way through. Remove temporarily to a plate/dish and set aside.
  • To the same pan add shallots, garlic and thyme leaves and cook over low heat for 5 minutes without getting any color on them.
  • Add wine, dijon mustard and chicken stock, stir to combine and bring to a boil, then add chicken back to the frying pan, spoon the sauce all over chicken pieces.
  • Put in the oven uncovered and cook for approximately 45 minutes for bone in thighs or until almost done. (Reduce the time to approximately 25-30 minutes if using boneless skinless chicken).
  • Take out of the oven add 1/2 and 1/2 to the sauce. This is an optional step if you prefer a richer, creamier sauce. I prefer to forgo the cream and the extra calories but I like to splurge if we are having guests. Once again baste the chicken in the sauce, put back in the oven and cook for 5-10 minutes longer.
  • Serve with rice, potatoes or roasted vegetables.

Notes

The sauce is not thick as classic French sauces never are. However, if you like your sauces thicker, add 1 tbsp of flour in step 3 right before you add wine, mustard and chicken stock.

If you don’t have an oven proof pan, you can use a 2 dishes, a frying pan and a roasting pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 586kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 258mg | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 640mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 530IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2.2mg

Ina’s Creamy Chicken Thighs with Lemon Leaks and Thyme

Posted in AP's Favorites, chicken, comfort food, entertaining, main meal, Weeknight Meal by
The leeks are the secret ingredient!
  • PREP 15 minutes
  • COOK 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • TOTAL 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • SERVES 3

Ingredients

2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (3-4 thighs)

Extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons (¼ stick) unsalted butter

1½ cups chopped yellow onion (1 large)

1½ cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts (2 leeks) rinsed well to remove any dirt

2 teaspoons minced garlic (2-3 cloves)

½ cup good chicken stock, preferably homemade

½ cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio

½ cup crème fraîche

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

½ small lemon, sliced in thin half-rounds

8 to 10 sprigs fresh thyme

Cooked basmati rice or quinoa for serving

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Place the chicken on a sheet pan, skin side up, and dry with paper towels. Rub with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Roast until cooked through and the skin is golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Set aside.

3. Meanwhile, heat the butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) ovenproof skillet (Ie enameled cast iron) over medium heat. Add the onion and leeks and sauté until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock and wine and simmer for about 5 minutes. Whisk in the crème fraîche, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper and taste for seasoning.

4. Nestle the chicken thighs into the sauce in the sauté pan. Tuck the lemon slices among the thighs and strew the thyme sprigs on top. Place the pan in the oven and roast uncovered for 15 minutes. Serve hot with the sauce over rice or couscous.

Arroz con Pollo

Posted in AP's Favorites, chicken, comfort food, main meal, mexican, Weeknight Meal by

Arroz Con Pollo in a Dutch Oven

Ingredients

For chicken:

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
½ teaspoon dried Greek oregano

For dish:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (or ½ stick unsalted butter)
1 medium onion, small dice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups long grain rice like Mahatma brand
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
1-2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
½ cup pitted green olives
½ cup roasted red pepper strips

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional garnish: chopped cilantro or parsley leaves

Preparation

Put chicken thighs in a nonreactive bowl and season with a pinch of salt, a grind or two of black pepper and the olive oil, red wine vinegar and oregano. Let marinate while you’re organizing the rest of your ingredients, no more than half an hour.

Melt butter or heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or large lid pot then sauté onion over medium heat until it begins to soften. Add the garlic and cook just until you can smell its characteristic aroma and it turns opaque. Add the rice and stir well so the grains are coated with the fat. Let it sauté for a minute. Add the tomato paste and the broth. Stir well to mix. Add the remaining condiments (olives, capers and roasted peppers). Taste the liquid. It should have a piquancy from the capers and olives. Add salt now if you think you need it (maybe 1/4-1/2 tsp).

Nestle the chicken thighs into the rice, adding any reserved marinade or juices. Bring the liquid to a simmer, cover the pot and cook either on top of the stove over low heat or in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or until rice has absorbed all the liquid and chicken is cooked through. Taste for seasoning.

Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley leaves.

Serves 4-6.

Lemon Chardonnay Chicken

Posted in 30 minute meals, AP's Favorites, chicken, comfort food, main meal, Uncategorized, Weeknight Meal by

This is an easy weeknight dinner recipe that is also pretty enough to serve guests at a small casual dinner party. The citrus sauce is the perfect combination of savory and sweet. The leftovers (if you have any) are great for lunch the next day too! Enjoy!

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

4-6 boneless chicken breast cutlets (see notes)

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup Chardonnay (or you can use white cooking wine)

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

6 green onions (white and half of green section, chopped)

4-6 cloves of garlic, pressed or finely chopped

6-8 Tablespoons butter (divided)

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation

For Chicken:

Pat the chicken with a paper towel to dry.  Season with salt and pepper as desired.

Lightly flour chicken and place into a large frying pan with approximately 3-4 T. butter melted in the pan and fry until golden brown about 5 minutes per side.  Be careful not to burn the butter.  Chicken will not be fully cooked.  Place chicken in a warm oven while you make the sauce.

For Sauce:

Add 3-4 T butter to pan. Saute the onions and garlic in the butter on low heat. Add wine and lemon juice. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the chicken to the sauce, cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes more or until fully cooked. Serve over your favorite rice (I like brown basmati rice). Yummy!

Notes:  

Chicken – you can purchase chicken cutlets or chicken breast fillets in your local grocery store or you can cut them yourself but slicing a boneless chicken breast in half to form thin patties.

Flouring Chicken – Place about 1/4-1/2 cup flour in a shallow baking dish.  Dip and flip the chicken fillets into the flour to lightly cover them before cooking. This ensures that chicken stays both moist and tender.

Caprese Chicken

Posted in chicken, italian, low-carb, main meal, Weeknight Meal by

Yield: 4 servings

recipe note: Balsamic vinegar comes in many forms. I recommend a higher quality one to get the fullest flavor. Many balsamic vinegars found in grocery stores are very thin – like water. Higher quality ones often found in specialty shops are aged longer and are slightly thicker (not as thick as balsamic glaze, but somewhere in the middle of the two). 41-Olive offers many choices.

ingredients:

4-6 skinless boneless chicken thighs (or breasts if you prefer)
kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (I mix it up with the colorful heirloom variety)
10 large basil leaves, finely chopped
4-6 oz fresh buffalo mozzarella, sliced in 1/4-1/2 inch thick slices
balsamic vinegar, to taste (My newest favorite is BlackCherry from 41-Olive)

directions:

Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken thighs or breasts and set aside.

In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add chicken, cover pan, and cook for about 10 minutes. Flip chicken breasts and continue cooking until the chicken is cooked thoroughly (or has reached an internal temp of 165°F).

While chicken is cooking, in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add tomatoes and continue sautéing until tomatoes skin starts to soften/wrinkle, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in basil. Set aside.

Once chicken has reached desired doneness, top each chicken piece with 1-2 slices of mozzarella (depending on how thick you sliced it). Pour tomato mixture on top. Cover pan with lid once more and let the mozzarella melt, about 1-2 minutes.

Lastly, drizzle with a splash of balsamic vinegar and serve immediately.

30-Minute Coconut Curry Chicken

Posted in 30 minute meals, asian, chicken by

Super Simple and Super yummy! This recipe mimics the traditional Thai curry but without so many hard to find ingredients. It’s so easy that it is perfect for a weekday meal.

Ingredients:

10 oz. of Organic Jasmine Rice (found in a 3-pack in the freezer section of many grocery stores like Trader Joe’s. You can also substitute cauliflower rice if you prefer. )

13.5 oz. can coconut milk

1 Tbsp. curry powder

2 Tbsp. fish sauce

2 oz. butter or ghee

1 lb. skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks

2 bay leaves

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro plus four sprigs

1-2 mini red peppers, sliced (optional for garnish)

Procedure:

  1. Place a large frying pan over medium heat and add coconut milk and curry powder. Stir until combined, then add the fish sauce and butter. Stir until the butter is melted.
  2. Add the chicken and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. After the chicken has simmered for 10 minutes, remove the lid and simmer for an additional 15 minutes until the liquid had reduced by 50% and the chicken is cooked through (no longer pink in the middle).
  4. Stir in the fresh cilantro and remove pan from heat.
  5. Pop the bag of jasmine rice in the microwave for 3 minutes or as directed on the package. (Or you can use cauliflower rice)
  6. To assemble, add 3/4 cup of the rice and 1/2 cup of the curry mixture to individual bowls and place a fresh cilantro sprig on top.

Mom’s HomeMade Chicken Stock

Posted in chicken, comfort food by

So many delicious soup recipes include chicken stock as the base for the broth. You can buy it in a box at the grocery store but in my opinion, homemade stock takes your recipe up a notch. It takes a bit of planning/preparation, but I think it is a game changer. Here is my go-to chicken stock recipe. It is my variation of Ina Garten’s but I make it in smaller batches. Try it out. It just might become your favorite too.

Yield: 2 quarts

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time 2-4 hours

Ingredients

1 whole roasting chicken (or 3 bone in chicken breasts)

1 large onion, quartered

2 carrots unpeeled and cut into thirds

2 stalks celery with leaves, cut into thirds

5-6 sprigs of fresh parsley

5-6 sprigs of fresh thyme

5-6 sprigs of fresh dill

4 cloves of garlic, unpeeled and cut in half crosswise

2 tsp Kosher salt

1 tsp whole black peppercorns

Directions

Dump all ingredients in a large stockpot. 

Add about 3 quarts of water to the pot (at least enough water to cover all of the ingredients).

Bring to a boil and then simmer uncovered for 2-4 hours.

Strain the contents in a colander and discard all the solids.

Chill the stock overnight or use in your favorite soup recipe.

You can also pack in freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months.

Sweet Basil and Oregano Chicken

Posted in 30 minute meals, AP's Favorites, chicken, Dani's Favorite, entertaining, italian, main meal, Uncategorized by

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup Seasoning Mix (McCormick Gourmet Bruschetta Seasoning)
  • 1/3 cup EVOO
  • 3 Tablespoons of your favorite Balsamic Vinegar (Try infused varieties like Cranberry Pear White Balsamic from 41 Olive)
  • 2 lbs plum tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 lbs chicken thighs, bone in with skin (approx 4)
  • 8 oz. cooked pasta of your choice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix up seasoning mix, olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a large bowl.
  2. Add tomatoes and chicken pieces and to to coat.
  3. Place in a single layer on a large baking pan or roasting dish.
  4. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
  5. Optional: Toss chicken, tomatoes, pan juices with cooked pasta or serve alone.
  6. Add a green salad for an easy and satisfying meal.

Guilt-Free Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Posted in 30 minute meals, AP's Favorites, chicken, italian, low-carb, main meal, pasta by

IMG_1468

Low Carb Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Low Carb Creamy Tuscan Chicken is rich and satisfying with lots of sun-dried tomatoes and spinach.  I love the parmesan cream sauce. It is one of my very favorite low carb meals and it is perfect for the keto diet.

Prep Time 10 minutes / Cook Time 15 minutes / Total Time 25 minutes / Servings 4 / Calories 495 

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in half horizontally
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Lemon Pepper Seasoning
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/3 cup white wine or chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup  sun-dried tomatoes (approximately 1/2 of a 4 oz jar )
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2-3 cups baby spinach
  • 2-3 medium zucchini squash, zoodles (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.Season chicken with lemon pepper.
  2. Add chicken to skillet and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Add onion to skillet and cook for about 3 minutes to soften.
  4. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
  5. Add white wine or chicken broth and cook until reduced just a bit and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
  6. Add heavy cream and bring to a simmer for 1 minute.Add Parmesan and stir until melted.
  7. Add sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.Stir in spinach. Cook and stir until spinach is wilted.Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  8. Optional:  Many italian dishes are served over a bed of pasta.  I like to avoid the carbs and use zoodles instead.  Make the zoodle noodles with either a mandoline or zoodle maker.  Place on a paper towel to remove some of the excess water.  Add 2 T of olive oil to a pan and heat on medium heat.  Add zoodles to pan, and add salt and pepper to taste and stir for about 2 minutes.  Add more slat/pepper to taste and stir again for two minutes or so until just a bit limp.  Place zoodles on a plate and then add the chicken and sauce and serve.
  9. Enjoy!