Crunchy Onion Chicken


I’m back! Sorry I’ve been away for so long! Thought I’d share a very quick and easy chicken dish that I made tonight. This is not my recipe, but one that I found on the can of French’s French Fried Onions… and it’s so good! That is, if you like onions. It’s also pretty low in calories, so definitely guilt-free 🙂

~ Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups French’s® Original or Cheddar French Fried Onions
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (5 ounces each)
  • 1 egg, beaten

Directions

  • In a resealable plastic bag, combine onions and flour. Lightly crush with hands or a rolling pin.
  • Transfer to pie plate or waxed paper.
  • Dip chicken into egg; then coat with onion mixture. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
  • Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes or until juices run clear and no longer pink in the middle.

Enjoy!

* To add a sweet & tangy taste, substitute 1/4 cup honey mustard instead of using the egg when coating the chicken with the onion pieces.

360 Calories, 19 g Fat, 8 g Saturated Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 131 mg Cholesterol, 32 g Protein, 13 g Carbohydrates, 1 g Dietary Fiber, 225 mg Sodium

Thai Cashew Chicken


I have to admit, you can probably count on both hands, how many times I’ve had thai food. There is a restaurant near where I live called Phuket (pronounced Poo-ket) Thai that serves a cashew chicken dish that I absolutely adore. So, I thought I’d try my hand in making it, or something similar, at home. I found a recipe online that got rave reviews, but did have me raise an eyebrow when I saw fish & oyster sauces as two of the ingredients. I tweaked it a bit and am thrilled to report that it turned out delicious! As a vegetarian dish, this would be equally scrumptious if tofu was substituted for chicken or you just omitted the poultry and added more vegetables.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or cutlets
  • 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
  • 1/2 red or yellow bell pepper, chopped 
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • Dash black pepper
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • 1/4 tsp dried pepper flakes
  • 4 green onions, cut into 2″ slices
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch

Directions

  1. Mix fish & oyster sauces, garlic, sugar, black pepper and cornstarch.
  2. Marinade chicken in sauce for 30 minutes in fridge.
  3. Heat oil over medium heat in wok or large skillet.
  4. Saute the sweet onion & bell pepper for a few minutes. Drain & set aside leaving oil in skillet.
  5. Saute the nuts & dried pepper flakes ’til nuts are slightly browned. Add a little more oil if necessary.
  6. Drain & set aside, leaving remaining oil.
  7. Increase heat to medium high  and add marinated chicken with marinade and water.
  8. Cook until chicken is done (no pink in the middle). Add more water as needed for desired consistency.
  9. Add sweet & green onions, bell & dried peppers and nuts to skillet. Mix and cook slightly.
  10. Serve over rice.

Popchips Chicken Cutlets


Some of you may be asking… what are Popchips? Well, for starters, they are my favorite chips. Why? For many reasons. First off, they are healthy, delicious and all-natural. They’re not fried or baked, but… popped. And NO preservatives. They come in a variety of flavors to tantalize everyone’s taste buds. So, while I was snacking on some, I thought, these would be great to use on baked chicken. I came up with a quick recipe that I literally, just whipped up. I decided to try the BBQ (pictured on the left) & also, the Cheddar. Scrumptious! I have a half cutlet left, so will reheat it tomorrow & serve it with creamy cheese grits that I made earlier today (I’ll post that recipe soon)! For those of you with kids, you can make chicken fingers or nuggets & just provide some dipping sauce for fun.

Ingredients

  • 3 chicken cutlets
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 12 Popchips (any flavor)

Directions

  1. Preheat over to 375F.
  2. Line baking sheet with foil.
  3. In shallow bowl, combine cream, salt, pepper & honey. Mix well.
  4. Crush Popchips on a folded sheet of parchment paper using a rolling pin to make crumbs, place in separate bowl.
  5. Dip chicken in cream mixture, coat on both sides, and then dredge in chip crumbs.
  6. Place cutlets on baking sheet and cook for 15-20 minutes.

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas II


Here’s another recipe for chicken enchiladas that is on the healthier side, but still so very good!

Recipe courtesy of Cooking Light

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2  cups  chopped cooked chicken breast
  • 2  cups  (8 ounces) pre-shredded reduced-fat 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 2/3  cups  plain low-fat yogurt
  • 1/4  cup  chopped onion (saute, if desired)
  • 1/4  tsp  freshly ground black pepper
  • 1  (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed reduced-fat, reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup, undiluted
  • 1  (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
  • 8  (8-inch) flour tortillas
  • Cooking spray
  • 1/2  cup  (2 ounces) finely shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/4  cup  chopped green onions

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Combine first 9 ingredients in a large bowl. Remove 1 cup chicken mixture; set mixture aside.
  3. Arrange 1/2 cup chicken mixture down center of tortilla. Roll jelly-roll style; place filled tortilla, seam side down, in a 13 x 9–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
  4. Repeat procedure with remaining 7 tortillas and remaining chicken mixture.
  5. Spread reserved 1 cup chicken mixture evenly over enchiladas.
  6. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
  7. Uncover; sprinkle evenly with cheddar cheese and green onions; bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas


I just finished my second batch of these and will probably make a third sometime in the next couple of days… they’re that good! I am not a chicken enchilada connoisseur by any means, but think these are pretty darn tasty! After my first batch came out of the oven, I decided I wanted to add a little sauce on top, so I whipped up  a quick & hot enchilada sauce that turned out to be a nice addition. The only thing that I did differently the second time, was to make the enchilada sauce just before the dish was ready to come out of the oven.  However, you can skip the sauce if you’d like. This recipes serves four, so simply double the ingredients if you need to make more.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cooked chopped chicken breast
  • 1/2 pkg (4 oz) cream cheese (can use light or fat-free)
  • 1/2 cup salsa (I prefer peach mango salsa w/medium hotness)
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion (sautéed)
  • 1 cup shredded reduced-fat 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese, plus extra to sprinkle on top
  • 1/2 can condensed reduced-fat cream of chicken soup, undiluted
  • 1/2 small can of green chilis, drained (or jalapenos for extra heat)
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp chipotle chili pepper powder
  • 1/4 cup chopped black olives (optional)
  • 1/4 cup diced tomatoes (optional)
  • 4 medium flour tortillas

Enchilada sauce (optional)

  • 1 cup red Enchilada sauce
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup salsa
  • 1 tbsp corn starch

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Lightly grease a 8×8 glass baking dish.
  3. Melt butter in a small saucepan & add onions; cook until soft or desired doneness.
  4. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cream cheese, salsa, cream of chicken soup, green chilis, chili & chipotle powder and cook until melted/blended together.
  5. Add chicken and sautéed onions.
  6. Put a little of the chicken salsa mixture on bottom of pan (this step is optional).
  7. Lay out tortillas & spread a few heaping tablespoons of mixture and 1/4 cup of cheese down center of one tortilla.
  8. Roll jelly-roll style and place filled tortilla, seam side down in dish.
  9. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
  10. Spread remaining chicken salsa mixture evenly on top of enchiladas.
  11. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
  12. Uncover, sprinkle with additional cheese. Add black olives and diced tomatoes (optional).
  13. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
  14. Remove from oven and serve immediately with or without enchilada sauce.

For the enchilada sauce

  1. In a small saucepan, combine enchilada sauce, sour cream, salsa and corn starch over medium heat, until blended and bubbly.
  2. Pour over baked enchiladas.

Sweet & Sour Chicken


Another wonderful recipe from Clean Eating

To save time & make this Asian-inspired meal even simpler than it already is, pre-chop your vegetables and let your chicken marinate in the fridge for up to 8 hours ahead of time. Then, when you’re ready to eat, it’ll just take 10 minutes to get dinner on the table.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp raw honey
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ging, grated
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/4 lb boneless,  skinless chicken breasts (about 4 breasts), chopped into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch chunks (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch chunks (about 1 cup)
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into 1 inch cubes (about 1 3/4 cups)
  • 12 sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice (optional)

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger and pepper flakes.
  2. Place chicken in a large shallow dish and pour soy sauce mixture over chicken, tossing gently.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  5. Add chicken and marinade, saute for 5 minute or until vegetables are slightly tender.
  6. Add pineapple and cook for 2 more minutes.
  7. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately over rice for a complete meal, if desired.

Pan-Seared Chicken with Italian-Style Salsa


This delicious chicken recipe is low in calories and fat, but gives you a nice dose of protein.

Recipe courtesy of celebrity chef, caterer and TLC cooking maven, Deborah Fewell (in Clean Eating).

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 9 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 9 yellow teardrop or cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 3 sprigs fresh oregano, chopped
  • 3 full sprigs fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 tsp chile flakes (if you want more heat, increase by 1/4 tsp at a time)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 1-2 tbsp balsamic glaze*
  • Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4-6 oz each)

*Balsamic glaze can be found in your local supermarket. Or, you can make it yourself by boiling 2 cups balsamic vinegar over med-high heat until it’s reduced to a thick consistency or coats the back of a spoon (about 30 min).

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, toss together 1 tbsp oil & the next 8 ingredients. Season with salt & pepper; set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 400F.
  3. Heat a large oven-safe skillet over med-high heat.
  4. Season chicken with salt & pepper.
  5. Add remaining 2 tbsp oil to pan, then place chicken into pan.
  6. Let chicken brown and cook for about 3 minutes, then turn over to cook on opposite side for another 3 minutes.
  7. Transfer skillet to oven and cook chicken for 6-7 minutes.
  8. Remove chicken from oven and transfer to plate, spooning 1/4 of salsa evenly over each breast.
  9. Serve hot.

Lemon Herb Chicken


This is a quick, light and delicious recipe that should take only 30 minutes from start to finish!

Recipe courtesy of Women’s Health Magazine

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 tsp olive oil
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Juice & zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley
  • 1/3 cup fresh mint
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil
  • 1/3 cup white wine
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in an oven-proof skillet on high heat.
  3. Place chicken in skillet and sear for 2 minutes per side.
  4. While the chicken cooks, put the 4 tsp olive oil, along with the lemon juice, zest and herbs into a blender or processor & pulse until well mixed.
  5. Place the skillet with the chicken in oven & roast for 8 minutes.
  6. Remove skillet from oven and place chicken on a plate.
  7. Season with salt and pepper.
  8. Pour the wine into the skillet, scraping any brown bits from bottom of pan.
  9. Add the herb sauce to skillet and cook on stove top for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
  10. Pour the sauce over the chicken.

Almond Chicken Dijon


Here’s a light and easy chicken dish that takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients

  • 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb)
  • 2 tbsp reduced fat mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup almonds, chopped

Directions

  1. Heat over to 375F.
  2. Place chicken in lightly greased 13×9 baking dish.
  3. Mix mayo and mustard, spread on top of chicken. Sprinkle with nuts & press in slightly.
  4. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Hot Seared Chicken


Here’s a low-fat, low-cholesterol and low-calorie chicken dish that’s quick & easy to whip up during the week.

Recipe courtesy of Betty Crocker

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/4 lbs)
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 1/2 tsp blackened seasoning mix or jerk seasoning (dry)
  • 1/8 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp butter or margarine
  • 1/4 cup water

Directions

  1. Remove fat from chicken.
  2. Mix 1 1/2 tsp of lime juice, seasoning mixture and cumin.
  3. Rub mixture evenly over both sides of chicken.
  4. Spray 10 inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray & heat over medium-high heat.
  5. Melt butter/margarine in skillet.
  6. Cook chicken in butter/margarine about 8 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink when center of thickest pieces are cut.
  7. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.
  8. Add remaining 1 1/2 tsp lime juice and the water to drippings in skillet.
  9. Heat to boiling. Boil & stir about 45 seconds or until liquid is reduced to about 2 tbsp.
  10. Spoon sauce over chicken.