Balsamic Chicken Skillet (one pan dinner)

Chicken breasts are combined with onions and herbs and are coated in a tangy sugar-free balsamic sauce. Finished with salty mozzarella, the dish is simmered on the stove to ensure every bite is bursting with sweet, savory flavor and gooey cheese! 

What can I expect? 

This dish has the bold flavors you expect from balsamic chicken. However, instead of using brown sugar like most recipes, we use sugar-free maple syrup or a sugar substitute. As a result, you get sweet notes to balance out the acidity of the balsamic without any sugar. 

Free from heavy carbs or sugar, the finished result is a high-protein meal full of nutritious ingredients to fill you up and keep you energized. With minimal prep time and a quick cooking time, you’ll be in and out of the kitchen with a restaurant-worthy meal in hand in under an hour! 

Is This Balsamic Chicken Skillet Healthy? 

Let’s take a look at the main ingredients: 

• Chicken breasts
• Olive oil
• Onions
• Sugar-free maple syrup
• Tomatoes
• Mozzarella

Chicken, olive oil, onions, and tomatoes are all natural, nutritious food sources. Include them in a variety of recipes for protein, nutrients, and flavor. 

But what about mozzarella cheese? Is dairy healthy?

Here’s what we know. Dairy is full of vitamins, minerals, protein, and natural fat energy. But if everyone consumed dairy all of the time, dairy farming would become abusive and unsustainable…

Let’s be mindful of our dairy intake. Buy dairy that comes from pasture-raised cows and try to eat less. 

Sugar is what makes food unhealthy.

Traditional balsamic chicken recipes are made with brown sugar, which is digested the same as white sugar. 

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of brown sugar to this recipe, for a total of 25g to 28g of sugar, and you’re looking at heartburn with an energy crash. (And you’ll be scouring the pantry for your next sugar snack within the hour.)

Substitute the brown sugar with a sugar-free alternative, and this recipe becomes nourishment. The ingredients provide vitamins, minerals, protein, and quality, whole-food energy. 

Enjoy this balsamic chicken skillet knowing it supports your well-being. Learn more about eating less sugar here.

Balsamic Chicken Skillet Tips

1. Add sides

Feel free to serve this recipe on its own or over a bed of low-carb noodles or cauliflower rice. Then, if you want to make it even more filling, add a side dish such as a lemon parmesan salad, spiraled cucumber salad, or low carb dinner rolls. 

2. Use a meat thermometer

Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken to ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F and is safe to eat. 

3. Meal prep

Double or triple the recipe, and store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Then, all you have to do is reheat them in the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat, and you’ll have a tasty meal in minutes! 

4. Have leftover chicken? 

Use it to make spinach & cheese stuffed chicken breasts, creamy garlic chicken, or chicken marsala for delicious, nutrient-rich meals to enjoy throughout the week.  

5. Grate the cheese

For the best results, use a block of mozzarella cheese, and grate it yourself. It will have a bolder flavor and melt more easily, creating the gooey consistency we want. Also, know that pasture-raised cheeses always taste better (happy cows make for tasty cheese).

Balsamic Chicken Skillet

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:40 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
• 1 onion thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic crushed
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp sugar-free maple syrup or a low-carb sweetener of your choice optional
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese balls
• Fresh basil or parsley for garnish

Instructions

• Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4 minutes per side or until they are browned. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
• In the same skillet, add a bit more olive oil if needed. Add the sliced onions and cook until they become soft and translucent (about 5-6 mins.)
• Add minced garlic, dried thyme, and dried rosemary to the onions. Sauté for an additional 30-60 seconds until the garlic becomes fragrant.
• Pour in the balsamic vinegar and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Add sugar-free maple syrup or a low-carb sweetener if using. Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
• Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning some of the balsamic mixture over them. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cover.
• Cover with a lid and let chicken simmer for 20-30 minutes or cook through.
• Drop in the mozzarella cheese balls, cover for about 2-3 minutes or until the cheese balls have become melted.
• Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.

Notes

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Please let us know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #neutraleating

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipe from Neutral Eating: https://neutraleating.com/balsamic-chicken-skillet

Servings: 4

Author: Neutral Eating