What can I expect? 

Traditional stuffed chicken breast recipes are made with thick, carb-heavy breading, but not this recipe! We omit the breading completely, focusing all on the stuffing. The gooey cheese and spinach filling pairs with juicy tomatoes, creating an explosion of tastes and textures that are so tantalizing you won’t even miss the breading. 

Plus, without the need to dredge and coat chicken, this stuffed chicken recipe comes together unbelievably quickly. Just whisk the filling together, spread it evenly in the center of the chicken, wrap it up, and bake it in the oven. You’ll be in and out of the kitchen with dinner on the table for the whole family in just over 30 minutes! 

Are Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts Healthy? 

Let’s take a look at the main ingredients: 

• Chicken breasts
• Spinach
• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Roma tomato

Chicken breasts, spinach, and tomatoes are all natural, nutritious food sources. Use them to create a wide variety of nutritious, flavor-filled recipes. 

But what about mozzarella and Parmesan 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 stuffed chicken breast recipes are made with all-purpose flour and breadcrumbs (starchy carbs), which digests very similarly to sugar. 

Add 1 cup of flour and 2 cups of breadcrumbs to this recipe, for a total of 173g 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.)

Omit the flour and breadcrumbs, and this recipe becomes nourishment. The ingredients provide vitamins, minerals, protein, and quality, whole-food energy. 

Enjoy these spinach & cheese stuffed chicken breasts knowing they support your well-being. Learn more about eating less sugar here.

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts Tips

1. Add sides

This recipe can easily be served as a complete meal on its own. However, it also tastes great with sides like crispy zucchini chips, hidden veggie pasta, or healthy pumpkin mac and cheese. 

2. Store leftovers 

Once cooled, leftovers can be transferred to an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. When you’re ready to eat, warm them covered in the oven, in a skillet over medium heat, or pop them in the microwave. 

3. Have leftover chicken? 

Store it in the freezer for another day. Or, use it to make marry me chicken, air fryer chicken fajitas, salsa chicken, or braised chicken and mushrooms. 

4. Grate the cheese

For the best results, use blocks of mozzarella and Parmesan, and grate them yourself. They 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). 

Print

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Neutral Eating

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper
• 1.5 cups fresh spinach chopped
• ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided ½ cup and ¼ cup
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 medium roma tomato sliced into 8 slices
• Toothpicks or kitchen twine optional for securing the chicken

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Steam the Spinach in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the steamed spinach, ½ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well to create the stuffing.
• Using a sharp knife, make a horizontal slit along the side of each chicken breast to create a pocket for the stuffing. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
• Stuff each chicken breast with the spinach and cheese mixture, pressing gently to ensure the filling is evenly distributed.
• Add two slices of the tomato to each chicken breast and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
• If using toothpicks, secure the tomatoes and open sides of the chicken breasts with toothpicks to keep the stuffing from falling out during cooking. Alternatively, you can use kitchen twine to tie the chicken breasts closed.
• Transfer the pan to the prepared dish and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

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/spinach-and-cheese-stuffed-chicken-breasts

The post Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts appeared first on Neutral Eating.

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What can I expect? 

It’s easy to eat more veggies. Especially when you combine tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini into a savory sauce. (This is Hidden Veggie Pasta, after all.) The flavor is wow, and the ease of this recipe cannot be beat. Simply bake the ingredients in the oven, blend them together, and the recipe is done. 

Each bite is loaded with vitamins, nutrients, fiber, and healthy fats that will leave you feeling full and energized without weighing you down! 

Is Hidden Veggie Pasta Healthy? 

Let’s look at the main ingredients: 

• Bell peppers
• Onion
• Zucchini
• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Garlic 
• Olive oil 
• Coconut milk 
• Pasta

The vegetables are all natural, nutritious food sources. Each have their own health benefits and can be used to add vitamins, nutrients, fiber, and flavor to a wide variety of recipes like meal prep salad jars and chipotle chicken stew. 

Sugar is what makes food unhealthy.

Common pasta is made from white flour (refined grains) which means pasta is nearly equivalent to sugar.

Add 240g of sugar (40g/serving) to this Hidden Veggie Pasta 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 common pasta with a low-carb noodle alternative, and this recipe becomes nourishment. The ingredients provide vitamins, minerals, protein and quality, whole-food energy. 

Enjoy this Hidden Veggie Pasta knowing it supports your well being. Learn more about eating less sugar here.

Hidden Veggie Pasta Tips

1. Add protein

Make this hidden veggie pasta extra filling by pairing it with protein like pesto chicken, ground turkey, ground beef, a low-carb noodle, or your favorite meat alternative. 

2. Meal prep 

Make a big batch of the pasta sauce, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Or, place it in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to eat, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, warm it in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat. Add an extra splash of coconut milk or broth as needed to freshen it back up, and toss it with freshly cooked noodles. 

3. Include toppings. 

You can never have too much flavor! Top off your pasta with a sprinkle of feta or parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, or even pine nuts. Remember to look for pasture-raised cheeses.

4. Pair your pasta with a side. 

Make this hidden veggie pasta even more filling and fit for a crowd by pairing it with a side or two like a fresh salad or our low carb dinner rolls. 

5. Have leftover coconut milk? 

Don’t toss it out! Instead, use it to make healthy avocado pesto for an easy, nutritious way to add flavor to all your meals throughout the week.

Print

Hidden Veggie Pasta

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 red pepper seeded and sliced
• 1 yellow pepper seeded and sliced
• 1 small onion sliced
• 1 medium zucchini roughly chopped
• 2 carrots roughly chopped
• 2 large tomatoes quartered
• 3 cloves – garlic peeled
• ¼ cup – olive oil
• 1-2 tsps – salt
• ½ cup – coconut milk (for a creamer sauce) or veg/chicken broth
• 1 tsp – vinegar
• Organic Edamame & Mung Bean Fettuccine

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Roughly chop the vegetables and place them on a sheet pan.  Drizzle with olive oil and salt. Cook for about 35-40 minutes.  Vegetables should be soft.
• Add all the vegetables, milk or broth, and vinegar to a blender or food processor.  Blend until smooth.
• Serve with Organic Edamame & Mung Bean Fettuccine.

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/hidden-veggie-pasta

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Recipes in the image above:

1. Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

2. Avocado Pesto Pasta

3. Tomato Garlic Pasta

4. Chili Garlic Oil Noodles

What are you going to serve with your Hidden Veggie Pasta? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Hidden Veggie Pasta appeared first on Neutral Eating.

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What can I expect?

It’s a “one-pot meal.” Throw the ingredients into a cast iron pan, pop it in the oven, and you’re done. This Crispy Chicken and Mushroom recipe is both beginner friendly and easy clean up. 

Even if this is your first time working with raw chicken, you can prepare a perfectly cooked chicken with ease. Your chicken will be tender and juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

It’s no surprise that this is one of our favorite recipes. Hardly any dishes get dirty. It takes minutes to prepare. It has great meal-prep potential. It’s healthy. And the flavors are incredible for how little effort is needed. This chicken and mushroom one-pot meal is a winner. 

Is Crispy Chicken and Mushroom healthy? 

Let’s look at the main ingredients:

• Chicken thighs (skin on)
• Mushrooms
• Garlic
• Heavy Cream

Chicken, mushrooms, and garlic are natural, nutritious food sources. Each have their own list of health benefits. 

But what the chicken skin? What about the dark meat? Aren’t they both fatty and unhealthy?

Neutral Eating has a practical stance on dark meat and chicken skin:

If you’re going to eat meat, make full use of the animal. Eating the whole animal is sustainable, nutritious, and humane.

Both dark meat and chicken skin are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, protein, and natural fat energy. And the stuff is delicious. Doing right by the animal means you get to eat it all. Enjoy the dark meat. Enjoy the skin! Learn more about the Neutral Eating Food Philosophy here.

But what about the Heavy Cream? Is dairy healthy?

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.  

Cast Iron Chicken and Mushroom Tips

Use a cast iron pan or dutch oven

A cast iron pan makes this recipe a one-pot meal. Prepare the sauce on the range, and cook the chicken in the oven. A cast iron will help you prepare your meals faster, cut down on dishes (you don’t have to wash a cast iron pan), and they make food taste better. We love cast iron pans. 

Use a whole chicken

Did you know you can buy a whole raw chicken from the grocery store? When you’re finished cutting up your whole chicken, you’ll end up with two thighs and two breasts. Not to worry. Toss the two breasts and two thighs into your cast iron, and follow the recipe as written. Nothing changes. Be sure to leave the bone in and the skin on for both the breasts and the thighs.

Serve it over shirataki or cauliflower rice

This recipe is saucy! And while we’re not too shy to drink the extra sauce straight from the bowl, you can serve this recipe over shirataki rice. When the chicken is mingled with rice that has sopped up even more sauce, every bite is that much more flavorful and satisfying.  

Meal prep

This crispy chicken and mushroom one-pot meal is fast and easy to prepare which makes it a great meal prep option. Store the extra chicken in a glass container with a lid in the fridge. To reheat, place a cut of chicken on a plate, spoon some sauce on top, and put it in the microwave. We suggest a microwave cover to avoid splatter. 

Check your condiment ingredients

Condiments are healthy when they’re made with natural ingredients. Next time you’re buying ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc., choose a brand that has ingredients you can understand. Know that most condiments do not need added sugar. 

Print

Crispy Chicken and Mushroom

Course Main Course

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Chef Michael

Equipment

• Cast Iron Skillet or dutch oven

Ingredients

• 6 – Chicken Thighs (Bone-In)
• 1 cup – Beef Broth
• 5 – Bay Leaves
• 20 – Garlic Cloves
• 2 Tbsp – Worcestershire
• 2 Tbsp – Maille "Old Style" Mustard
• 1 Tbsp – Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 tsp – Beef Bouillon
• 1/4 cup – Heavy Cream
• 8 oz – Sliced Mushrooms
• 2 tsp – Salt
• 1 tsp – Pepper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Add beef broth, bay leaves, garlic cloves, worcestershire, mustard, balsamic vinegar, and beef bouillon to a cast iron pan.
• Bring cast iron ingredients to a boil. (Place skillet over medium-high heat.)
• Turn off heat.
• Stir in heavy cream.
• Place chicken skin side up in the pan.
• Add mushrooms all around the chicken (not on top of the chicken).
• Salt and Pepper.
• Place skillet in oven and bake until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F (about 45 minutes).

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/crispy-chicken-and-mushroom/

 

Did you serve over cauliflower rice? Did you use skin-on chicken breast? How did you enjoy your crispy chicken and mushroom?

Recipes in the Image Above:

1 – Lemon Garlic Chicken (Sheet Pan)

2 – Chipotle Chicken Bowl Copycat

3 – 3 Ingredient Pesto Chicken

4 – Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings

BROWSE MORE DINNER RECIPES >>>

The post Braised Chicken and Mushroom (one pan meal) appeared first on Neutral Eating.