Easy . Tasty . Versatile . My favorite kind of recipe!
For many of us, getting more veggies on our families plates can be a bit of a challenge. If you can relate, then let me assure you, these savory little bite-sized chicken & veggie bites are just the ticket!
These simple and flavorful little bites are crazy-delicious and super versatile too, since they can be used to create so many easy, healthy meals, as noted below! And, you can switch up the ingredients to create lots of different variations!
Plus, these easy-to-make, protein-n-veggie packed bites are Whole30-friendly! Remember, you’re welcome to join us for my Whole30 Challenge for free Whole30-compliant meal plans and recipes to make your 30-day journey a whole easier and more delicious!
P.S. They’re equally tasty whether they’re served hot or cold, making them a tasty and healthy lunchbox option for back-to-school season. And, they freeze and reheat well, which means you can save time by cooking up a double batch and freezing them for creating quick future meals.
Here’s just a few of my favorite ideas for enjoying these Savory Chicken & Veggie Bites:
• Pop them into your family’s lunch boxes with a side of homemade ranch dressing and fresh raw veggies for a perfect protein-n-veggie-packed lunch!
• Add them to your favorite stir fry dishes, and zoodle (veggie pasta) dishes
• Serve them as a main dish with a side of tasty roasted herb sweet potato bites for an easy weeknight dinner
• Use them to make scrumptious healthy sliders (nestled between sweet potato buns), or use them to create tasty lettuce wraps (as shown in photos)
• Add them to your favorite salads for extra protein, nutrition and flavor!
As you can see, there are so many ways to enjoy these tasty little patties! And again, you can totally customize them to suit your personal taste preferences. Simply switch out the veggies and the seasonings for a completely new taste sensation! (Check out some of my favorite recipe variations below.) Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced
- 1/2 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1 1/4 lbs. ground dark meat chicken (or turkey)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning mix
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Place the first 5 ingredients (baby spinach, zucchini, bell pepper, green onion and basil) into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until fine diced, scraping down the bowl as needed to ensure uniform size.
- Add the ground chicken and remaining ingredients. Pulse briefly, just until ingredients are combined. Remove blade from the bowl. Form meat into small (2-3 inch) patties.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of avocado oil (or oil of your choice) to hot skillet. Place chicken patties about 2" apart. Working in batches, cook patties about 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
- Serve immediately, or allow patties to cool and store in fridge for up to 4 days. To freeze, place patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in freezer. Once frozen solid, transfer patties to a freezer safe container for up to 1 month. To reheat, place thawed patties in a 250°F oven for about 5 minutes.
- Time-Saving Tip: Make a double or triple batch and freeze them for making quick and easy future meals. (See quick meal ideas in post above.)
- Also be sure to see the recipe note below for delicious ideas for customizing this recipe for even more delicious versatility!
Notes
Tasty Recipe Variations
By changing out the seasonings, you can create Chicken & Veggie Bites to suit your own personal taste preferences. For example:
• Mexi-Style Bites – use Mexican seasoning (or taco seasoning) in place of the Italian seasoning mix, and substitute cilantro in place of the basil.
• Curry Bites – use 1/2 teaspoon of curry powder in place of the Italian seasoning mix and substitute cilantro in place of the basil. You may also wish to add 1 1/4 teaspoon of garam masala seasoning as well.
• Asian-Style Bites – use Chinese five-spice seasoning in place of the Italian seasoning mix and substitute cilantro in place of the basil. Fry patties in a combination of olive oil and toasted sesame oil.