Entrees Archives - Page 10 of 37 - The Nourishing Home

Slow Cooker Rotisserie Style Chicken {Whole30 Guest Post}

Incase you missed the exciting news … The team at Whole30 invited me to be a guest contributor to their website this month. So I’m pulling out all of the stops and sharing an awesome four-part Slow Cooker Series featuring easy and delicious recipes like my famous Slow Cooker Rotisserie Style Chicken. [Get the recipe here…]

This simple Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken tastes like the real deal! (Dare I say, even better than store-bought rotisserie chicken!) Plus, it takes less than five minutes to toss the ingredients into your slow cooker, making it perfect for busy families on the go!

And, you’ll just keep saving time! That’s because this recipe yields plenty of delicious leftovers that can be used to make even more quick-n-easy, healthy meals the whole family will love – whether they’re taking The Whole30 Challenge or not!

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Slow Cooker Italian Beef & Swiss Chard Ragu {Plus, Bonus Soup Recipe}

By Kelly · 1 Comment

It’s no surprise that I’m a huge proponent of the Whole30 program. Many of you have joined me for The Whole30 Challenge and know firsthand how a whole food lifestyle can completely transform your health and wellness.

That’s why I couldn’t be more thrilled to share some awesome news … The team at Whole30 is excited about the recipes and resources I’ve been sharing with y’all, so they’ve asked me to be a guest contributor to their website and share a four-part Slow Cooker Series. Woot!

So each week for the next four weeks, I’ll be sharing a savory new slow cooker meal that’s as easy to prepare as it is delicious! (And let me assure you, these recipes are family-friendly, whole food meals that the whole family will love – whether they’re GF or not!)

First up, is this incredibly simple, yet flavorful Italian Beef and Swiss Chard Ragu. The combination of tender, slow-cooked beef and peppery chard paired with slightly sweet, fire-roasted tomatoes and carrots creates an absolutely delectable meal. [Get the recipe here...]

Transform Leftovers into a Delicious Soup!

And because this recipe makes a lot of delicious ragu, I’ve got a tasty way to repurpose the leftovers to create a quick and savory soup perfect for lunch, or pair it with a salad for a satisfying dinner.

It’s super easy … Simply combine a half cup of bone broth for every one cup of leftover ragu. Warm it, and enjoy! Is that easy or what?

Of course, the best thing about this tasty recipe {and each delicious recipe in this series} is that your slow cooker does most of the work. It doesn’t get any easier than that to prepare a healthy & delicious meal the whole family will love! Enjoy!

P.S. If this slow cooker series tickles your fancy, I’d love for you to share this series via social media. Thank you in advance for partnering with me to help to spread the word that a simple whole food lifestyle is a delicious way to transform our health and wellness!

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Pan Seared Balsamic Chicken with Avocado Pesto Zoodles

By Kelly · 12 Comments

Good food doesn’t have to be complicated. You can achieve incredible flavor with just a few simple ingredients and the right cooking method.

A quick and easy way to achieve moist and tender chicken (that’s melt in your mouth good) is to use a cast iron skillet and pan sear your bird! Pan-searing uses high heat to seal in juices by forming a slight crust. The key to pan searing is to make sure the pan is hot enough, and do not move or flip the meat until it’s well browned and a light crust has formed.

When it comes to pan seared chicken, this dish is our absolute favorite. The marinade is a flavorful blend of balsamic vinegar and seasonings that help to tenderize the meat and infuse it with a tangy, slightly sweet flavor.

A light dish of fresh pesto zoodles makes the perfect accompaniment to the rich, bold flavors of the chicken. If you’ve yet to make your own pesto, it’s time to break out your food processor and give it a whirl. The key to perfect pesto sauce is to process just the basil leaves, nuts and garlic until the mixture is very finely ground. Then, add the olive oil. This guarantees success every time!

For a delicious change of pace, add half of a ripe avocado to your pesto. You’ll be amazed at how creamy and luscious it is. Mangia!

Pan Seared Balsamic Chicken with Avocado Pesto Zoodles

5-6 servings

Ingredients

For the balsamic chicken

1.25 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts (I use ButcherBox)
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp onion powder

For the pesto sauce

2 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup walnut pieces
2 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and smashed
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 Tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
Optional: 1/2 ripe avocado (flesh only)

Instructions

Marinate the chicken: Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise to form strips (tenders).
In a 9x9-inch baking dish add all remaining chicken ingredients and whisk well to combine.
Add chicken tenders to the marinade. Flip chicken back-n-forth, until well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.
Meanwhile, make the pesto sauce, if you're planning to serve the chicken with pesto zoodles (or pesto pasta). If not, skip to step 8.
For the pesto sauce: Combine the basil, walnuts, garlic and salt in a food processor. Process the mixture until it becomes a coarse meal.
Next, add the lemon juice and avocado, if using. Process on low and slowly add the olive oil to your food processor in a steady stream. Blend just until combined.
Add the pesto sauce to zoodles (see recipe note below) for a delicious grain-free pasta dish, or toss with your favorite GF pasta. Also makes a wonderful dip for raw veggies, and a tasty sandwich spread. Yum!
To pan sear chicken: Preheat large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium high heat. Add about a tablespoon of oil to coat bottom of pan.
Add chicken tenders and allow to cook 3-4 minutes until browned. Then flip and continue to cook another 2-3 minutes until cooked through.
Serve chicken with pesto zoodles for a delicious and healthy meal. Enjoy!

Notes

Zoodles are the perfect gluten-free, grain-free pasta replacement. Not only are they full of nutrients, they're delicious and super easy to make. Be sure to check out my How to Spiralize tutorial for details. I recommend spiralizing 2 medium zucchinis per person. Simply steam 1-2 minutes until desired texture is reached. Then toss with this delightful pesto or your favorite sauce of choice.

https://thenourishinghome.com/2016/01/pan-seared-balsamic-chicken/

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