Chicken is a staple for most of us, but it can get difficult to come up with new ways to serve it to your family. If you're stuck in a chicken rut, try this healthy recipe for a delicious change of pace.
Using chicken thighs gives this dish a meatier, richer taste without loading on the calories and fat. To make life easier, use frozen green beans so all the cleaning and chopping is done for you; all you have to do is open the box!
Healthy Chicken Thigh Recipe
Ingredients:
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11/2 Tablespoons margarine
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup onions, chopped
1 pound + 4 ounces boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 package (10-ounce) frozen cut green beans
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
1. Melt margarine in heavy skillet. Add garlic and onions; stir until blended. Cook over medium heat, until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet.
2. Place chicken in the skillet. Cook over medium heat, until chicken is thoroughly done and no longer pink in color, about 12 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.
3. Place frozen green beans, pepper, and cooked onions in same skillet. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until beans are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Fresh, Never-Frozen Meals: A new menu of 30+ dietitian-designed options every week.
- Cooked to Perfection: Prepared by gourmet chefs and delivered fresh to you.
- Zero Prep, No Mess: Just heat and enjoy in minutes.
4. Add chicken to vegetable mixture. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 3 minutes.
Note: To remove bone from chicken thighs:
1. Place chicken on cutting board. Remove skin from thighs.
2. Turn chicken thighs over.
3. Cut around bone and remove it.
Makes 4 Servings, about 1 cup each
PER SERVING:
Calories 190
Total fat 11 grams
Saturated fat 3 grams
Cholesterol 57 grams
Sodium 109 milligrams
Health Benefits of Chicken
Chicken is touted as one of the best foods you can possibly eat while dieting. But why is that? What's so great about chicken? Let's look into the health benefits that chicken can provide.
- Fresh, Never-Frozen Meals: A new menu of 30+ dietitian-designed options every week.
- Cooked to Perfection: Prepared by gourmet chefs and delivered fresh to you.
- Zero Prep, No Mess: Just heat and enjoy in minutes.
Chicken's most famous benefit is its high protein content. In addition, chicken is lower in saturated fat than other meats, like pork and beef. Foods that are low in saturated fat and high in protein are optimal for fat loss and muscle gain. If you can find ways to lower the saturated fat content of your favorite foods, it makes it a lot easier to enjoy them while on a diet. With chicken, you don't need to make any adjustments! This meat is often preferred by people trying to lose weight and people looking to gain muscle; the high protein content helps people with either or both goals.
Chicken has a lot of niacin and selenium. Niacin plays a key role in energy and cell production, making it an absolutely essential nutrient. Selenium supports your immune system and thyroid. Research suggests that selenium can also boost fertility, making it a very important nutrient for those trying to conceive. Chicken also has a healthy amount of vitamins B6 and B12, riboflavin, and zinc, among other nutrients.
By making this chicken recipe, you're getting even more health benefits from the vegetables. All around, this is by far one of the healthiest recipes on our site. There's just no going wrong here! You'll get a filling meal that won't pack on the pounds. If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out our other healthy recipes. We have so many amazing options for you to choose from, all with their own special benefits.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©DronG/Shutterstock.com.