A little chicken, lotsa vegetables and lotsa flavor !
6 servings
289 calories per serving
2 c chopped cooked chicken breast
2/3 c thinly sliced red bell pepper
½ c thinly sliced English cucumbers
1/2 c sliced celery
1/2 c light ranch dressing
1/4 c crumbed goat cheese
4 c chopped romaine lettuce
6 8-inch fat free flour tortillas
Layer all the ingredients in tortillas, wrap and secure with a toothpick. Here’s my instructional video in how to secure a wrap so nothing leaks out the bottom.
This version of fried rice is not your typical Chinese food fare. This is more of a Middle Eastern recipe and there are a wide range of BIG flavors in the recipe. But they mix well and become amazingly mellow.
6 servings
350 calories per serving
3 T oil
1 large onion, diced
6 oz. Canadian bacon, diced
1 lb. bok choy stems and leaves, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, diced
2 t finely chopped fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
¾ c Egg Beaters
3 t curry powder
4 c cold cooked brown rice
3 T soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Pam
Heat 2 t oil in a large skillet on medium high heat and add onion and bacon. Cook 4 minutes and add bok choy and continue cooking another 2 minutes. Add pepper, ginger, garlic and cook until veggies are getting soft, about 5 minutes. Remove contents and set aside. Add 1 T oil of skillet and then cook chicken 5 minutes or until done. Set chicken aside. Spray skillet with Pam and when hot, add eggs and scramble. Add eggs to bowl with chicken. Add 1 T oil to skillet and cook curry powder 30 seconds and then add rice and cook without stirring until slightly crispy, about 4 minutes. Return all the other ingredients to the pan, add soy sauce, salt and pepper and heat 3 minutes.
This is a wonderfully rich chowder that can easily be changed up just by changing some of the veggies you include. I just suggest keeping the corn – to me, it’s not chowder if it does not have corn ! Today I added some frozen broccoli florets.
6 servings
168 calories per serving
9 oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes (Perdue Shortcuts work great here!)
1 c carrots, sliced
½ c chopped onion
1 c corn
4.5 oz. sliced mushrooms, drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ t thyme leaves
14.5 oz. chicken broth
1 can cream of potato soup
1/3 c half and half
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients except the half and half in a crock pot. Cover and cook on low 5 hours or until chicken is done and vegetables are tender. Then stir in half and half and cook covered on high another 15-20 minutes.
The hummus spread inside the pita before inserting the other ingredients makes every bite full of flavor. And when you eat something with lots of flavor, you are apt to feel more satisfied !
4 servings
280 calories per serving
2 c chopped romaine lettuce
1 c chopped roasted chicken breast
2/3 c diced English cucumber
½ c red bell pepper, chopped very small
1/4 c crumbled feta cheese
2 T lemon juice
2 T oil
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
6 T roasted red bell pepper hummus (in the refrigerator section at the food market)
2 6 inch whole wheat pitas slit at the top so you can fill it
Combine lettuce, chicken, cucumber and feta. Add lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper. Spread hummus inside pitas and then add the chicken mix.
Simply Louisiana – that is the best way to describe this dish. If you don’t like okra, skip it – maybe add some green bell peppers instead. But if you want it authentic, be sure to add in the okra.
4 servings
234 calories per serving
2 T flour
1 1/4 t Cajun seasoning
3/4 lb. chicken tenders
2 t canola oil
1 1/2 c corn
1 1/2 c frozen okra, thawed
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c fat free half and half
1/4 t salt
Pepper
3 scallions, sliced
Combine flour and 1/2 t Cajun seasoning in a zip loc bag and drop in the chicken. Seal the bag and shake well to coat all the chicken pieces. Heat 1 1/2 t oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook about 3 minutes per side or until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the rest of the oil to the pan and then add the corn, okra, tomato and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes. Add the half and half and the rest of the Cajun seasoning and simmer 1-2 minutes longer. Return the chicken to the pan and heat through. Sprinkle with scallions just before serving.
This is one of those really filling quesadillas. Between the whole wheat wrap, the beans, chicken, AND cheese, it really makes for a great lunch. The salsa verde is a nice twist, but if you don’t like the taste, feel free to substitute regular salsa 🙂
2 servings
358 calories per serving
1 c cooked shredded or diced chicken breast (Perdue Shortcuts are a great time saver!)
1/3 c salsa verde, divided
1/2 c black beans
1/2 c kidney beans
2 9 inch whole wheat tortillas (80 calorie version)
1/2 c shredded low fat Mexican blend or cheddar cheese
Pam
Extra salsa verde for dipping (at only 10 calories for 2 tablespoons, don’t be shy !)
Combine cooked chicken and half the salsa verde in a skillet and heat through . Combine beans and the other half of the salsa, lightly mashing some of the beans with a fork. Microwave for 30 seconds to heat. Spread the bean mix over each tortilla and then the chicken mix and then sprinkle with 1/4 c cheese. Fold in half. Spray skillet with Pam and heat to medium high. Add quesadillas and cook 2-3 minutes each side or until lightly browned. Serve with additional salsa.
I make this one up the night before and let refrigerate overnight. The pesto and cheese make a rich sauce and all the flavors here just combine really well.
1 serving
288 calories per serving
1/4 c cooked FiberGourmet* pasta (regular whole wheat pasta will certainly do, it will just raise the calorie count)
1 T pesto
3 oz. diced cooked chicken (Perdue Shortcuts)
1 c halved grape tomatoes
3/4 c shredded carrots
2 T shredded parmesan
Mix all together and refrigerate a couple of hours before eating.
*FiberGourmet is this awesome pasta that has way fewer calories than even whole wheat pasta and other specialty pastas. I buy it online at Amazon and use it in soups, salads, dinner sides, mac and cheese, etc. By using it instead of other types, I can really increase the amount I can eat and that’s good because I LOVE PASTA !! 🙂
This is a great appetizer or lunch portion – for dinner, add a nice salad or fruit mix on the side.
4 servings
230 calories per serving
1 lb. chicken tenders cut in half
1/2 t cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
3 T cayenne pepper sauce (Frank’s Hot Sauce)
1 T water
1 T buttery spread, melted
1/3 c low fat sour cream
1/4 c crumbled blue cheese
2 T low fat mayonnaise
2 T skim milk
1/4 t Worcestershire sauce
Carrot and celery slices
Preheat broiler. Spray baking sheet with Pam. Toss chicken with cayenne pepper and 1/4 t salt. Place chicken on pan and broil 6 inches from heat for 5 minutes. Microwave cayenne sauce, water and butter 10 seconds. Brush onto chicken and broil 2 minutes longer, then flip chicken, coat with more sauce and broil another minute or until chicken is done.
Make dip by combining sour cream, cheese, mayonnaise, milk and Worcestershire. Serve chicken with dip, carrots and celery sticks.
This is a filling, creamy soup packed with iron – get your Popeye on ! Serve with whole wheat garlic toast for a great lunch meal.
3 servings
262 calories per serving
4 oz. dry cheese tortellini
8 oz. fat free chicken broth
1 can reduced fat cream of chicken soup
5 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed
4 oz diced cooked chicken (Purdue Shortcuts strips save time here)
1 c skim milk
1 c water
Salt and pepper to taste
Boil water and cook tortellini according to instructions. Heat all other ingredients and bring to boil and heat thoroughly. Add tortellini. Heat for another few minutes.
Citrus and chicken just go together ! And the flavor punch for almost no added calories is a great way to feel satisfied even after eating a smaller meal. There’s lots of calories to spare here, so add a hearty side dish and enjoy.
4 servings
133 calories per serving
4 small b/s chicken breasts
2t garlic powder
1/2 t seasoned salt
1/2 c lemon juice
1/2 c lime juice
2 t lemon pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a small baking dish with Pam. Rub the chicken with the dry spices. Spray a skillet with Pam and cook the chicken 3-4 minutes per side to brown. Then place the chicken in the baking dish and pour the citrus juice over the chicken and bake 20-25 minutes.
