Creamy Chipotle Chicken
Creamy chipotle chicken is a simple but super flavorful 30-minute dinner with a delicious smoky chipotle cream sauce - thats secretly healthy!
Creamy chipotle chicken is a simple but super flavorful 30-minute dinner with a delicious smoky chipotle cream sauce - thats secretly healthy!
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 boneless (skinless chicken breasts)
- 1/2 cup onion (diced)
- 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil (divided)
- 3 chipotle peppers (minced)
- 4 oz. cream cheese (i use 1/3 less fat)
- 2-3 tablespoons plain greek yogurt (i use non-fat
- Carbohydrate 0.9672025 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0.941315 g
- Fiber 0.0651249978542328 g
- Protein 0.5007375 g
- Saturated Fat 0.131195 g
- Serving Size 1 1 people (37g)
- Sodium 992.3072 mg
- Sugar 0.902077502145767 g
- Trans Fat 0.04427 g
- Calories 14 calories
Step-by-step
- Heat 2 teaspoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season chicken breasts with the salt and pepper.
- Add to pan and sear for 4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
- Remove chicken breasts from the skillet to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. (They will finish cooking later.)
- Reduce heat to medium and add remaining two teaspoons olive oil to the pan.
- Add diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes, until softened.
- Add garlic and chipotle peppers and saute for 30 more seconds.
- Add adobo sauce, chicken broth, and cream cheese and stir until melted.
- Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, along with any accumulated juices, and turn to coat in the sauce.
- Cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 7-9 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. (It will depend on how thick your chicken breasts are.) I like to spoon some of the sauce over the chicken breasts halfway through the cooking time.
- Once the chicken is cooked through, turn off heat and stir in Greek yogurt.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve chicken breasts with extra sauce spooned over the top, and enjoy!
Creamy Chipotle Chicken: A Weeknight Winner
As a busy working mom, finding time to cook delicious and healthy meals can feel like a Herculean task. Between school runs, work deadlines, and all the other demands on my time, a quick, easy, and satisfying dinner is a must. That's why I've become a huge fan of recipes that pack a flavor punch without requiring hours in the kitchen. This Creamy Chipotle Chicken recipe is a perfect example – it's ready in under 30 minutes, and the smoky, creamy sauce is simply irresistible.
The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity. It starts with perfectly seared chicken breasts, which develop a beautiful golden crust. Then, the magic happens with the chipotle pepper infused cream sauce. The chipotle peppers bring a wonderful smoky heat, balanced beautifully by the richness of the cream cheese and the cool tang of Greek yogurt. I use low-sodium chicken broth to control the sodium content, and opt for reduced-fat cream cheese to make this a slightly healthier version without sacrificing flavour. The result is a dish that’s both comforting and sophisticated, perfect for a weeknight meal or a casual dinner party. Honestly, my family gobbles this up every time I make it!
Beyond the Recipe: Making Weeknight Dinners Easier
One of the biggest challenges for busy people like me is meal planning and prep. I often find myself staring into the fridge at 5 pm, completely unsure of what to cook. To combat this, I've adopted a few strategies that have made a world of difference. Firstly, I plan my meals for the week on Sunday, making a shopping list based on my chosen recipes. This helps me avoid impulse buys and ensures I have all the ingredients I need. Secondly, I often do some prep work on the weekends—chopping vegetables or marinating meats—to save time during the week. This small amount of advance planning takes away a lot of the stress associated with weeknight cooking.
This Creamy Chipotle Chicken recipe is a fantastic addition to any meal planning routine. It's versatile too! You can serve it with rice, quinoa, roasted vegetables, or even a simple side salad. The leftovers are also great for lunch the next day. It’s a recipe that has become a staple in our house, and I'm confident it will quickly become a favorite in yours too.
Tips and Variations:
- Spice Level: Adjust the number of chipotle peppers to control the heat level. Start with fewer and add more to taste, especially if you're sensitive to spice.
- Chicken: You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts, if preferred. They'll cook a bit faster.
- Dairy Alternatives: For a vegan version, try using plant-based cream cheese and unsweetened almond yogurt instead of the dairy products.
- Add-ins: Feel free to add other vegetables to the sauce, such as bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach.
- Make it Ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.
So there you have it – a quick, easy, and flavourful weeknight dinner that even the pickiest eaters will love. Try it out and let me know what you think in the comments below!
