Easy Bruschetta Chicken

This post has been sponsored by NatureRaised Farms®. Opinions and text are all mine. Thanks for reading!

This year I didn’t make any major new years resolutions. For some people, resolutions are a great way to kickstart a healthy habit or end a very bad one; but for me, resolutions are too much pressure.

Umm, isn’t that the point, though?

Maybe for some people, but for me? Resolutions just do not work. I always set the bar way too high (thanks to a very unrealistic type-A personality) and ultimately end in failure.

For example, one year my resolution was to get a six-pack (abs, not beer). You guys, this doesn’t even make sense! I already have a six-pack, but I would have had to set about a billion other resolutions to actually see it.

And then there was the year I was going to become a vegan AND wake up every morning before work to exercise (I should clarify this would mean getting to the gym by 5am). Here’s the problem, I love meat and REALLY love sleep, so what in the world was I thinking?

I tortured myself through the first few weeks of January and then had a cheeseburger…in bed (ok, maybe not in bed, but I did start eating meat again and skipping AM workouts).

To hopefully prevent another year of pressure and failure I’m going to do something a little differently this year. This year I’m going to set small goals (which is actually a goal in and of itself since I’m the go big or go home type).

My goals include-

-make a list that isn’t too long (ha!)
-put lotion on my hands after I wash the dishes (which is about a billion times each day) because my hands are dry and cracking and look about twice their age.
-cut down dessert to 6 nights a week (I tried 4 nights/week and failed. I wish I was joking).
-drink more water.
-read more to Octavian- now that he’s in school our reading time together has decreased.
-read 1 (adult) book. Just one.
-make at least 1 layered cake.
-respond to text messages and emails the same day I get them (you guys, it’s BAD!)
-continue to prepare healthy meals for my family, but with a greater focus on Octavian’s preference (note- this does not mean cater to whatever he wants)

I could go on, and on, and on, but I’m going to stop (see goal #1). What do you guys think? Totally do-able, right?

What are some of your goals?  Are you the go big type, too?

One of my biggies is to continue eating healthy- but instead of simply prepare whatever healthy food sounds good to me, keep Octavian in mind. I’ve found the easiest way to make this happen is to meal plan, go grocery shopping with a list and prepare ahead of time whatever I can. I try to prepare parts of a recipe ahead of time for many reasons- to save time (and my sanity) and prevent last-minute, unexpected cravings from derailing my healthy eating plan.

You guys, it works.

For example, this super super easy bruschetta chicken with sautéed zucchini noodles.

Octavian loves chicken. He always has. I don’t know, it probably has something to do with the outrageous amounts of chicken I ate while he was growing inside me. Chicken is a winner in my house; along with zucchini noodles. To be honest, it’s one of the only times I can get my kid to eat vegetables.

Thinking of a healthy, fast and easy dinner to make that the whole family will enjoy is hard and mostly impossible; but sometimes a special dinner comes along and changes everything. Bruschetta chicken changed everything (at least for one night- Octavian will probably change his mind and decide he hates it tomorrow).

After stocking up on NatureRaised Farms Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts from my local Sam’s Club (bulk buying, my favorite) and gathering the remaining ingredients, I got started with what I could prep ahead of time.

Spiralize the zucchini? yes.
Make the bruschetta? yes.
Slice the chicken into small filets? yes.

All that’s left to do is cook the chicken and sauté the noodles. So easy. And super tasty.

Octavian ate his own mini version of this dinner, minus the tomatoes. I offered, he rejected. Whatever, kid, more for me. But he ate something other than mac n cheese, so I was not about to complain. Plus, I can breath easy knowing that all NatureRaised Farms Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken are 99% fat free, with no added preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Do you guys have any favorite fast, easy and healthy family dinners? I need to know.

5 from 1 vote

Print

Easy Bruschetta Chicken

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 294 kcal

Ingredients

• 5 roma tomatoes seeded and diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 8 basil leaves rolled up and sliced into thin ribbons
• salt + pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 5 large zucchini spiralized**
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut in half
• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced into thick pieces

FOR SEVING

• Parmesan cheese
• chopped parsley
• fresh basil
• lemon juice

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl gently mix together the diced tomatoes, minced garlic, basil ribbons, and approximately 1-2 teaspoons olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
2. Prepare chicken for cooking- slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to make two thinner pieces. Lightly season each side with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil along with the zucchini noodles and carefully toss to distribute the oil among the noodles. Sauté for approximately 5 minutes, or until noodles  just start to soften (they will continue to cook/get soggy and overcooked if cooked too long). Sprinkle zucchini noodles with salt and pepper and parmesan cheese and toss to combine.
4. In a new large skillet (or the same one, just remove the zucchini to a serving bowl), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once oil is shimmering and hot, carefully add the chicken to the skillet and cook for approximately 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and continue by cooking the other side for an additional 3 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (this time may vary depending on how thick your chicken is). Turn heat to low and top each chicken breast fillet with a thick slice of mozzarella cheese. Cover the skillet and cook until the cheese has just melted, approximately 1 minute.
5. Serve each plate with desired amount of zucchini noodles and chicken topped with bruschetta. Garnish with additional parmesan cheese, basil, parsley or fresh squeezed lemon juice.
6. Best served hot 🙂

Recipe Notes

**I usually fill my plate with zoodles (plus, Octavian prefers them over regular pasta noodles (I know, I knooooow...), so I make a lot! Plus they're great leftover- already cooked or saved and cooked the next day. If you don't know how many zucchini to spiralize, make a little extra 😉

Nutrition Facts

Easy Bruschetta Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 294 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 17g 26%

Saturated Fat 6g 30%

Cholesterol 62mg 21%

Sodium 367mg 15%

Potassium 1062mg 30%

Total Carbohydrates 12g 4%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 8g

Protein 24g 48%

Vitamin A 28.7%

Vitamin C 67.7%

Calcium 27.1%

Iron 8.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.