Description
Italian-inspired pesto chicken cauliflower rice brings Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Crisp chicken and herbal pesto blend seamlessly with low-carb cauliflower rice for a satisfying meal you can savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) garlic powder
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) onion powder
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) paprika
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil or butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 4 cups (960 ml) cauliflower rice (store-bought or grated fresh cauliflower)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Pine nuts (toasted)
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Blend chicken with a symphony of spices – garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a comprehensive mixing bowl, ensuring each piece is generously coated.
- Searing Stage: Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-high temperature, creating an ideal environment for developing a caramelized exterior on the seasoned chicken pieces.
- Cooking Process: Carefully place chicken into the sizzling pan, rotating periodically to achieve an even, golden-brown crust and guaranteeing thorough cooking throughout approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Temperature Verification: Confirm chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 75C/165F, utilizing a meat thermometer to ensure complete doneness and optimal food safety.
- Pesto Infusion: Reduce skillet heat and lavishly coat chicken with vibrant pesto, allowing the herbal sauce to meld seamlessly with the perfectly cooked protein, creating a rich and aromatic final layer.
- Serving Preparation: Remove skillet from heat, letting the pesto-glazed chicken rest briefly before presenting alongside cauliflower rice, allowing flavors to harmonize and settle.
Notes
- Spice Calibration: Adjust spice blend proportions based on personal taste preferences, ensuring a balanced flavor profile that complements the pesto’s herbaceous notes.
- Temperature Mastery: Maintain medium-high heat to achieve a perfect golden-brown exterior without burning the chicken, using visual and auditory cues like sizzling sounds and color changes.
- Pesto Precision: Add pesto off direct heat to prevent herb burning and preserve its fresh, vibrant flavor, gently coating chicken for maximum taste absorption.
- Dietary Flexibility: Swap traditional pesto with dairy-free or vegan alternatives like cashew or sun-dried tomato pesto to accommodate different dietary requirements without compromising taste complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg