Category: Dinner

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Easy Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs Recipe

Kebabs are one of the tastiest dishes stacked with tender marinated meats and bright colored veggies. Not only do bell peppers and cherry tomatoes add great flavor to this dish, but they are also full of essential nutrients that are good for your health. Bell peppers and cherry tomatoes are great sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and potassium. A diet rich in vegetables can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and certain types of cancers. The fibers help keep your digestive tract working properly. Along with being full of nutrients, they are low-calorie and deliver a satisfying bite.

Ease of Making: Easy

What I love about kebabs is that there are so many ways to make them and so many flavors from all over the world that you can incorporate. They are easy to make and can be cooked on a grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer just like these chicken kebabs. Serve them with your choice of sides such as a salad, in a pita, on top of a bed of rice pilaf, or additional veggies. 

Meal prep tips for Air Fryer Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs

The Air Fryer is great for meal prep. It is the perfect size for roasting veggies and cooks large portions of protein. Therefore, you can batch cook multiple food items without having to pre-heat the oven and waste all that oven space. 

The air fryer essentially is like an amped-up oven. The difference is that it has a fan and it utilizes a more compact space to facilitate fast cooking. The fan circulates the air around making food items crisp which is similar to what you could get from deep frying, minus the extra added fat. With normal baking ovens, there is a lot of humidity, so it’s difficult for an outer crisp to occur. 

Sometimes using a leaner cut of meat such as chicken breasts can result in dry tough meat. Which is why marinating your meats prior to cooking is a good technique to prevent it from drying out and making it chewy. Marinades have acidic components that help tenderize meats and make them juicy. They also help reduce the time of cooking. 

This recipe’s marinade incorporates some flavor spices such as paprika, cumin, turmeric powder, and minced garlic which all offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help boost immunity.

If you’re using wooden skewers be sure to soak them in water for at least 10 minutes to prevent them from scorching.

Layer the ingredients on the skewers and place them in the air fryer basket.

Side salads and pita bread with dip make great side dishes for kebabs.

Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4

Equipment

  • cutting board
  • knife
  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb boneless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
  • 1 each red bell pepper
  • 1 each small red onion
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes

Chicken marinade

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tbsp honey note: you can use agave nectar or sugar
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp juice of a lemon

Instructions
 

  • If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 10 minutes
  • Cut the chicken into 1.5 inch chunks. Mix together the marinade and marinate the chicken overnight or at least 30 minutes prior to cooking
  • If using the oven, preheat oven to 425F
  • Cut the bell peppers and red onion into chunks
  • Assemble the kebabs using skewers. Layer the chicken with the veggies.
  • Place in the air fryer and cook at 360F for 15-18 minutes (until internal temperature is 165F). If using the oven, cook for 20-25 minutes, until the outer edges are golden brown and chicken is cooked through an internal temperature of 165F)
  • Serve with your choice of sides and sauces. Examples: salad, pita, couscous, rice pilaf, or tortillas, etc

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Easy Air Fryer Steak Kebabs Recipe

Air fryer steak kebabs are such a fun and great meal that you can enjoy with friends or family. Everybody loves eating food on a stick, especially kiddos! It’s also a great way to pack flavor and healthy ingredients together on a skewer. 

Ease of Making: Easy

Kebabs are traditionally cooked on a skewer over a fire or baked in an oven so that it can roast.  Roasting is one of the healthiest ways to prepare your meals because it results in minimal losses of vitamins and nutrients.

Advantages of roasting:

  • Good quality meat is tender when roasted
  • Vegetables maintain their heart-healthy fiber and vitamins and minerals for fighting disease
  • Food is more appealing because it has a desirable texture and color by turning crispy and golden brown
  • Unlike stovetop methods such as sauteing or stir-frying, It is a cooking method that allows you to be hands-free and requires minimal involvement in the cooking process

Using a roasting pan in an oven is usually the best way to roast food because it allows the oven heat to reach as much of the surface of food as possible and allows the air to circulate. 

However, if you don’t have a roasting pan and don’t want to wait to heat up your large oven, then an air fryer will do perfectly. It has a basket that holds food similar to a roasting rack and the fan allows the air to circulate the heat evenly around the food giving it that golden brown crisp.

Meal prep tips for Air Fryer Steak Kebabs

  • Cooking air fryer steak kebabs is not only a time saver, but cleanup is also incredibly easy, and it also tastes amazing.
  • Make sure to measure your air fryer to check that your skewers you are using actually fit inside of your air fryer. 6 to 8-inch skewers tend to fit best in most air fryers. And if you are using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water for at least 10 minutes to keep them from burning
  • When cutting veggies, make sure they are all the same size chunks the meat so that they all cook evenly. Use a variety of colorful vegetables like bell peppers and even add fruit such as pineapple
  • One of the best cuts of beef for kebabs is the Sirloin cut. It is relatively tender, lean, and fits into a balanced diet. In addition, it is budget-friendly. Other good beef choices are flat iron, strip steak, and even tenderloin.
  • Sometimes using a leaner cut of meat can result in dry tough meat. Therefore, marinating your meats prior to cooking is a good technique to prevent it from drying out and making it chewy. This marinade combines pantry friendly items such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, dijon mustard, and spices such as oregano and garlic powder. One of the tasty components that result from marinating meat is getting that distinct flavor from a good golden brown crust when the protein cooks. Adding a sweet component such as honey yields in that delicious crust when cooked at high heat.

Air Fryer Beef Kebabs

Kebabs are such a fun and great meal that you can enjoy with friends or family. Everybody loves eating food on a stick, especially kiddos! It’s also a great way to pack flavor and healthy ingredients together on a skewer.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • cutting board
  • knife
  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean top sirloin
  • 1 each yellow bell pepper
  • 1 each small red onion
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes

Beef marinade:

  • 2 tbsp worchestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar note: you can use honey, agave nectar or white sugar

Instructions
 

  • If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least 10 minutes
  • Cut the beef into 1.5 inch chunks. Mix together the marinade and marinate the beef overnight or at least 30 minutes prior to cooking
  • If using the oven, preheat oven to 425F
  • Cut the bell peppers and red onion into chunks
  • Assemble the kebabs using skewers. Layer the skewer by alternating the beef with the veggies.
  • Place in the air fryer and cook at 400F for 8-10 minutes. If using the oven, cook for 10-12 minutes, until the outer edges are brown and beef is cooked to an internal temperature of 145F
  • Serve with your choice of sides and sauces. Examples: salad, pita, couscous, rice pilaf, or tortillas, etc

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Easy Caribbean Chicken And Rice In The Oven

Oven-baked chicken and rice was a staple growing up in my household. I mean who doesn’t love baked chicken? My parents would whip up mouthwatering baked chicken thighs seasoned in a tasty rub served on top of fluffy soft rice. 

Ease of Making: Medium

This chicken and rice recipe adds an island flair using Caribbean spices such as allspice and cayenne pepper. It is served on top of turmeric-infused rice pilaf with sautéed aromatics such as onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic. 

And my favorite part of the dish is pairing it with diced pineapple. The sweet and tart flavors of the pineapple pair well the savory and spicy flavors of the Caribbean species. 

This is definitely a dish that is vibrant and full of flavor and a great twist on chicken and rice. 

Meal Prep Tips for Caribbean Chicken and Rice Recipe

Many recipes normally start with searing chicken on the stovetop and rendering out the fat to get it crispy and golden brown.

For this recipe, there is no need for that extra step because the seasoned chicken will roast in a hot oven and the oven will do all the work. 

If you want to keep it low fat, remove the skin or you can use boneless chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken thighs in this recipe. Just be sure to reduce the amount of time you cook the chicken by about 10-15 minutes. Use a thermometer to make sure that the chicken has cooked to an internal temperature of 165F,

What rice should I use?

Long grained white rice is what you normally would use for rice pilaf, but you can also swap it out for brown rice or barley which are great whole grain options. If you want to keep it low carb, then use cauliflower rice as an option.

Caribbean Chicken with Turmeric Rice Pilaf

This recipe adds an island flair using Caribbean spices such as allspice and cayenne pepper. It is served on top of turmeric-infused rice pilaf with sauteed aromatics such as onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Caribbean
Servings 4

Equipment

  • knife
  • cutting board
  • roasting rack
  • sauce pan
  • spatula

Ingredients
  

Chicken

  • 1 cup pineapple chunks (can use fresh, frozen, or canned)
  • 4 each leg quarters
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp ground all spice
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Rice Pilaf

  • 1 cup uncooked long-grained rice (for low carb option: use 4 cups of cauliflower rice)
  • 2 cups water (omit if using cauliflower rice)
  • 1/2 cup white onions (diced)
  • 2 each garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1/4 cup red bell pepper (diced)
  • 1/4 cup green onions (chopped)
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat oven to 400F. Marinate the chicken with the seasonings and coat with olive oil
  • Place the chicken in the oven for 35-45 minutes. Cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the rice pilaf. Add oil to a saucepan on medium-high heat.
  • Add the onions to the pot and saute until it softens and turns translucent, then add the garlic, bell peppers.
  • Next, add the rice and seasonings. Mix well until the rice is toasted and fully coated with the seasonings. Then add the green onions.
  • Pour in the water and bring it to a boil. Once it reaches a rolling boil, reduce the leat to low heat and let it simmer. Cover the pot with a lid and let it cook for 15-20 minutes until the rice is tender. (Note: If you are using cauliflower rice, omit the water. Just saute the cauliflower rice on medium high heat for about 5 to 7 minutes until it is cooked and tender)
  • Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork.
  • Serve the chicken with the rice pilaf. Top it off with fresh pineapple. Eat and enjoy!

Video

Easy Caribbean Chicken with Turmeric Rice Pilaf. This dish hits all the right spots with notes of sweet and savory flavors, coupled with a delicious rice side.

Notes

Note: After the chicken cooks, you can split the recipe in half and shred half of the chicken meat, and use it as your protein for a lunch salad or in a sandwich.

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Homemade Short Rib Noodle Soup Recipe

Pho, pronounced ‘fuh’,  is a hearty and comforting soup full of goodness and also has an array of health benefits. It originated in the early 20th century in Vietnam and has become a popular meal in America. The two most commonly known types are beef and chicken and served with hot broth and noodles.

Ease of Making: Easy

Traditionally, pho is cooked with lots of beef bones, extra veggies,  and cooks for a long period of time in order to create the rich broth and cozy blend of flavors that we all love.

For most of us cooking at home, we may not always have the time to make it all from scratch. So here is a version using the Instant Pot as a shortcut for your short rib noodle soup. 

The great thing about making pho at home is that you can really make it your own with your choice of noodles, choice of proteins, and pile it on with lots of fresh garnishes such as basil, green onions, freshly sliced white onions, bean sprouts, and lime. 

Meal Prep Tips for Instant Pot Short Rib Noodle Soup

Traditionally, pho is served with super-thinly sliced meat that is placed in the boiling hot broth right before you eat the meal. If you decide to go with this route, it will be easier to thinly slice the protein if you freeze the protein for about 45 minutes in the freezer and then slice it. However, for this recipe, we will be cooking the meat and bones in the Instant Pot with the broth. The bones and flavors from the meat will add to that rich flavor broth that we enjoy from traditional pho.

Pho is traditionally made with thin rice noodles, but if you’re looking for a pantry friendly ingredient, then you can use spaghetti just like in this recipe.

Now the important part of getting the “pho” broth flavor is making sure you use the spices normally used in pho. Star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, and coriander seeds. Now if you don’t normally use all these ingredients in all your daily cooking and don’t want to waste money on ingredients for a one time use, then be sure to at least have cloves and cardamom in the recipe. 

Lastly, the garnish toppings are what make the soup and make it feel and taste fresh against all the richness from the broth, meat, and noodles. 

Instant Pot Short Rib Noodle Soup

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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Vietnamese
Servings 4

Equipment

  • knife
  • cutting board
  • mallett
  • Instant Pot

Ingredients
  

  • 4-6 pieces short ribs
  • 1/4 cup green onions (diced)
  • 1/2 each white onions (sliced)
  • 3 each whole garlic cloves (peeled)
  • 1 each lemongrass stick
  • 4 oz shiitake mushrooms (sliced)
  • 2 cups bok choy (cut into chunks)
  • 2 each whole fresh basil leaves
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
  • 1 each whole clove
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 oz dry spaghetti pasta

Instructions
 

  • Place all the ingredients in the instant pot (but not the pasta). (Note: Crush the lemongrass with a mallett prior to placing in the pot. )
  • Close the lid and place the valve in the sealing position. Cook on high pressure setting for 35 minutes
  • Meanwhile, boil pasta according to package instructions. Once cooked, drain and set aside
  • When th beef has finished cooking, let it do a natural release for about 10 minutes before carefully switching the valve to a quick release. Carefully remove the lid.
  • Serve the soup on top of the noodles. Garnish with more fresh basil and other fresh veggies such as bell peppers.

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How to Make Homemade Ramen in Under 20 Minutes

Ramen is easily one of our favorite dishes at PrepYoSelf, especially heading into fall. As the weather cools there’s nothing better than a warm bowl of homemade ramen noodle soup.

Even better, our Easy Shrimp Ramen is loaded with healthy ingredients with powerful benefits like the antioxidants in mushrooms and vitamins in bok choy. Antioxidants can help protect you from free radicals that may cause heart disease and cancer. Cruciferous vegetables like Bok Choy, have also been known to decrease your risk of heart disease. 

Our easy-to-make ramen recipe combines the ease of pre-made broth and the flavors of traditional ramen. This recipe is easy to whip together for any cold day of the week or to make ahead as a grab and go option. 

Ease of Making: Easy

How to Cook This Homemade Shrimp Ramen Recipe

When it comes to ramen, the broth is everything. You really want to focus on making the shrimp ramen broth pack the biggest flavor punch possible. You can do this by combining fresh, flavorful ingredients and letting them simmer together. For this recipe, we use a pre-made chicken or vegetable broth for the sake of time but if you want to make your own ramen broth these are the steps you would take:

How to Make Ramen Broth

Generally, there are three types of ramen broth. One made from the broth of chicken carcasses, one from pork bones (called Tonkotsu), and the last a combination from chicken and dashi stock. 

Steps:

  • Pick your stock base
  • Add in your aromatic root vegetables like ginger, garlic, and green onion
  • Simmer the stock base, root vegetables and cold water for around 3 hours
  • Add your dashi and other ingredients like miso, shoyu or shio

What To Add To Shrimp Ramen

Making your own homemade shrimp ramen recipe bowl is truly a customizable experience and can satisfy even the pickiest eaters. While we love ours with green onion, mushrooms and bok choy, you could also add these to spruce up your shrimp ramen:

  • A soft boiled egg 
  • Meats – think lean slices of pork, beef or chicken that will cook quickly but still remain tender. 
  • Vegetables – practically any vegetable can work in ramen. Try it out with broccoli, carrots, or snap peas. 
  • Spices or Hot Sauce – If you want to make your ramen spicy, try adding some sriracha or red pepper to the mix for an added kick. 

Meal Prep Tips for Shrimp Ramen

  1. Storing your ramen – store your prepped broth and noodles separately so the noodles don’t get soggy in the fridge.
  2. Freeze your broth – feel like making a ton of broth ahead? Ramen broth freezes wonderfully. We like using muffin tins to freeze individual portions we can easily grab and heat up in the microwave.
  3. Mix up your toppings – There’s nothing worse in meal prep than the same dish over and over, try new veggies, toppings, and sauce mix each time you make this to switch it up. 

Easy Shrimp Ramen

Our easy-to-make ramen recipe combines the ease of pre-made broth and the flavors of traditional ramen. This recipe is easy to whip together for any cold day of the week or to make ahead as a grab and go option.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 1/4 cup green onions (diced)
  • 1/2 cup white onions (sliced)
  • 4 oz mushrooms (sliced)
  • 2 cups bok choy (chopped)
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 package ramen noodles (3 oz) (discard flavor packets)
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 /4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions
 

  • First, boil the chicken broth in the saucepot and add the soy sauce. Add the ramen noodles and boil for about 2 minutes until it is tender. Remove the ramen from the chicken broth and set it aside in bowls so that it does not continue to cook.
  • Then, add olive oil to a skillet/wok on medium high heat. Saute the green onions and white onions until they soften and turn translucent. Next, add the sliced mushrooms and saute until they soften.
  • Then, add the chopped bok choy and saute until they soften. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
  • At the end, add the shrimp and pour in the broth and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp fully cooks.
  • Then, pour the soup mixture on top of the ramen noodles. Sprinkle with sesame oil to your liking.

Video

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Easy Air Fryer Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

Our Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken recipe is the perfect mix of a sticky and sweet sauce coupled with deliciously crispy and healthy fried chicken. We use chicken thighs in this air fryer recipe but you could easily adjust to chicken breast or wings if you’d like. Our chicken teriyaki marinade is made up of classic Asian flavors like soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and honey. All of which combine to provide the perfect teriyaki taste for your dish.

Ease of Making: Medium

We’ve paired our teriyaki chicken with one of our favorite sauteed bok choy recipes, that is loaded with minerals and vitamins. Most notably Bok Choy is high in Vitamin C, K and A. This antioxidant rich vegetable may also reduce your risk of heart disease, fights inflammation and has anti-cancer properties.

Another great side dish for teriyaki chicken is our cauliflower fried rice, which is low in carbs but high in flavor. This recipe combines similar flavors and ingredients of the marinade and would go well with any piece of teriyaki chicken you make in the air fryer. 

How to Cook Teriyaki Chicken Using an Air Fryer

Teriyaki chicken is easy to conquer in the air fryer. All you have to do is place your marinated chicken in the air fryer and press the chicken setting on your fryer to cook.

How to Prepare Bok Choy

Many of you may be wondering, “what is bok choy?” If you’re not familiar with this cruciferous vegetable, it is in the same vegetable family as some more common veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and kale. This group of vegetables is most known for their cancer fighting qualities, low caloric value and high densities of vitamins K, C, E and fiber. 

How to Cut Bok Choy

Bok choy may look like a strange cousin to your average head of romaine lettuce but prepping this vegetable isn’t much different. 

  1. First, you’ll want to rinse your bok choy
  2. Remove the thick white stems by cutting them off with a knife
  3. Gather your bok choy leaves and cut into 1-inch strips

Meal Prep Tips for Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

  1. Marinate your meat for extra flavor and tenderness. By making your teriyaki marinated chicken ahead, you can have your meat soak up all the sauce for an extended amount of time for extra flavor. 
  2. Save some sauce. If you make your meat marinade ahead, save some on the side to brush your chicken with after it has cooked for a sweet and sticky glaze.
  3. Remove the fat from chicken thighs. If you’re looking for a recipe a little lower in fat, try removing the skin from your thigh.

Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken With Sauteed Bok Choy

Our Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken is the perfect mix of a sticky and sweet sauce coupled with deliciously crispy and healthy fried chicken. We use chicken thighs in this air fryer recipe but you could easily adjust to chicken breast or wings if you’d like. Our chicken teriyaki marinade is made up of classic asian flavors like soy sauce, ginger, garlic and honey. All of which combine to provide the perfect teriyaki taste for your dish.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

Teriyaki Chicken

  • 4 pieces chicken thighs
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce (or coco aminos)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp minced ginger
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Bok Choy

  • 4 cups chopped bok choy
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions
 

Pre-Cook (Mise En Place):

  • Gather your equipment: cutting board, knife, air fryer/oven, skillet/wok
  • if using oven: pre-heat to 400F
  • Marinate the chicken with all the seasonings for at least 30 minutes

Cooking Method:

  • Place the chicken in the air fryer and cook on the chicken setting. (Note: if using the oven, cook for 35-45 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F)
  • While the chicken is cooking, add olive oil to a skillet/wok on medium high heat.
  • Add the green onions and saute until they soften. Then add the bok choy and season with garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Keep stirring until the bok choy softens. At the end, drizzle with sesame oil and mix well.
  • Serve the chicken with the bok choy. Eat and enjoy!

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Mango Glazed Salmon with Red Pepper Couscous

Mango salmon is one of our favorite summertime dishes. Combining omega-3 rich salmon filets and our mango glaze, your taste buds will no doubt be wanting more. This recipe also calls for asparagus and couscous, giving you a perfectly balanced meal with healthy carbs, fats, and protein. The mango flavor pairs perfectly with salmon as the sweetness of the sauce balances the heartiness of the fish.

Asparagus is one of the best vegetables to pair with salmon because you can toss them both in the oven for the same cooking time and come out with a nicely timed meal, all on one sheet pan. Other vegetables that go well with salmon in the oven are green beans, squash, and peppers.

Easy of Making: Easy

Benefits of Salmon

Salmon boasts a wealth of nutritional benefits including B12, Vitamins A and D and Omega-3 fatty acids. While Vitamins A and D have been proven to help boost immunity and B12 keeps your body making DNA and nerves happy, the true hero of salmon is the Omega-3s. Omega-3s help keep the cardiovascular system in check, reducing artery inflammation, lowering cholesterol levels and maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

Salmon is also a fantastic option for your daily protein intake, providing high protein counts and low saturated fats. Protein is essential to the body to prevent muscle loss, and protect your bones, among various other benefits. 

Meal Prep Tips for Mango Glazed Salmon with Red Pepper Couscous

Choosing the right salmon filet:

Whether you’re shopping at your local fish market, or grocery store there are several tips for picking out the perfect filet of salmon to make for this recipe:

  1. Feel: Touch the salmon with your finger and check to make sure the flesh bounces back and does not leave a sign of your fingerprint. 
  2. Smell: Pick up your package and check for any smells that appear to be off. While salmon can have a fishy smell, ensure that your chosen package doesn’t smell spoiled or rotten. 
  3. See: Salmon should have a bright orange-red hue. Any salmon that starts to lose its color is likely past its prime. Another thing to look for is moisture, avoid any filets that appear to be dried out. 

How Long to Bake Mango Glazed Salmon

The exact timing for your salmon will depend on the thickness of your filet. We recommend starting with 10 minutes in the oven and then checking every minute thereafter. Salmon can overbake and dry out quickly so it’s important to keep an eye on it. The perfect salmon will flake to the touch of a fork or finger and be an opaque pink on the outside and slightly translucent in the center. 

Tip: When salting your salmon before baking, only do so right before adding to the oven. Doing too far in advance can draw out the moisture in the dish and leave you with a dry fish.

Mango Glazed Salmon with Red Pepper Couscous

This mango-glazed salmon recipe is quick and easy and full of flavor. It's the perfect busy weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Mediterranean
Servings 2

Equipment

  • knife
  • cutting board
  • sauce pot
  • sheet pan

Ingredients
  

Salmon and Asparagus

  • 12 oz salmon
  • 6 oz asparagus
  • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tbsp Saucy Lips Tangy Mango Sauce
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder or 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Couscous

  • 1/2 cup dry couscous
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup green onions (diced)
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper (diced)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder or 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat oven to 400F
  • Place salmon and asparagus on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Marinate salmon with hoisin sauce and mango sauce. Drizzle olive oil on the asparagus and mix well
  • Place salmon and asparagus in the oven for 10-12 minutes
  • Meanwhile, start cooking the couscous. Add oil to a heated sauce pan on medium high heat
  • Add green onions and green pepper to the sauce pan and saute until they soften.
  • Then, add water and bring it to a boil. Add the couscous and stir well. Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and let the couscous absorb all the water (about 7 to 10 minutes)
  • Once the couscous is cooked, fluff it with a fork.
  • Remove the salmon and asparagus from the oven and serve with the couscous. Eat and enjoy!

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Grilled Zesty Cilantro Chicken with Rice and Beans

Our Grilled Zesty Cilantro Chicken with Rice and Beans is a modern twist on a classic Mexican favorite, cilantro lime chicken. Using two sauces from one of our favorite Whole 30 condiment companies, Saucy Lips, this easy to make chicken recipe is packed full of nutrients and flavors and comes together in under 30 minutes.  Cilantro is commonly combined with chicken for seasoning and in marinades in southwestern, Mexican and Caribbean dishes. 

Ease of Making: Medium

Cilantro, also known as coriander, has many health benefits and is great for high blood sugar and type 2 diabetic diets. Although, the seeds, oils and extracts from coriander are so effective at lowering blood sugar that those with diabetes or on diabetes medication should practice caution when using this powerful plant. 

Our main protein in this easy cilantro recipe, chicken, is also loaded with nutritional benefits and is more cost effective than most other proteins. Chicken is a lean meat that provides a high amount of protein to help keep bones strong and build muscles. It is also a powerhouse provider of B6, which can help reduce the amount of homocysteine, one of the key components linked to heart attacks. If you’re looking for a heart healthy protein, this is it.

Meal Prep Tips for Grilled Zesty Cilantro Chicken with Rice and Beans

It is healthy to eat rice and beans together because they combine both carbs and proteins while being low in fat. In fact, many people around the world eat this as a tool for survival. While you cannot live off rice and beans for the long term, these dishes do provide a fantastic protein source and 9 amino acids. 

How to make black beans and rice:

  1. Heat oil and saute green onions until translucent
  2. Add rice and season, stir until rice is fully coated
  3. Add beans and water
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 20 minutes until rice is cooked

How many cups are in a can of beans:

Our recipe calls for one cup of beans, your average 15oz can of beans hold 1.75 cups of beans drained. So if you’re looking for extra ways to use your beans, try them in a soup, quesadilla, or on a salad. 

Grilled Zesty Cilantro with Rice and Beans

A quick and easy Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken recipe. The chicken is perfectly grilled on the outside and bursting with juices and flavor from the marinade on the inside.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

Chicken and Marinade

Rice and Beans

  • 1 cup uncooked rice
  • 1 cup kidney beans (or use your choice of beans: black beans, pinto beans, etc)
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups water

Instructions
 

Pre-Cook (Mise En Place):

  • Gather your equipment: cutting board, knife, bowl, grill pan, tongs, sauce pan, spatula
  • Chop the green onions and cilantro
  • Marinate the chicken with the sauces and seasonings for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking

Cooking Method:

  • Heat a grill pan to high heat for about 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the chicken to the pan. Lower the heat to medium high heat. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes on the first side to develop dark grill marks
  • Then, flip the chicken using tongs to cook the other side for 5 to 6 minutes. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F
  • Then, remove the chicken and let it rest before cutting it into bite size pieces
  • While the chicken is grilling, start cooking the rice by adding oil to a sauce pan on medium high heat. Add the green onions and saute until they soften and turn translucent
  • Next, add the rice and season with garlic powder and salt. Mix the rice well until it is fully coated with the oil and lightly toasts. Then add the beans
  • Pour the water and bring it to a boil. Once it comes a boil, cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low heat. Simmer the rice for about 20 minutes until the rice is tender
  • Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and mix in fresh cilantro
  • Serve rice with the chicken and enjoy!

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How To Make Pan-Fried Eggplant With Meat Sauce

eggplant and marinara sauce

Pan-fried eggplant with meat sauce is a delicious and healthy option if you’re craving the heartiness of an Italian meat but looking to reduce the carbs you would normally find with pasta as the main ingredient. The fried eggplant slices come to a golden crisp and are topped with our homemade sauce and of course, some cheese. 

Ease of Making: Medium

This eggplant milanese is brought together by dredging your eggplant in a combination of egg wash and seasoned breadcrumbs. You don’t need any flour to fry eggplant in this recipe. If you’re concerned about your eggplant absorbing oil when cooking, you can salt the eggplant or soak it in milk ahead of time to break down the plant and break down the porous structure of the plant. 

Eggplant has many fantastic benefits like increasing brain function, preventing anemia, helping with digestion and improving heart health. It’s high fiber content can lead the way to reducing the cholesterol in your system by binding it to the bile in your digestive system and removing it naturally. 

Preparing Your Eggplant for Cooking

Before you begin your cooking process, you’ll want to remove the stem, leaves and the top and bottom of the plant. You can leave the skin on or remove it, that’s totally up to you. For this recipe it is important to salt the eggplant. Salt helps bring out the extra moisture that can provide a mushy and soggy result when cooked. Slice your eggplant into circles and salt both sides, letting it sit on a kitchen towel or paper towel  for at least twenty minutes. 

Historically, eggplant was actually salted before cooking to reduce some of the bitter flavor that came with the plant. However, the eggplants we have now have mostly bred out the bitterness. 

What are the Different Types of Eggplant

There are countless varieties of eggplant that can vary widely in shape, size and even color. Most common at American grocery stores, is you guessed it, the American eggplant. This eggplant is also known as the globe eggplant and has a tougher, meatier texture than other eggplants. 

Some other varieties of eggplant:

Graffiti Eggplant – Slightly sweeter than the traditional eggplant, the graffiti eggplant is most recognizable by its purple and white striped skin. Which is why it is also known as striped eggplants.  This variation is great for eating pureeing, eating whole or substituting in for traditional eggplant if you need. 

Japanese Eggplant – Both the Japanese and Chinese eggplants vary from traditional varieties in their long, oblong shape. The Japanese variation of eggplant is deep in it’s purple color and has a creamy flesh that works great in stir frys. 

Fairy Tale Eggplant – Similar in color to the graffiti eggplant, the purple and white striped fairy tale eggplant is small and can fit in the palm of your hand. Due to the tender nature of this variety, it is wonderful for grilling. 

White Eggplant – There isn’t a lot of difference between the classic American eggplant or  “Globe Eggplant” other than the color that the plant is wrapped in. Both the  white and American eggplant have a  smooth creamy skin and meaty flesh. These are great for both bread and protein substitutes. 

Indian Eggplant – The Indian Eggplant is a dark, reddish-purple in color and more spherical than other varieties you may come across. The texture in the Indian eggplant is different from other varieties as it is more tender, making it perfect for roasting, soups, stews and more. 

Little Green Eggplant – A fantastic eggplant for baking, the little green eggplant, is a bright green variety of this “fruit” and is most known for being mild and sweet in flavor. 

Thai Eggplant – Thai eggplant is round, small in size, and traditionally hard to find. These miniature eggplants are typically a greenish-white color with a light pink flesh. Most notably, Thai eggplant is more bitter than other varieties, to remove some of the bitterness you can try removing the seeds. If you’re able to score some at your local market, try throwing a few in our recipe for Thai Red Beef Curry.

There are countless other varieties and heirloom versions of each that are available to eggplant lovers across the world. Try experimenting with the various types when you’re making something new and see which you like best!

Eggplant FAQ

What is the best time of year for eggplant?

Eggplant is available year-round but it’s peak season runs from July to October. 

How to store eggplant?

Eggplants can’t withstand temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit so storing in the refrigerator can sometimes be counterproductive. If you choose to do so, store it in the vegetable drawer or the warmest part of your fridge. Eggplants can also be kept out of the fridge, which may actually help increase their lifespan. Store in an area that is cool and away from direct sunlight. 

How to choose an eggplant?

Due to the fact that there are many varieties of eggplants and each is slightly different, a general rule of thumb is to look for a firm, shiny skin. Avoid eggplants that have started to wrinkle or have soft, brown spots on their skin.  Eggplants should feel heavy and not hollow. 

Is eggplant a fruit or vegetable?

Most people are under the assumption that eggplants are vegetables, but in fact they are fruits!

Do I need to peel eggplant before cooking?

Nope! The skin on eggplant is entirely edible and removing it is more of a preference of the person eating it.

Meal prep tips for Pan-Fried Eggplant

  • Salt your eggplant – this will help reduce moisture and prevent a soggy outcome. 
  • When reheating your pan-fried eggplant, toss it in the oven or an air fryer if you have one to crisp it back up.
  • Soak in milk – soak your eggplant for up to an hour before cooking to help reduce oil absorption when frying. 
  • Microwave before cooking – this is another tactic for reducing oil absorption when frying, as pre-cooking helps break down the spongy texture. 
eggplant and marinara

Pan-Fried Eggplant with Meat Sauce

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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 2

Equipment

  • knife
  • cutting board
  • spatula
  • saute pan

Ingredients
  

Meat Sauce

  • 10 oz lean ground beef
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 1/4 cup white onions (diced)
  • 1/2 each green bell pepper (cubed)
  • 1/2 each red bell pepper (cubed)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper

Eggplant

  • 1/2 each eggplant
  • 1 each large eggs
  • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions
 

Meatsauce

  • Add olive oil to a saute pan on medium high heat and saute the onions and bell peppers until they soften
  • Add the ground beef and break it into pieces. Saute until it is golden brown and fully cooked (about 5 to 7 minutes)
  • Next, add the marinara sauce and mix it well. Let it simmer on low for 5 to 7 minutes

Eggplant

  • Next, slice the eggplant into 1/2 inch rounds
  • Prepare the egg wash by scrambling the eggs in a bowl large enough to fit the eggplant
  • Prepare the breadcrumbs and seasonings in another large bowl
  • Dip the eggplant slices in the egg wash, then dredge it in the breadcrumbs, making sure all sides are fully coated
  • In another pan, add oil on medium high heat and place the eggplant slices in the pan
  • Cook on each side for about 2 to 3 minutes until it is golden brown all around
  • Top off the eggplant slices with the meat sauce

Notes

Optional: Top it off with shredded parmesan cheese

Links to other recipes:

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Easy One-Pot Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Chicken Spaghetti

If there is anything more satisfying than a big serving of pasta goodness, it’s not having to clean the entire kitchen afterwards. Our healthy one-pot spaghetti & chicken recipe ticks both of those boxes. It is not only scrumptious but can be made in just one pot! 

Ease of Making: Medium

One pot pasta meals are a go-to when it comes to meal prepping because you’re reducing the amount of stovetop and oven space needed to complete it. However, this recipe will take about an hour to complete, as the chicken needs to be cooked ahead of the spaghetti in the pot in order to prevent contamination. But trust us, it’s worth the wait. 

If you’re looking for a quick one pot meal, try one of these:

How to Make One-Pot Chicken Spaghetti

There are a few steps you’ll want to take ahead of time to make sure this one-pot wonder turns out as delicious as it sounds. 

  1. Get your base boiling. Add the chicken stock and spaghetti sauce to your pot and heat it over a medium-high heat until boiling. 
  2. Meanwhile, remove your chicken breasts from the package and cut off any fat bits that may have been left in the butchering process. This will help reduce the oiliness of your pasta and sauce. 
  3. Add your chicken to the boiling broth and sauce mixture and reduce the heat to a low-medium. Cover the pot with a lid. The chicken should cook for at 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees fahrenheit, the safe cooking temperature for all chicken. 
  4. Toss in the remaining ingredients and cook for an additional 15 minutes. It’s important you make sure all of the pasta is covered so that it can cook properly.
  5. Once your pasta is cooked, turn off the heat. Leave everything but the chicken in the pot. Remove chicken and shred with a fork. At this point it will be super tender and this should be easy. 
  6. Return the chicken to the pot and mix it around with the rest of the ingredients inside of the pot. 
  7. Time to serve your creamy chicken spaghetti! Top with parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes for an extra pop.

Chicken spaghetti is an easy go-to meal, especially in the winter, providing a hearty warm meal for days to come. 

FAQ for One-Pot Chicken Spaghetti

Can you freeze leftover chicken spaghetti?

Absolutely! We like to prep the dish the same as above and then store in a casserole dish in the freezer. This way you can pop it in the oven to reheat. 

What is a good side for chicken spaghetti?

While the chicken spaghetti dish is hearty enough on its own, you may like to have a simple garden salad on the side. 

How long is chicken spaghetti good for?

Properly stored, chicken spaghetti can last 3-5 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Chicken Spaghetti

One-Pot Chicken Spaghetti

Juicy chicken, nutritious vegetables and a rich broth all cooked in one pot, make this dish an absolute wonder for weeknight meals or prep ahead entrees
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4

Equipment

  • knife
  • cutting board
  • spatula
  • large soup pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb chicken breast
  • 24 oz spaghetti sauce
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 8 oz dry spaghetti (normally 1/2 a box)
  • 8 oz mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 cup frozen spinach (defrosted)
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (sliced)

Instructions
 

  • Add chicken broth and spaghetti sauce to a large pot and bring it to a boil on medium high heat.
  • Next, add the chicken breasts. Once the pot comes a boil, reduce the heat to low to medium heat and bring it to a simmer. Then cover the pot. Cook the chicken for 30 minutes (until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F).
  • Then, add the pasta, mushrooms, and spinach. Add more water if the sauce is too dry. Mix well so that the pasta is submerged in the sauce. Cook for another 15 minutes until the pasta is fully cooked.
  • Lastly, remove the chicken from the sauce and shred it with a knife and fork into bite size pieces.
  • Assemble the spaghetti with the pasta and chicken. Top it off with fresh cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese to your preferred amount. Eat and enjoy!

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