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Author:

Kevin Curry

Lighter Cheddar Chicken Broccoli & Brown Rice

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Lighter Cheddar Chicken Broccoli & Brown Rice

Ingredients for 5 servings

* Optional Substitution Note

  • Chicken
    • 1 1/2 lb chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
    • pinch of sea salt  & pepper
    • 1 tablespoon The Fit Cook Everyday blend
      • Substitute: 2 teaspoons onion powder + 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • spray olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can (~14oz) lite coconut milk
  • 4oz water (or low sodium chicken broth)
  • 6oz reduced fat Mexican blend cheese
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 3 cups cooked brown rice, long or medium grain (I used frozen brown rice as a time saver)
  • 2 cups broccoli florets OR thick chopped asparagus
  • Garnish
    • red pepper flakes

Steps

Step 1

Season chicken breast with seasonings.  Set a carbon steel skillet on medium high heat and once hot add the chicken.  Cook for 6 – 8 minutes or until  the edges of the chicken are seared and the chicken has been cooked through.  Set the chicken aside.

Step 2

Reduce the heat to medium, then add olive oil, onion and garlic.  Cook for 2 – 3 minutes until the onions turn brown and translucent.

Step 3

Add the coconut milk, water and cheese and continuously stir to melt the cheese and thicken into a sauce.  Sprinkle in smoked paprika for added flavor.  Let it gently simmer for 2-3 minutes before adding the rice and broccoli.  Pro-tip: for the best results with broccoli, lightly steam it in the microwave for 2 minutes before adding to the recipe.

Step 4

Fold everything together and add more liquid (water, broth or coconut milk) as needed for consistency.  Lastly fold in the cooked chicken and cook on low heat for  1 -3  minutes  in order to soften the broccoli.

Step 5

Season to taste  with sea salt & pepper.

Step 6

Garnish and enjoy!

Lighter Cheddar Chicken Broccoli & Brown Rice

Kevin Curry


Prep 5min
Cook 20min
Total 25min

Category
Calories 510

  • Chicken
    • 1 1/2 lb chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
    • pinch of sea salt  & pepper
    • 1 tablespoon The Fit Cook Everyday blend
      • Substitute: 2 teaspoons onion powder + 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • spray olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can (~14oz) lite coconut milk
  • 4oz water (or low sodium chicken broth)
  • 6oz reduced fat Mexican blend cheese
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 3 cups cooked brown rice, long or medium grain (I used frozen brown rice as a time saver)
  • 2 cups broccoli florets OR thick chopped asparagus
  • Garnish
    • red pepper flakes

  1. Season chicken breast with seasonings.  Set a carbon steel skillet on medium high heat and once hot add the chicken.  Cook for 6 – 8 minutes or until  the edges of the chicken are seared and the chicken has been cooked through.  Set the chicken aside.

  2. Reduce the heat to medium, then add olive oil, onion and garlic.  Cook for 2 – 3 minutes until the onions turn brown and translucent.

  3. Add the coconut milk, water and cheese and continuously stir to melt the cheese and thicken into a sauce.  Sprinkle in smoked paprika for added flavor.  Let it gently simmer for 2-3 minutes before adding the rice and broccoli.  Pro-tip: for the best results with broccoli, lightly steam it in the microwave for 2 minutes before adding to the recipe.

  4. Fold everything together and add more liquid (water, broth or coconut milk) as needed for consistency.  Lastly fold in the cooked chicken and cook on low heat for  1 -3  minutes  in order to soften the broccoli.

  5. Season to taste  with sea salt & pepper.

  6. Garnish and enjoy!

Nutrition per serving

Calories510cal
Protein43g
Fats21g
Carbs34g
Sodium580mg
Fiber4g
Sugar2g
3.5
(Based on 2 reviews)

Reviews

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Rate the recipe:

    1. thanks for letting me know. I can revisit the recipe but 3 cups isn’t that much. Hmmm…I’ll investigate and update the recipe if needed!

  1. Sep 10 2023

    This is one of my husband’s and my new favorites for Sunday night dinner and meal prep for a couple of days.

Details

Prep 5min
Cook 20min
Total 25min

Nutrition per serving

Calories510cal
Protein43g
Fats21g
Carbs34g
Sodium580mg
Fiber4g
Sugar2g
About Kevin - author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hey, I'm Kevin

My name is Kevin. My life changed when I realized that healthy living is a lifelong journey, mainly won by having a well-balanced diet and maintaining an active lifestyle.

By experimenting in the kitchen and sharing my meals on Tumblr, I learned healthy eating is not boring! By making a few adjustments to my favorite foods, I could design a diet that could help me achieve my wellness goals while satisfying my desire for BANGIN food! 😅 Now I try to help people around the world realize that same level of freedom in eating regardless of budget. Welcome, let's #DemocratizeWellness together!