On the hunt for a recipe that’s healthy, unique, AND absolutely delicious? Aren’t we all! Finding the time to create a meal that hits all the nutritional checkmarks while also being tasty can be difficult – especially as a working mom. Sure, we all can keep it simple with baked chicken and veggies, but will that always keep the tastebuds happy? Absolutely not. Your body needs variety in order to get the most nutrition out of your meals. After all, the best way to keep consistent on a healthy diet is finding unique spins on everyday recipes!
With its zesty and healthy attributes, this Creamy Avocado Lime Chicken Skillet is sure to be a hit at home! The recipe combines the goodness of lean protein from chicken and healthy fats from nutrient packed avocados. Today we are only covering the sauce and chicken, but the meal pairs well with practically anything. I prefer sauteed vegetables and rice since the sauce and smokiness from the seared chicken pairs very well with it. Other good options include beans, corn, quinoa or salad.
To start, make the chicken. Let it come to room temperature and season with salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic powder. I find a skillet seared or grilled chicken breast to work best. For this recipe, either pounding a thick chicken breast very thin or cutting it in half lengthwise works best in order to get the flavor infused all the way through the chicken. I use avocado oil for this one to really infuse the chicken with flavor, but coconut or olive oil will work fine too. Grill or sear on medium-high heat for about 5 minutes per side. Add a splash of lime juice halfway through while it’s cooking. Remove to a plate to rest while we make the sauce.
Next, it’s time to make the sauce. Since I am trying to keep this healthy, I am going to use Greek yogurt, but let’s be honest – it’s a little better with sour cream. Choose whatever sounds best to you because after all, modifying for taste preference is the best part of cooking! In a food processor, add 2 ripe avocados, juice from 1 lime, 1 cup of Greek yogurt, 2 cloves minced garlic (or a teaspoon of garlic powder if you’re on a time crunch), ½ teaspoon of cumin and ¼ teaspoon of pepper and salt to taste. Blend until creamy.
And that’s it! This should all take about 25 minutes to make which is perfect for weeknight meals. The sauce will keep for 2-3 days and the chicken 3-4 days in the refrigerator. If you want an extra boost of flavor, I recommend marinating but to be completely honest – each time I’ve marinated skinless chicken breast I’ve noticed very little difference. I find marinades work best with meats that hold fat such as red meat, pork shoulder, chicken thighs, etc. Chicken breast simply does not have enough fat to really lock in flavor from a marinade unless it has fatty skin still attached. It’s best just to season. Enjoy!
Avocado Lime Chicken Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp avocado oil coconut or olive oil to substitute
- 1 tbsp lime juice
Avocado Lime Sauce
- 2 whole avocados pitted
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt sour cream to substitute
- 1 bunch cilantro use a small handful
- 1 lime
- 2 cloves garlic garlic powder to substitute
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp pepper to taste
Instructions
- Allow chicken to come to room temperature and cut in half lengthwise. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic powder.
- Heat cast iron skillet to medium high heat and drizzle oil once temperature has been reached. Place chicken into skillet and cook through (roughly 5 minutes per side). Squeeze juice from lime onto chicken when halfway cooked.
- Remove from heat and tent with foil. Allow to rest.
- In a food processor, add 2 peeled/pitted avocados, cilantro, lime juice, greek yogurt, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Serve chicken with a side of your choice and drizzle with avocado lime sauce. Top with freshly cracked pepper and a dash of chopped cilantro.
- Enjoy!