Chef notes
Don’t write chicken breast off as a boring or bland dinner option when it has the potential to be so much more! We’re turning up the flavor on this affordable and healthy protein with this spicy recipe from cookbook author Kevin Curry. It’s healthy, easy and more delicious than your typical takeout.
Keep this quick and simple recipe on hand to cook after your next long workday, and we’re certain it will quickly become part of your regular dinner rotation. Chicken breasts are seasoned with coconut sugar, salt and pepper, then seared in a skillet on the stovetop until fully cooked. They’re then dressed in a simple sauce made with butter, Sriracha and garlic. While the sauce is made with just three ingredients, it gets plenty of flavor from fragrant garlic and fiery Sriracha, which is then balanced with rich butter.
After the chicken is cooked and sauced, Curry then takes the flavors in this dish to the next level by whipping together an easy mango-avocado salsa that’s dressed with lemon juice and herbs. The sweetness of the salsa helps to tame the fiery chicken.
Serve it with pasta, grains, potatoes or vegetables for a complete meal.
Swap Option: Use any type of seafood in place of the chicken. Be sure to adjust the cook time as necessary. For a less spicy option, use your favorite barbecue sauce in place of Sriracha.
Get Ingredients: If you don’t have everything you need on hand, you can easily purchase all of the ingredients (just click the orange button below that says ‘Get Ingredients’). You can pick and choose exactly what ingredients you need based on what’s in your pantry and they’ll be on your doorstep before you know it.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breasts, 2-inch dice
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1 pinch kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- cooking spray
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 tablespoons Sriracha
- fresh parsley, finely chopped, for garnish
- 1 large mango, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 large avocado, pitted and diced
- juice from 1 lemon
- finely chopped parsley, cilantro or basil (optional)
Preparation
1.Season chicken with coconut sugar, salt and pepper.
2.Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly spray with oil, then add the chicken. Sear for 4 to 6 minutes for chicken. Flip the chicken and continue to cook for another 5 to 7 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 F. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
4.Reduce the heat to low, then add butter, Sriracha and garlic. Stir immediately, then add the chicken back to the skillet and gently fold into the sauce.
5.Make the salsa: in a small bowl, combine the mango, avocado, lemon juice and herbs (if using).
6.Serve the chicken over a bed of quinoa or cauliflower rice and top with avocado-mango salsa.
