The perfect summer meal should be loaded with flavor and include fresh veggies! Our friend Megan Hutson of @mamaofwholelittles has shared with us how she puts together this delicious, veggie filled recipe for Grilled Chicken with RedRoyals in less than 30 minutes that will sure to be a hit this summer. Not only is it quick to get on the table so you can spend more time with your family, but it’s full of nutrients to keep you going on all your summer adventures.
Hello! I am Megan Hutson back with another amazingly easy weeknight recipe that you are sure to love this summer, but really, it’s perfect all year long! As a mother of three kids and one on the way, this entire meal is one that I always keep in the back of my mind so that I can throw together a healthy meal for my family – even on the days when I have a sick kid, listened to meltdowns the entire day, or I just want to spend the afternoon enjoying summer fun with my kids instead of slaving away in the kitchen.
If you’re like most families, you probably have one (or more!) picky eaters to impress at mealtimes, and it can be hard to have a time where everyone comes, and leave, the dinner table happy. Asparagus is one green vegetable that my entire family is happy with! First, it is my picky husband’s favorite veggie, which in turn makes it more appealing to my toddlers. Second, there are so many fun tricks you can play with asparagus at the dinner table to encourage your kids to engage with it, making them more likely to take their first bite!
My husband is usually the fun one at the dinner table and he loves to race to see who can eat their asparagus first, pretending they are eating worms, count how many bites it takes to eat an entire asparagus spear and since all my kids’ names start with “A” , we name all the words we can think of that start with “A” – like asparagus, Addison or astronaut! Do you know that eating vegetables can also be educational? Now you do!
Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes On-the-Vine add an extra layer of refreshing flavor, fun and exposure to this meal. My five year old, who is the pickiest eater of the group, has always loved tomatoes, especially Pure Flavor® Sangria Medley® Tomatoes and Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes. When she tried the RedRoyals® for the first time, she said “Mommy, these tomatoes are literally so good… and I feel like I am eating grapes!” I figured that the vines would add some fun to the tomatoes, and not to mention some extra fine motor skill practice when pulling the tomatoes off, which is crucial to toddler development.
If you or your kids aren’t crazy about tomatoes, I highly recommend trying them in this recipe. The light roasting of these round and sweet tomatoes gives them a deeper flavor, but less of a “tomato-y” texture, making them more palatable alongside the chicken and asparagus.
Let’s get into the details of this meal! As I mentioned above, it’s really the perfect weeknight meal, but also a great option for a crowd because it’s so easy. It’s even great for meal prep! Asparagus and tomatoes take only 12-15 minutes to roast, making it very easy to throw together quickly and with just a little olive oil, salt and pepper, you are sure to have everything you need on hand every time.
One of the first things to know about asparagus is how to pick it out at the grocery store and prepare it for cooking. We personally prefer a thinner asparagus because it roasts quicker and has a better texture, so I always grab the thinnest stalks that have no visible moisture and the cleanest tops. Asparagus usually comes with a rubber band on the top and bottom. The bottoms tend to be very stiff and tough, so it is best to chop off right at the rubber band line before separating.
Now you’re ready to toss and roast! Toss the trimmed asparagus with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper, then top with Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes On-the-Vine and put them in the oven. While the asparagus and tomatoes are roasting, you can prepare and grill your chicken. I don’t have anything fancy, I just use an electric indoor grill. It only takes a couple of minutes to heat up, only 7 minutes to grill the chicken and I still get those amazing grill lines that everyone loves!
My biggest tip for getting grilled chicken evenly cooked is to use a meat tenderizer to beat it flat before seasoning and cooking. It works perfectly every time! I use a homemade chicken seasoning, but you can use your favorite store bought too. With the minimal prep involved, the chicken should be done cooking right about the time that the asparagus and tomatoes are done, and you’ve got a fresh, warm meal ready to serve your family! Serve or pack into meal prep containers with your favorite dipping sauce, like BBQ sauce or honey mustard, and enjoy!
To get the full recipe, click here.
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