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One-Skillet Chicken Caprese

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You will love this easy one skillet chicken Caprese recipe.  We have taken all of the flavor elements you will find in a traditional Caprese salad and paired them with versatile chicken thighs to create this quick and easy one pan chicken dinner recipe your entire family is going to love. 
Easy One Pan Chicken Dinner
Bright colorful cherry tomatoes and juicy tender chicken thighs topped with melted fresh mozzarella cheese make this dish ALMOST too beautiful to eat. The simple one skillet preparation means clean up is a breeze.

Easy enough for a weeknight dinner, yet elegant enough for entertaining. The perfect dish!

This quick, easy and delicious recipe is part of our all new Family Favorites Menu Plans.
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Easy One Skillet Chicken Caprese

Easy enough for a weeknight dinner, yet elegant enough for entertaining. The perfect dish!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Easy Dinner Recipe, Easy One Pan Chicken Dinner Recipe, Easy One Skillet Chicken Caprese, Family Favorite, Family Favorites Recipe, Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6
Author Menu Planning Central

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 3 T. extra virgin olive oil divided
  • 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1-1/2 T. Italian seasoning divided
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3 T. unsalted butter
  • 1/4 c. chicken broth preferably organic
  • 1/2 c. multi-colored cherry tomatoes quartered (see Quick Tip)
  • 8 oz. fresh Mozzarella cheese sliced
  • 1/2 t. red pepper flakes

Optional garnish:

  • Sprigs fresh basil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat.
  3. Rub the chicken thighs with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle both sides with one tablespoon Italian seasoning. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and transfer to the hot skillet.
  4. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until the chicken develops a golden crust. Remove from heat and add butter, chicken broth, and cherry tomatoes. Top each chicken thigh with a slice of fresh Mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes and remaining Italian seasoning. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
  5. Transfer skillet into pre-heated oven and roast for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and the Mozzarella is melted. Remove from oven and allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes.
  6. To serve, top chicken with some pan sauce and fresh basil sprigs, if desired. Serve immediately with loaded cauliflower au gratin for a complete LCHF meal or your choice of sides. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Quick Tip: Multi-color tomatoes are suggested for the best visual appeal. Feel free to substitute any fresh tomatoes of choice.

Easy One Pan Chicken Dinner

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Delicious Shrimp Saganaki

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When you need an absolutely knock your socks off, quick & easy appetizer to serve, try this Easy Shrimp Saganaki recipe. The flavor is just so beautiful. It is one of my all time favorite Greek appetizers. Once you try it, it will become one of yours too! I love to serve it with lots and lots of crusty bread to scoop up every last drop of the marvelous savory tomato sauce. 

Quick & Easy Shrimp DinnerOne thing I really love about this dish is that when you are looking for a quick & easy shrimp dinner recipe idea, this is your perfect choice as well.  Simply adding some hot fresh linguine enables you to have a gorgeous main course on the table in no time at all. If you feel you would like a little something extra, you can kick it up yet another notch by adding a complimentary side salad featuring the stars of this dish, Kalamata olives, tomatoes and feta cheese.  And oh, by the way, did I mention… don’t forget lots and lots of crusty bread.

This quick, easy and delicious recipe is part of our Family Favorites Menu Plans.

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Easy Shrimp Saganaki

Easy Shrimp Saganaki recipe tastes great and is quick and easy to make.

Course Appetizer
Cuisine Greek
Keyword Easy Appetizer, Easy Shrimp Saganaki, Family Favorites Recipe, Greek Shrimp, Quick & Easy Shrimp Dinner, Shrimp Appetizer
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Author Menu Planning Central

Ingredients

  • 3 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2-3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 medium red onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 c. dry white wine
  • 1 15- oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 c. Kalamata olives chopped
  • 1 t. dried dill
  • 1 t. dried Greek oregano
  • 1/2 t. crushed red chili flakes
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 lb. large 16/20 ct. shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • 3 T. fresh parsley leaves chopped and divided
  • 4 oz. Feta cheese crumbled

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes, or until the onion softens and starts to turn golden brown.
  2. Add white wine to deglaze the bottom of the skillet, scraping up any brown bits with a spatula.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and add crushed tomatoes, olives, dill, oregano, and red chili flakes. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
  4. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp and 2 tablespoons of the parsley. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until shrimp just turns pink. Do not overcook the shrimp.
  5. Remove from heat and adjust seasonings, to taste. To serve, transfer to a serving dish and top with remaining fresh parsley and crumbled Feta cheese. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Optional Quick & Easy Shrimp Dinner Idea - To upgrade this delicious appetizer into a quick and easy dinner, just add fresh hot cooked linguine.

Quick & Easy Shrimp Dinner

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Easy Instant Pot Carnitas

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This Easy Instant Pot® Carnitas recipe turns out soooo tender and juicy and is loaded with so much flavor.  

This pressure cooker Mexican carnitas recipe is extremely versatile allowing the fall-apart-tender pork to be served in so many different ways. The beautifully seasoned, tender Mexican pork is delicious on its own, but a few of my favorite ways to serve it is in festive tacos, healthy lettuce wraps, in salads, or even served over rice.

The instructions for this recipe include a couple of optional steps that can be omitted if you are crunched for time. For example, the aromatic blend of onion, jalapeno, and garlic does not need to be sautéed before cooking the pork, but doing so deepens and releases the most flavor. Additionally, the pork can be shredded and served as soon as it is finished cooking. The extra step of tossing it with some of that gorgeous cooking liquid and broiling under high heat delivers the golden delicious, crispy edges found in traditional carnitas recipes.  You could, of course, skip this step, but I highly recommend taking the extra few minutes.  It really brings out the very best flavor!

This easy and delicious recipe is part of our Family Favorites Menu Plans.
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Pressure Cooker Mexican Carnitas

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Instant Pot® Carnitas

Easy Instant Pot® Carnitas recipe. Juicy, tender, and loaded with great Mexican flavor.
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Easy Dinner Recipe, Easy Instant Pot® Carnitas, Instant Pot Recipes, Pressure Cooker Mexican Carnitas
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Approx. NPR Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 4
Author Menu Planning Central

Ingredients

  • 3/4 c. chicken broth preferably organic
  • 3/4 c. fresh orange juice approximately 2 large oranges
  • 3 T. lime juice
  • 1 T. chili powder
  • 1/2 t. smoked paprika
  • 1 t. dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 t. ground cumin
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2-3 T. extra virgin olive oil divided
  • 3-1/2 - 4 lbs. pork shoulder roast trimmed and cut into 6-8 chunks
  • 1 medium red onion diced
  • 1 medium jalapeno diced
  • 2-3 cloves fresh garlic peeled and chopped

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together chicken broth, fresh orange juice, and lime juice with the chili powder, smoked paprika, Mexican oregano, and ground cumin. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and set aside.

  2. Push the “Sauté” button on Instant Pot®. Once the display reads “On,” add 1 tablespoon olive oil and half the pork shoulder pieces to the container. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and cook until pork is browned on all sides, approximately 1-2 minutes per side.  Note: DO NOT use lid while using the “Sauté” function on an Instant Pot®!

  3. Once browned, transfer seared pork to a plate and repeat this process with additional olive oil and the rest of pork. Remove browned pork from the Instant Pot and set aside.
  4. *Optional Step: Add remaining tablespoon olive oil to the container, along with red onion, jalapeno, and fresh garlic. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
  5. Add browned pork back to the pot and pour chicken broth/orange juice mixture over top. Add lid and seal, making sure the steam release handle is positioned toward “Sealing.”
  6. Press the “Manual” button and set the time to 30 minutes at high pressure. Once the cooking time is up, allow 20-25 minutes for the “natural release” of the steam inside the Instant Pot®. After that time, perform a manual “quick release” to vent any remaining steam to release lid, if necessary.
  7. A few minutes before the steam is fully released, preheat oven broiler to high and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Transfer pork to the prepared baking sheet and gently shred with two forks. Drizzle with ¼ cup juices from the Instant Pot® and toss to combine before spreading into a thin, even layer.
  8. Place pork under broiler for 4-5 minutes, then remove from oven and add a little more juice before turning the meat to brown the other side. Place back under broiler for another 4-5 minutes or until the pork is nice and crispy on the edges.
  9. Once pork is under the broiler, press “Sauté” on the Instant Pot to reduce the cooking liquid by one half while the pork is broiling.

  10. When finished broiling, remove baking sheet from oven and serve immediately with the reduced cooking liquid, fresh lime wedges, and chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Important - Different Instant Pot® models and other electric pressure cookers offer different features and buttons. (These instructions are for the IP-Duo series).

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Pressure Cooker Mexican Carnitas

 

Apple & Herb Stuffed Pork Chops

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This easy apple stuffed pork chop recipe is a delicious and healthy meal your whole family will love!

Each and every bite of these delicious apple stuffed pork chops is loaded with incredible flavor. The fresh rosemary and lemon zest lend a light citrus nuance, while the apple and cinnamon add a depth of warmth to this dish. These easy apple stuffed pork chops are an enjoyable and healthy meal your whole family will request over and over again.

 

This easy and delicious recipe is part of our Family Friendly Menu Plans.
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Apple & Herb Stuffed Pork Chops


Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword Apple Stuffed Pork Chop, Easy Apple Stuffed Pork Chops, Easy Dinner Recipe, Easy Dinner Recipes, Family Favorites Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4
Author MenuPlanningCentral.com

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 3 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 small yellow onion diced small
  • 2-3 fresh garlic cloves finely minced
  • 2 c. kale leaves stems removed, finely chopped
  • 1 large apple diced small
  • 1 t. ground cinnamon
  • 2 t. organic lemon zest
  • 2 T. fresh rosemary leaves finely minced
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 4 1 ” thick-cut bone-in pork chops

Instructions

  1. Place top oven rack in center position and pre-heat oven to 375°F.
  2. Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large, ovenproof skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and fragrant, around 4-5 minutes.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and add another tablespoon of olive oil. Add the kale, apple, cinnamon, lemon zest, and fresh rosemary to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apple is soft and the kale is just wilted, approximately 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine. Remove from heat and transfer apple mixture to a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  4. With a sharp knife, carefully make a slit through the center of each pork chop to form a pocket. Do not cut all the way through. Divide the apple-rosemary filling between the 4 pork chops and secure the openings with toothpicks to hold the stuffing inside.
  5. Return the skillet to medium-high heat and add remaining olive oil. Sear the pork chops on both sides until golden brown, around 3-4 minutes per side. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
  6. Transfer the skillet with the pork chops to the pre-heated oven and roast until the pork chops are cooked through, around 15-20 minutes or until an instant read thermometer (aff.link) inserted in the center reads 145°F.
  7. Allow pork chops to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving with your favorite side dish. Enjoy!

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Easy Apple Stuffed Pork Chops

 

Instant Pot Savory Thai Chicken Thighs

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Affordable Thai Chicken ThighsThese savory Thai chicken thighs are perfect when you are looking for a quick and delicious dinner recipe.  This affordable Thai chicken thigh recipe is made in your Instant Pot®, which means you can serve this dish on this busy weeknights. (Using chicken thighs in this recipe keeps it affordable, moist and juicy). If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, they can be shredded to make easy, healthy lettuce wraps for lunch the next day.   

Instant Pot® Success Tip: Liquid ratio matters so be sure to add enough liquid to the peanut sauce prior to cooking. If the sauce is too thick, the Instant Pot® may not reach proper pressure. If you decide to add more peanut butter, you will want to be sure you adjust the amount of liquid also.

Tip: To get the nice browning effect shown in these images, transfer the chicken thighs to a large, rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil after cooking. Brush each side generously with the peanut sauce and place under a broiler set to high for 2-3 minutes or until nicely browned.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes (+ time to come to pressure)
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

2 T. sesame oil
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2/3 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. sugar-free peanut butter
1/4 c. gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos
2 T. fresh lime juice
2 T. honey, preferably local
1-1/2 T. Sriracha sauce
2 t. fresh ginger
1 t. garlic powder
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Garnish:

Fresh cilantro, chopped
½ c. roasted peanuts, chopped
3-4 green onions, cut into thin slices

Directions:

  1. Add sesame oil to Instant Pot® and set the “Sauté” setting to high. Working in batches, brown the chicken thighs, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Repeat this process with remaining thighs. Remove and set aside on a platter.
  2. Pour chicken broth into hot container and gently scrape up brown bits from bottom. Add peanut butter to the hot liquid and stir until completed melted. Add soy sauce, lime juice, honey, Sriracha sauce, ginger, and garlic powder. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir to combine.
  3. Add the metal rack to the Instant Pot® and place the browned chicken thighs on top.
  4. Add lid and lock into place. Switch vent to “Sealing” position and set the “Manual” setting on high before adjusting the cook time to 10 minutes. After a brief pause, the Instant Pot® will automatically start building pressure.
  5. When finished, do a quick release (QR) to allow the pressure to escape. Unlock and carefully remove lid when finished and transfer the chicken to a platter.
  6. Optional: To thicken sauce, select the “Sauté” setting and heat, stirring continually, until the excess liquid is reduced and the sauce reaches the desired consistency.
  7. Turn Instant Pot® off and return the chicken thighs and the juices that accumulated on the platter to the sauce and turn to coat.
  8. Remove chicken and transfer to a serving tray. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, chopped peanuts, and green onions, if desired. Serve immediately with extra peanut sauce and your favorite sides.

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Affordable Thai Chicken Thighs