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No salads today. Happy New Year! Make this 30 minute healthy kickin’ cajun chicken and rice recipe tonight to celebrate!
Not that I do not love salads, because I do! I have one coming your way, but just not today. I hope you do not mind, but I thought I would ease you guys into January with Gerard family healthy comfort food.
WATCH HOW-TO VIDEO HERE:
Chicken and rice. It is honestly more comforting to me than a lot of really cheesy, heavy dishes. It’s just what I grew up on, so I think I can come up with probably like a million different ideas involving chicken and rice.
Anyway, I was this close (as I pinch my fingers together like you can actually see me or something) to posting a salad today, but then I stopped myself. I figured probably everyone and then some would be posting salads today. It is January second and everyone knows the diets start today.
Personally, I do not diet – exercise, moderation and healthy lifestyle changes are more my style. Therefore, my New Year’s goal is simply to create a killer year of food for you guys. A year that includes one delicious recipe after the next. I hope that many will be healthy and delicious, and that others are super indulgent and over the top, because let’s be honest, you know I love those. But mainly, I hope most will be colorful, homemade, simple and easy meals that you guys will all want to create. Meals that you will enjoy making and that will be even more enjoyable to eat.
I am not a New Year’s resolution person at all, but I love setting goals and my number one goal this year – create amazing recipes!
Number two goal?
Well, this one goes right along with number one. Create amazing recipes – with photos that do each recipe justice. Both goals are challenging in their own way, but I do seem to love to stress myself out. I guess it is just what I do.
Since we are on the topic of recipes and goals, what are your goals for 2014. The one thing you hope to achieve, or at least improve on? Really, we always talk about me and my weird, totally untraditional family. So let’s get to know each other a little, I would love to know a little more about you guys!
And I mean please tell me, what are some of your favorite foods, cooking methods and recipes? Anything you would like to see me cook in this new year?
Well for now, we are talking chicken and rice.
Don’t go getting all bored on me yet, chicken and rice doesn’t have to be boring. This chicken and rice is spiced up, stir fried, cajun chicken and veggies tossed together with a mix of basmati and wild rice.
If you are trying to go completely whole grain just use all wild rice, but my family has a serious soft spot for basmati. It is our favorite.
It is super simple and super quick, but I am coming to realize that not every meal needs to be complex and over the top. It is still a hard thing for me to grasp since I really love a variety of textures, colors and flavors, but like everyone always says, often simple is really all you need.
Especially when life is crazy busy and it is back to work and the real world after two weeks of pure holiday awesomeness.
Ugh. The real world? Yikes.
30 Minute Healthy Cajun Chicken and Rice.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 353 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Rice
- 1/2 cup wild rice
- 3/4 cup basmati rice
- 2 1/2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
Cajun Chicken and Peppers
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon creole seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 large red pepper chopped
- 1 large orange pepper chopped
- 1/2 a onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced or grated
- 1 ounce can diced tomatoes 14
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- To start the rice. Add the water to a medium size soup pot. Bring to a low boil and then add the rice and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine and then place the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible. Allow the rice to cook ten minutes on low and then turn the heat off completely and let the rice sit on the stove, covered for another 20 minutes (don't take any peeks inside!). After 20 minutes remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Note that rice can cook differently for everyone, this is just what works for me.
- Meanwhile heat a large skillet on medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. In a small bowl combine the cajun seasoning, creole seasoning, brown sugar, pepper, cayenne, sweet paprika and dried thyme.
- Add the chicken and the spice mixture to the skillet and give it a good toss. Then spread the chicken in an even layer and allow it to cook, without stirring for 2-4 minutes. Then stir the chicken and add the soy sauce, continue cooking another 5 minutes or until the chicken is browned all over and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Add the red pepper, orange pepper, onion and garlic. Stir fry the veggies for about 5-10 minutes or until the onions are soft. Add the chicken back to the skillet and toss well. Now stir in the diced tomatoes and simmer until almost all the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat and add the chicken mixture to the rice. Toss well and serve! Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Feel fry to add some shrimp and or spicy andouille sausage!
Let’s just dive into these bowls before we start to think about that. K? Awesome.
Wow, this looks so tasty because of all the spices … and my favourite recipes are quick and easy ones, so thanks for this, Tieghan!
Thanks Helen! Quick and easy recipes are always good to have!
I really love this recipe. I can totally make it fit into my husband’s eating plan!! 🙂
Thanks Dorothy! Hope you guys get to give it a try!
Happy New Year!
My resolution process is much like yours, very refreshing for me to hear you write! I’m lovin’ this recipe and looking forward to much more of your deliciousness in 2014!
Oh wow, thank you so much! That means a lot Brenda!
Ugh I so do not want to think about the real world yet! But this chicken and rice dish, I want to think about that all the time. Until it gets into my belly. 🙂
Yes, the real world is a little bit of bummers sometimes!
Thanks Stephanie and Happy New Year!
What a great dish, I love the cajun flavors! Your photography is already killer so I look forward to what 2014 will bring from you :). I just bought a new camera as well so my goal is to work on my photography and styling as much as possible!
Thank you SO much, Laura! I love your photography, so this means a lot from you!
Have fun with that New Camera!! At the last minute I backed out of getting the new once simply because I was afraid it would be just too much for me to handle and more than I need right now. Maybe next year!
I’m totally with you on the exercise and moderation rather than dieting mindset. One of the maxims of the ancient Greek world was “nothing in excess” – I always try to keep that in mind! This dish looks amazing – it seems like it’d be really filling, while still being full of ingredients that are good for you!
Thanks so much!
You hit the nail on the head here, recipes like this are what I would like to see more of from you -things I can whip up a little quicker with ingredients I usually have on hand. I mean I love all you or recipes, but I am always in search of flavourful more simple and healthy weeknight meals for my busy family 🙂
Thanks so much, Karley!
Happy New Year Tieghan! This looks fantastic!
Thank you so much, Kathy!
Happy new Year!
Your photography is always gorgeous Tieghan!
Now this is a recipe that my whole family will love.
Thank you, Meagan!
Haha – I am that predictable blogger who posted a salad today 🙂 But I am SO with you on everything in moderation. This looks like the perfect quick, healthy, and delicious dinner! Pinning this to make for dinner this month!
Hey, I never said posting salad was a bad thing! I do love a good salad! 🙂 I am headed to check your out now!
Thanks Cate!
I love chicken and rice dishes – sometimes the simpler the better! We are a Jasmine rice family. It’s truly all I buy.
I’m not a resolution gal either but I would love to increase recipes and traffic on my blog and exercise a little more 🙂
We love jasmine too, but I typically buy basmati.
Thanks so much, Liz!
I am focusing the next year on worrying less and enjoying myself more… easier said than done. 🙂 I want to continue to improve my own food blog, but mostly just to have fun doing it — it’s a great creative outlet for me. Oh, and I want to cook more salmon and other fish this year. Would love to know your favorite ways to prepare fish!
Thanks as always for the wonderful recipes and photos. 🙂
Totally easier said them don, but I love your focus for this year!
Thanks Lisa!
I am not a salad person either but love ideas like this for getting in lots of extra veggies! =) looks delicious
Thank you!
I am with you on complex food, my food is most always elaborate and complex in flavor, BUT there is such beauty in a simple meal that is perfectly seasoned. A friend of mine is a chef, he never makes anything fancy, but it is ALWAYS perfectly executed! So something that seems simple, in essence is the hardest to master!
I agree! Thanks Sophia!
i don’t think you’re going to have to try very hard to come up with amazing recipes, because you already do that! Everyday you blown my mind! Including today…and now my belly is hungry!
Thank you, Steph!
Hope you guys had a great Christmas and Happy New Year!