Chicken with Mediterranean cauliflower rice
Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! What’s going on this morning?? What’s on the workout agenda?? THANK YOU so much to those of you who have signed up for barre bootcamp already! I was blown away by the enthusiasm, and am so pumped that so many of you will be joining us for this 4-week challenge. I already know it’s going to be a great one! We still have some spots left, so be sure to sign up here if you want to be a part of the spring barre party (starting Monday!).
Yesterday was a fun, but long day. We still have a couple of days of unpacking craziness, but I’ll be sure to post a recap and an update soon with everything going on! In the meantime, I wanted to share this recipe I created one night a couple of weeks ago when the Pilot was working nights.
When the Pilot works late, I can make things that I wouldn’t usually make for dinner when he’s home. Aka all the quinoa, squashes, and cauliflower rice.
In all honesty, I think I’m the only person in the family that really likes cauliflower rice. In the past, I would sauté it in some butter, add lots of spices, and Liv would be screaming to “Stop that smell!” while P would shove a handful in her mouth before immediately spitting it out. P would then look up at me with the face of someone who’d been tricked.
Well, that’s what happened before I learned how to make GOOD cauliflower rice.
I’ve found the secret: you have to add something really flavorful to take out that vegetable cauli-flavor. Usually diced tomatoes, chicken broth, or soy-ginger marinade work nicely. Add lots of chopped veggies, maybe some fruit or herbs, and boom: cauliflower rice that doesn’t taste like sadness!!
Sunbasket should really take credit for teaching me how to make bomb cauliflower rice. Their recipes are always delicious, and it taught me how to get out of the box and really season that ish up.
Here’s the recipe for this incredibly flavorful, protein-packed, and low-carb dinner.
The best part: the kiddos loved it, too.
Please let me know if you give it a try!!
PrintMediterranean Chicken with Cauliflower Rice
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs (pat dry and season with salt and pepper)
- 1 lb rice cauliflower (if you don’t buy the pre-made stuff, just core a cauliflower and pulse in the food processor)
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 1 small can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1/3 cup kalamata olives
- 8 oz chopped marinated artichoke hearts
- 1/4 cup chicken broth or red wine
- Small handful of fresh basil
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 lemon (juice half and reserve; slice the other half and reserve)
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375, and preheat a large cast iron skillet to medium high heat. Add a little olive oil, and brown the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, until almost cooked through. Set the chicken aside.
- In the same pan, add a bit of olive oil and the cauliflower rice. Cook until softened, 5-6 minutes and season with salt and pepper.
- Add in the broth or red wine, and scrape the bottom of the pan. Stir in the diced tomatoes, artichokes, oregano, lemon juice, basil, olives, and feta.
- Top with the chicken thighs, and place lemon slices on top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear.
- Serve immediately with extra basil on top if you’d like!
Are you a cauliflower rice fan? Anything you like to make/eat when your partner or significant other is away?
xoxo
Gina
30 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Sounds so good!
Do you think I could do this with a standard stainless oven-safe pan?
For whatever reason, I’m very intimidated by cast iron 🙂
I love cauliflower rice! I typically make lots of roasted veggies and vegetarian meals when my husband isn’t joining me for dinner.
I still haven’t tried aculiflower rice – I have some in the freezer from TJs, but keep forgetting about it! This looks like a tasty way to finally give it a try, thanks!
Nice skillet
I wanted to steal it but I left it with madre to give back to you haha
let the people know how to clean and take care of.. ily #keepitclean
I love cauliflower rice, we have fried cauliflower rice all the time. I don’t cook different things when the hubs is away, but snack on lots of things he will not touch, kombucha and chia pudding come to mind.
I do the same! When the husbands away the veggies and quinoa will play 😉 Ive never tried cauli rice though. I dont love cauliflower that much so im a little like..why, but this recipe sounds really good!
I love that combination of Mediterranean flavors. I guess that this recipe will be also delicious with quinoa or rice.
Such a great idea! I love these kind of 1-pot meals, too! Thanks for creating it for us.
I love cauliflower rice! It’s a challenge getting the BF to eat some of these things so I’ll have to make this on a non-date night.
Any chance you’d send us registrants for the Barre Bootcamp the workout schedule a little earlier than Sunday night so us hyper-planners can get a look at the week ahead and do some planning? (I’m thinking everything starts Monday!) Or even just a hint such as MWF on and Tue. rest, etc. Then I’ll know what my mornings look like.
Super excited!
Of course!! I’ll send the plan out Friday 🙂
I’m not a huge fan of plain cauli rice, but I do like it when it’s loaded up with things. I’ve made a Mediterranean version, an Asian stirfry version (http://nomnompaleo.com/post/3195098303/asian-cauliflower-fried-rice), and a Mexican version that somehow even faked out a veggie hater 🙂
Yum Gina! I’m excited to try making this soon. When my partner is away I will make anything with goat cheese, shrimp, and/or salmon. I love all those items so much, but they aren’t a hit with the rest of the fam…. haha
This looks so yummy! Pinned. Hope things are going smoothly.
Yum! I’m happy Publix has the bags of cauliflower already riced…I’m lazy like that!
Hahahaha…cauliflower rice DOES taste like sadness! I’ll have to give this shot, thanks for sharing.
Totally off topic, but when you make it down to Orlando make sure you go to Big Kahuna’s in Winter Springs (like 15 minutes NW of Orlando). They have the most amazing poke bowls I’ve ever had outside of Hawaii and even with masago and avocado and a tip added on they’re only like $12.
I ate there twice this weekend and I’m already planning my next trip this weekend *insert embarrassed face here*
I’m a cauiflower rice fiend! Love finding new ways to cook with it seeing as I eat it several times a week!
This looks and sounds delicious. Question…do you drain the can of tomatoes or add the juices in as well? Thanks.
That so funny, I don’t have any kids but all the adults in the family LOVE cauliflower rice! My husband was actually upset when cauliflower came up on his food sensitivity test because he couldn’t have cauliflower rice!
Gina, I love bragg’s aminos in cauliflower rice. Very tasty.
I LOVE how your family shares the same feelings about cauliflower rice that my family has. I usually sauté it with basting oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and add in some brussel sprouts. The fam hasn’t come around to it yet 🙂
As I was perusing past recipes and looking through comments to see if anyone commented AFTER they tried something, I thought I’d stop over here and say I made this for my husband (on his birthday!), my brother and SIL and they all went crazy for it. I sent my SIL home with the recipe and they made it as soon as they got home after their trip. Hubby also requested it again ASAP. We had enough left over for me to have it again for lunch (we had thrown some extra chicken thighs in there) and it was still delicious heated up!
ahhhh no way!! that is so wonderful. i’m so pumped you all liked it! thanks for reminding me to make it again 🙂 thank you so much for letting me know. hope you have a great weekend!!
Thanks for the Awesome recipe. Our two-year-old daughter even actually ate this for dinner, Gasp!!!
This looks delicious! Definitely going to try this! Thanks for sharing!
I made this for dinner and loved it! Easy and delicious! My 2 year old wouldn’t touch it, but she is super picky. Adding red wine makes it such a pretty color.
This is my second time making this dish, and it won’t be the last. If you want a low-carb, one-dish meal without sacrificing flavor, this is it! Even my picky hubby loved it!
so glad to hear you enjoyed it!