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Creamy Pesto Chicken Diabetic Recipe with Quinoa

Chef Randy , On October 20, 2021

Mealpro

Creamy Pesto Chicken Diabetic Recipe Overview

This meal comes together in two skillets and creates an amazing taste combination as well as a meal you can trust won’t spike your blood sugar. Tri-colored Quinoa with crispy parsley in browned butter will satisfy and provide probably the most healthful grain you could eat. The pesto cream sauce accents the tender chicken and will have you coming back to this recipe time and time again.

Equipment Needed for this Creamy Pesto Chicken Diabetic Recipe

    Equipment needed for creamy pesto

    Equipment needed for diabetic quinoa recipe

  • 2 skillets

  • Cutting board

  • Knife

  • Measuring spoons

  • Saucepan for the quinoa

Ingredients for this creamy pesto chicken diabetic recipe

    Equipment needed for creamy pesto

    Ingredients needed for this diabetic quinoa chicken recipe

  • 2 cups chicken strips (breast meat or thigh, your preference)

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves

  • 1/4 stick butter

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper cut into strips

  • 1/2 green bell pepper cut into strips

  • 3 tablespoons pesto sauce (your preference of prepared pesto, available at most grocery stores)

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

  • 1 cup quinoa

  • 1/2 cup Italian or broadleaf parsley whole leaves. (curly parsley will work, but broadleaf is much preferred)

creamy pesto chicken diabetic recipe cooking directions

    Chicken cooking instructions:

  1. Heat a large skillet with olive oil, butter and seasonings. Cook until the butter begins to brown.

  2. Equipment needed for creamy pesto

    Add butter and seasoning.

  3. Put the chicken in the skillet and brown on all sides (about 6-7 minutes).

    Pesto begins with chicken

    Cook the chicken.

  4. Add the pesto sauce and heavy cream and cook until it begins to thicken (6). Add the bell peppers and cook another minute or 2 until the peppers are tender. (7)

    Pesto begins with chicken

    Add the pesto.

  5. Quinoa cooking instructions:

  6. Prepare the quinoa – put the dry quinoa in a saucepan and then about 1 3/4 cup of water (or even better, use chicken stock).

  7. Heat on medium/high until low boil.

  8. Cover and reduce heat to low for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

  9. Remove from heat when the grains open up. Set aside.

  10. In a medium or small skillet, put 1 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon olive oil and cook until it foams (1). Add the parsley leaves to the hot butter oil and cook for a minute until the parsley is crispy (2). Add the cooked quinoa and stir to blend well. (3)

    Pesto begins with chicken

    Toss quinoa in sauce.

  11. Serve and enjoy!

Chef Randy

After graduating from LeCordon Bleu at the top of his class Chef Randy dove head-first into a culinary career working in many top-tier restaurants including the Golden 1 Center Arena as a lead cook. He later owned and operated a mobile woodfired pizza concept where he championed whole and natural ingredients. Chef Randy is passionate about healthy food and developing relationships with local providers for true farm-to-fork food production.