Family Dinner: Pan Seared Chicken with Pears and Bleu Cheese

This is a quick easy way to dress up some chicken, and another way to incorporate some bleu cheese into my diet.  Like I am in need of another excuse to eat cheese.  I based this one off a Whole Foods recipe.  The kids eat theirs without the cheese.  Not the best decision, but sometimes you have to let them fail so they learn, right?

Pan Seared Chicken Pears and Bleu Cheese
Serves 6
250 cals / 5g fat / 15g carbs / 37g protein

2 lbs chicken breasts (the pack that comes with 3), with all the fat and gross veiny things cut off, then sliced in half horizontally to make 6
1 1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp olive oil
1 TB apple Cider vinegar
3 red pears, cored and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 TB chopped fresh parsley
6 TB reduced-fat bleu cheese crumbles
salt and pepper

Heat oven to 350.  Liberally season each side of the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and 1/4 tsp thyme.  Heat olive oil over medium-high heat, and sear chicken until browned on each side (~2-3 min per side).  Place chicken on cookie sheet and cook in oven ~15 minutes.  While chicken is cooking,  add vinegar to same pan, stirring up any brown bits that might be stuck on the bottom.  Add pear slices and cook until pears begin to brown and soften, about 5 minutes.  Add apple juice, chicken broth, and parsley.  Turn heat up to high and cook until liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes.  Top each piece of chicken with pears and sauce and 1 TB bleu cheese before serving.

I served this with some spinach sautéed with olive oil and garlic.

This is a quick easy way to dress up some chicken, and another way to incorporate some bleu cheese into my diet.  Like I am in need of another excuse to eat cheese.  I based this one off a Whole Foods recipe.  The kids eat theirs without the cheese.  Not the best decision, but sometimes you have to let them fail so they learn, right?

Pan Seared Chicken Pears and Bleu Cheese
Serves 6
250 cals / 5g fat / 15g carbs / 37g protein

2 lbs chicken breasts (the pack that comes with 3), with all the fat and gross veiny things cut off, then sliced in half horizontally to make 6
1 1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp olive oil
1 TB apple Cider vinegar
3 red pears, cored and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 TB chopped fresh parsley
6 TB reduced-fat bleu cheese crumbles
salt and pepper

Heat oven to 350.  Liberally season each side of the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and 1/4 tsp thyme.  Heat olive oil over medium-high heat, and sear chicken until browned on each side (~2-3 min per side).  Place chicken on cookie sheet and cook in oven ~15 minutes.  While chicken is cooking,  add vinegar to same pan, stirring up any brown bits that might be stuck on the bottom.  Add pear slices and cook until pears begin to brown and soften, about 5 minutes.  Add apple juice, chicken broth, and parsley.  Turn heat up to high and cook until liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes.  Top each piece of chicken with pears and sauce and 1 TB bleu cheese before serving.

I served this with some spinach sautéed with olive oil and garlic.