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Let’s talk a little about weekday lunches. (Because really, unless I have a lunch date out, lunch is usually my most boring meal of the day.)
During the week do you like to make lunches in the morning or the night before? I like the convenience of making them the night before so I don’t have to rush around in the morning…but on the other hand, if it’s a sandwich, I do like to whip it up on the morning of so it’s fresher.
Leftovers are even better because not only do you get a hot meal at lunch without any extra effort, but they’re great for using up stuff that’s in the fridge that wouldn’t necessarily be enough for another dinner. This dish is along those lines – a hot lunch that’s worth making in its own right.
For me, the most time-consuming part of cooking is usually prepping fresh veggies. One of the reasons this meal comes together so quickly is because I used Green Giant Seasoned Steamers Tuscan Broccoli to make it. Not only was it quick, but it also added a ton of flavor.
There are so many reasons to love this recipe. It takes 10 minutes to make, start to finish (if you want to be technical, add another 5 to 10 minutes to clean up the kitchen afterwards, lol…but still, that’s pretty great!). It serves 4 and each serving has a serving of veggies and lean protein to help keep you fueled for your day. It’s delicious (I should probably move that to reason #1, right?). And again, it makes 4 servings, so even if you don’t have 4 people to feed, it’s perfect because you can have a hot lunch all set and ready to go for 4 days during the week. Which leaves one day open, so maybe you can splurge on lunch out on Friday. Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?
- 1 (13.5 oz) bag Green Giant Seasoned Steamers Tuscan Broccoli
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup couscous
- 1½ teaspoons dried Italian herb seasoning, divided
- 1 teaspoon onion powder, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
- ½ teaspoon salt, divided
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
- Heat the broccoli in the microwave according to the package directions (this takes 5 to 8 minutes).
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan; turn off heat and stir in the couscous, ¾ teaspoon Italian herb seasoning, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper. Cover the saucepan and let the couscous steam until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a large (preferably nonstick) skillet over medium heat. As the skillet heats up, season the chicken with the remaining ¾ teaspoon Italian herb seasoning, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper. Spread the chicken out evenly in the hot pan and cook until done, about 4 to 6 minutes, flipping once. (To check for doneness, cut a piece in half and make sure there is no pink.)
- Get out 4 bowls; spread the couscous on the bottom of each bowl, then add the broccoli and top with the chicken. Serve hot or cool to room temperature and refrigerate to enjoy as lunches throughout the week (they reheat well in the microwave).
Seasoned Steamers™, a new line of Green Giant® vegetables, gives you unexpectedly delicious taste in every vegetable bite. These chef-inspired, seasoned vegetables come in six new varieties ranging from smoky roasted cues to ethnic inspired flavors. By roasting, seasoning and freezing individual pieces, our vegetables lock in flavor so delicious, your family will ask for more. In less than 8 minutes, your family can enjoy new Seasoned to Delicious™ Seasoned Steamers™.
Disclosure: Compensation for this post was provided by General Mills via Glam Media; such compensation did not influence the opinions expressed herein. The opinions expressed herein are my own, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of General Mills.
I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind this blog. I love finding the human connection through something we all do every day: eat! Food is a common ground that we can all relate to, and our tables tell a story. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had.
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This was excellent and easy for dinner tonight!
I have to cook our lunch the night before because my husband and I are both working and taking our lunch box at work. My weekdays are usually pretty hectic and this easy, healthy and quick chicken sounds like the perfect idea!
I love that – such an easy healthy meal that can be made in no time!
Yum Yum, this is a common lunch of mine! BUT why, oh WHY don’t people see the harm of steaming food in a plastic package? It’s the same concept of leaving your plastic water bottles in the sun, which is why so many people carry BPA free reusable water bottles. Just take the chopped broccoli out of the bag and steam it over your stove top…it takes 5 minutes.
Anything that quick and easy has to be good. have a good day Diane
Hate to say I can [and do] get a similar bowl on the table from absolutely fresh [chicken, broccoli, onion, garlic, homegrown herbs etc] in about 6-8 minutes without giving it a second thought! Why use all the preprepared and artificial bits? Sorry, do it all the time and it simply does not make any sense: and why would one cook ahead and lose nutrients?
this is a great idea for lunch!! looks delicious and healthy!
I love leftovers for lunch. Those dishes are awesome Faith – where did you get them?
Thanks, Alyssa! I got them at a local flea market. Love them. :)
BTW, Mike just asked me to make your Indian-Spiced Chicken Wraps for dinner — they’re going on next week’s menu! :)
Boring lunches are a good thing, because having no brainer foods to eat make the day move more smoothly :) I love having leftovers for lunch, especially if I have a way to heat them. That’s why my lunches are pretty boring, too, but they sure are tasty!
Have a great day, Faith!
I never make lunch, I can get pre cooked stuff pretty cheap near work. And on weekends I forget to have lunch. But this is great for dinner when I don’t feel like cooking. Frozen veggies are a lot better then we realize as they are prepared shortly after harvest.
This is my kind of lunch! I wonder if I can find a similar broccoli product here. I’ll have to check around. ;)
Easy to prepare, healthy and tasty! A perefect meal for people who have no time to cook.
cheers,
Rosa
I’m a morning maker. This dish is definitely going into rotation! Easy, yummy and perfect for office lunch. Well done!
Love how easy peasy this is! I usually make Josh’s lunches the night before. I work from home, so I whip mine up when I’m ready to eat!
I tend to eat a lot of leftover dinner for lunch but I love the sound of this meal also! Throw in some tofu or chickpeas for the chicken and I’d be one happy girl!