Quick and Healthy Chicken Recipes With Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken
Bubbles is a lot of things: sweet, loving, kind-hearted. (The list goes on but I won’t; I’m pretty sure you didn’t stop by today to read 300 words on why I love my sweet pea.) Two things she is not, however, is a very good sleeper or a very good eater. She does pretty well at breakfast (yogurt and a fruit pouch or yogurt and toast, usually) but lunch and dinner are a different story. When you ask her what she would like to eat her response mashed potatoes, pizza, or mac and cheese. These foods can be very healthy but I wish they had more protein.
I was trying to think of ways I could dress up her favorites to be even more healthy and protein-packed. I make her homemade white cheddar mac and cheese about once per week and I decided that I could mix in broccoli (a veggie she likes) and cooked chicken. Honestly if it’s covered in cheese she’s probably going to eat it (let’s not lie: if it’s covered in cheese I’m probably going to eat it, too).
I had planned to pick up some chicken breasts, boil and dice them, and then add them to my sauce. But when I walked into Walmart I nearly stumbled over a display case full of fully-cooked Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken. What a great idea! Using fully-cooked chicken would let me cut at least 20 minutes from my prep time which can be very handy when you’re trying to get food on the table for a hungry toddler. Bubbles gets a bit cranky when her tummy is empty so the faster I can fill it the happier she is!
While selecting the Roasted Chicken Breast Chunks I also noticed Southwestern Style Chicken Strips. They would be perfect for topping salads and I also thought they would make a tasty BBQ Chicken Pizza. So I picked up some of those, as well, along with all the needed additional ingredients for the pizza. You can see my entire shopping trip here in my Google+ album.
First up was the Chicken Broccoli Mac & Cheese. I cooked the pasta while I made my sauce, then mixed in the chicken and broccoli. From start to finish it took just about 15 minutes which I thought was great. But the real test – would my picky eater actually consume it? The answer – yes! She sat contently in her high chair while I cleaned up the kitchen and cleaned her plate.
- 8 oz pasta (I prefer cavatappi but you can use elbow, etc.)
- ¼ C butter
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground mustard
- ¼ C flour
- 1¾ C milk, warmed
- 6 oz white cheddar cheese, cubed
- 4 oz white Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 6 oz cooked chicken, cubed
- 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped
- Preheat over to 350.
- Cook pasta according to package directions, reducing cook time by two minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Mix in the salt, pepper, and ground mustard.
- Whisk in the flour, mixing until smooth. Cook for one minute.
- Slowly add milk, whisking constantly. Bring mixture to a boil.
- In batches add the cheeses, stirring until melted after each addition.
- Mix in broccoli and chicken and heat through one minute.
- Add the cooked pasta and stir until completely coated.
The next day I decided to try the BBQ Chicken Pizza. I used pre-made crusts, bottled barbeque sauce, a blend of shredded cheeses, and the Tyson Southwestern Style Chicken Strips. It was one of the fastest lunches I’ve ever made taking less than 10 minutes total from start to finish. Making them was easy. Just spread BBQ sauce over a pre-purchased crust, then top with cheese and chicken. Bake it according to the directions on the crust packaging and that’s it!
The pizza was also yummy! Even Bubbles liked it which is always the deciding factor on if I’ll make something a second time. And I definitely will be making it again – both recipes, for that matter – and using the Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken. The amount of time saved is such a huge help plus there’s no waste; nothing has to be trimmed, cut away, boned, etc.
What are your favorite kid-friendly, healthy chicken recipes? Which kind of Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken do you think you would use?
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Tyson. #cbias #SocialFabric #MealsTogether
About Liza
Liza is a mom (5-year-old daughter, 20-year-old stepson, and 24-year-old stepdaughter) and wife living in Louisville. She loves spending time with her family, visiting the local zoo and parks, as well as planning travel adventures. Cooking and baking, DIY projects and crafts, and coffee - lots and lots of coffee - round out some of her other hobbies.21 Responses to “Kid-Friendly Chicken Recipes: Chicken Broccoli Mac & Cheese and BBQ Chicken Pizza”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
What a great healthy idea! I love things with broccoli and chicken and cheese.
You know, I was not a fan of broccoli growing up and even as an adult it’s never been my favorite. But in this dish it is just so tasty! We’re all getting our veggies
I LOVE how creamy that looks! Creamy mac & cheese is the best
This look really good! A healthier version of mac & cheese – love it!
BBQ chicken is a favorite in our house. The kids love them and their so easy to prepare.
That pizza looks seriously amazing. Everything is better covered in cheese!
I agree, Ellen! And maybe bacon 😉
That mac n cheese sounds awesome!
I love the mac and cheese, but then I saw the Grilled Chicken Pizza at the end and now I’m really hungry. I definitely want to try that!
This either sounds really yummy or I’m starving but I really want to try them both!
The pizza looks incredible and I’m sure my 6 year old would love that mac and cheese! Thanks for sharing.
My one daughter is so so picky! But I bet she would eat this, they look so yummy and easy.
The pizza is especially easy, Isra! Seriously, a lunch I can feel good about feeding my daughter that’s ready in less than 10 minutes? It’s the little things that make me happy, I guess!
[…] Homemade Marshmallow Creme Stuffed Pepper Soup (I am definitely going to try this one out!) Quick and Healthy Chicken Recipes With Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Crock Pot Potato & Ham Chowder Awesome lasagna […]
Love the idea of the Mac and cheese with veggies in it.
I’d probably use the oven roasted to dress. up with BBQ or for taco salad. I bet it would be good in my Caesar salads too.
Your recipes using the Tyson precooked chicken sound wonderful!! I love chicken but hate having to mess with raw chicken and the time cooking it etc. I never knew about the Tyson chicken but I bet I buy some the next time I’m at the grocery store. Thanks for sharing!!
I love not having to mess with raw chicken, too! It really does make meals faster.
[…] Chicken Broccoli Mac & Cheese by Views From the Ville […]
[…] opening treats. Then we had lunch, where one of Ashley’s friends from college declared my White Cheddar Mac & Cheese (no chicken or broccoli today) the best food on Earth. Yeah, that will make you […]
[…] eaters? Sneak some veggies in with this delicious Chicken Broccoli Mac and Cheese Recipe. It’s so good they’ll ask for […]
[…] Chicken Broccoli Mac & Cheese Recipe – Views from the […]