lean meats

Invite a crowd round for a memorable chicken tagine recipe that lights up the dinner table. It's the perfect make-ahead meal served with couscous, salad and pickles.


Easy chicken tagine

chicken breast,

600 grams/1lb 5½oz chicken thighs

harissa paste

vegetable oil

onion, sliced

garlic cloves, crushed

cinnamon

tsp cumin

ginger

tsp turmeric

tsp chilli flakes

450 milliliters/16fl oz chicken stock

100 grams/3½oz dried apricots, quartered

tomatoes

salt and black pepper

tbsp mint

tbsp parsley

couscous, cooked according to packet instructions

150 grams/5½oz Greek-style yoghurt

almonds

Try this simple one-pot chicken breast tagine. It uses store cupboard basics for a satisfying meal for four, or can be batch cooked for instant dinners.

Moroccan-style chicken with couscous and yoghurt

onion,

275 milliliters/10fl oz chicken stock

sea salt and black pepper

chicken breasts

dried apricots or prunes (or both), chopped

tbsp clear honey

coriander,

natural yoghurt, optional, to serve

Whip up an easy and healthy dinner in no time with this spicy chicken traybake. We've replaced potatoes with root vegetables to reduce the carbohydrates and included plenty of spice to turn up the flavour. If you're not into spicy food, check out the recipe tips for other flavour ideas.

Each serving provides 361 kcal, 44g protein, 30g carbohydrate (of which 14g sugars), 5.5g fat (of which 1g saturates), 7g fibre and 0.5g salt. 

Ras-el-hanout chicken traybake

400 grams/14 ounces sweet potatoes,

carrots,

olive oil

red onion,

garlic

chicken breast

lemon, quartered

tsp ras-el-hanout spice mix

thyme

tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt, to serve

A twist on the classic New York-style Waldorf Salad with chicken and a creamy, but low-calorie, garlic dressing. This is a little over 500 calories, so if you are dieting pair it with a lower calorie breakfast or lunch to make sure your intake is no more than 1200–1500 calories.

Each serving provides 515 kcal, 55.5g protein, 42g carbohydrates (of which 42g sugars), 12.5g fat (of which 2.5g saturates), 5.5g fibre and 0.8g salt. 

With a GI of 58 this meal is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/diets/high_protein_low_GI_diet">high protein, low GI</a>.

New York chicken and apple salad

crunchy red apples,

½ lemon, juice only

level tsp runny honey

grams/5½oz

celery sticks, thinly sliced

spring onions, thinly sliced

Little Gem, leaves separated, roughly torn

x 150 grams/5½oz cooked chicken breasts, skin removed, roughly torn

1–2 tbsp chopped toasted walnuts

200 grams/7fl oz fat-free natural yoghurt

garlic clove, crushed

tbsp cider vinegar

level tbsp wholegrain mustard

2–3 tbsp chopped fresh dill

This is a really easy chicken kebab recipe that's flexible enough to work with what you have in. A great barbecue staple that can go on couscous salad or stuffed into a pitta. Swap the coriander for any soft herbs, or just leave it out.

Equipment: You will need kebab skewers to make this recipe on the barbecue.

Easy chicken kebabs

tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt

tsp garam masala or curry powder

tsp chilli powder

lime juice

coriander (optional)

red chilli, finely chopped (optional)

x 150 grams/5½ chicken breasts, cubed

green salad

pitta bread

This healthy noodle salad is packed with vegetables and flavoured with a spicy, low-fat soy dressing. This is ideal for lunch if you’re on a low-calorie diet of 1200–1500 calories a day. 

Each serving provides 404 kcal, 30g protein, 45g carbohydrates (of which 16.5g sugars), 10g fat (of which 2g saturates), 7g fibre and 2g salt. 

Chicken noodle salad

grams/2½oz egg noodles

grams/1¾oz frozen soya beans peas

carrot, peeled

red pepper, seeds removed, sliced

75 grams/2¾oz mangetout, trimmed and halved lengthways

chicken breast (about 125 grams/4½oz)

spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced

long red chilli, finely sliced (deseeded if preferred)

grams/½oz coriander leaves

mint leaves

grams/½oz roasted cashew nuts, roughly chopped

water

tsp caster sugar

½–1 tsp dried chilli flakes, to taste

tsp dark soy sauce

sesame oil

Strips of chicken breast are tossed with spiced rice, flaked almonds, sliced apple, cherry tomatoes and long stem broccoli to make a colourful, filling and portable lunch. Simply pack into a plastic container, pop into a cool bag with a couple of ice blocks and keep well chilled.

With a GI of 51, this meal is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/diets/high_protein_low_GI_diet">high protein, low GI</a>.

Curried chicken and rice salad 

75 grams/2½oz wholegrain long-grain rice

tsp medium curry powder

grams/3½oz long-stem broccoli, trimmed and cut into short lengths

chicken stock cube

chicken breast, boned and skinned

small onion, half thinly sliced, half finely chopped

bay leaf

low-calorie cooking spray

grams/½oz flaked almonds, toasted

eating apple, cored, halved and thinly sliced

grams/3½oz cherry tomatoes, halved

coriander

These easy chicken skewers are the perfect party food that can be cooked on a griddle or  barbecue.

Chicken yakitori

500 grams/1lb chicken breast,

onions

shiitake mushrooms, stem removed and halved

mirin

tbsp Japanese soy sauce

tbsp sake (rice wine)

tsp sugar

Skyr is an Icelandic yoghurt that is starting to appear in our supermarkets. It is good with chicken because it takes other flavours well and helps the meat get lovely and tender. 

Herby chicken and potato salad

grams/2½oz

tbsp olive oil, plus extra for cooking

flat-leaf parsley, chopped

¼ lemon, juice only

potatoes

courgette, grated

carrot,

grams/1¾oz

milliliters/1fl oz olive oil

Dijon mustard

1–1½ tsp cider vinegar

½–1 tsp runny honey

tbsp finely chopped fresh chives, plus extra for garnish

Healthy chicken breasts and butter beans get a flavour boost from a little bit of cooking chorizo and red wine. Green beans are excellent when in season, but you can also use broccoli, green cabbage or kale on the side.

With a GI of 58 this meal is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/high-protein_low-gi_recipes">high protein, low GI</a>.

Each serving (without rice) provides 352 kcal, 13g protein, 18.5g carbohydrates (of which 10.5g sugars), 13g fat (of which 4g saturates), 9g fibre and 1.7g salt. 

Easy Spanish chicken 

tbsp extra virgin olive oil

chicken breasts (each about 150 grams/5½oz), sliced

onion, thinly sliced

yellow pepper, seeds removed,

courgette, trimmed, halved lengthways and cut into 1cm/½in slices

grams/3½oz cooking chorizo, sliced

100 milliliters/3½fl oz red wine

tin chopped tomatoes

tin butter beans, drained and rinsed

tomato purée

oregano

½ tsp dried chilli flakes

160 grams/5¾oz long-grain rice

green beans, trimmed (optional)

flatleaf

These quick and simple wraps do not require any cooking so are great for an easy lunch with family or friends. They are suitable as a low-calorie meal option for anyone eating 1200–1500 calories a day. 

Each serving provides 271 kcal, 21g protein, 14g carbohydrates (of which 13g sugars), 13.5 fat (of which 2.5g saturates), 6g fibre and 1.2g salt. 


Top 11 lean meats recipes from across the web

The most viewed lean meats recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Easy chicken tagine

Moroccan-style chicken with couscou...

Ras-el-hanout chicken traybake

New York chicken and apple salad

Easy chicken kebabs

Chicken noodle salad

Curried chicken and rice salad

Chicken yakitori

Herby chicken and potato salad

Easy Spanish chicken

Chicken satay wraps

Top 11 lean meats recipes from across the web

The most viewed lean meats recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Easy chicken tagine

Moroccan-style chicken with couscou...

Ras-el-hanout chicken traybake

New York chicken and apple salad

Easy chicken kebabs

Chicken noodle salad

Curried chicken and rice salad

Chicken yakitori

Herby chicken and potato salad

Easy Spanish chicken

Chicken satay wraps

The most viewed lean meats recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine