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Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken

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This Jalapeno Popper Stuffed chicken is the perfect change up to the regular chicken dinner rotation. Simply hasselback chicken and stuff it with a delicious filling made of jalapenos, bacon, and cream cheese and bake in the oven. 

chicken breast with stuffed with jalapenos

I absolutely love the flavor of Jalapeno poppers. Something about the spicy, creamy and salty appetizer is so addicting and I usually end up eating a LOT of them. 

With this recipe for jalapeno popper stuffed chicken, you can get that same flavor in a healthy high protein vessel and serve it for dinner any time. 

This is also a great recipe for those who are keto or low carb and looking for something to spice up their lunch and dinner routine. 

How to Hasselback Chicken: 

The chicken is stuffed by way of hasselback.  This simply means that there are deep slices in the chicken going across width wise that a filling is stuffed into before baking in the oven. 

To hasselback chicken:

Using a sharp knife, trim the fat off of a boneless skinless chicken breast and season on both sides with salt and pepper.  

Place chicken breast on cutting board smooth side up and begin slicing slits into the chicken width wise a half inch apart being careful not to cut the chicken all the way through to the other side.  This could take some practice!

On average, each chicken breast should have 4-5 slits.  

Once slits are complete, you are ready to stuff them with filling. 

jalapeno popper stuffed chicken breast on a white plate

Can Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken be Paleo or Whole30?

Every ingredient in this recipe is paleo or whole30 compliant EXCEPT the cream cheese.  There are dairy free options for cream cheese that are made with almond milk such as the Kite Hill brand which makes them in plain, jalapeno and chive options.

NOTE: I have never tried this recipe with a cream cheese alternative, but if you do let me know how it went in the comments! 

Also Check Out:

Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken

Jalapeno popper stuffed chicken breast on a white plate

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chicken breast with stuffed with jalapenos

Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken

  • Author: Valerie Skinner | Thyme and JOY
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 Chicken Breasts 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This Jalapeno Popper Stuffed chicken is the perfect change up to the regular chicken dinner rotation. Simply hasselback chicken and stuff it with a delicious filling made of jalapenos, bacon, and cream cheese and bake in the oven. 

Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 Chicken Breasts, boneless & skinless
  • 4 oz Cream Cheese, softened
  • 4 slices Cooked Bacon, chopped 
  • 2 tbsp Red Onion, minced
  • 2 Jalapenos, thin sliced in rounds
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
  • 2 tsp tbsp Avocado Oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400.
  2. Trim fat off chicken breasts and season on both sides with salt and pepper.
  3. Place chicken breast on cutting board and with a sharp knife, cut slits width wise into the chicken 1/2″ apart being careful not to cut the chicken through to the other side. This will create 4-5 “pockets” for the filling.
  4. In a medium sized bowl, add cream cheese, bacon, red onion and garlic powder and stir until fully combined.
  5. In each chicken breast, fill the slits with 1-2 tsp of cream cheese filling depending on on the size of the pocket. It’s ok if the filling overflows a bit.
  6. Take your jalapeno slices and insert them into the filling adding 1-3 slices in each pocket about half way until desired amount of jalapeno is used.
  7. Grease a baking pan with 2 tsp avocado oil or use a sheet of parchment paper.
  8. Bake on baking sheet for 30-35 minutes at 400 degrees or until chicken breast is cooked all the way through.
  9. Serve hot.  Will keep in fridge in sealed container for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Cooking time may vary depending on size and thickness of chicken breast.
  • For paleo or whole30 option, see recipe text.
  • Category: chicken
  • Method: oven, baking
  • Cuisine: american

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
  • Calories: 340
  • Fat: 16
  • Carbohydrates: 2
  • Protein: 46

Keywords: keto jalapeno popper stuffed chicken, jalapeno popper chicken, jalapeno popper chicken breast, jalapeno popper chicken with bacon, jalapeno popper stuffed chicken, low carb jalapeno popper chicken, hasselback stuffed chicken, hasselback chicken recipe, hasselback chicken jalapeno popper, how to hasselback chicken

Valerie Skinner is a Whole30 approved personal chef & recipe developer that bridges the gap between healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals and recipes for you and your family.Charleston Personal Chef Thyme and JOY

Lets Connect!

Check out my Podcast: Food Conversations

Email me: thymeandjoy@gmail.com

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Carolina Boneless BBQ Wings

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These Carolina Boneless BBQ wings have a sweet and tangy kick.  Makes a great appetizer for game day or parties and is Whole30 compliant and Paleo. 

These Carolina Boneless BBQ wings have a sweet and tangy kick.  Makes a great appetizer for game day or parties and is Whole30 compliant and Paleo. 

The only memory that sticks out in my mind when it comes to boneless wings is back in my high school days.  Every Friday, my group of friends would find themselves at Applebee’s at 10pm for half priced appetizers without fail.

My go to was always the boneless buffalo wings and I looked forward to them every week. The way I ate back then was atrocious. Sometimes I can’t believe that my diet used to consist of Wendy’s and wings!

Although things have changed drastically and I usually prefer bone in wings, I do have a soft spot for boneless chicken wings.

These Carolina boneless BBQ wings are a twist on BBQ wings that use Mustard BBQ sauce from The New Primal.

These Carolina Boneless BBQ wings have a sweet and tangy kick.  Makes a great appetizer for game day or parties and is Whole30 compliant and Paleo. 

How do you make boneless chicken wings?

It’s such a strange thing to call a boneless wing an actual wing because 90% of the time, boneless wings are made with chicken breast meat.  It’s almost like they should call them chicken nuggets but I digress!

The difference between a wing and a nugget is probably the shape and size that the pieces are cut into.  Boneless wings are cut into shapes that are 3-4 bites where chicken nuggets may be 1-2 bites.

Anyway, to make boneless wings cut your chicken into pieces that would take 3-4 bites to finish. 

Dip them in whisked egg, then in paleo chicken breading (see below) and bake them in the oven or bake them using an air fryer. 

Once they are cooked and crispy, toss with Carolina BBQ Sauce.

Whole30 & Paleo Chicken Breading:

To bread my chicken tenders, chicken nuggets or these boneless BBQ wings, mix up this paleo and whole30 compliant chicken breading: 

  • 1.5 cup Almond Flour
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 1 pinch Black Pepper
  • 1 pinch Paprika

What is Carolina BBQ Sauce? 

Carolina BBQ sauce is different from traditional BBQ sauce as it’s base is made up of vinegar and mustard where as other BBQ sauce is based with molasses or sugar and ketchup.  
Besides making it yourself, the only place to find Carolina BBQ sauce that is whole30 and paleo compliant is purchasing The New Primal Mustard BBQ sauce which contains all clean ingredients.

Are chicken wings Whole30 compliant?

Yes!  And thank goodness they are!  As long as you use Whole30 compliant buffalo sauce or a Whole30 compliant BBQ sauce (the new primal makes both!) then you can eat wings to your heart’s content which for me is a lot  . . . 

Air Fryer Boneless BBQ Wings

To make boneless bbq wings in your air fryer, follow the same directions using the air fryer at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  

Because the air fryer cooks faster with dry heat, you may not need to broil for extra crispy chicken. 

Check Out:

Carolina Boneless BBQ Wings

These Carolina Boneless BBQ wings have a sweet and tangy kick.  Makes a great appetizer for game day or parties and is Whole30 compliant and Paleo. 

Print
These Carolina Boneless BBQ wings have a sweet and tangy kick.  Makes a great appetizer for game day or parties and is Whole30 compliant and Paleo. 

Carolina Boneless BBQ Wings

  • Author: Valerie Skinner | Thyme and JOY
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

These Carolina Boneless BBQ wings have a sweet and tangy kick.  Makes a great appetizer for game day or parties and is Whole30 compliant and Paleo. 

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds Boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 2 eggs
  • 1.5 cups Almond flour
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 pinch Ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch Paprika
  • 2/3 cup Mustard BBQ Sauce (The New Primal)
  • 2 tsp Avocado Oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400.
  2. Trim the fat from your chicken breasts and slice them in half length wise into filets.  Cut each filet into 4 uneven triangular pieces.
  3. In a medium sized bowl, whisk 2 eggs together.
  4. In another medium sized bowl, whisk together almond flour, salt, pepper and paprika until fully combined.
  5. Dip one piece of chicken breast into the egg mixture until fully coated.
  6. Then, dredge the egg coated chicken breast piece into the almond flour mixture tossing and pressing until the chicken is fully coated in the breading.
  7. Repeat until all pieces of chicken are breaded.
  8. Grease a baking sheet with avocado oil and add chicken pieces in a single layer.
  9. Cook at 400 for 20 minutes flipping half way through with a spatula.
  10. For extra crispy chicken, broil on both sides for 3 minutes per side.
  11. Toss in Mustard BBQ sauce until fully coated.
  12. Serve hot.
  • Category: chicken, snack, appetizer, protein
  • Method: oven baked
  • Cuisine: southern, american

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 pieces
  • Calories: 308

Keywords: carolina wings, paleo boneless wings, whole30 boneless wings, carolina wings menu, carolina wings and ribs, carolina bbq sauce, carolina boneless bbq wings, paleo boneless buffalo wings, boneless chicken wing recipe, paleo chicken bites, boneless chicken bites recipe, gluten free buffalo chicken tenders, paleo breadding for chicken

Valerie Skinner is a Whole30 approved personal chef & recipe developer that bridges the gap between healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals and recipes for you and your family.Charleston Personal Chef Thyme and JOY

Lets Connect!

Check out my Podcast: Food Conversations

Email me: thymeandjoy@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram

Join my community on Facebook

See what I’m pinning on Pinterest

African Beef Stew

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This African beef stew is a perfect meal to prep for the week.  African beef stew is spicy, hearty and filled with nutrition and flavor from simple, easy to find African spices. Also compliant with Whole30 and paleo lifestyles.

This African beef stew is a perfect meal to prep for the week. African beef stew is spicy, hearty and filled with nutrition and flavor from simple, easy to find African spices. Also compliant with Whole30 and paleo lifestyles.

One of the things I love doing most is trying out the different cuisines of other countries.  Truthfully, I got completely spoiled when I lived in Hawaii because I was able to try so many different Thai, Asian, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese food. 

Living in the south, my options are WAY different so I am forced to make my own ethnic food which is something I enjoy!

One thing that unites a lot of ethnic food is curry.

Maybe you don’t know this but there are so MANY different types of curry besides Thai, Indian or Japanese including African curry.

I feel in love with African food on a trip to NYC after culinary school and have since sought out African restaurants.  While they are sadly few and far between, my version of African beef stew is the perfect starter dish to get your taste buds wanting more African food. 

This African beef stew is a perfect meal to prep for the week. African beef stew is spicy, hearty and filled with nutrition and flavor from simple, easy to find African spices. Also compliant with Whole30 and paleo lifestyles.

What are African spices used in African cooking?

The beauty of cooking food from another country is learning that there are so many different types of dishes and spices used in different regions of the country.  In general, these are popular African spices used in African cooking:

  • Cinnamon
  • Corriander
  • Fenugreek
  • Cumin
  • Mint
  • Fennel
  • Curry Powder
  • Basil
  • Ginger 
  • Nutmeg
  • Paprika

How do you make African Beef Stew?

  • In this recipe for African Beef stew, I sauteed garlic, onion, ginger and bell pepper in a big pot and added chunks of beef stew meat.
  • I added in the spices which were curry powder, coriander, a pinch of cinnamon and cayenne pepper along with salt.
  • Add in diced sweet potato, chopped cabbage, crushed tomato and coconut milk and bring to a boil for 5 minutes.  Turn down to a simmer and cook until potatoes and beef are cooked through.

Instant Pot African Beef Stew Instructions:

  1. African beef stew can be made in the instant pot following these instructions:
  2. Use the saute function to heat up 2 tsp of oil on the bottom of the instant pot. 
  3. Add in onion, ginger, garlic, bell pepper, beef, salt and spices and saute for about 5-7 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften. 
  4. Add in sweet potato, cabbage, crushed tomatoes, beef broth and coconut milk and stir until everything is combined.
  5. Cook on manual HIGH pressure for 20 minutes and use a quick or natural release. Serve hot.

Check Out:

This African beef stew is a perfect meal to prep for the week. African beef stew is spicy, hearty and filled with nutrition and flavor from simple, easy to find African spices. Also compliant with Whole30 and paleo lifestyles.

Print

African Beef Stew

  • Author: Valerie Skinner | Thyme and JOY
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cups 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This African beef stew is a perfect meal to prep for the week.  African beef stew is spicy, hearty and filled with nutrition and flavor from simple, easy to find African spices. Also compliant with Whole30 and paleo lifestyles.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Beef Stew Meat
  • 1 large Yellow Onion, diced
  • 1 Green Bell Pepper, diced
  • 2 cups Green Cabbage, chopped
  • 2 cups Sweet Potato, diced
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Ginger, grated
  • 4 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 28oz can Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1 cup Coconut Milk
  • 1 cups Beef Broth or Stock
  • 2 tsp Avocado Oil

Spices & Seasonings

  • 2 tbsp Curry Powder
  • 1/2 tbsp Paprika
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp Coriander
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 2 tbsp Salt

Instructions

  1. In large pot, heat up 2 tsp of Avocado oil over medium high heat.
  2. Add in onion, garlic, ginger, bell pepper, beef and spices and saute for 5-7 minutes or until the meat becomes opaque and vegetables begin to soften.
  3. Stir in sweet potatoes and cabbage.
  4. To the pot, add in crushed tomatoes, coconut milk and beef broth and stir to combine.
  5. Bring stew to a boil for 5 minutes and turn back down to a simmer for 30-40 minutes or until sweet potatoes and beef are cooked through.
  6. Adjust seasonings as necessary and serve hot.
  • Category: stew, soup, entree, lunch, dinner
  • Method: stovetop, instant pot
  • Cuisine: African

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 cups
  • Calories: 348

Keywords: whole30 african beef stew, paleo african beef stew, african style beef stew, healthy african beef stew, gluten free beef stew recipe, easy gluten free beef stew recipe, african stew recipes, aftrican cabbage stew, african curry beef stew, african dishes, healthy african dishes, instant pot african beef stew, whole30 african recipes, paleo african recipes

Valerie Skinner is a Whole30 approved personal chef & recipe developer that bridges the gap between healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals and recipes for you and your family.Charleston Personal Chef Thyme and JOY

Lets Connect!

Check out my Podcast: Food Conversations

Email me: thymeandjoy@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram

Join my community on Facebook

See what I’m pinning on Pinterest