Name: Weeknight Chicken Veggie and Rice Skillet
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients: 12 oz. Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips; 2-3 bags Uncle Ben's® Ready Rice® Whole Grain Brown; 2-3 tablespoons olive oil; 1/4 cup chopped pistachios, shelled; 3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage; 1 1/2 cup carrots, sliced 1/4 inch thick rounds; 1 1/2 cup brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half; 1 shallot, thinly sliced; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 2 teaspoons chopped garlic; 1/4 cup dried cranberries; 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese; 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar; 2 tablespoons maple syrup; 1 tablespoon dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon chopped garlic; 3-4 fresh sage leaves

“This post has been sponsored by Tyson Foods, inc. and Uncle Bens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

This Weeknight Chicken Veggie and Rice Skillet is the definition of gourmet made simple! It comes together in just 30 minutes and is sure to become a family favorite!

So much I love about this right now. So, so much.

Crispy brussels sprouts, carrots and shallots roasted in balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and garlic… How about a YES MA’AM on that one!

Toss that goodness with some cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, toasted pistachios, crispy sage, and what do you get? Pure bliss.

How to Make Gourmet Food Simple

I have to admit, first and foremost on the list of loves, though, is how quick and easy this Weeknight Chicken Veggie and Rice Skillet is to make.

That’s where my lovely friends at Tyson® Foods, Inc. and Uncle Ben’s® come in. Thanks to a quick trip to my local Albertsons this week, I was able to pick up Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips and Uncle Ben’s® Ready Rice® Whole Grain Brown. By using their fully cooked chicken and rice, I had the luxury of whipping up this gourmet meal in just 30 minutes! Now that, my friends, is a gem to add to your busy weeknight repertoire.

Let’s face it: Life is BUSY. There are definitely those days when I want to experiment in my kitchen—whipping up a three-course masterpiece while listening to Dean Martin, donned in one of my dozen aprons (yes I have an addiction). But, let’s be real. Most days, I’m sporting yoga pants and a messy bun, trying to throw together dinner while my two-year-old twins chase each other between my legs, almost knocking me flat on my face.

These rushed days are when I pull out my trusty skillet and throw together a meal with anything I can grab. It’s nights like these that Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips and Uncle Ben’s® Ready Rice® Whole Grain Brown come to the rescue.

Plus, I can feel great about serving Tyson® chicken to my family because it’s made from 100% all-natural white meat chicken and contains no antibiotics, so why not?! Click below to save on Tyson and Uncle Ben’s at your local store and simplify your life, Mama’s!

Why I Love Shopping at Albertsons

With a family of five, I’m always looking for ways to save on our grocery budget—and Albertsons is often a huge help. My kids can EAT like it’s no one’s business. Seriously, we go through a bunch of bananas, two batches of pancakes and a dozen eggs in just one breakfast (although my husband is definitely a large contributor to those stats).

One of the tricks I use to save money is to stock up when prices are low by using coupons through the Albertsons app. In addition to great in-store prices and deals, you can find over $300/week in digital coupons and personalized deals from their “just for U” program. Plus, the app is super easy to download and user-friendly, too. Trust me, I can’t stand sorting through coupon clippings at the check-out line. It drives me crazy! So, this app is right up my alley.

Now, sure, there may be some fancy ingredients in this Weeknight Chicken and Veggie Rice Skillet, but the bulk of the items can easily be stored in your freezer or pantry. And the wonderful thing about a dish like this is how versatile it is. You can easily customize the recipe with whatever fresh veggies you have on hand that day. Although, I do have to say, this combo is pretty magical and may be hard to beat!

This Easy Weeknight Chicken and Veggie Rice Skillet was inspired by a recipe from Uncle Ben’s. In addition to Uncle Ben’s® light, fluffy brown rice and Tyson® tender refrigerated grilled chicken strips, it’s loaded with all sorts of tasty veggies. I spiced it up a bit by adding in some cranberries, pistachios and goat cheese and then drizzled it all with a delightful balsamic and sage reduction. I’m loving all that jazzy flavor with a whole bunch of nutrition as a bonus. Party in the houzzzz!

Steps for Weeknight Chicken Veggie and Rice Skillet

So, now for the fun part. Here’s how this Easy Weeknight Chicken and Veggie Skillet magic happens:

First, add your balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic and sage to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer while you prepare the rest of the dish.

Second, heat olive oil over medium heat in your skillet. Toast the chopped pistachios and sage until just barely golden brown and crispy. This goes FAST, so be careful not to burn them! Transfer onto a paper towel to soak up the excess oil and set aside.

P.S. The crispy pistachios and sage are what you sprinkle over the top of your chicken and veggies at the end; that elevates this dish to a whole new level. It. Is. Ahh-MAZING!

Next, heat olive oil in your skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add your veggies (carrots, brussels sprouts and shallots) evenly in a single layer, with the cut side of the brussels sprouts down. Cook the veggies undisturbed (no stirring) for about 5 minutes or until cut sides of the sprouts become caramelized and crispy.

While the veggies are cooking, whisk together a little balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup and garlic in a small bowl (pretty much the same stuff that is in the balsamic reduction). Yep. I’m nothing if not predictable when it comes to smothering everything in balsamic. Sorry not sorry.

Drizzle the sauce over the veggies, and stir to coat them evenly. Cover the pan with a lid, and continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the veggies are mostly cooked through. Remove from the skillet, and set aside.

Now for the easy part! Thanks to Uncle Ben’s® Ready Rice® Whole Grain Brown, I can have perfect, fluffy, nutritious brown rice ready in just 90 seconds flat! Guys, this stuff is magic. Trust me, I’m a professional. A professional at doing things at the last minute. As you probably already know, I’m a huge fan of brown rice. However, it takes forever to cook, and I always forget to start it in my rice cooker in time for dinner. Then we are either waiting for it to finish cooking or I have to scratch my dinner plans and we end up eating cold cereal—not that my kids complain; they LOVE cereal.

Uncle Ben’s® Ready Rice® Whole Grain Brown is so easy to prepare; just pop it in your microwave, sit down and breathe for 90 seconds (yes, this is something I look forward to) while it cooks. And while I am partial to brown rice, they do offer a wide variety of delicious flavors that work well with any meal!

Last but not least comes Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips. I love how they are fully cooked; all you do is reheat them and they are ready to go! Super simple and easy, not to mention tender with great flavor! I just throw them in the same skillet with all of the yummy flavors already cooked into the bottom of the pan and let them thaw and brown for a couple minutes on each side.

To assemble your Weeknight Chicken and Veggie Skillet, just pour the rice in the skillet; top with the veggies and grilled chicken; toss on some cranberries, crumbled goat cheese, toasted pistachios and sage; and drizzle with the balsamic sage reduction. That’s it folks—a nutritious, gourmet, and 30-minute weeknight meal made simple with help from Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips and Uncle Ben’s® Ready Rice® Whole Grain Brown.

Alright, enough fun and games. Go make this for dinner, STAT.