Blackened Chicken with Avocado Cream Sauce

This recipe will kick your taste buds into high gear! The perfect blend of paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper will have your mouth buzzing with flavor and heat, but don't worry, the addition of the avocado and Greek yogurt cream sauce acts as a cooling agent for all that fire! The quinoa adds a gentle basic flavor to this intense dish and contributes a satisfying amount of nutritious fiber and protein to keep you and your family full and happy!

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 367 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 cup quinoa
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• Non-stick cooking spray
• ½ cup chopped scallions
• ½ avocado
• 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• ¼ cup plain non-fat Greek-style yogurt

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan. Stir quinoa into the broth and bring again to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and broth has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 2

Stir scallions and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice into the quinoa.

Step 3

Mix paprika, cumin, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and sea salt together in a small bowl; rub onto chicken breasts to season completely.

Step 4

Prepare a large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.

Step 5

Lay chicken breasts into the hot skillet, cover skillet with a lid, and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 7 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 6

Blend avocado, yogurt, 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, and garlic powder in a food processor until smooth.

Step 7

Spread quinoa onto a serving platter. Arrange chicken breasts onto the platter. Drizzle avocado cream sauce over the chicken breasts.