Although some may think that creating a lovely ribbon of flavor through the center of a chicken breast is a daunting task – I assure you – it is not.
Because it was a perfect winter’s day, Dom and I made sure to get out for a walk on our favorite trail, the Erie Canal. While trekking, we had the gorgeous fortune of watching colors change in the sky as if peering into a child’s kaleidoscope. From baby blue to raspberry, we were blanketed with mosaic-like colors for the 4 miles we hiked. We crossed paths with friendly joggers, snowmobilers and puppies, all so eager to say hello. It was a perfect way to end the work day. And as is the case for long walks on chilly days we returned home famished looking for something warm and savory. Lucky for us, the Chicken Breast in Lemon-Herb Sauce with Roasted Swiss Chard that I had prepared that afternoon was ready and waiting.
Earlier in the day I had popped out for groceries and made a promise to myself that the produce section would dictate my menu. The shelves were brimming with the likes of chard, beetroot, celery root…all the roots(!) which I could not resist.
Swiss chard, when roasted properly, creates a lovely side-dish or a fantastic bed for stuffed chicken breast.
I’ve been craving chicken braciole lately so I had the idea to make a similar version just lightened up. Rather than cooking the herb-y bread-crumbed stuffed chicken in tomato sauce I went for a lemon-herb sauce. Using chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, fresh herbs and a spot of red pepper flakes, the sauce is a beautiful complement to not only the chicken but the jumble of earthy greens set beneath.
It makes for a bright and slightly spicy experience.
Whether you’re making the Swiss chard as a side-dish or going all the way with the chicken, it’s a meal that comes together pretty easily and can be made ahead of time.
Which means…more time for brisk walks on colorful days!
Buon Appetito!
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Chicken Breast in Lemon-Herb Sauce with Roasted Swiss Chard
- Category: Dinner
Ingredients
- Swiss Chard
- 1 big bunch of Swiss chard
- 2 – 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- Chicken Breast with Lemon-Herb Sauce
- 2 lbs. boneless chicken breast, each piece halved and pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
- 1/2 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
- 4 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley, divided
- 2 tsp. dried oregano, divided
- Salt
- 1 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 tsp. crushed hot red pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F.
- Clean and tear Swiss chard into pieces. Remove the very bottom of the stem and cut the remaining into 1 inch pieces.
- Scatter chard on two cookie sheets and drizzle 1 – 1 1/2 Tbsp. of olive oil on each. Mix and roast for 3 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, scoop into a medium sized bowl, and set aside.
- Heat oven to 450 F.
- In a medium bowl, combine bread crumbs, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, 1 Tbsp. parsley, 1/2 tsp. oregano and salt, to taste.
- Spread 2 tsp. of bread-crumb mixture over each piece of chicken, reserving the remaining crumbs.
- Roll each piece with the bread crumbs running in a spiral through the center.
- Fasten securely with toothpicks.
- Arrange the chicken side by side in a 13×9″ baking dish, leaving a little space between each piece.
- In a small bowl, stir the chicken broth, lemon juice, hot pepper flakes, remaining olive oil, oregano and salt, to taste.
- Pour sauce into the baking dish.
- Peel and crush the garlic and scatter in baking dish.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and top chicken with remaining bread-crumb mixture.
- Return to oven and bake until the bread-crumb topping is golden brown, about 5 minutes.
- Remove roasting pan from oven and place directly over medium-high heat on the stove top.
- Add the remaining parsley and bring pan juices to a boil.
- Boil until lightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Place roasted Swiss chard on plates.
- Pull the toothpicks from the chicken without loosening the bread-crumb topping then gently transfer the pieces to plates with a slotted spoon.
- Pour the sauce around the chicken and onto the Swiss chard.
Ciao!
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[…] Chicken Breast in Lemon-Herb Sauce with Roasted Swiss Chard […]
Your walk with Dom sounds wonderful – so nice and peaceful! Getting to come home to this beautiful meal is the perfect end to the day! I love that you roasted the swiss chard and I think I could just drink up that lemon herb sauce!
It was a perfect way to end our day! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Sounds delicious Annie, love how light and refreshing the dish is!
Why thank you, dear! 🙂
That sounds like the perfect day! I always try to get outdoors when the sun is shining because we don’t see it very often here in the winter. I love your combination of light lemony flavors with the earthy swiss chard, (and those little pots are so great in your photos)!
It’s just required, isn’t it? We must get outside when possible! Thanks so much, Kari! We love this dish! 🙂
That walk sounds fabulous. I love sunsets in winter. They always seem more vibrant to me. This chicken looks great. I’ve only used Swiss chard a couple times, but really liked it. And that lemon herb sauce sounds lovely!
It was a lovely walk…we’ll take ’em for as long as we can get ’em! Thanks, Amanda! 🙂
This looks INCREDIBLE, Annie! All the colors are so vibrant and bright. I love seeing that this time of year when the colors can lean toward gray. And this looks very chef- grade skilled, but you’ve made me believe I can do it too!
Oh…you can do it! Thanks for your sweet words, my friend! 🙂
I’ve drooled over the photos for this on IG and FB — it looks so inviting! I’m a huge Swiss chard fan, and that lemon herb sauce sounds like the perfect thing to top it all off!
Awh! Thanks, Marcie! This is quickly becoming one of my favorites! 🙂
This is so perfect for winter! I love swiss chard so much and always looking for new ways to cook it. Easy and healthy too so it’s winner in my book 🙂
I love it too, especially roasted. And you can’t beat something that takes only 3 minutes to cook! Thanks, friend!
What a delicious comfort dish, Annie! Besides, I just figured out I’ve never seriously worked with swiss chard (May be once or twice). Visially it always reminds me rhubarb, haha.
Hi Ben! Why thank you! We gobbled this up pretty good! And I agree…swiss chard reminds me of baby rhubarb, too! 🙂
Oh this looks amazing. Light enough and hearty enough to fill you up. I must pin.
Thank you, Angela! And thanks for the pin! 🙂
Ooooohh colourful skies are my favourite <3 I have never thought of roasting swiss chard before! I've only ever had it in wraps. This looks so warm and heart and healthy and definitely something I want to try soon.
I’ll roast anything! The key to the chard is not letting it overcook – 3 minutes, done! I hope you try it, friend! 🙂
The chard looks amazing! I love this meal and the lemon herb sounds delicious 🙂
Thank you, friend! Love chard!! 🙂
Wow! I’ve kind of been craving braciole lately too. Probably because it’s so dang cold here. And rainy. Again. I’ve never had a chicken version before, but that sounds brilliant! This lemony swiss chard chicken looks like the perfect end to such a fantastic walk with Dom! Happy weekend, Annie!
I took an Italian cooking class many moons ago and we made both beef and chicken braciole – it was the first time I had ever had it – and I loved it! Thanks for your kind words deary – stay warm! xo
Well your walk with Dom sounds just about perfect! It’s been so cold here in NC, this Florida native is too much of a wuss to walk much further than Dolce (my fur daughter) needs. This chicken dish sounds perfect as well!! Loving that lemon herb sauce and the bed of swiss chard!! Such a beautiful and flavor packed dish, Annie! This is dinner perfection, for sure! Pinned! Cheers, my dear friend and warm wishes to you and Dom for a wonderful weekend! Xoxo
Oh yesss, big transition for you this year! Just remember to layer – that’s the key to warmth! This dish was a welcomed meal after our brisk walk! Thanks, friend! Happy weekend! xoxo
Comfort food after a long, cold, invigorating hike is the way to go, Annie. I’m a big weekend hiker – the Erie Canal sounds like a great place to take a long walk.
It really is…and because it’s only 5 minutes from our home we get to hike it a lot. Thanks, dear!
Sounds like a gorgeous winter day! Great recipe, so simple, delicious and I love that it is lightened up! Need to try it! Have a nice weekend!
There are some pleasant flavors going on here. I think you’ll like it! Thanks, dear! Have a lovely weekend!
Oh my goodness, this is so gorgeous! What a beautiful dish that’s perfect for a warm winter dinner – I love your writing in this post too, I want to come on that walk!
Thank you, dear! It was the perfect meal to have waiting after our long and pretty walk. You can join us any time! Enjoy your weekend! 🙂
Oh yum! What a good looking chicken recipe you have. I love the addition of swiss chard in this dish and this is one comfort food that I need to make asap.
Why thank you, Linda! I could eat the Swiss chard on its own…but it’s so good with the chicken! 🙂
Grazie Mille!!! I’ve been looking for a good chicken breast recipe that doesn’t include the grill. We love our lemon chicken thighs with a thousand garlic cloves (just kidding — only one hundred ) 🙂 And we really love Swiss chard. Normally I make it at Thanksgiving au gratin style with Gruyere but this lower calorie version is perfect. It’s raining today so we are going to the grocery store — we have chicken breasts and Swiss chard will be on the list. Buona giornata!!
Prego! It’s so easy to get into a chicken rut! I hope you guys enjoy this! Buon Appetito! 🙂
This sounds like the perfect comfort food, Annie! Especially for the snow that’s headed my way. I’ve never actually made swiss chard before, but it sounds like it goes perfectly with this chicken. I love that you lightened this up a little, too. Such fresh flavors!
Ooooh – have fun in the snow! Thanks for your kind words, Gayle! This is a whole lotta comfort! 🙂