beans, parsley, onion, tomatoes, and creamy sauce in a skillet

At Ajpal, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

Chicken Green Chile Skillet

It’s hard to come up with delicious, easy dinners that taste indulgent and creamy but aren’t too loaded with calories. I love delicious, creamy, rich dishes- but let’s face it, they aren’t super healthy. This lightened up skillet is under 300 calories per serving (make sure you portion correctly, there are only four servings in the dish) to make a perfect addition to rice, a salad “burrito bowl” style, or even a taco/burrito!

This skillet is a perfect easy meal that also makes great leftovers- it can be repurposed into a base for tortilla soup the next day! Just add stock and some more diced tomatoes for a deliciously comforting meal.

Be sure to measure out your cheese if you’re looking for the right calories- and find a good part-skim cheese (I use Oaxaca from Cacique- in your grocer’s refrigerated deli or hispanic goods section) because it is part skim, but melts like a charm for perfect, thick, stretchy cheese! It’s delicious and perfect for a decadent meal that won’t break your calorie budget.