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Easy Garlicky Chicken and Green Beans Skillet

Ready in about 30 minutes and bursting with flavor, this Easy Garlicky Chicken and Green Beans Skillet is an excellent family dinner.

Recipe Garlicky Chicken and Green Bean Skillet

This post is sponsored by The UNCLE BEN’S® Brand. Although I received compensation in exchange for this post, all opinions are my own.

The warm days of summertime have a way of making you forget about how busy life can get when school’s in session. But, as we round the corner at the end of summer vacation, it’s all coming back. Soon, there will be homework every night. There will be tests and essays and projects.There will be soccer practices and games, chorus rehearsals and play auditions.

And it will all happen simultaneously and in concert with work and other commitments. Can we fit swim classes in too? What about ballet and voice lessons? Which clubs and teams will fit into the jigsaw puzzle of our days?

Don’t think I am complaining. I love how summer is the counterpoint to the busy, active days of fall, winter and spring. We need that breather, that break from the super-busy times.

Of course, with the busier days also comes the need for quick dinners. After all, dinner can be the toughest part of the day on busy nights. What pocket of time does it fit in? And how quickly can you make it?

Garlicky Chicken and Green Beans Skillet recipe

That’s when you need easy, crowd-pleasing meals like this. One skillet. About 30 minutes. That’s all you need to make this flavorful dinner. And it’s easy enough that you and the kids can make it together.

Seasoned Chicken for Chicken Skillet

This Easy Garlicky Chicken and Green Beans Skillet recipe begins with boneless skinless chicken — actually chicken tenders, which are a part of the breast (not the breaded ones — these are in the raw meat section of the supermarket). Because they come in a long, narrow shape, it takes less time to chop them into 1-inch pieces. Time savers like this are key to quick and easy dinners.

Once the chicken is cut, add to a mixing bowl.

The chicken is seasoned with a spice (and herb) mix featuring smoked paprika, tumeric, salt, pepper and thyme. This measuring and mixing is great for kids to do. So is what comes next: Tossing the chicken with the seasoning.

What comes next is for older kids or adults to do:  Heat a little oil in a nonstick skillet, and then cook the chicken until it’s browned on all sides.

Finally, you add the garlic and green beans. Garlic adds even more flavor to the dish, and the green beans round it out.

Uncle Bens Ready Rice

A few more minutes in the skillet, covered, and it’s ready to enjoy over rice.

But not just any rice: Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice, which comes in a variety of white, whole grain brown, specialty and flavored rice products. These packages of rice are truly an awesome timesaver since they cook in just 90 seconds. My daughter loves doing this part, since you just tear open the pouches and microwave it. Like magic, it comes our super light and fluffy.

Uncle Bens Ready Rice Varieties

This rice cooks in 90 seconds! Can you believe that?

While it’s cooking, have the kids make a salad. Or you make the salad and have them set the table. However you divvy up the responsibilities, this is valuable time for you and the kids. It offers a chance to connect, to work together and to have a little time where you are all focused on one singular task: cooking.

Plus, it’s pretty fun to eat a dinner that you made together.

Easy Garlicky Chicken and Green Beans Skillet

The Uncle Ben’s brand is passionate about getting parents and their kids in the kitchen together, and that’s a mission I wholeheartedly support. They like it because when families cook and eat together, kids learn to make healthier choices. I like that too, but I also like the time together, and how much important, practical knowledge a parent can pass along to their child while mixing up dinner.

UNCLE BEN’S® is passionate about encouraging parents and kids to cook together because families that eat and cook together have children who make healthier meal choices.

Shelling Peas Together5

If you haven’t cooked with your kids recently, I highly recommend getting back in the kitchen with them. It’s worth it.

Garlicky Chicken and Green Bean Skillet recipe
Easy Garlicky Chicken and Green Beans Skillet

Easy Garlicky Chicken and Green Beans Skillet

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb raw chicken tenders, (sometimes called tenderloins)
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 12 oz bag frozen green beans, (don't defrost)
  • 2 pouches Uncle Ben's Ready Rice, variety of your choice

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
  2. While it's heating cut the chicken tenders into 1-inch pieces and place in a medium mixing bowl. Stir together the salt, pepper, paprika, thyme and tumeric. Pour over the chicken and stir to combine. It should coat all the pieces.
  3. Place the chicken in the hot skillet and cook, turning once, until just browned on both sides (about 10-12 minutes total). Add the garlic and the green beans to the skillet, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the green beans are cooked
  4. Meanwhile, prepare the rice according to package directions. Serve the chicken and green beans over the rice

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What do you enjoy cooking with your kids?

Kristen Chidsey

Monday 29th of August 2016

One skillet meals are a MUST in the busy school year. Must try this one! Saving

marye

Monday 29th of August 2016

I love skillet dinners they make dinner time so much easier. Also, any excuse to use my iron skillet is a positive!

Rachel @ Baked by Rachel

Monday 29th of August 2016

This sounds like a perfect meal for back to school season!

Erika

Saturday 27th of August 2016

We have fun making popcorn, pizza, and little snacks.

chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

Taylor Kiser

Wednesday 24th of August 2016

This looks delicious! I love easy meals like this on busy weeknights!

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