Tuscan Chicken Bakes Meal Prep
on Mar 06, 2024, Updated May 12, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.
It’s time to make a home for all our macro friendly meal prep recipes right here on the blog. This has been a very long time coming! I’ve really been dragging my feet, but a new fire has been lit and I’m ready to make it happen! Let’s start with a recent fan favorite, Tuscan Chicken Bakes! These are super simple to throw together for a whole weeks worth of prepped lunch, or dinner. These tuscan chicken bakes will help you hit your daily protein goal like a champ!
Table of Contents
- WHY MEAL PREP
- INGREDIENTS
- RECIPE TIPS
- VEGETABLE OPTIONS
- RICE SUBSTITUTIONS
- NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION / MACROS
- HOW TO FIND IN MYFITNESSPAL OR THE MACROSFIRST APP
- MEAL PREP SUPPLIES USED
- RICE TROUBLESHOOTING
- REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS
- FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS
- WHERE TO BUY THE STAY FIT MOM MEAL PREP COOKBOOKS
- Tuscan Chicken Bakes Recipe
WHY MEAL PREP
Making sure you eat macro balanced meals throughout the day isn’t going to happen if you don’t have a plan and systems in place. We can help you establish a routine that will help you meet your goals with our easy 5 day Meal Prep Recipes! If eating the same thing for multiple meals or days in a row isn’t your thing, make multiple meals and freeze half for another week! Or share these with loved ones!
INGREDIENTS
- Chicken Breasts – I usually use breasts, but thighs would be great too! Just keep in mind if tracking your macros that each bowl will yield about 4.5 grams of fat more per serving (bowl).
- Rice – I prefer basmati or jasmine. You just don’t want to use brown for these chicken bakes because it takes too long to cook and will overcook your chicken.
- Chicken Broth
- Tomato Sauce
- Plain non-fat Greek Yogurt
- Sun Dried Tomatoes
- Frozen or Fresh Spinach
- Asparagus
- Parmesan Cheese– Parmigiano Reggiano is highly recommended, always.
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano and red pepper flakes
RECIPE TIPS
- Keep the rice on the bottom -Try to make sure most of the rice is submerged in the liquid beneath the chicken before baking. This will help insure the rice cooks fully.
- Don’t over cook! -Don’t cook longer than 40 minutes or your chicken will be overdone and dry.
VEGETABLE OPTIONS
If you’re not a fan of asparagus or spinach, remember that these meal prep bowls are highly customizable. Here are a few options for substitutions or additions:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Diced squash
- Diced sweet potatoes
- Green beans
- Sliced mushrooms
RICE SUBSTITUTIONS
- Riced cauliflower (leave out the chicken broth)
- Quinoa
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION / MACROS
Makes 5 servings
Serving size: 1 bowl
380 cal / 41.1P / 33.7C / 7.1F / 2 fiber
HOW TO FIND IN MYFITNESSPAL OR THE MACROSFIRST APP
Search the food database in either app for, Stay Fit Mom Tuscan Chicken Bakes.
MEAL PREP SUPPLIES USED
4 cup glass bowls -Make sure the bowls you’re purchasing are oven safe. They will say so on the label if purchasing in store.
Half size sheet pan – This is the perfect size for 5, 4 cup glass bowls. You can of course use a full size sheet pan but your bowls will slide around. I wish I could find a link for my cute white sheet pan in the images and video but I can’t. I bought it at Home Goods a few years ago.
RICE TROUBLESHOOTING
If you have trouble getting your rice to cook you’re not alone. Unfortunately not all ovens work the same. Here are some suggestions for making these bakes work for you. Finding a solution is worth the effort!
- Try rinsing and soaking your rice 1-2 hours before cooking.
- Cover your bowls with foil when baking.
- Parboil your rice or purchase and use parboiled or quick rice.
- Cook rice separately and add after baking the chicken.
- Cook your chicken bake all in one dish, covered, then divide into 5 servings.
REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS
These bowls can easily be reheated right in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. If you prefer, reheat the oven and warm them back up for about 10 minutes.
FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS
Easily freeze these Tuscan Chicken Bakes. Let them cool, cover with the lid, and store for up to a month in the freezer. Make sure you always let the bowls defrost some before putting them in the microwave so they don’t crack.
WHERE TO BUY THE STAY FIT MOM MEAL PREP COOKBOOKS
The Stay Fit Mom macro friendly cookbooks are sold exclusively on our website and are available in both digital or digital + hardcopy. Find so many recipes like this one in them! Macros for all recipes included and pre loaded in the apps.
Get the Stay Fit Mom Cookbooks!
Macros included for all recipes and pre loaded in the apps for easy macro tracking!
Digital and hardcopies available!
Tuscan Chicken Bakes
Equipment
- 5 Glass Bowls 32oz. (4 cup) size
Ingredients
- 25 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast
- 15 tablespoons basmati rice
- 1.25 cups cups chicken broth
- 10 tablespoons tomato sauce
- 5 tablespoons plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 60 g sun dried tomatoes, drained
- 100 g frozen spinach, or fresh
- 100 g asparagus, diced
- 28 g parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and arrange 5 oven safe containers on a cookie sheet.
- Dice up chicken and season it with all the seasonings.
- To each bowl add 3 tablespoons rice, pinch of salt, 1/4 cup broth, 2 tablespoons tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt, 20g spinach, 20g asparagus and 12g of sun dried tomatoes.
- Stir well and then top each with 5 ounces of the seasoned chicken.
- Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until the rice is cooked.
- Top bowls with the parmesan cheese.
- Let cool before covering with lids and placing in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Notes
- Search the Myfitnesspal or MacrosFirst app food databases for Stay Fit Mom Tuscan Chicken Bakes to log in your food diary.
- Bulk up with some extra rice. For every extra tablespoon of uncooked rice you add to your bowl, add an additonal 8.8g of carbs and 0.8g of protein. Don’t forget to keep the 2:1 ratio of rice to broth.
- Add extra veggies to get in some extra micronutrients!
- Freeze a few if you won’t eat them in time. Store in the freezer up to 30 days.
Definitely my least fav. All I tasted was tomato. The mexican street corn casserole has so much flavor and when I saw this, I was hoping it would be just as flavorful. Unfortunately, it was so boring to eat everyday. It’s missing something and I’m not sure what it is.
Could orzo pasta be used in this?
Yes I think it would be GREAT!
So delicious & flavorful! Next time I may cut back on the red pepper for less of a kick.
Can this meal be cooked in a ninja foodie with the bake option or air fryer?
I’m not familiar with the Ninja Foodie, sorry!
Of the recipes I’ve tried so far from Stay Fit Mom, this has been my favorite!
These were so good! My rice got a bit crispy… two differences I’m thinking are possibly jasmine rice and/or I used a single serve Pyrex and I think the different shape spread the liquid out a little more… so I’m thinking next time an extra T of broth in each?
Hi Carla! I wish I knew what would work perfectly for everyone. I think your oven and environment both play a role in how it cooks. I have a section in the post above with some troubleshooting ideas our clients have shared that work for them. Once you find what works for you it will dave you so much time in the kitchen. Thank you for your review!
This was so boring and just tastes like canned tomatoes. Nothing special about it compared to mexican street corn casserole – now that’s a dish worth trying!
I’m surprised to hear you find this one so boring, it’s a very popular one. Thanks for the review N.