Thank you for so many kind comments on yesterday’s “It’s a Date!” post. I am excited to know you like the series. Today is recipe day! I have been making this recipe for what seems like years and totally forgot about it until a sweet comment on Instagram. A friend of my sister’s has made this recipe and she encouraged me to share it on the blog. It is beyond simple and hinges on a yummy dressing sold at Trader Joes.
Black Bean & Cilantro Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4-6 chicken breasts { pounded nice & thin}
- 1 bottle of Trader Joes Cilantro Dressing
- 1 can of black beans
- fresh cilantro
- 1 avocado
- 1 lime {cut in wedges}
- 1 pkg of cherry tomatoes
- light sour cream {optional}
- tortilla chips {optional}
Note: The Cilantro Dressing is in the refrigerated section near the bags of lettuce.
Directions: Preheat over to 375. Place chicken breasts in a glass dish and pour the entire bottle of dressing over the chicken. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Yep, that’s it. Add the beans and cook 5 mins longer or cook the beans separately. Serve with fresh cilantro, tomatoes, a lime wedge and sliced avocado. Sour cream and crushed tortilla chips are optional toppings and so yummy. I either serve this with the black beans on the side or on top. Up to you!
Serve with: This can be a stand alone dish or you can serve it with a fresh salad.
Everyone in my family gobbles this up. It really is a home run with all of the flavors. I’ve also served it with roasted corn on top and that is also quite yummy.
I think people either love or strongly dislike cilantro. I happen to fall into the camp of loving it and recently found out about the health benefits of it, too. You’ll notice that many of my recipes call for it. I really should start growing my own. Do any of you grow your own herbs?
It really is delicious. You can serve it with the black beans on the side or on top. Whatever your family prefers. I mentioned this recipe to many of my friends years ago and they tell me that they still make it. So definitely keep a jar of that Cilantro Dressing from TJs on hand. It’s an easy and tasty dinner that everyone loves.
More recipes from my kitchen below {or you can check out the ‘yummy’ tab under gatherings in my menu bar}.
Other Scrumptious Recipes
Meat and Cheese Platter {with how to video}
My husband grew herbs in Southern California weather, including cilantro. The cilantro grew, but it takes FOREVER to regenerate after it’s been plucked. It’s just not worth it. Especially when it’s so inexpensive in the store 🙂 Basil on the other hand grows like crazy and it tastes amazing!
Oh really!!! That is great info. I am so happy you shared. You rare right . . .so inexpensive to pick up. Thank you. Basil it is! xo
Oh goodness this looks so good! I’m so hungry!
Oh, it’s so yummy, Erin. So simple you can’t really call it cooking but it’s so good!!! xo
This looks so delicious and something both my husband and I will love! We both like cilantro. I will definitely be making this and how nice that it is healthy and simple. We do grow our own herbs! It’s so fun to go out the kitchen door and grab what we need for the recipes. I will say I have noticed lately the birds and squirrels are enjoying the herbs as well.
I’ve grown cilantro, basil, thyme, parsely, mint, and rosemary. My advice is to pick up some starter plants and plant them in a planter so you can contain them (they can get a little crazy). Keep up the watering and watch for deer, squirrels, etc that like to much on yummy herbs.
When picking basil leaves you want to pick from the top half of the plant- the lower leaves will be tougher and more bitter. Also, be sure to pick off any flowering buds. The buds change the flaver of the basil and will stop the stalk from growing more leaves.
YUM! Looks amazing. We got a Trader Joe’s a year or two ago in our town, and I STILL HAVEN’T GONE! So, this dressing will be one of the reasons that I go soon!