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    Home > Recipes > AIP

    Strawberry Basil Chicken with Spinach (Paleo, AIP, GF, DF)

    Published: Apr 26, 2020. Modified: Apr 9, 2022 by Arika | FoodCourage·This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. · Leave a Comment

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    This flavorful AIP strawberry basil chicken recipe is a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors with strawberry, basil, carrots, coconut milk, and other ingredients coming together to make the perfect creamy, hearty sauce. When poured over grilled chicken thighs, it makes for a very satisfying rich, but not too rich meal. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, AIP compliant and the sauce can be made in advance making a pretty quick meal. 

    It turned so much better than I expected- it's completely delicious. I would say it's more savory than sweet. My husband and kids loved it. They were pretty much silent at dinner (which is rare) because they were eating so contently. We had some leftovers so I took them to work the next day. It was even better the second day if that's possible. 

    If you're looking for more dinner ideas, definitely take a look at my AIP Chicken Recipes roundup post.

    strawberry basil chicken on a small white plate on a wooden table with straberry tops and lemon peels laying nearby

    About this recipe

    The Sauce

    The sauce comes together with most of the ingredients being blended together in a high-speed blender. If you want to save time and prepare the sauce ahead of time- maybe the day before, this will save you 15-20 minutes of prep time. The majority of the prep time is in the sauce so if you have this part done, the meal is a breeze.

    The main step to prepping the sauce is blending several ingredients in the blender. Later, after you've cooked the chicken, the chicken will come out of the pan while you heat the sauce along with some onions and garlic. You'll then add the chicken back to the pan with the sauce at the end.

    You would think a strawberry basil sauce would be red but it's definitely not. It looks more like a curry than anything strawberry but don't let that throw you off. It's amazing.

    The sauce pairs perfectly with chicken but would probably also be delicious with other meats as well.

    basil, carrots, strawberries, and coconut milk in a blender with various fruit on a cutting board in the background

    The Chicken

    This recipe calls for boneless skinless chicken thighs but chicken breasts are fine too. If you're not using a non-stick pan, be sure to use enough oil that the chicken doesn't stick. You'll want to move it around frequently to keep it from sticking. It takes about 6-7 minutes on each side over medium heat to cook through. Every stovetop is a little different though, so make sure your chicken is fully cooked through and has a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

    strawberry basil chicken cooking in a large metal pan on the stove

    The Spinach

    You'll add fresh spinach to the pan at the very end. It wilts quickly so you want to make sure you wait until the sauce has reduced by half and is pretty thick. That way all you have to do is add the spinach and chicken, heat for a few minutes, and serve.

    To Serve

    Serve the chicken with the sauce spooned over the top and garnished with basil and strawberry slices. 

    3 plates of strawberry basil chicken on a wooden table with strawberry tops, lemon peels, and basil laying around them

    Storage

    Leftovers from this meal will keep fresh in the fridge in an airtight container for about 4 days. It can be frozen as well and will stay good for at least a month. 

    Conclusion

    I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you tried it, leave me a comment below and let me know what you thought!

    This recipe is shared on the AIP Paleo Recipe Roundtable.

    If you enjoyed this post, you may also like: 

    Lemon Chicken Piccata

    Moroccan Chicken Stew

    Easy Chicken Florentine

    Chicken Kelaguen

    AIP Coconut Chicken Nuggets

    Beginner's Guide to the Autoimmune Protocol

     

    3 plates of strawberry basil chicken on a wooden table with strawberry tops, lemon peels, and basil laying around them

    Strawberry Basil Chicken with Spinach

    Arika | FoodCourage
    The fresh and flavorful dish combines several nutrient-dense fruits and veggies into a delicious sauce. This sauce is then served over tender pan-fried chicken thighs. This recipe is Paleo, AIP, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 346 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Blender

    Ingredients
      

    Strawberry Basil Sauce, Part 1 (to be blended in food processor)

    • 3/4 cup fresh strawberries
    • 2 tbsp lemon juice
    • 1/2 tsp sea salt
    • 1/2 cup baby carrots or peeled chopped carrots
    • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 1/2 tbsp honey
    • 1 1/2 tbsp coconut aminos
    • 1 cup full fat coconut milk
    • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves loosely packed
    • 1/8 tsp garlic powder

    Chicken

    • 1-2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
    • 1-1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • 1/4 tsp sea salt (sprinkled over the chicken before cooking)

    Strawberry Basil Sauce, Part 2

    • 1-2 tbsp olive oil
    • 1/4 cup diced red onions
    • 1-2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tbsp water
    • Strawberry Basil Sauce made in Part 1
    • 1 cup raw spinach leaves

    Garnish

    • fresh basil chopped
    • fresh strawberries sliced

    Instructions
     

    • Combine Part 1 sauce ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
    • Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and season each side with a sprinkle of salt.
    • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds then place the chicken top-side down in the skillet. Cook for about 6-7 minutes then flip over and do the other side for about the same amount of time. They should be lightly browned, no longer pink in the middle, and internal temp should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Remove chicken from the skillet and place it on a plate. Note- some pieces will be smaller than others and will cook faster. You can remove them from the pan as they reach the correct temperature to prevent overcooking.
    • In the same pan, using grease from the chicken drippings, continue with medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. If there is not enough grease still in the pan, add 1-2 tbsp olive oil. Cook for 1-2 minutes until transluscent. Add about 1 tbsp water to scrape the pan and deglaze it.
    • Add the sauce from the blender to the pan with the garlic and onions. Bring to a simmer and stir. Continue cooking over medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook another 5 minutes until sauce is thickened and reduced by half. Add fresh spinach and allow to wilt slightly (about 30 seconds).
    • Add the chicken back to the pan. Increase heat back to medium in order to reheat the chicken and incorporate it with the sauce. Cook for another 4-5 minutes, then remove from heat.
    • Serve with sauce spooned over the chicken. Gainish with chopped fresh basil and sliced strawberries.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Strawberry Basil Chicken with Spinach
    Serving Size
     
    1 thigh
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    346
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    24
    g
    37
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    13
    g
    81
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    7
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    108
    mg
    36
    %
    Sodium
     
    691
    mg
    30
    %
    Potassium
     
    563
    mg
    16
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    10
    g
    3
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    24
    g
    48
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    3099
    IU
    62
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    23
    mg
    28
    %
    Calcium
     
    48
    mg
    5
    %
    Iron
     
    3
    mg
    17
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword AIP, basil, chicken, nomato, Paleo,, strawberries
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @foodcourage or tag #foodcourage on Instagram!
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    HI! I'm Arika and I'm a Nashville-based registered dietitian with Hashimoto's. I founded Food Courage in 2019 as a way to share delicious and practical AIP/Paleo recipes and strategies for thriving with autoimmunity. Check out my about page to read more.

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