Winter Wellness Paleo Bake (Printable)
A nourishing paleo bake with chicken, sweet potatoes, and root vegetables seasoned with warming herbs.
# List of ingredients:
→ Protein
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 1 parsnip, peeled and sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, sliced
06 - 2 cups chopped kale
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Fats & Liquids
08 - 3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
09 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
→ Herbs & Spices
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Optional Toppings
15 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
16 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
# Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnip, red onion, kale, and garlic.
03 - Drizzle the olive oil over the mixture and toss to coat evenly.
04 - Add the thyme, rosemary, turmeric, salt, and pepper; mix well to distribute the spices.
05 - Transfer the mixture to a large baking dish and pour the chicken broth evenly over the top.
06 - Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
07 - Remove the foil, gently stir the contents, and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
08 - Sprinkle with parsley and a drizzle of lemon juice before serving, if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in 20 minutes of chopping, then the oven handles the rest while you rest or do something else.
- Every vegetable gets soft and slightly caramelized, and the chicken stays incredibly juicy when you don't overcook it.
- The turmeric and rosemary combo tastes like you spent hours layering flavors, but it's actually just a sprinkle of dried herbs.
02 -
- Don't crowd the baking dish or pile vegetables too deep; they need some room to breathe and brown slightly at the edges, which is where the flavor lives.
- Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts; if you're worried about dryness, choose thighs and cut them into slightly smaller pieces than you think you need.
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables to roughly the same size so they finish cooking at the same time; uneven pieces mean some things are mushy while others are still firm.
- If your broth is salty, use less salt in your seasoning mix; you can always add more at the table, but you can't take it out.