Low Carb Italian Style Baked Chicken Bruschetta (Lean & Green)

A fresh & delicious Low Carb Meal❣

Ingredients: 

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan or sea salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Olive or avocado oil cooking spray

3 cups grape tomatoes halved or quartered (depending on size)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar*

1 cup (4 ounces) reduced fat mozzarella cheese, grated**

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped or snipped with kitchen shears

Method:

Preheat oven to 375*. Very lightly spray an 8 inch square baking dish with a few squirts of cooking oil spray. Set aside.

Remove any fat from the chicken and cut into bite sized pieces. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and season with the 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until none of the pieces look raw and are almost cooked through. Spread the cooked chicken evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan.

Cover the chicken with the tomatoes. Sprinkle with the garlic and oregano. Drizzle the vinegar over the top. Sprinkle the cheese over all.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted. 

Remove from the oven, cover loosely with a plate or foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Cut into 4 equal portions and garnish each portion with 1/4 of the fresh basil. Makes 4 servings.

*The higher the quality of the Balsamic vinegar, the better the flavor.

**If you are not following a low fat diet, regular mozzarella cheese may be used.

Nutritional info per serving, approximately: 256.5 calories ~ 9.8 grams fat ~ 8.9 grams carbs ~ 6.5 grams net carbs ~ 32.7 grams protein

Each serving equals: 3/4 lean portion, 1 1/2 greens, 3 condiments & 3/4 healthy fat 

Notes: To make a complete Lean & Green meal (1 lean, 3 greens. 3 condiments & 3/4 fat), I added 3/4 cup of celery sticks and a 1 ounce Lite Laughing Cow cheese wedge.  Nutritional info for the complete meal, approximately: 269.77 calories ~ 10 grams fat ~ 10.7 grams carbs ~ 7.67 grams net carbs ~ 33.65 grams protein

My entire family really enjoyed this meal ~ it is flavorful, moist & delicious❣