Healthy 15-Minute Meals That Don’t Skimp on Flavor
When time is tight but you still want a delicious and satisfying meal, quick recipes come to the rescue. These healthy 15-minute meals are easy to prepare, full of flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights. Using simple ingredients and your air fryer can make cooking both fast and enjoyable.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa or rice (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Steps
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes.
- Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- While the chicken cooks, toss the cherry tomatoes and zucchini slices with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- After the chicken has cooked for 10 minutes, add the vegetables to the air fryer basket around the chicken and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove everything from the air fryer. Serve the chicken and vegetables over cooked quinoa or rice if desired, and garnish with fresh parsley.
Tips or Variations
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in lemon juice and herbs for 10 minutes before cooking.
- Swap out zucchini and tomatoes for other quick-cooking veggies like bell peppers or asparagus.
- To make this meal vegetarian, replace chicken with firm tofu or chickpeas seasoned similarly.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook the chicken and vegetables in a hot oven at 425°F (220°C) for about 15-20 minutes.
- Adding a dollop of hummus or a sprinkle of feta cheese can enhance the flavor without adding extra cooking time.
