I’m still working my way through the two pounds of asparagus my friends left for me while they ran off to France. So many ways to prepare asparagus and I’ve stir-fried a little, mixed it with cabbage and turnips and made a quiche. But this simple recipe for chicken and asparagus wrapped in bacon is one of the best. It is quick to prepare and cook, so dinner can be on the table in less than 30 minutes.
A key to making sure the bacon is done is to pre-cook the bacon about halfway, so that it is still flexible, but not raw. I used a George Foreman grill, but any tabletop grill, outdoor grill or broiler will work. It is so low in carbs that you can indulge with a salad and a few vegetable fries. I used turnips and cauliflower fries with my dinner.
Grilled Chicken with Bacon and Asparagus
For a quick, elegant entrée, this goes together in four steps and cooks on the grill, in the broiler, or in something like a George Foreman grill in just a few minutes. It tastes wonderful! Chicken, asparagus, and bacon — how can you go wrong?
2 (8 oz) Chicken breast filets (about 1/2 inch thick), pounded to square if you wish
4 to 6 Asparagus Spears, trimmed – small or medium
2 slices thick Bacon
1/2 teaspoon Herb Seasoning of choice
Sprinkle of Lemon juice (optional)
Salt and Pepper to preference
Partially cook the bacon so that it is about half way done. This ensures that it will get done while grilling. Drain the bacon.
Pound or press the chicken to tenderize and flatten to a square. (You can use the side a plate for this or the end of table knife.)
Put 2 to 3 asparagus spears in the middle of each chicken breast, season and sprinkle a little lemon juice on it. Roll up and wrap a slice of bacon around it. Use a toothpick to secure the bacon.
Grill on each side until the chicken is done and juices run clear. If you’re using a Foreman or similar grill, it will grill both sides at one time, so just make sure the chicken is done. The time to cook varies with the method used.
Let rest a couple of minutes, then serve.
Serves 2
Nutrition info per servings:
Calories: 180.6 Fat: 6.1 g Net Carbs: 0.8 g Protein: 28.0 g