Gluten Free Gnocchi with Chicken and Roasted Cauliflower

Look at this beautiful tray of gnocchi!  Would you believe it’s gluten free?  It is so good to know that we can still enjoy some of our favorite meals, minus the gluten!  This dish features fresh homemade gnocchi, one of my favorite pasta shapes, tossed in a flavorful skillet of chicken, sausage and cauliflower.

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4 servings

For the gnocchi:

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For the skillet:

Preparation:

To make the pasta, whisk together the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Beat together the eggs and olive oil and add to the flour mixture.  With the paddle attachment, mix on low speed until a soft dough forms (about 1 minute).

Press the dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap.  Let it rest 10 minutes.

Lightly flour your work surface and gnocchi board.  Use a bench knife to divide the dough into 4 even pieces.  Work with one piece at a time and keep the rest covered so that it doesn’t dry out.  Roll each piece of dough into a long rope about 3/4″ wide.

Use the bench knife to cut the rope into 1/2″ pieces.

To form the ridges, roll each piece over the gnocchi board using your thumb, a butter knife or bench knife.  Keep the board and your fingers floured to prevent the gnocchi from sticking.

Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper and flour lightly.  Place the finished gnocchi on the baking sheet.  If not using right away, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

*Always follow food safety guidelines, pasta made with fresh eggs should be refrigerated within 1 hour.

Now it’s time to finish the dish!  Cut the chicken into 1.5″ cubes and toss with 3 tbsp. rice flour, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste.  Let it sit at room temperature while you prepare the vegetables.

Dice the onion, zucchini and cauliflower.  Slice the sausage into coins.  Toss the veggies and sausage with olive oil and Italian seasoning.  Spread the mixture on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 20 minutes at 400º.  Roasting the veggies adds so much flavor to the dish, don’t skip this step!

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the pasta.  Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium low heat.  Begin browning the floured chicken in a little olive oil.  Cook for 3-4 minutes, turning several times to get good color on all sides.

When the chicken is almost done, cook the pasta.  Cover the pot if needed, to keep the water at a boil.  Remember fresh pasta cooks quickly, 3-4 minutes is all it takes!  It will float to the top when done.

Add the roasted sausage and veggies to the skillet with a little chicken broth, folding gently with a spatula as the liquid begins to thicken.

Use a spider strainer to gently lift the cooked pasta out of the water and add it to the skillet.  If too dry, add a bit more chicken broth or a ladle of the pasta water.  Toss gently and continue cooking 1-2 more minutes to get a little browning on the gnocchi.

Transfer to a serving platter and finish with a drizzle of olive oil, grated cheese and Italian parsley.

Just look at this amazing pasta dinner, all from scratch and its gluten free!  It is SO delicious and leftovers are just as good!

Notes ♪♫ This post, first published in 2018 was long overdue for an update.  My original pasta dough was made with brown rice flour and tapioca starch.  I’ve since found that a good all-purpose gluten free flour can work just as well.  I have made this recipe several times with Better Batter Original Blend.  If you use a different brand, be sure that your flour contains xanthan gum.  If not, you will need to add it to help your dough hold together without crumbling or tearing.

Original post 06/17/2018                                Updated 01/20/2022

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My Mother’s Chicken Escarole Soup

A family tradition, I have made this soup for Thanksgiving dinner for over 30 years.  It is inspired by the soup my mother always made for the holidays when we were growing up.  Over the years I’ve added a few extra touches that make it my own, and most recently it has been adapted to be gluten free.  This recipe serves a crowd so you will have plenty for your family dinner plus leftovers.  Of course, you can easily cut it in half (photos are for a half recipe) but I promise you are going to want leftovers!

Serves 20-25.

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Ingredients:

  • 4-5 Chicken Leg Quarters (or you can use drumsticks and/or thighs)
  • 2 Sweet Onions
  • 1 lb. bag of Carrots
  • 1 bag Celery 
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil, divided
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 2 Bay Leaves
  • 1 cup gluten free beef stock (optional but very good)
  • 2 cartons (32 oz.) gluten free chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1 tsp. Sage
  • 1 tsp. Thyme
  • 4 Garlic cloves, minced
  • Generous pinch of Saffron
  • 1″ knob of fresh Ginger root, minced
  • 1 head Escarole, trimmed and washed
  • 12 oz. gluten free soup pasta
Get it here!

Preparation:

2 Days Before:

In a large stockpot brown the chicken in 1 tbsp. olive oil, about 5 minutes each side.  Do it in batches so that each piece gets evenly browned.  Remove chicken from the stockpot, pour out the fat and wipe clean.  Return chicken to the pot and add 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, and 1 medium onion, quartered.  Add ½ tsp pepper and 2 bay leaves.  Cover with water, bring to a boil then lower the heat, cover and simmer for at least 3 hours.

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board or plate.  It should be falling off the bone tender.  Discard the bones and skin and chop the meat into bite size pieces.  Refrigerate the chicken in an airtight container until the day of serving.  Let the stock cool to room temperature then refrigerate overnight.

1 Day Before:

Remove the stock from the refrigerator and skim all fat from the top.  Discard the bay leaves and all of the vegetables.  Strain the chicken stock through a fine mesh sieve, or colander double-lined with cheesecloth into a clean bowl or measuring cup.

Dice 6-8 carrots, 6-8 celery stalks, and one large onion.  Try to cut the pieces to approximately the same size.

In a clean stockpot, sauté the vegetables in 1 tbsp. olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.

Add the strained chicken broth, and the beef stock (you won’t taste the beef, but it really does add another level of flavor to chicken soup).  Top with more chicken broth as needed.

Mince 6-8 garlic cloves, and all of the ginger root (about 2 tbsp.).  Add to the pot with one large pinch of saffron threads, 1 tsp. each of ground sage and thyme, and salt to taste.

Cover and simmer on low 2 more hours.

Remove and discard the outer leaves of the escarole, then tear the leaves into large pieces and rinse thoroughly.  To this day I can still hear my mother telling me to wash the escarole “leaf by leaf”.

When the soup is done, turn off the heat and add the escarole to the pot.

Escarole cooks quickly, and the residual heat is enough to wilt the leaves.  Stir well, cover the pot and let it cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate overnight.

Day of Serving:

Gradually warm the soup on low heat.  Ladle 1 cup of broth into a small saucepan and whisk with 2 tbsp. corn starch.  Once it has thickened, add the cornstarch mixture back into the soup and stir to combine.  Add back all of the reserved chicken meat to the pot.  Do not let it come to a boil or the chicken will shred into ribbons!  In a separate pan cook ¾ lb. of gluten free soup pasta such as orzo or ditalini according to package directions.  I was really lucky to find gluten free Acini de Pepe, the traditional pasta used in this soup.

Drain and rinse the cooked pasta and add it to the soup.  Taste to see if more salt or pepper is needed and keep warm until ready to serve.  Serve with grated cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

As I make this soup each year it brings back childhood memories of my Italian family gathered around the holiday table.  Start your own family tradition with this wonderful soup that is sure to become a favorite part of your special meal.

Notes: ♪♫ Gluten free soup pasta is not readily available where we live.  If you are struggling to find a gluten free pasta for your holiday soup, here are a few links that I hope you find helpful!  Use what you have and don’t be afraid to improvise.  Whenever I buy gluten free pasta, I save the little broken pieces in the bottom of the box and use them for soup!

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Gluten Free Hoisin Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are an easy and economical main course.  They are a favorite for family dinners, as you can adjust the quantity to feed one, two or a crowd.  They make great leftovers too!  Chicken thighs are so versatile, and can be adapted to many cuisines, from this simple Chicken Thighs with Andouille Sausage, to my Tex-Mex Chicken Thighs.  In today’s recipe, I’m giving them a fun Asian twist with just a brush of Hoisin Sauce and a side of fried rice.

4 Servings

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Ingredients:

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic granules
  • 1/2 tsp. ginger powder
  • cooking spray
  • 4 tbsp. gluten free Hoisin sauce
  • toasted sesame seeds for garnish, optional
  • chopped fresh chives for garnish, optional
  • Fried Rice for serving (get the recipe here!)

Preparation:

If you haven’t made fried rice before, check out my easy, basic recipe here.  You can pair it with seafood, pork, poultry or jazz it up with bean sprouts or more veggies.

Rinse the chicken thighs and pat dry.  Trim excess fat and sprinkle the thighs with garlic and ginger powder.  Mist a cast iron braising pan or Dutch oven with cooking spray.  Arrange the thighs in the pan, cover and bake for 75 minutes at 350º.

Liberally brush the thighs with hoisin sauce and cook uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.

While the chicken was cooking, I made my fried rice.  You can get the basic recipe here.  I plated the chicken over the rice for a nice presentation.

For an extra garnish, you can sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and scallions or chopped fresh chives.

For more recipes with fried rice, check out my Shrimp Fried Rice, Hoisin Pork Fried Rice, or Hibachi Chicken with Fried Rice!

Notes ♪♫ Hoisin sauce is a staple in Asian cooking.  Not all brands are gluten free, so be sure to check the label.  I used Sun Luck Hoisin Sauce in this recipe, available in the Asian aisle at your grocer or you can get it online.

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Gluten Free Chicken Broccoli Casserole

The thought of preparing gluten free meals from scratch can be overwhelming.  It took a while for me to realize that there were meals I had been making for years that were naturally gluten free.  From there, I started looking at other favorite recipes that only required a swap of one or two ingredients to be gluten free.  My repertoire began to grow and now I have added many of my old favorites back to the dinner rotation.

My Chicken Broccoli Casserole is a good example.  Here’s how to make it!

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Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
  • Rice flour for dusting
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Olive oil
  • White wine, divided use
  • ½ large sweet onion, diced
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1 large broccoli crown, chopped
  • 1 can (14.5 oz.) fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • ½ tsp. basil
  • ½ tsp. Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 oz. gluten free penne
  • Cooking spray
  • gluten free seasoned breadcrumbs
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh Italian parsley for garnish

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350º.  Set up a pan of salted water for the pasta, and bring to a boil.

Cut the chicken breast into 1-1/2″ chunks.  Dust with rice flour and season with salt and pepper.  Begin browning the chicken in a little olive oil, about 3 minutes per side.  Don’t crowd the pan, use a large skillet or do it in 2 batches.

When the chicken has browned on all sides, add a splash (1/4 cup) of white wine to the pan and toss until the liquid evaporates.  Remove from the pan and set aside.

Wipe the skillet clean.  Add a little more olive oil and begin browning the onions.

When they have a little color, add the broccoli, garlic and diced tomatoes.  Add another splash of white wine, then season with salt and pepper, basil and Italian seasoning.  Cover and cook 10 minutes, until the broccoli is crisp tender.

While the vegetables are cooking, add the pasta to the boiling water.  Use your favorite (Jovial Brown Rice Penne is one of mine) and be sure to cook for 2 minutes less than the package instructions.  Drain and add to the skillet, along with the reserved chicken.  Toss well.

Mist a casserole dish with cooking spray and transfer contents from the skillet in an even layer.  Drizzle with olive oil, then top it off with breadcrumbs and grated cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes.

I like to finish it off under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp up the topping.  Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

This is a real family favorite.  I hadn’t made it in a very long time, but now with just a couple of adaptations we can all enjoy this comfort food meal again.

Notes ♪♫ Always check prepared ingredients for hidden gluten.  In this recipe, pasta and breadcrumbs must of course be gluten free.  Less obvious but important, use rice flour for coating and thickening, make sure canned tomatoes and seasoning mixes are gluten free.  I always grate my own cheese, but if you are using a pre-grated cheese always check for additives that may contain gluten.

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Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lo Mein

This Asian inspired meal checks so many of my boxes!  Healthy fresh ingredients, color, flavor, texture and of course it’s gluten free!  A nice change of pace from my usual stir fries that are made with noodles or rice, this grain free dish won’t leave you feeling stuffed!

We have spaghetti squash quite often, but usually I make an Italian dish like this Twice Baked Spaghetti Squash.  Who knew this humble veggie could also stand in for Chinese noodles!

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ingredients:

“Lo Mein” Squash Noodles:

  • 1 small spaghetti squash
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • cooking spray

For the stir fry:

  • 12 oz. chicken breast, cubed
  • olive oil spray
  • toasted sesame oil
  • olive oil
  • 1/2 cup snow peas
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 1/2 cup carrots, sliced
  • 1 garlic clove, sliced thin
  • 1/2 cup mushrooms (white button or baby bella), thin sliced
  • 1/4 cup scallions, divided use

For the Sauce:

Preparation:

This is a basic preparation for spaghetti squash that you can use as a starting point for so many recipes.  First, cut the squash in half and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds.  Brush each side with 1 tbsp. of olive oil.  I am not salting the squash at this point, because this recipe is already heavy on sodium.  You can certainly season it if you like!

Line a baking sheet with foil and mist with cooking spray.  Place the squash cut side down and roast for 1 hour at 400º.

Use tongs to carefully turn the squash over, and let it cool for a few minutes.

Use 2 forks to shred the spaghetti squash.  Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Now that we have our lo mein “noodles” we can move on with the rest of the recipe.

Mise En Place

Organization is the key to stir fry recipes!  Before you cook, be sure to have all the ingredients prepped and ready to go – “everything in its place”.  That means chopping the veggies, dicing the chicken and stirring the sauce ingredients together.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil spray and add 1 tbsp. olive oil and 1 tsp. sesame oil.  Begin browning the chicken, do it in batches if needed so you don’t crowd the pan.  You want to get a little color on the outside of the chicken at this point, but it does not have to be cooked through.  We’ll finish it at the end of the recipe.

When all sides have been browned set the chicken aside in a bowl.  Add the carrots, peppers and snow peas to the skillet with 1 tsp. sesame oil.  Stir fry for several minutes until crisp tender.  Next add the mushrooms, garlic and 1/2 of the scallions along with another tsp. of sesame oil.  Cook 1 minute longer.

Now add back the chicken and toss well with the veggies.  Using tongs, add the spaghetti squash to the skillet in 1/4 cup portions so that it is well distributed.  Whisk the sauce and pour it over everything, and stir-fry one minute longer to thicken and blend the flavors.

Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the remaining scallions.

Can you guess how it tasted?  It was delicious!  And I will definitely be experimenting with spaghetti squash in more of my Asian inspired recipes!

Notes ♪♫ I am a big fan of using Coconut Aminos in place of gluten free Soy Sauce.  That’s because it has significantly less sodium, which is important in our household.  If you are not limiting salt in your diet, try using Tamari for a rich, umami flavor.

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Gluten Free Chicken Tenders Saltimbocca

Saltimbocca is one of those restaurant classics that I have had on my recipe bucket list.  It can be made with chicken or veal; I’ve even had it as an appetizer with jumbo shrimp!  Today though, I’m going with something a bit humbler.  I’m using chicken tenders, easy on the pocketbook and easy on the prep!  Each tender is wrapped in prosciutto with a beautiful fresh sage leaf tucked in.  The bundles are then simmered in a simple sauce made with shallots, chicken broth, lemon and wine.

The inspiration for this post was a beautiful pot of sage from my herb garden.  I’m really proud that I grew it from seed!

Fresh sage is really the star of this dish, really different than dried!  If you don’t have an herb garden look for it at the market.

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Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. chicken tenders, 5-6 pieces
  • fresh ground pepper
  • fresh sage leaves, whole plus 2 tbsp. minced
  • 6 slices of prosciutto, or 1 per tender
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • 1 shallot, chopped fine
  • 1 tsp. corn starch
  • 1/2 cup gluten free lower sodium chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup white wine (I used pinot grigio)
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • remaining half lemon, cut into wedges for serving

Preparation:

Line your counter with wax paper and lay out the prosciutto slices.  Place one whole sage leaf on the lower half of each slice.

Place one chicken tender on each sage leaf.  Sprinkle with the minced sage and fresh ground pepper.

Roll each into a bundle.

Heat a large nonstick skillet with 1 tbsp. each of butter and olive oil.  Place the bundles seam side down in the skillet and cook for about 8 minutes, turning halfway through.  See how searing the prosciutto has sealed the bundles, no toothpicks or twine needed!

Transfer the tenders to a platter while you make the sauce.

Add 1 tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet and stir in the shallots.  Cook for 1 minute.  Whisk in the corn starch for about 30 seconds.  Stream in the broth and the wine.  Bring to a simmer, then finish with the butter, lemon juice and parsley.  When the butter has melted, return the chicken to the skillet.  Toss with the sauce, then cover and cook several minutes longer to heat through.

Transfer to a serving dish and spoon sauce over the top.  Garnish with fresh sage and lemon wedges.

I served it with roasted potato slices and sugar snap peas.  So simple and delicious, as good as any restaurant!  Isn’t it great that we can still enjoy this traditional Italian favorite on the gluten free diet?

Notes ♪♫ In addition to being gluten free, we are a low sodium household.  Since the prosciutto in this recipe has plenty of salt, I did not add more to the recipe. 

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Gluten Free Italian Chicken Pasta

Can you make an Italian Sunday Dinner in under 30 minutes?  When you don’t have the time or the inclination to make an elaborate meal, this recipe comes together in a flash with common pantry ingredients.  I used chicken tenders to keep prep to a minimum.  A simple sauce made with fire roasted tomatoes and a red wine vinaigrette is rich with flavor.  I finished it off with grated cheese and a sprinkle of fresh herbs from my garden.

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4 Servings

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Boil water for the pasta, add 1/2 tsp. of salt and 1/2 tsp. olive oil.  Cook the fettuccine according to package directions.  Whisk together 2-1/2 tbsp. olive oil, the red wine vinegar and the seasonings.

While the pasta is cooking, heat a large nonstick skillet with 1 tbsp. olive oil.  Add the chicken tenders, turning to brown all sides until cooked through, about 8 minutes.

When the chicken is close to being done, push it to the side of the pan and add the tomato paste in center.

Let it toast for 1 minute then add the diced tomatoes and the vinaigrette.  Lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.

Before draining the pasta, reserve a ladle of the pasta water and add it to the skillet.  Add the fettuccine to the sauce and toss well.

Cook for another minute then sprinkle with half the cheese and fresh herbs.

Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle with the remaining cheese, basil and parsley.

Notes ♪♫ Conventional kitchen wisdom tells us to never add oil to your pasta water, and for regular wheat pasta I would agree.  Gluten free pasta, on the other hand is notorious for sticking together, especially our much-loved spaghetti, linguine and fettucine.  I find that adding just a drop of oil to the cooking liquid helps keep the strands separate as they cook.

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Air Fryer Rotisserie Cornish Hen

Ever since I got my air fryer, I’ve been adapting some of my favorite recipes that I usually make in the oven.  Cook time in the air fryer is less than in a traditional oven, so a recipe that would normally be relegated to a Sunday afternoon is now possible any day of the week!

I especially love using the rotisserie!  Cornish Hens come out so moist and juicy and a 2 lb. hen is just the right size for my air fryer.

But really, in the end it’s all about taste.  Try this and I think you will agree, an air fried Cornish Hen is juicier and tastier than the oven version!

A possible drawback of some air fryers, you will only be able to cook one hen at a time.  But if you only cook for one or two, this is a great option.  A 2 lb. hen is enough for 2 servings.

2 servings, dinner for 2

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Ingredients:

  • 1 Cornish Hen (mine weighed 2.3 lbs.)
  • 2 tbsp. butter, softened
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tsp. gluten free chicken seasoning (I used Grill Mates Montreal Chicken)
  • paprika

Preparation:

Soften (don’t melt) the butter by leaving it at room temperature or carefully microwaving 10-20 seconds.  Combine it with the olive oil and seasoning.

Remove the neck and giblets from the hen and discard.  Rinse and pat dry.

Next rub the butter mixture all over the hen, be sure to get under the legs and wings.

Insert the rotisserie spit and secure the ends with clips, then tie the legs and wings with twine.  Sprinkle all over with paprika.

Place the hen in the air fryer for 45 minutes at 375º.

When finished, check with a meat thermometer.  The internal temperature should be between 165º-170º.

Remove to a plate and let it rest a few minutes, then carefully remove the twine and rotisserie spit.

Use a sharp knife and/or kitchen scissors to cut through the backbone and divide the hen into 2 portions.

Notes ♪♫ Every air fryer is different, if yours doesn’t have a rotisserie then you will need to turn the hen every so often for even browning.  Cook time for this recipe was based on a single Cornish hen weighing 2.3 lbs.  Use this as a guide but always check the internal temperature with a thermometer.

 

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Hasselback Chicken Breast

How many times a week do you cook chicken?  If you’re like me, it’s at least once every few days.  In fact, I have dozens of recipes on this blog that are made with chicken!  Fried, baked, broiled, grilled.  Chicken soup, chicken pasta, chicken pizza.  And this.

The inspiration for today’s recipe was of course the Hasselback potato.  With bacon and colorful veggies tucked into the fanned-out chicken cutlets, it makes quite the fun and impressive presentation!

Dinner for 2 (they are quite filling, and you may want to save half for lunch the next day!)

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Ingredients:

  • 2 boneless chicken breasts, 8 oz. each
  • 1/4 sweet onion, sliced thin
  • 4 mushrooms, sliced thin
  • 1/4 red bell pepper, sliced thin
  • 2 slices of bacon, cut into 1″ pieces
  • olive oil
  • gluten free Italian seasoning
  • grated Parmesan cheese
  • cooking spray
  • salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 400º.  Line a baking sheet with foil and mist with cooking spray.  Cut the veggies into uniform thin slices or ribbons.

Arrange the chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet and cut horizontal slits about 3/4 inch apart, be careful not to cut all the way through.  Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Into each pocket, place one slice of onion, 1 slice of mushroom, 1 piece of bacon and 1 slice of bell pepper.  Press down gently to secure them in place.

Drizzle with a bit more olive oil and sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese.

And that’s it!  Now just bake for 25 minutes at 400º.

Come closer, take a look!  Can you smell it?  It was absolutely delicious!

Notes ♪♫ I tried this recipe a couple of ways.  On my first attempt I cooked the veggies before stuffing the chicken.  It turned out ok, but I found the chicken was far more tender and juicier when the veggies and bacon were not cooked in advance.

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Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan

At the beginning of my gluten free journey, one of my first successful home cooked meals was a personal favorite of mine, Chicken Parmesan.  I am Italian so this was a big deal!  In this post, I’ll show you how with just 2 ingredient swaps I made a gluten free adaptation of this classic comfort food that tastes just like the one you remember!

Serving size, 1-2 cutlets per person

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Ingredients:

  • thin sliced boneless chicken breast, 6 oz. per serving
  • white rice flour
  • 1 egg + 1 tbsp. water
  • Tuscan seasoning
  • gluten free seasoned Italian breadcrumbs (I recommend Aleia’s)
  • olive oil
  • marinara sauce, jar or homemade
  • shredded cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, gruyere)
  • Italian parsley for garnish

Preparation:

To save time, I bought thin sliced chicken breast.  For thicker cuts, you will need to place the chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound to 1/2″ thickness with a meat mallet.  Cut into 6 oz. serving portions.

Before you get started with the chicken, preheat the oven to 350º.  Stir together a small batch of marinara sauce.  I used a 29 oz. can of tomatoes, 3/4 cup diced onion, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp. brown sugar, 2 tsp. basil and 1 tsp. oregano.  You can of course just warm up some jar sauce (I won’t tell 😉 ).

Set up 3 breading trays, one with rice flour, one with the beaten egg + water, and one with gluten free breadcrumbs.  Sprinkle the rice flour and egg with seasoning.

Heat 2 tbsp. olive oil in a large non-stick skillet.  Pat each piece of chicken in the seasoned flour.  Next, dip the floured chicken in the egg, shaking off the excess.  Finally, roll in the breadcrumbs, turning to coat both sides.

Cook the chicken 3 minutes per side, until nicely browned.

Don’t crowd the chicken in the pan, if necessary, cook it in 2 batches.

The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this point, it will finish in the oven.  Transfer the browned cutlets to a baking sheet.

Top each piece with a ladle (~1/4 cup) of marinara and shredded cheese.  While mozzarella is traditionally used in this recipe, you can use any cheese you prefer.  I love gruyere or fontina cheese, for their mild flavor and superior melting characteristics.

Finish in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Garnish with parsley and serve with your favorite gluten free pasta.

I made Jovial Caserecce brown rice pasta, and it was delicious!  Confession, all the while I was cooking, I had my eye on the biggest piece of chicken, and I finished every bite!

When I made this for company, no one knew it was gluten free.  Mum’s the word!

Notes ♪♫ Plain white rice flour works better than gluten free all purpose flour in this recipe.  Don’t use a flour blend that contains gum, as the breading may turn out soggy.  Also, some prepared sauces, seasoning mixes and even grated cheese may contain hidden gluten, always check the ingredient labels!

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