Savory Chicken & Veggie Bites

For many of us, getting more veggies on our families plates can be a bit of a challenge. If you can relate, then let me assure you, these savory little bite-sized chicken & veggie bites are just the ticket!

These simple and flavorful little bites are crazy-delicious and super versatile too, since they can be used to create so many easy, healthy meals, as noted below! And, you can switch up the ingredients to create lots of different variations!

Plus, they’re equally tasty whether they’re served hot or cold, making them a tasty and healthy lunchbox option for back-to-school season. And, they freeze and reheat well, which means you can save time by cooking up a double batch and freezing them for creating quick future meals.

Here’s just a few of my favorite ideas for enjoying these Savory Chicken & Veggie Bites:
• Pop them into your family’s lunch boxes with a side of homemade ranch dressing and fresh raw veggies for a perfect protein-n-veggie-packed lunch!
• Add them to your favorite stir fry dishes, and zoodle (veggie pasta) dishes
• Serve them as a main dish with a side of tasty roasted herb sweet potato bites for an easy weeknight dinner
• Use them to make scrumptious healthy sliders (nestled between sweet potato buns), or use them to create tasty lettuce wraps (as shown in photos)
• Add them to your favorite salads for extra protein, nutrition and flavor!

As you can see, there are so many ways to enjoy these tasty little patties! And again, you can totally customize them to suit your personal taste preferences. Simply switch out the veggies and the seasonings for a completely new taste sensation! (Check out some of my favorite recipe variations below.) Enjoy!

Savory Chicken & Veggie Bites (GF, DF)

Ingredients:

1 medium zucchini, cut into thick slices
1/2 medium red bell pepper, sliced
3 green onions, cut into thick slices
1 cup loose-packed fresh baby spinach leaves
3 Tbsp minced fresh basil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large egg
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning mix
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2 lbs. ground dark meat chicken
Avocado oil (or olive oil) for frying

Instructions:

1. Place the first 3 ingredients (zucchini, red pepper and onions) into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until fine diced, scraping down the bowl as needed to ensure uniform size.
2. Add the spinach, basil, garlic, egg and seasonings. Continue to pulse just until spinach is chopped and ingredients are combined. (Do not over process or mixture will become liquified.) Add the ground chicken and pulse briefly, just until ingredients are combined. (Note: Ground dark meat is much more flavorful and moist, which is why I recommend it.)
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add about 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Scoop 2-tablespoon-size balls of the chicken mixture and carefully add to hot oil, making to sure space the meatballs about 2" apart for easier turning. Use a spatula to gentle flatten the meatballs into small thick patties.
4. Cook the patties about 4 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. (If patties are browning too quickly, reduce the heat.)
5. Transfer cooked patties to a paper towel lined plate. Add additional oil as needed and continue cooking as directed above.
6. Serve immediately, or allow patties to cool and store in fridge for up to 4 days. To freeze, place patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in freezer. Once frozen solid, transfer patties to an airtight freezer safe container and store in freezer for up to one month. When ready to use, remove desired number of patties from freezer and thaw in fridge overnight. Reheat in a 200°F oven for about 5 minutes, or add to your favorite dishes as noted in post above.

Time-Saving Tip: Make a double or triple batch and freeze them for making quick and easy future meals. (See quick meal ideas in post above.)

Tasty Recipe Variations

By changing out the seasonings, you can create Chicken & Veggie Bites to suit your own personal taste preferences. For example:
• Mexi-Style Bites – use Mexican seasoning (or taco seasoning) in place of the Italian seasoning mix, and substitute cilantro in place of the basil.
• Curry Bites – use 1/2 teaspoon of curry powder in place of the Italian seasoning mix and substitute cilantro in place of the basil. You may also wish to add 1 1/4 teaspoon of garam masala seasoning as well.
• Asian-Style Bites – use Chinese five-spice seasoning in place of the Italian seasoning mix and substitute cilantro in place of the basil. Fry patties in a combination of olive oil and toasted sesame oil.