lil carb Spice-Rubbed Oven-Baked Chicken

Click above and watch me make this recipe!

Everyone has their own go-to chicken dish.  I realized I have never shared mine!  So here ya go! I use a handful of spices that most people already have in their pantry to create a quick spice rub and then bake my chicken thighs in the oven. Thighs are so good! They are easy on the wallet and I love the juicy meat and how crispy the skin gets in the oven. This is the perfect weeknight meal for a tasty but easy dinner.  Serve along side your favorite veggies and you have a complete meal.
The aioli is optional but at my house we love sauces and dipping so this works out perfect :)

lil carb Crispy Baked Chicken
4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

Spice Rub
2 Tbsp olive oil
&
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika- whatever you have)

Aioli
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 Tbsp reserved grease from baking the chicken
pinch of pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
I like to trim the excess skin off of my chicken thighs with kitchen sheers- just to clean them up a little bit. This step is optional.

Mix the spices in the Spice Rub list in a small bowl.  Add in the olive oil and mix well.
Massage the spice rub/olive oil mixture all over the chicken thighs- making sure to get under the skin and use all the spice rub.
Place the thighs on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for 60 minutes.
*Check your chicken to make sure that it is cooked- ovens vary and the size of your thighs might not be the same as mine.
Once your chicken is cooked pour off 1 tablespoon of the leftover chicken grease into a small bowl.
Add in the mayo, lemon juice, and pinch of pepper from the Aioli list above and mix well.
Serve the thighs with a drizzle of aioli, ENJOY!



PS- This chicken goes amazzinnng-aaah with my lil carb Roasted Fennel!

lil carb Steak House Burger & Brussels Sprouts

Watch me cook this whole meal in the link above!

Steak houses are pretty much amazing... cooking steaks at home can be equally as amazing! However, sometimes Jason and I just don't have it in our budget to go to a steak house or to buy $15 steaks for one dinner. But, if anyone knows me- when I have a craving I just gotta have it! In this case when I'm craving that steak I can get the same flavors from this dinner! I like to call this my "Poor Mans Steak Dinner" because you will get all of the flavors without breaking the bank. OMG I just love these kind of recipes! *Smile*

lil Carb Steak House Burger & Brussel Sprouts- Serves 4

Burgers

1 1/3 lb of ground beef

1 Tbsp season salt

4 slices of red onion

4 slices of blue cheese OR 1 cup of crumbles 

Brussel Sprouts

24 medium-large sized brussels sprouts 

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp butter

4 tbsp balsamic glaze 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Cut end off of brussels sprouts and cut in half for medium size and for large brussels sprouts cut them half and then cut each half in half again.

Arrange on a large baking pan covered in foil. (If you're neurotic like me then spray it with cooking spray before you add the veggies hehe)

Drizzle the olive oil all over the brussels sprouts then sprinkle on the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Toss well with clean hands.

Bake these in the oven for 10 minutes.

Toss well with a spatula.

Bake for another 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and turn the oven off.

Break up the tablespoon of butter with your hands and scatter across the veggies. Toss one more time and then put them back into the oven to melt the butter and stay warm.

While the brussels sprouts are baking form the beef into 4 oblong burger patties.

Season both sides of the patties with the season salt.

Preheat a grill pan to high or use a skillet on medium high heat. 

Grill for about 5 minutes on the first side. (your stove will vary with mine so adjust your cook time accordingly)

Flip the burgers and top each one with one slice of red onion broken into rings.

Top with the blue cheese slices or 1/4 cup crumbles per burger.

Let cook another 5 minutes on the second side.

To plate- serve your burger along side 1/4 of the brussels sprouts from your baking pan. Top your brussels sprouts with 1 Tbsp of glaze per serving and ENJOY!

lil carb Buffalo Chicken Burgers

Watch me make this recipe!

It's burger time!  If you like buffalo wings you are going to love my latest creation!  With just a couple fresh ingredients you can create a flavorful, juicy

burger in under half an hour.  I think that making these burgers indoors is the best way because the meat mixture is wet and sticky so on grill grates it might not work. I love using my grill pan or a cast iron skillet!

lil carb Buffalo Chicken Burgers- Makes 4 burgers

Burger
1 lb ground chicken
1/4 cup diced celery
Pinch of salt

Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp buffalo sauce ( I use Franks )
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp black pepper

Serving
4 slices of blue cheese I use Castello Brand OR about 1 cup of blue cheese crumbles

2 cups of tightly packed arugula
______________
Pre heat a grill pan on high and spray with cooking spray OR heat a cast iron skillet to medium/medium high heat and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Combine all the Sauce ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.

Side 1

Side 2

In a large bowl combine the Burger ingredients.
Then add in 1/4 cup of sauce to the burger mixture. Mix with your hands. Add in another 1/8 cup of the sauce and mix until everything is combined. (I know it sounds like a weird amount of sauce but trust me - it is perfect)

Portion out the chicken mixture into 4 equal amounts (the mixture will be very sticky- that's normal) and drop them onto the skillet or grill pan and very carefully pat them down until they are burger shapes and all about the same thickness.

Cook for 8 minutes per side. Once you flip them over top with blue cheese- either about 1/4 cup crumbles or one slice per burger.

To assemble I like to start with a bed of 1/2 cup of arugula with a dollop of sauce, then top with a burger and drizzle with some more sauce for dipping. ENJOY!

lil carb Chive & Sour Cream Cauliflower Mash

Cauliflower is my favorite potato substitute. I especially love cauliflower mash.  And why not?! it is low carb and it tastes soooo good!  Even if you don't love cauliflower like I do I think you may be pleasantly surprised by how much you don't miss potatoes while you're eating it!

Cream cheese tips- I prefer to use whipped cream cheese. It is already light and fluffy and mixes in very well with the warm cauliflower.  For this recipe use whatever you have or prefer. If you are using regular cream cheese just let it sit at room temp for a little to soften it. You can even add in a flavored cream cheese.  The world is your oyster :)




lil carb Chive & Sour Cream Cauliflower Mash- Serves 3-4
4 cups cauliflower florets, about 1/2 a large head
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup cream cheese
4 Tbsp butter, divided
2 1/2 Tbsp chopped chives, divided
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Break cauliflower florets into big chunks and steam on the stove top for 5 minutes.
Add the steamed florets into a food processor and add in 3 Tbsp of butter, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, cream cheese, and sour cream.
Pulse until all the florets are smooth.
Transfer the "mash" to a casserole dish and fold in 2 Tbsp of chives.
Top the mash with the remaining tablespoon of butter - breaking the butter into smaller pieces and scattering them over the mash.
Bake for 15 minutes and let cool for another 5-10 minutes.
Top with remaining 1/2 Tbsp of chives and serve.
Enjoy!

lil carb Caesar Dressing and Dip

Watch me make this dressing!

This is one of my very first recipes when starting on my low carb journey.  This recipe was stuck in a long post about my weekly menu from almost 2 years ago! So I am reposting it and reminding everyone that this is a great onion-dip alternative!  This dip tastes amazing with cut up veggies! I especially love dipping cucumber slices!  But if you want caesar dressing just thin it out a little with half and half or heavy cream- whatever you have! So much flavor, low carb, simpleeeee! What more could ya want!?!

lil carb Caesar Dip & Dressing
1 Cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp fish sauce- to avoid the anchovy paste I found this does the trick and you can find it in the international aisle in most grocery stores.
2-3 smashed garlic cloves- the food processor will do the chopping
1/4 tsp black pepper
-Taste and add a pinch of salt if you think it needs it.
---For dressing follow exactly above then: Add in 2 Tbsp heavy cream or half n half

In a food processor add all the ingredients and pulse for about 45 seconds until smooth!

For a caesar dip the above recipe is perfect! I like to dip veggies into this dip as an onion dip alternative.  People love it! For a dressing just thin it out a little and you are all set for caesar salads!

Homemade Caesar Dressing