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Home / Dinner

Blackened Chicken with Avocado Crema

By 12 Comments

Have you ever made blackened chicken? It's amazing! And so simple to whip up using spices you already have on hand. I love it with some wild rice and baked brussels sprouts. Makes for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

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Blackened Chicken

I, like so many others before me, used to be a server in college. When I got my first job serving I remember how I would bring the menu home to study. At the time it was such a daunting task to learn all those main courses and what sides went with it. But in reality, all the studying in the world just is not the same as the real deal. When I was serving real customers someone would ask what kind of oil the fries are fried in or what is the sodium content of your vegetable soup? And with a blank stare on my face, I'm thinking, "how in the world would I know?"

Baked or Blackened Chicken?

Some of our dishes had the option of baked or blackened chicken. Now I knew to ask the customer which they would like and I knew I preferred the blackened. But it never  occurred to me to ask what the actual difference between them was. So when I first came across a recipe for blackened chicken it piqued my interest since I knew I liked it and thought why not learn how to do it myself? Turns out it is insanely easy.

Blackened Chicken

To make this blackened chicken, you'll need these main ingredients:

For the chicken...

Spice mix - paprika, cumin, onion powder, pepper, cayenne pepper and salt. I love this mix of spices! All the flavors are enhanced by the heat and oil.

Chicken - we like to butterfly the chicken for this recipe, so it cooks evenly without any areas drying out.

For the avocado crema...

Avocado - try to use a ripe avocado for more flavor.

Plain Yogurt - this gives the perfect "creamy" flavor in the crema.

Lemon juice - adds a bit of tart flavor and keeps the avocado from turning brown.

Blackened Chicken

The best way to eat this easy weeknight meal

I love this recipe with a side of brown rice and baked brussels sprouts. BUT, this recipe is also amazing chopped up in a taco with a crunchy slaw and plenty of the avocado crema. Mmmmm. I've also enjoyed this same recipe with tilapia. Just as delicious!

Blackened Chicken

How to make Blackened Chicken

For the Chicken

  • Flatten chicken by pounding or cutting chicken breasts in half so they're thinner and cook more evenly.
  • Mix all spices together and pat onto both sides of chicken
  • Heat olive oil in skillet (that has a lid) on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes until hot.
  • Add chicken to skillet and cook on both sides for 3-4 minutes. Be sure to cover with a lid to keep oil from splattering.
  • Remove chicken when cooked through to 165°F. Done! Use this instant read thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to safety.

For the Avocado Crema

  • Put all ingredients in food processor and mix until smooth. Spoon on top of blackened chicken, as much or little as you like. Done!
Blackened Chicken

Blackened Chicken with Avocado Crema

5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 249kcal

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 chicken breasts butterfly them so they're thin
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Avocado Crema

  • ½ avocado
  • ⅛ cup water
  • ¼ cup plain yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

For the Blackened Chicken

  • Butterfly your chicken
  • Mix spices together and pat onto both sides of chicken
  • Heat olive oil in skillet (that has a lid) on medium heat for 3-4 minutes until hot.
  • Add chicken to skillet and cook on both sides for 3-4 minutes. Be sure to cover with a lid to keep oil from splattering.
  • Remove chicken when cooked through to 165 degrees F. Done!

For the Avocado Crema

  • Put all ingredients in food processor and mix until smooth. Done!

Notes

Chicken is SPICY. Use less cayenne pepper and black pepper to make less spicy. OR, bake it in the oven (slower heat will keep it from getting too spicy).

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 578mg | Potassium: 604mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marjie Mare

    March 13, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    This is such a beautiful meal, I will try that recipe before the end of the week. I did not know how to make avocado crema, thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply
    • Amy

      March 13, 2018 at 7:33 pm

      Great! The Crema really offsets the spiciness of the chicken perfectly. Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Amber Z

    March 13, 2018 at 7:50 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner tonight and it was a huge hit! My husband wants to make it for guests this weekend (a true win). I added some chopped cilantro and green onion to the Crema and it was amazing! I did find that the chicken needed to cook a little longer, covering it with a lid is key. I’m looking forward to making it again! Thanks for a new go-to recipe!

    Reply
    • Amy

      March 14, 2018 at 11:41 am

      So glad you liked it Amber! Cilantro is my favorite herb and would be amazing on this. Good idea!

      Reply
  3. Renee Kemper

    March 13, 2018 at 8:12 pm

    I'm (not a cliche` I swear) in love with everything avo! It seems to add the perfect amount of creamy and "fat" to pretty much everything. I even use in my egg/tuna salad. Can't wait to try your dish 🙂

    Reply
    • Amy

      March 14, 2018 at 11:40 am

      Yes! Avocado is the absolute perfect ingredient for everything. Totally agree.

      Reply
  4. hadassah

    March 14, 2018 at 11:11 am

    5 stars
    this looks so good, how long can this chicken last in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Amy

      March 14, 2018 at 11:39 am

      Once you add the spices, it will be good for about 8 hours before cooking. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. alia

    March 14, 2018 at 11:16 am

    I'm going to have to try this! It looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Amy

      March 14, 2018 at 11:38 am

      Yes! So delicious and easy!

      Reply
  6. Alyssa from The Sparkly Life

    March 16, 2018 at 8:08 am

    This looks sooo yummy! And healthy too! Definitely trying this.

    Reply
    • Amy

      March 16, 2018 at 9:10 am

      Super healthy, especially when you pair it with whole grain rice and veggies!

      Reply

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Rachel and Amy

 

Here at The Oven Light, we are always looking for ways to cut cooking time in half (or more!). We use shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor, we’re just getting smarter with our time. You won’t find “dump” meals here, but rather an approach to cooking that is mindful and intentional with time AND taste. 

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