Name: Paprika Chicken with Garlicky Greens and White Beans
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: US & Canada
Ingredients: 4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed; 2 teaspoons paprika; Salt and pepper; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 2 lemons, halved; 2 ounces pancetta, cut into ¼-inch pieces; 4 garlic cloves, sliced thin; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1 pound Swiss chard, stemmed and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans

Why This Recipe Works

This flavorful one-pan meal is the epitome of simplicity. First, we sautéed paprika-dusted chicken breasts in a skillet until they were well-browned, adding lemon halves to the skillet cut sides down near the end of cooking. As the cut ends of the lemon browned, the heat of the pan mellowed the juice, perfect for squeezing over the finished dish. For a winning side, we combined creamy white beans with mineral-y Swiss chard. Rendering pancetta quickly in the now-empty skillet before adding the greens added complexity and provided a bit of texture. Adding the canned bean liquid to the mixture helped create a sauce that married the beans to the greens.

Before You Begin

Serve with extra oil and crusty bread.

Instructions

Pat chicken dry with paper towels, sprinkle with paprika, and season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook chicken until well browned and meat registers 160 degrees, about 6 minutes per side, adding lemon halves, cut side down, during final 4 minutes of cooking. Transfer chicken and lemon halves to cutting board and tent with foil.

Return now-empty skillet to medium-high heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil, pancetta, garlic, pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chard and beans and their liquid to skillet. Cover and cook until chard is tender, about 4 minutes. Divide chard mixture and lemon halves equally among 4 shallow bowls. Slice chicken ½ inch thick and divide among bowls. Serve.