$25 Dinners: Baked Chicken and Asparagus

If you’re looking for a lighter version of an Italian favorite, try out this take on healthy chicken parmesan. Not only does the dish substitute grated cheese and spices for breading, but it is also served with a side of asparagus rather than pasta. Pick up the ingredients from and plan on approximately eight minutes of prep time and between 20-25 minutes of cook time.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 envelope Good Seasonings Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
6 boneless chicken breast halves
1 bunch of asparagus shoots
olive oil
crushed black pepper
Barbeque sauce (for dipping)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and mix cheese, salad dressing mix and garlic powder into a ziplock bag.
2. Moisten the chicken breast halves with cold water and then drop them into the bag to coat them with the cheese mixture.
3. Place the chicken in a shallow baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
4. While the chicken is in the oven, cut the ends off of the asparagus shoots and place them on a baking sheet.
5. Drizzle the olive oil over the asparagus and then shake garlic powder and black pepper onto them.
6. When the chicken has approximately 10 minutes remaining, slide the asparagus into the oven as well.
7. Serve and enjoy! If you need a sauce for the chicken, try barbeque.

*Makes six servings, approximately 260 calories each. Cost of meal is about $2.55 per serving.

*Adapted from a recipe from Good Seasonings.