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Low Calorie Meal Prep Honey Mustard Chicken and Broccoli - Simple, Flavorful, and Weeknight Friendly

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • Chicken breast (boneless, skinless; about 2 pounds)
  • Broccoli (2 large heads or about 6 cups florets)
  • Dijon mustard (3 tablespoons)
  • Yellow mustard (1 tablespoon; adds classic tang)
  • Honey (2 to 3 tablespoons, to taste)
  • Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (1 tablespoon)
  • Garlic (2 cloves, minced) or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Olive oil or avocado oil (1 to 2 tablespoons)
  • Low-sodium chicken broth (2 to 4 tablespoons, optional for thinning sauce)
  • Smoked paprika (1 teaspoon)
  • Onion powder (1 teaspoon)
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
  • Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
  • Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)

Method
 

  1. Prep the chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry and trim any excess fat. Cut into 1-inch pieces for faster cooking and better sauce coverage. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
  2. Make the honey mustard sauce: In a bowl, whisk Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, honey, vinegar or lemon juice, garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper, and a splash of chicken broth if you want a thinner sauce. Taste and adjust sweet/tangy balance.
  3. Prep the broccoli: Cut into florets. Rinse and shake dry. For extra tenderness, microwave in a covered bowl for 1 to 2 minutes or blanch briefly. This step helps keep broccoli bright green and quick-cooking.
  4. Sear the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high with 1 tablespoon oil. Add chicken in a single layer. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once or twice, until cooked through and lightly browned. Remove to a plate.
  5. Cook the broccoli: In the same skillet, add a small splash of oil if needed. Add broccoli with a pinch of salt. Stir-fry 3 to 4 minutes until crisp-tender. Add a tablespoon of broth if the pan gets dry.
  6. Sauce it up: Return chicken to the pan. Pour in the honey mustard sauce, tossing to coat. Simmer 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens and clings to the chicken and broccoli. Add red pepper flakes if you like heat.
  7. Finish and garnish: Turn off heat. Squeeze a little lemon over the top and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or honey.
  8. Portion for meal prep: Divide evenly into 4 containers. For lower calories, serve as is. If you want more volume, add cauliflower rice, steamed green beans, or a small scoop of cooked quinoa on the side.