Bbq Chicken Pitas With Jicama Apple Slaw Low Calorie Lunch

BBQ Chicken Pitas with Jicama Apple Slaw

I first tried these BBQ Chicken Pitas with Jicama Apple Slaw during a visit to Fitness Ridge Resort in Southern Utah. It was an incredible week of hiking and exercising, learning more about health and fitness, and of course, eating delicious and healthy food! This recipe was one of my favorite lunches that they served, and I couldn’t wait to get home and share it with you. The chicken is packed with flavor and the light and fresh apple slaw adds crunch and bulk to the meal. The whole thing is just 350 calories, and you won’t believe how tasty it is!

Ingredients in BBQ Chicken Pitas

boneless, skinless chicken breasts barbecue sauce (you can use your favorite BBQ Sauce) water whole pitas – cut in half (regular or whole wheat pita bread will work)

For the Slaw:

jicama – julienned Granny Smith apple – julienned mandarin oranges – drained lime juice olive oil sea salt jalapeño pepper – minced (optional) fresh cilantro – chopped (optional)

Ingredient Additions and Substitutions

Feel free to add to or sub out any ingredients to make it your own. But be aware this will alter the calorie count.

Blue Cheese Feta Cheese Mozzarella Cheese Red Onion kalamata olives tomatoes spinach butter lettuce cucumber Tzatziki sauce fresh lemon juice

What is Jicama?

Jicama a root vegetable that is very commonly eaten in the Southwest and is added to a lot of recipes for extra nutrition and flavor. It looks like a potato, but has the crisp texture of a pear and tastes like an apple. You can find them in the produce section of your regular grocery store. Store it at room temperature in a dry place and when you’re ready to use it, peel and slice into thin sticks. The leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Suggestions for this Recipe

Use a slow cooker for your barbecue chicken. Combine chicken with your favorite barbecue sauce and a little water, and then shred when it’s done. Store extra chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to five days. For a short cut, shed up a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken instead. Be careful when opening your pita half to not poke any holes. This recipe calls for a Granny Smith apple, but you can use any kind of apple you have on hand. I love Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp and other firm, slightly sweet and tart apples. Mandarin oranges are juicy and delicious in this recipe but you could add diced pineapple too. The jalapeno pepper and cilantro are optional ingredients but they add SO much additional flavor to this recipe. you could also add diced green onions for more crunch.

More Healthy Recipe Ideas

Good tasting food does not have to be fattening and unhealthy. You can pack tons of flavor into recipes with just a few steps and ingredients. Try a few of our very favorite healthy recipes:

Bbq Chicken Pitas With Jicama Apple Slaw Low Calorie Lunch