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15-Minute Sautéed Chipotle-Lime Chicken Strips with Warm Zucchini & Pepita Salad

15-Minute Sautéed Chipotle-Lime Chicken Strips with Warm Zucchini & Pepita Salad

Chicken breast gets a fast high-heat sauté in warm spices and chipotle adobo before tumbling into a bright pan sauté with blistered zucchini, toasted pepitas, and a fresh squeeze of lime. It is fast, bright, and on your lunch plate before anyone can ask what is for lunch.

María “Mari” Santiago
María “Mari” Santiago
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
2
easy
lunch
chicken-breastquick-lunchstovetop-sauteweeknight-bright+1

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Timeline

13 minutes
0m5m10m13m
Slice & Season Chicken
3m
Toast Pepitas
2m
Sauté Chicken Strips
4m
Sauté Zucchini & Garlic
3m
Finish Pan Sauce
2m
Plate & Garnish

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast(sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch strips)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil(divided)
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt(divided)
  • 3 tbsp raw pepitas(pumpkin seeds)
  • 1 medium zucchini(halved lengthwise and sliced into 1/4-inch half-moons)
  • 2 cloves garlic(minced)
  • 1 tbsp adobo sauce(from a can of chipotles in adobo)
  • 3 tbsp fresh lime juice(from about 2 juicy limes)
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro(roughly chopped)
  • 1 avocado(diced, for serving)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Slice 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast into thin 1/2-inch strips. Toss in a medium bowl with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp kosher salt. (Thin strips cook lightning-fast so your chicken breast stays super tender!).

    3 min

    Tip: Cutting across the grain gives you the tenderest bites.

  2. 2

    Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 tbsp raw pepitas to the dry pan and toast for 2 minutes, shaking often, until they pop and turn fragrant. Scoop them into a small dish.

    2 min

    Tip: Keep an eye on pepitas—they go from golden-toasted to incinerated real quick.

  3. 3

    Swirl the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil into the hot skillet. Add the seasoned chicken strips in a single layer. Let them cook undisturbed for 2 minutes to build a dark savory crust, then toss and sauté for another 2 minutes until just cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.

    4 min

    Tip: Don't crowd the pan; if your skillet is under 10 inches, do two quick batches so the chicken sears rather than steams.

  4. 4

    In the same hot skillet, drop in 1 medium zucchini, 2 cloves garlic, and the remaining 1/2 tsp kosher salt. Sauté for 3 minutes until the zucchini takes on dark blistered edges but remains crisp-tender.

    3 min

    Tip: We want snappy zucchini, not soggy zucchini! High heat is your best friend here.

  5. 5

    Turn off the heat. Stir in 1 tbsp adobo sauce, 3 tbsp fresh lime juice, and 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, scraping up all the flavorful browned bits stuck to the skillet. Return the cooked chicken and any plate juices to the pan, tossing everything together.

    2 min

    Tip: Taste it—then decide! If it needs another splash of lime or salt, add tantito right now.

  6. 6

    Spoon the warm sautéed chicken and zucchini into two lunch bowls. Top with 1 avocado and scatter the toasted 3 tbsp raw pepitas over top for that big crunch factor.

    1 min

    Tip: Bodega Mode: If you don't have pepitas, toasted sliced almonds or crushed tortilla chips give you that crucial crunch.

Chef's Notes

We're not suffering for lunch, mi gente! Slicing chicken breast into thin strips is my absolute favorite trick for keeping white meat moist—it cooks so fast it doesn't have time to dry out. If you want extra heat, throw half a sliced jalapeño into the pan when sautéing the zucchini.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does 15-Minute Sautéed Chipotle-Lime Chicken Strips with Warm Zucchini & Pepita Salad take to make?

15-Minute Sautéed Chipotle-Lime Chicken Strips with Warm Zucchini & Pepita Salad takes about 15 minutes total. That includes 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 2 servings.

What skill level is needed for 15-Minute Sautéed Chipotle-Lime Chicken Strips with Warm Zucchini & Pepita Salad?

This recipe is rated easy — it's beginner-friendly and straightforward.

What ingredients do I need for 15-Minute Sautéed Chipotle-Lime Chicken Strips with Warm Zucchini & Pepita Salad?

The main ingredients are: boneless skinless chicken breast, olive oil, ground cumin, garlic powder, kosher salt, raw pepitas, medium zucchini, garlic, adobo sauce, fresh lime juice, fresh cilantro, avocado.

What type of meal is 15-Minute Sautéed Chipotle-Lime Chicken Strips with Warm Zucchini & Pepita Salad?

15-Minute Sautéed Chipotle-Lime Chicken Strips with Warm Zucchini & Pepita Salad is categorized as: lunch.