Grilled Basil Garlic Chicken and Sweet Potato Mash

When planning my meal preps for the week I typically choose one meal to make, then decide on my second meal based off the first one. That sounds really obvious, but I feel like it's a point worth explaining. For instance, I picked out the Baked Chicken and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Apples meal first, which is done almost entirely in the oven. If I were to pick another meal that needs the oven, I would be in the kitchen all day long. Therefore, I decided on this grilled chicken and vegetable option and a sweet potato mash that does not involve the oven for the second meal. It's all about efficiency and planning ahead! Alright enough with meal prep tips. This meal was just randomly thrown together, but it turned out freaking amazing. I've been meaning to try sweet potatoes in the pressure cooker, I found a new grilled chicken recipe to try, and I completed it with my favorite side, grilled green and yellow squash with red onions (click here for that recipe). I ended up marinating the Basil Garlic Chicken for about an hour before grilling, and for having such little ingredients it seriously turned out so delicious. It reminded me of a grilled pesto chicken sandwich...without the bread, cheese, and tomatoes. The instant pot sweet potato mash also turned out tasting so delicious as well! Not to mention, it was done in record time. I doubled the recipe and cooked it for 10 minutes and the only spices I added were salt and garlic powder. Also, I have never had sweet potato mash with coconut oil in it before, but I am huge fan after this recipe! This meal is a little bit random, but again it turned out so amazing! Even if you don't make the chicken and sweet potato recipe together, I definitely recommend giving each a try. 

Grilled Basil Garlic Chicken Breasts
​Ingredients:

• 4 large boneless skin-on chicken breast halves (I used skinless)
• 3 tablespoons finely minced garlic
• ½ cup chopped fresh basil
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, mix garlic, basil and oil. Add additional oil if necessary.
2. Smear the mixture on both sides of the chicken breasts being careful to leave the skins intact. Sprinkle both sides with a small amount of salt and pepper. (The chicken may be allowed to marinate for up to 6 hours if desired.)
3. Over a medium fire, place chicken skin side down to crisp skin, about 8-10 minutes. Watch the temperature to make sure they do not burn. We leave the tenderloin on our chicken breasts so they are fairly thick – if you are doing the same, close the cover for a few minutes to raise the heat. Flip the breasts over and cook for another 6-8 minutes, again with the cover closed part of the time to have the grill function as an oven. (If your chicken breasts are not thick, the cover should be left open.
4. Note: If you are not comfortable telling when meat is done, pull one off and slice into a thick part to make sure there is no pink. They will sit after they come off the grill and will cook a bit on your platter so do not leave on too long.
5. Remove the chicken from the heat and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Original recipe found here

Super Fast Instant Pot Sweet Potato Mash
Ingredients:

• 1-2 pounds of sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1″ cubes
• 1 cup of water
• 1 to 2 tbsp of coconut oil
• salt and seasonings to taste

Directions:

1. Peel your sweet potatoes and cut them into 1″ cubes.
2. Add sweet potatoes and water to the instant pot. Close pot and set to sealing.
3. Cook on manual, high pressure, for 4 minutes.
4. Immediately quick release the pressure as soon as the 4 minute cooking cycle has completed.
5. Use oven mitts to carefully remove the inner pot from the Instant pot, carrying it to a colander in your sink to drain the potatoes.
6. Quickly wash out the inner pot and dry it with a kitchen towel.
7. Immediately place the clean inner pot back into the instant pot, add the coconut oil and press the sauté button.
8. Once the coconut oil starts to sizzle, add your potatoes back to the pot along with any seasonings you desire. Use a wooden spoon to stir and turn your sweet potatoes, cooking until a desired consistency is reached. This step should only take a few minutes before you are ready to serve your sweet potato mash! Enjoy!

Original recipe found here