Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter, divided
2 slightly underripe Bartlett pears, cored and sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, organic if possible
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
½ teaspoon fresh sea salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Optional: 1/3 cup crumbled bleu cheese or avocado chunks
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Use 1 tablespoon butter to grease a 9×13 baking dish, then place pear and onion slices in it to cover bottom. Combine oil, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Spoon half of mixture over pears and onions, then bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, marinate chicken in remaining oil mixture, turning to coat on all sides.
Remove dish from oven; arrange chicken atop the pears and onions and drizzle with balsamic. Dot with remaining tablespoon of butter. Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until chicken is done to internal temperature of 170 degrees. When cooked, sprinkle with blue cheese and/or avocado chunks. This is a beautiful dish that can be served as the main dish, or on top of salad greens.
Suzy Cohen, RPh, has been a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years, blending conventional medicine with natural approaches to help people feel better and live healthier. She is the founder of Script Essentials, a supplement company known for targeted, custom-formulated products, some with patented innovations.
With a special focus on thyroid health, functional medicine, and drug-induced nutrient depletion (what she calls “drug muggers”), Suzy is the author of several books including Thyroid Healthy, Drug Muggers, and Diabetes Without Drugs. She also writes a nationally syndicated health column and shares practical, easy-to-understand guidance with readers around the world.
