Microwave Tuscan chicken recipe
 This colourful Tuscan chicken is a doddle to make in the microwave and sure to be a hit with all the family. Cooking in the microwave keeps the chicken deliciously tender and the creamy tomato and spinach sauce complements it perfectly. It’s fantastic served with microwave rice and also great with sautéed potatoes or mash. This recipe is part of a Budget family microwave meal plan. In March 2023 it was costed at an average of £6.31 when checking prices at four UK supermarkets. It is designed to be made in conjunction with a low-cost store-cupboard. 200g/7oz mushrooms (any variety), sliced1 onion, finely chopped1 garlic clove, crushed2 chicken breasts (about 300g/10½oz total weight), boneless and skinless, cut widthways into roughly 5mm/¼in slices1 tsp paprika15g/½oz plain flour 150ml/5fl oz hot chicken stock, made with 1 chicken stock cube150g/5½oz cherry tomatoes, halved100g/3½oz baby spinach leaves100ml/3½fl oz double cream220g/7¾oz fine green beans, trimmedsalt and freshly ground black pepper1½–2 packets microwave rice or 375g/13oz cooked long-grain rice (see Tip below), to serve 200g/7oz mushrooms (any variety), sliced 1 onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 2 chicken breasts (about 300g/10½oz total weight), boneless and skinless, cut widthways into roughly 5mm/¼in slices 1 tsp paprika 15g/½oz plain flour 150ml/5fl oz hot chicken stock, made with 1 chicken stock cube 150g/5½oz cherry tomatoes, halved 100g/3½oz baby spinach leaves 100ml/3½fl oz double cream 220g/7¾oz fine green beans, trimmed salt and freshly ground black pepper 1½–2 packets microwave rice or 375g/13oz cooked long-grain rice (see Tip below), to serve Method Place the mushrooms and onion in a large, wide-based microwaveable dish or casserole. Season with black pepper and toss together. Cover the dish with a microwaveable lid or dinner plate and cook on HIGH for 4 minutes (1000W) or 5 minutes (800W), or until softened.Add the garlic, chicken and paprika, season with lots of black pepper and toss well together. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W). Stir in the flour, then the stock and tomatoes. Place the spinach leaves on top. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W).Stir in the cream and cook on HIGH for a further 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W), or until the sauce is hot, the chicken is completely cooked and the spinach and tomatoes are soft. (If the chicken is still a little pink, stir well, cover and cook for 1–2 minutes longer). Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. While the chicken is standing, put the green beans in a shallow microwaveable bowl and pour over 3 tablespoons water. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes (1000W) or 3 minutes 40 seconds (800W), or until just tender. Reheat the rice according to the packet instructions or until piping hot. Drain the beans and serve with the chicken and rice. Place the mushrooms and onion in a large, wide-based microwaveable dish or casserole. Season with black pepper and toss together. Cover the dish with a microwaveable lid or dinner plate and cook on HIGH for 4 minutes (1000W) or 5 minutes (800W), or until softened. Place the mushrooms and onion in a large, wide-based microwaveable dish or casserole. Season with black pepper and toss together. Cover the dish with a microwaveable lid or dinner plate and cook on HIGH for 4 minutes (1000W) or 5 minutes (800W), or until softened. Add the garlic, chicken and paprika, season with lots of black pepper and toss well together. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W). Stir in the flour, then the stock and tomatoes. Place the spinach leaves on top. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W). Add the garlic, chicken and paprika, season with lots of black pepper and toss well together. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W). Stir in the flour, then the stock and tomatoes. Place the spinach leaves on top. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W). Stir in the cream and cook on HIGH for a further 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W), or until the sauce is hot, the chicken is completely cooked and the spinach and tomatoes are soft. (If the chicken is still a little pink, stir well, cover and cook for 1–2 minutes longer). Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Stir in the cream and cook on HIGH for a further 2 minutes (1000W) or 2 minutes 30 seconds (800W), or until the sauce is hot, the chicken is completely cooked and the spinach and tomatoes are soft. (If the chicken is still a little pink, stir well, cover and cook for 1–2 minutes longer). Leave to stand for 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. While the chicken is standing, put the green beans in a shallow microwaveable bowl and pour over 3 tablespoons water. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes (1000W) or 3 minutes 40 seconds (800W), or until just tender. Reheat the rice according to the packet instructions or until piping hot. Drain the beans and serve with the chicken and rice. While the chicken is standing, put the green beans in a shallow microwaveable bowl and pour over 3 tablespoons water. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 minutes (1000W) or 3 minutes 40 seconds (800W), or until just tender. Reheat the rice according to the packet instructions or until piping hot. Drain the beans and serve with the chicken and rice. Recipe tips As part of the Budget family microwave meal plan, this recipe has been costed with 1½ packets long-grain microwave rice as 3 packets are spread across the week. But if not following the plan, feel free to use as little or as much rice as you like. If you don’t fancy green beans, serve with any microwaved, boiled or roasted vegetables. Look out for mixed packs of ready-prepared vegetables too – they can work out more economical if you want to serve a variety of different vegetables with one meal, especially if they’re frozen. For an extra indulgent dish, sprinkle with grated Parmesan to serve.