Low Carb Chicken Chorizo “No Potato” Hash
Healthy Chicken Chorizo “No Potato” Hash, comfort food for low carb diets!
I am not a dietitian, nutritionist, doctor, or personal trainer.
Yet as a former gym-rat and person who pays close attention to health trends, if there is a health book on the New York Times Best Seller’s list, I read it. I may not follow all it’s principles, but at least I want to be in the know.
In younger years, Lt. Dan and I were the couple that used to come home from work, make dinner, lounge a bit, and head to the gym for a few hours every evening. That was, of course, before kids.
Nowadays we have a gym set up in our spare room so that I can cook as I please, then go “run it off” while my precious ones are sleeping or at school.
It’s hard to balance healthy habits like eating clean and working out in our busy world.
Not only do I love to eat, I hate feeling that every choice I make has to be so rigid to stay healthy and trim.
Honestly, sometimes I just give up for a while… Especially over the holidays.
Yet when it’s time to get back on track I:
- Make sure to get five 30-60 minute workouts in a week (mixing cardio and weight training)
- Drink only water and unsweetened tea
- Reduce the use of packaged foods
- And keep carbs on the down-low
I try not to worry about portion size too much, especially if I’m working out a lot. Lots of sweat and an empty grumbling tummy make me cranky!
I’ve also found adding a little comfort to low carb dishes makes the clean living easier to maintain.
This simple Low Carb Chicken Chorizo “No Potato” Hash recipe is a nod to southern hash-style dishes… Without the potatoes.
I’ve substituted fresh zucchini for the potatoes, and added a bit of fatty goodness to the hash to compensate for the lack of carbs.
Adding chorizo to the hash offers a bold zesty flavor, and cozy feel, to an otherwise extremely lean dish.
Low Carb Chicken Chorizo “No Potato” Hash is one of my favorite quick go-to dinners this season. You can even use up your leftovers while making it!
Chicken Chorizo “No Potato” Hash
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded
- 5-6 ounces Mexican chorizo
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 4 large zucchini, cut into 1/3 inch cubes
- 1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Brown the chorizo for 2-3 minutes, then add the chicken until warmed through. Remove the chorizo and chicken, and set aside.
- Add the onions to the skillet and sauté for 1 minute. Add the zucchini, red pepper, and a tablespoon of oil if needed. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, until just cooked, but not mushy. Salt and pepper to taste. Then add the protein back in.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cilantro. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
what is the orange-ish color powdery looking ‘stuff’ that’s kinda ‘crumbled’ over the top??? Looks like a dry seasoning of some sort but not listed in the ingredients – thank you – haven’t made this particular recipe but have been making these kinda dishes for eons now.
That’s the spice from the Chorizo.
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I love all that zucchini!
I have done this diet before and had great success with it as well. I have unfortunately fallen off the wagon and I’m looking to get back on… Can I ask what your suggestions are for breakfasts on the go if any? I work pretty early in the morning and it always seems to be an issue for me since I can’t just grab a yogurt and fruit on this diet. Any ideas would be appreciated :)
You know Megan, when I’m doing it it’s easiest for me to eat leftovers for breakfast. Not so glamorous, but already make and ready to warm up and go.
Hey Sommer,
love your Slow Carb recipes … I’m missing in the 4-Hour-Body-Book ;-)
Lost with the Slow Carb/ Rock Star Diet 21 pounds/ 9,8 kg in 2 months … Here are my results (unfortunately in German)
http://www.businesslifehack.de/rock-star-diaet-diaetregeln-missachten-und-in-2-monaten-10-kg-abnehmen/
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Hi,
Thanks for the recipes!
I am a vegetarian who is reading the 4hr body book.
As a vegetarian I think the food part will be challenging, but more than anything the 30grms of protein in the morning, because 1. I normally never have breakfast (I know is bad) 2. I never ever liked eggs, not even when I was not a vegetarian.
Do you have any suggestions for breakfast?
Thanks a million for your help!
Breakfast can be tricky. I actually eat leftovers most mornings, because I’m not a big egg eater either. :)
Really enjoying the diet so far. It has been a big adjustment for me but I have been sticking with mostly mexican foods and chicken chili and it has been great. I have a long way to go but my first week I lost 10.5 lbs and I am five days in week two and have lost another 3 lbs. I don’t do beans in the morning but have been following all the rest of the rules. I skipped my first cheat day because I wanted to detox a little longer from the sugar. What are the rules for the cheat day? When do you drink the grapefruit juice?
Hi Kim! I’m glad you’re liking the 4 Hour Body Diet. I drink grapefruit juice first thing, on the cheat day. Then NO RULES apply–whatever you want, as much as you want. :)
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I have been following this for 3 weeks and have lost 16 lbs. I am very disciplined when I decide to make a change like this, and you have to be. The world wants you to eat like crap. I eat fruit after a workout or on my cheat day. I reduced my workouts to 3 days a week. Tim’s book is excellent (you don’t need to read every chapter.) The free day is great and really burns you out for junk food for the coming week. Plus, I often eat pizza or pasta within 30 minutes after a workout and that works too. I do an hour or spinning or kickboxing or running for exercise. I look better, I feel better and I know I have a healthy plan. Websites like this with great recipes help out so much!
The 4-Hour Body really works and is pretty well-researched. As for the fruit, once a week is plenty for me. It’s amazing how you don’t get hungry with the slow carbs. I am over 60 and finally, finally am losing weight and keeping it off.
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Working on that diet myself, made the chicken zucchini dish it’s was great, everyone raved how good it was. Thanks! Great looking blog
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I have been searching for chef inspired slow carb recipes. These are awesome. Thank you so much for posting!!!
Sommer, I just made the Chicken Chorizo Hash this week and it is wonderful. We loved it and were thrilled to have some left over for a second meal. I am keeping this recipe for sure.
Hi Sommer,
My wife prepared this entree today for lunch. Fabulous!
Hi Sommer – that chicken chile hash looks fabulous. Maybe Mr. Ferriss is correct? With dishes like yours, that could be a snap to follow!
LL
I am not a diet person. If you are fit and work out, understand nutrition and eat healthy = that is all you have to do. This dish does look delicious!
:)
YUM!
Valerie
Hey Sommer – a post that really resonates with me, but while you seem to have found your balancing point, I’m still struggling with my two halves and guess which one is currently winning? :P I definitely got more junk in my trunk right now. I used to be that gym rat and still cringe when old acquaintances who haven’t seen me in a while bump into me and give me the once over. I tell you, I can hear their mental gears grinding as their eyebrows do the “My God! What happened to her?!?” dance. I think I need you to cook for me LOL Everything looks fantastic!!!
Oh wow Im also a big food fan & fitness fan, I think there are quite a lot of us out there! I also love reading new books & articles about health trends, you never know what to believe though, theres so many different options! This one sounds pretty good though and all the meals youve made look absoloutely delicious yum!
Smile…I look like Gisele too now :-) This was such a great post full of so many great recipes (and some humor too!) Thank you for sharing with me tonight. I hope you have a relaxing and happy Sunday!
hi Sommer
that does sound like an interesting diet, I could see how it would work and how much better it would be for you…..the chicken and chorizo sounds delicious, as do all of the meals you prepared….I think it comes down to actually having the time to make the food…during the week we eat pasta dishes simply because there quick and easy.
this summer when I have more time I will have to give it a try
Dennis
Sommer, Great selection of healthy dishes!!! They all look absolutely tasty.
Gorgeous post :)
Cheers,
Aldy.
Oh my goodness, thank you for sharing the concept of the Slow Carb plan and this fab recipe. I could do with losing 16lbs in two weeks! It looks like sticking to the plan has really stretched your creativity! Your meals all look gorgeous and satisfying.
Oh darn, and for a second there I thought I might look like Gisele.if I went on this diet ;-)
The chorizo hash sounds very tasty and so are the rest of the dishes!
Gorgeous and I love chorizo! You are kidding that that is a diet?WOW! Love all that “dietic” food…so healthy and flavorful!!;)
Chorizo is the best! This dish looks fantastic!
I have been enjoying your blog a lot and have something for you on my blog =)
So I already have a coupe of those recipes saved to make and when I showed them to Mountain Man he was very impressed and said they needed to be made very soon! This is another one for the list.. and the fact that is has chorizo in it is a major winner at our house!
Sommer, thanks for your thoughts on this book! I don’t really read diet books, but I know it’s easier to lose weight when you cut out carbs (the Atkin’s diet proved that). I do worry about cutting out carbs entirely, though. Something I learned in my nutrition classes at culinary school is that our bodies actually require MOSTLY carbs on a daily basis to be nutritionally balanced. This of course refers to healthy carbs, like whole grains, and not refined sugars. We burn carbs first and foremost for energy, and then if we don’t have carbs to burn, our bodies will convert protein and then burn that. This can over time start burning off muscle mass as opposed to fat, and whereas people do lose weight, it’s actually not fat, but muscles. I’m not a nutritionist, but this is definitely something we studied at school. I don’t have the will-power to remove carbs from my diet entirely, but I love all the light meal ideas you’ve shared in your post today! It definitely doesn’t hurt to have some great low-carb meals!
The good thing about this diet is that carbs are not cut out completely, as in the Atkin’s diet. Only fast-carbs are eliminated. Slow-processing carbs are found in the beans, which are included in every meal. Instead of white carbs, like those found in rice, bread, etc., which the body burns quickly, this diet uses carbs that burn slowly. The advantage of this is that the body uses more energy and resources to break down the carbs, increasing the body’s metabolic rate. This is my fourth week on this diet. I lost 2.2 lbs the first week, plateaud the 2nd week (most likely because I weighed in the day after my “cheat” day), and lost 1.5 lbs the 3rd week, between Sunday and Thursday. (This was the week I changed my weigh-in day to Thursday, the day before my “cheat” day.) So far I am seeing results and am happy with this diet. I have tried counting calories, Special K, and Slimfast. So far, this is the only diet I have seen results with. It is limiting and as the author says, it is meant to be functional, not fun, but with some creativity like we see here, it does not have to be a deprivation diet.
Remember Michelle, that measurements are more important than pounds, don’t let the pounds confuse you, measure every week!
Avocado salad, and that scallop dish …. heavenly! Chicken chorizo sounds hearty even without potato…but very satisfying!
Sommer, I truly love your stuff…this is a wonderful recipe! Anything that involves zucchini is a winner with me. Love the hash!!
Hey Sommer, thanks for the review on the book. I can tell that you sincerely like it by your words here. And it does sound like an interesting book. By the way, I think that food, fitness, and all activities that are healthful and enjoyable (yes, fitness should be enjoyable;-) can easily be healthful equals. Hence I do believe that a serious ‘food person’ can also be a serious ‘fitness person’. To me, they actually should go hand in hand. Yeah!
Oh, and your hash looks super wonderful!
The supermodel paragraph = too funny. Great post and photos. I love any kind of hash, potoe-less or not.
Since I have to be low carb, this meal is right up my alley!
Love this post! I cut the “bad” carbs out of my diet and reduced my fruit intake over the past couple of months and I’ve seen a BIG difference.
This hash looks incredible! When my jaw is un-broken, this is tops on my list of things to eat.
Do you add any spice or have tips on buying chorizo? I get my chorizo at a Mexican supermarket to ensure it has enough “kick.”
Everything looks awesome!
You did look like a supermodel in the profile pic on The Motherhood ;) Very interesting, and none of the dishes look like diet food! But I suppose there’s no alcohol on this diet either – right? That’s where I run into problems – we love our wine with dinner.
Actually you can have two glasses of red wine a day!
Oh yes please! I’d go “good” for that dish. Besides, it’s so nice to have something to switch up the starch :) Excellent job!! I gotta go take a look at that book. Except the fruit part. Gotta sneak my sweet tooth lovin’ fruit.
One day out of the week, you can eat all the fruit you want, actually you can binge on any type of food you would like…donuts, pasta, bread, beer, this type of binging takes the body out of the starvation mentality that usually halts so many diets!
I love the vegetables with this – and it would be a grand dinner. Having the spicy chicken sausage adds a lot of flavor. I couldn’t go without fruit daily – I think there are many ways to reach a goal and the only way to reach it is to choose something you can live with – for a long time.
All these dishes look too good to be “diet food.” Thanks for great ideas. I can certainly use some.
You are the second person that has mentioned this book. Maybe it’s a sign!
Sounds like quite a book…this is a great article and the dishes here look delightful :)
As someone who has always been struggling with weight issues (even more so, after I started my blog) I’m always on the hunt for healthier eating and recipes. This sounds like a great way to shed some unwanted pounds and with the dishes you’ve put in this post it really does not look like you’ve been suffering. I will have to see if my library has this book since I’m intrigued. Thanks for sharing :o)
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Another fabulous recipe!!! The eating plan is truly interesting…I can see where it would work…I’d just don’t think I could do without my whole wheat bread for two weeks! Thank goodness I don’t have a weight problem at this moment…I am able to fit in quite a bit of exercise each week, but the fact that you feel better makes me think maybe I should start limiting those after dinner cookies :) And you had me giggling with your description of the new toned up body…too funny~
This was a very interesting post for me, since we’ve been dieting. It just goes to show that I love my carbs waaaaay to much:)
I was glad to see your reply to Steve @ HPD … adding back in dairy, fruit, and other carbs in healthy portions is what it’s all about … balance. Steve makes a good point about cutting our meals back to include a few items from ‘the food groups’, but not all. I think his comment also incorporates the concept of having more frequent and much smaller meals – in doing so, we can have fruit and a bit of protein at one, some carbs and veg at the next, etc, etc so that over the course of a day you get a balanced and healthy serving of all that’s good for you.
Best of luck with this new regime of yours, Sommer! Your meals are phenomenal and your spirit is inspiring !
What a great potato-less food-hack! I don’t think I could live without potatoes though. They’re in my blood!
Good article! Diets are so tough and I think a lot of the problem is that you get so sick of THINKING about the plan all the time. I really like the book Mindless Eating. It has helped me a lot with keeping my weight down. BTY – I watched your freezer video on The Motherhood – congratulations! It was very relaxed and relatable and I think you did great.
I love this blog entry! I have always been a nutrition and fitness junkie and I love finding good meals that treat your body well. This sounds like a really yummy and nutritious meal. Great list of what you guys are eating to stay fit!
Wow that hash looks amazing, you definitely don’t even need the potato in it. YUM!
This is a fabulous blog entry…. all of these dishes look delicious and clearly not lacking in flavor! I’m a big believer in eating and living in a healthy way but not giving up taste. Your post has very beautifully illustrated this!
This chorizo sure gives the necessary kick to these veggies!
Doesn’t look like diet food at all….very yummy. ;) A great selection of other goodies as well.
It’s soooo hard to be a food lover and a fitness junkie….it’s a fine line….a very hard line to walk…lol. I honestly find browsing through what other people are cooking and baking helps. Food porn….it’s a beautiful thing.
MMMMMMMM,..a great combo fo chicken & chorizo!!
I love this tasty dish a lot! easy does it, Sommer!
THANK YOU for more recipies! We have been following the diet now for about 4 weeks and I LOVE the way I feel! My weight loss has not been as dramatic as some – but I find that eliminating the white foods balances my moods and my skin has improved drastically!
I suffer from IBS so typically diets like this and I DON’T get along! Because I have incorporated so many fresh/ raw veggies into it – I haven’t really missed the fruit as much as I thought. The no dairy is a true blessing!
Thank you for adding these recipies – I love the variety!!
This looks really yummy and the other dishes you have been eating do to. Good luck with your weight loss!
This looks really good. And yes, I think it’s definitely possible! Although, as you know, our blog entries about cakes and cookies seem to do much better than the ones about healthy foods. Not sure what that says!
I eat healthfully 90% of the time so that when I do splurge, I don’t feel so guilty about it. I’m going to add this recipes to my “must make” folder. Thanks for sharing.
great post…will have to check out the book. that dish looks beautiful!
missed your class in “real time,” but found you on YouTube. I didn’t know you could freeze cupcakes like that. Soo glad I watched.
You are such a lovely young woman and a joy to listen to…you did well! wouldn’t surprise me at all if you get a network show some day.
hey, found the book at our public library and placed it on hold. Four other holds before mine! thanks for the recommend, Spicy!
Thanks a lot for sharing this. I have been on and off exercise programmes, never really giving enough importance to the carbs that I wolf down.
But once in a while, such a piece of literature, brings me to level ground.
Thanks a tonne for waking me up!
Yikes..no dairy or carbs! As a baker, I don’t know if I could do it. I’d have to quit my job. But hey more power to you!
Btw, those meals DON’T seem like diet food at all. :) They all look so delicious.
Hi Sommer,
I followed you because my friend Rebekah (Lee) Culbreath is. Then I saw her sis Bethany is your friend. Cool!! I am heartily enjoying these reads. Haven’t made anything of yours yet, but I will be putting the chorizo hash on my grocery list. Thanks!
All those dishes look wonderful.
HAHA! Like Gisele – magic!! I don’t see why one can’t love food and fitness either. All these dishes don’t look like diet food to me – they’re all beautiful!!
No fruit, eh? If you’re just trying to drop some pounds, that might work. But if you want to live past 70, that’s not such a good idea. Professional athletes might look good today, but when was the last time you saw in the obits, “90-year-old Olympian died last night”?
Here’s one reason why the diets that tell you omit something work, at least temporarily. Part of the problem with the American diet is that we eat everything at each meal, and it all mixes in the digestive process, gumming up the works. Fruit is a biggie. It’s nothing but simple sugar, and your body wants to digest it quickly. But if you eat it on top of anything else, it gets stuck and can’t get processed. That could be why someone would feel good on a temporary fruit-free diet. Same process with gluten-free. Take out one ingredient, and everything else gets a little bit more digestive attention. In the short-run, everything works. But if you’re omitting something with significant health benefits, such as fruit, then it could be at a long-run risk.
I’ve “cured” about a dozen people diagnosed with Crohn’s syndrome just by getting them to only eat fruit on an empty stomach, before meals or as a snack 3-4 hours after their last meal.
You’re right Steve. I don’t think the book in promoting cutting out fruit long-term, just while you are trying to “lean” up! We followed it for 4 weeks and are now slowly added the no-no foods back, in healthy proportions.
But do you really need fruit? Can’t you get the same nutritional value (minus the sugar) from fresh veggies?
Yes, I’d say you need the fruit. It has tons of great stuff in it, like phytochemicals, which keep up in tip top health. And we only know a little bit of what is in it that is good for us. We are discovering more each year.
I’ve lost weight (mainly fat per bodpot calculations) on this diet (20 lbs in the month I did it strictly) but I wouldn’t suggest it long term. Loads of protein all the time aren’t great for us (ie they increase colon cancer), not to mention high doses of animal products (see the China Study for more on this).
I’m thrilled I lost the weight and I’m going to try to lose a bit more on this diet, but once I get to my “ideal” I’m going to be working towards more of a ‘Eat to Live’ diet.
You can eat fruit in the Slow-Carb diet. You just can’t eat it everyday. In fact, one day out of seven you can eat anything. On the diet, if you normally eat 1500 – 2500 calories a day, on one of those days you can consume up to 5000 – 10000 calories of whatever you want (depending on if and how much you exercise throughout the week).
The protein hormone, Leptin, is important in regulating energy intake and expenditure which includes your appetite and metabolism. The science behind the diet is about manipulating the Leptin hormone. Leptin levels decrease after short term fasting and starvation, and increase after overeating. But it’s not all about the Leptin either, there is a psychological factor as well.
Sounds like a healthy diet for sure, and I love this veggie hash, so great with chorizo!
Great and delicious dishes that I need urgently after days of overeating !!! Thanks!!