Description
Chicken Quinoa Protein Bowls bring together lean chicken, fluffy quinoa, vibrant greens, and crunchy almonds for a balanced, flavorful meal. This recipe creates a reliable weeknight bowl that is high in protein and full of texture. Assemble warm quinoa, sliced seasoned chicken, sautéed kale, and charred cherry tomatoes and finish with toasted slivered almonds and fresh parsley for bright flavor.
Ingredients
one and a half cups uncooked quinoa
two and a quarter cups water
one pound chicken tenders
two tablespoons olive oil divided
half teaspoon paprika
quarter teaspoon turmeric
quarter teaspoon coriander
quarter teaspoon onion powder
half teaspoon salt
quarter teaspoon black pepper
six cups kale chopped
one pint cherry tomatoes
half cup toasted slivered almonds
parsley chopped for serving
Instructions
Rinse one and a half cups of uncooked quinoa under cold water until the rinse runs clear then place the quinoa in a small saucepan and add two and a quarter cups of water
Bring the saucepan to a boil over medium high heat then lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cover the pot so the quinoa cooks evenly
Simmer the quinoa for about fifteen minutes then remove the saucepan from the heat and let it rest covered for about five minutes to absorb the remaining steam
Uncover the quinoa and fluff gently with a fork to separate the grains and create a light base for the bowls
In a shallow bowl stir together one tablespoon of olive oil with paprika turmeric coriander onion powder salt and black pepper to make the seasoning blend then add the chicken tenders and toss until each piece is evenly coated
Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat then add the seasoned chicken and cook until the juices run clear and the surface is golden this typically takes about three to four minutes per side
Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest briefly before slicing each tender into strips to retain juiciness
Add the chopped kale to the same skillet using the leftover seasoning and cook on medium high heat until the leaves soften and develop light char marks stirring frequently this takes roughly three to five minutes
Transfer the kale to a bowl and then add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet cooking them until they soften and show light charring which intensifies their natural sweetness
Assemble the bowls by dividing the cooked quinoa into four bowls then arrange sliced chicken warm kale and charred tomatoes on top sprinkle each bowl with toasted slivered almonds and finish with chopped parsley serve immediately while warm
Notes
Store leftover components in separate airtight containers to preserve texture
Almonds keep their crunch best when stored apart from wet ingredients
Quinoa reheats well with a splash of water or a drizzle of olive oil to restore its fluffy texture
For meal prep keep each component chilled and assemble bowls just before eating to maintain freshness
- Prep Time: ten minutes
- Cook Time: twenty five minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sauté and simmer
- Cuisine: American