This chicken and quinoa is a great easy healthy meal. Flavourful quinoa with tender chicken, finished with crunchy slivered almonds and creamy feta… all topped with a tangy lemon yoghurt dressing. It’s perfect for meal prep, or as a quick dinner.
I was trying to come up with a simple but tasty lunch that I could take to work. I love quinoa, the way I cook it, because it does not feel as heavy as rice – plus it is high in fibre and easy to digest. Chicken breast is also cheap and can be tasty if seasoned. I just needed something refreshing to add, so I decided on feta and a tangy yoghurt dressing. And thus, this chicken and quinoa recipe was born!
Now, in this recipe I did not add any vegetables. You are more than welcome to add your favourite veggies in. If I were to have this chicken and quinoa fresh, I would definitely be adding some avocado and maybe some freshly grilled corn in there too. However, I kept them out for my purpose of meal prepping – I don’t like cooked veggies that sit in the fridge for a few days, personally.
Key Ingredients
Dish
- Chicken is the star choice of protein for this meal. I used breasts, they are healthy and cheaper than thighs. However, if you are wanting to splash out and get some chicken thighs, then I think those would be delicious as well!
- Quinoa of course is the other star here! I used white quinoa. You’re going to want to give this a good rinse before cooking, otherwise it can taste quite bitter. Quinoa is super healthy, it is full of fibre and great for digestion.
- Feta brings a nice creamy tangy to the chicken and quinoa. I used classic cow feta, as it tends to be more mild. Sheep feta is on the sharper side, and sometimes a bit intense.
- Almonds give this chicken and quinoa a subtle nutty flavour. This brings another level to the taste of the dish. I used slivered almonds, so there is a subtle extra crunch but nothing that is going to disturb the other textures.
- Seasonings for the chicken are garlic powder, paprika, and chicken powder. These help the chicken stay far away from being bland! Chicken powder is also added to the water the quinoa is cooked with, giving the grain a delicious savoury note.
Dressing
- Yoghurt of the natural variety. I used a standard natural yoghurt, you could also opt for a classic greek style as well. Yoghurt is used as the base, it compliments the tangy lemon and delivers a smooth texture to the dressing.
- Olive oil brings its silky smoothness, and healthy fats, to the dressing.
- Lemon adds a zesty touch to the dressing. It brightens and elevates the taste of the dish.
- Honey is used to help balance out the tangy flavours of the lemon and feta. Honey also brings its own reputation for its many health benefits.
How to make this healthy but tasty chicken and quinoa
Cook the quinoa.
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil (using the 2 cups mentioned in the ingredients). Mix in 2 tablespoons of chicken powder. Thoroughly rinse the quinoa, then add it to the boiling water. Reduce to a simmer, and leave for 15-20 minutes until all the liquid has reduced.
Sear the chicken breasts.
While the quinoa is simmering, slice the chicken breasts in half. This is to decrease cooking time, and create easier bite size pieces. Add the chicken breasts to a medium-high heat pan with oil. Season with the leftover chicken powder, paprika, and garlic powder.Let the chicken sear for a few minutes on each side, until nicely browned and cooked through. Remove and cut into strips.
Make the dressing.
While the chicken and quinoa are cooking, it is time to make the dressing. Combine the natural yoghurt, lemon juice, olive oil, and honey. Give it a good stir so that the honey is incorporated. Set aside.
Assemble the chicken and quinoa.
To assemble this dish, first spoon the quinoa into your bowl. Lay the chicken on the quinoa. Crumble the feta and sprinkle the almonds over top. Use a spoon to drizzle the dressing. Then tada, you’re done! Enjoy.
Storage
This is a great dish to make as meal prep for lunches or dinners. Let the chicken and quinoa cool to a lukewarm temperature. Place in an airtight container, then into the fridge. It should keep fresh for 3-4 days. Of course, use your own judgement as well if it seems to have gone off.
More chicken recipes:
- Mediterranean Chicken Bake
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken
- Chicken Bacon Pasta Bake
- Caesar Salad
- Caramelised Onion Chicken
Alrighty, you should now have everything you need to know to make this tasty and healthy meal. This chicken and quinoa recipe is not one to miss out on! Come on, grab those ingredients – plus those meal prep containers if needed – and let’s get to cooking this delicious chicken and quinoa.
Chicken & Quinoa
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 3 tbsp feta
- 30 g slivered almonds
- 1 cup white quinoa
- 2 cup water to cook quinoa
- 3 tbsp chicken powder 2 for quinoa
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Dressing
- 4 tbsp natural yoghurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil (using the 2 cups mentioned in the ingredients). Mix in 2 tablespoons of chicken powder.
- Thoroughly rinse the quinoa, then add it to the boiling water. Reduce to a simmer, and leave for 15-20 minutes until all the liquid has reduced.
- While the quinoa is simmering, slice the chicken breasts in half. This is to decrease cooking time, and create easier bite size pieces
- Add the chicken breasts to a medium-high heat pan with oil. Season with the leftover chicken powder, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Let the chicken sear for a few minutes on each side, until nicely browned and cooked through. Remove and cut into strips.
- While the chicken and quinoa are cooking, it is time to make the dressing. Combine the natural yoghurt, lemon juice, olive oil, and honey. Set aside.
- To assemble this dish, first spoon the quinoa into your bowl. Lay the chicken on the quinoa. Crumble the feta and sprinkle the almonds over top. Use a spoon to drizzle the dressing. Then tada, you’re done! Enjoy.
