Mexican Chicken Quinoa Bowl Recipe (2024)

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GF KF

There’s so much flavor in this Healthy Chicken Quinoa Bowl. Packed with good protein and feel-good ingredients that make the ultimate dinner recipe and made with quinoa instead of rice. They are so easy to put together and are perfect for those who like to meal prep and are always on the go.

We love this Healthy Mexican Chicken Quinoa Bowl. Made with lean grilled chicken breast and served with cooked quinoa, black beans, corn, salsa, and sauteed veggies. This grilled chicken bowl can be whipped up in no time, right in your kitchen. Can’t go wrong with this simple, healthy, and filling recipe.

Table of Contents

Like Mexican-inspired Meals? You should check out our chicken burrito bowl recipe that is similar to this dish, but also different in all the right ways. You may also like our ground beef burrito meal prep bowl.

Why you will love this recipe

Easy to make: You need just around 35 minutes to make this dish. It is easy to put together after the chicken is cooked and chopped.
Healthy: Made with healthy and good-for-you ingredients. Rice is swapped with a healthier option like quinoa and served with lean grilled chicken breast.
Delicious and filling: This Mexican-inspired grilled chicken and quinoa bowl is so tasty and keeps you full for hours.

Ingredients you will need

Here is a list of the ingredients you will need to make this grilled chicken and quinoa bowl. The full recipe will be listed further down below.

for the bowl

Sliced bell peppers
Thinly sliced onion
Cooked Quinoa: you may use rice, or try our cilantro lime rice recipe.
Black beansdrained and rinsed
Corn kernels: may use canned, cooked fresh, or roasted corn
Salsa: or make your own at home. Store-bought pico de gallo works too
Light sour cream: or swap with Greek Yogurt

For the chicken and Marinade

Boneless skinless chicken breasts: you may use boneless and skinless chicken thighs
Olive oil: or avocado oil
lime juice: use fresh lime juice
Honey: you may use brown sugar or agave
Seasonings: kosher salt, ground cumin, garlic powder, ground black pepper, onion powder, and chili powder.

How to make chicken and quinoa bowl

Make the chicken marinade: To prepare the chicken marinade, pour the lime juice,3 tablespoons olive oil, and water in a large resealable bag. Add the honey, salt, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and chili powder to the bag.
Marinate the chicken: Seal bag and shake to combine. Add the chicken to the bag of marinade, seal, and place in the fridge – marinate for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.
Cook the onion and peppers: In a large pan or skillet, heat the 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the peppers and onions and cook for 5-6 minutes or until tender and slightly charred. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Set cooked veggies on the side: Remove the peppers and onions from the pan; place them on a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Cook the chicken: Wipe out the pan with a paper towel then remove chicken from the marinade and add it to the pan. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
Prepare your bowl: Cut the chicken into cubes. Divide the quinoa evenly between four bowls. Top the quinoa with the chicken, vegetables, black beans, corn, salsa, and sour cream, then serve.

Recipe notes and tips

You may use boneless and skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. Don’t like chicken? swap it with ground beef, shrimp, or ground chicken.
Substitute the black beans with any other beans of your choice. Pinto beans work greak.
We use store-bought salsa. You may use something fresh like pico de Gallo, or chopped fresh cherry tomatoes.
Want to boost the flavor of this chicken bowl? Roast the corn instead. If you elevate the flavor of the dish.
Consider adding some sliced avocados or some shredded cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quinoa good for meal prep?

Quinoa is PERFECT for those who meal prep. It is a great alternative to rice and can be eaten either cold or warm. Quinoa can be reheated in the microwave.

How do you season quinoa after cooking?

Once quinoa is cooked, it doesn’t need much other than a dash of salt. But there are many different ways you can season quinoa to jazz it up a bit. You can add some or a combination of the following: lime juice, chopped parsley, chopped cilantro, and/or toasted almonds.

Do you rinse quinoa before or after cooking?

You do not need to rinse quinoa after it is cooked. Some may recommend that you rinse quinoa before cooking so that you wash off the outer coat of the quinoa which some say causes the quinoa to be bitter once cooked. We have cooked quinoa many times without rinsing it and didn’t experience this. But to be sure, it won’t hurt to rise a few times before cooking.

Recipes you may like

Greek Quinoa Salad
Quinoa Veggie Bowl
Loaded Harvest Quinoa Salad
Easy Lemon Asparagus Shrimp Recipe
Mango Black Bean Salad Recipe
Ground Turkey Cauliflower Rice Recipe
Loaded Harvest Quinoa Salad

More chicken recipes

Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli Bites
Pesto Chicken Recipe
Asian Ground Chicken Recipe
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Honey Sesame Chicken
Mexican Grilled Chicken Bowl

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