Chipotle Chicken Bowls with Cilantro-Lime Quinoa

Average Rating:

×

Chipotle Chicken Bowls with Cilantro-Lime Quinoa

This one-dish wonder provides a protein, whole grain, and vegetables -- a complete meal. With their Mexican flair, these bowls make for a hearty dinner or a portable lunch that's easy to take with you. Just layer the chicken, quinoa, and veggies in a canning jar or in a plastic or glass storage container and you're ready to go.

Ingredients

Servings  4  

For the Chicken and Bowl:

  • 3 tablespoons canola oil (divided use)
  • 1 minced chipotle pepper (+ 3 tablespoons adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless, thinly sliced chicken breast
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 5-ounce package spinach, spring greens, or arugula
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved if desired)
  • 1 medium avocado (peeled, diced)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots (about 2 large carrots)
  • 1 cup sliced radishes
  • 2 green onions (finely chopped)

For the Cilantro-Lime Quinoa:

  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 3/4 cup quinoa
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 fresh medium limes (zested and juiced)
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped, fresh cilantro

Directions

Tip: Click on step to mark as complete.

For the Chicken and Bowl:

  1. Add 2 tablespoons oil, the minced chipotle pepper, adobe sauce, honey, salt, and pepper to a large resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken. Tightly seal the bag. Gently push the chicken around the marinade, tossing to coat well. Let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the quinoa.
  2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Add the chicken and marinating liquid. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and the marinade comes to a boil. Remove from the heat. When the chicken has cooled slightly, transfer it to a cutting board. Chop the chicken into bite-size pieces. Transfer any remaining liquid from the pan into a small bowl. Stir in the vinegar until well combined. Set aside.
  3. Once the quinoa has finished cooked, add the spinach to bowls. Add the cooked quinoa and chicken. Top with the tomatoes, avocado, carrots, radishes, and green onions. Drizzle with the dressing.

For the Cilantro-Lime Quinoa:

  1. In a medium heavy pot, add the water, quinoa, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes, or until the quinoa absorbs all the liquid. Remove from the heat.
  2. Stir in the lime zest and juice. Top with the cilantro.

Cooking Tip: Do not eat a marinade that contained raw meat unless the marinade has been boiled. Otherwise, it can make you sick.

Keep it Healthy: Quinoa, referred to as a supergrain, contains more protein than any other grain. It's also higher in unsaturated fats and lower in carbohydrates than most grains. It can be used wherever rice is called for, including in main dishes, side dishes, and soups.

Tip: If you want to make this recipe ahead, let the chicken marinate for longer. It can stay in the marinade for up to 24 hours.

Tip: Get creative and make these bowls to your liking or with what vegetables you have on hand. For example, you can use bite-size cucumber pieces instead of shredded carrots. You can use fruit, too, such as chopped apples or orange segments.

Nutrition Facts

Chipotle Chicken Bowls with Cilantro-Lime Quinoa

CaloriesCalories

480 Per Serving

ProteinProtein

32g Per Serving

FiberFiber

10g Per Serving

Cost Per ServingCost Per Serving

$5.38

Nutrition Facts

Calories 480
Total Fat 21 g
Saturated Fat 2.5 g
Trans Fat 0.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat 11 g
Cholesterol 73 mg
Sodium 559 mg
Total Carbohydrate 44 g
Dietary Fiber 10 g
Sugars 13 g
Protein 32 g

Dietary Exchanges
3 lean meat, 4 vegetable, 1 1/2 starch, 2 fat

 

This one-dish wonder provides a protein, whole grain, and vegetables -- a complete meal. With their Mexican flair, these bowls make for a hearty dinner or a portable lunch that's easy to take with you. Just layer the chicken, quinoa, and veggies in a canning jar or in a plastic or glass storage container and you're ready to go.

Nutrition Facts

Chipotle Chicken Bowls with Cilantro-Lime Quinoa

CaloriesCalories

480 Per Serving

ProteinProtein

32g Per Serving

FiberFiber

10g Per Serving

Cost Per ServingCost Per Serving

$5.38
×
Calories 480
Total Fat 21 g
Saturated Fat 2.5 g
Trans Fat 0.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat 11 g
Cholesterol 73 mg
Sodium 559 mg
Total Carbohydrate 44 g
Dietary Fiber 10 g
Sugars 13 g
Protein 32 g

Dietary Exchanges
3 lean meat, 4 vegetable, 1 1/2 starch, 2 fat

Ingredients

Servings  4  

For the Chicken and Bowl:

  • 3 tablespoons canola oil (divided use)
  • 1 minced chipotle pepper (+ 3 tablespoons adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless, thinly sliced chicken breast
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 5-ounce package spinach, spring greens, or arugula
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved if desired)
  • 1 medium avocado (peeled, diced)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots (about 2 large carrots)
  • 1 cup sliced radishes
  • 2 green onions (finely chopped)

For the Cilantro-Lime Quinoa:

  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 3/4 cup quinoa
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 fresh medium limes (zested and juiced)
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped, fresh cilantro

Directions

Tip: Click on step to mark as complete.

For the Chicken and Bowl:

  1. Add 2 tablespoons oil, the minced chipotle pepper, adobe sauce, honey, salt, and pepper to a large resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken. Tightly seal the bag. Gently push the chicken around the marinade, tossing to coat well. Let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the quinoa.
  2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Add the chicken and marinating liquid. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and the marinade comes to a boil. Remove from the heat. When the chicken has cooled slightly, transfer it to a cutting board. Chop the chicken into bite-size pieces. Transfer any remaining liquid from the pan into a small bowl. Stir in the vinegar until well combined. Set aside.
  3. Once the quinoa has finished cooked, add the spinach to bowls. Add the cooked quinoa and chicken. Top with the tomatoes, avocado, carrots, radishes, and green onions. Drizzle with the dressing.

For the Cilantro-Lime Quinoa:

  1. In a medium heavy pot, add the water, quinoa, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes, or until the quinoa absorbs all the liquid. Remove from the heat.
  2. Stir in the lime zest and juice. Top with the cilantro.

Cooking Tip: Do not eat a marinade that contained raw meat unless the marinade has been boiled. Otherwise, it can make you sick.

Keep it Healthy: Quinoa, referred to as a supergrain, contains more protein than any other grain. It's also higher in unsaturated fats and lower in carbohydrates than most grains. It can be used wherever rice is called for, including in main dishes, side dishes, and soups.

Tip: If you want to make this recipe ahead, let the chicken marinate for longer. It can stay in the marinade for up to 24 hours.

Tip: Get creative and make these bowls to your liking or with what vegetables you have on hand. For example, you can use bite-size cucumber pieces instead of shredded carrots. You can use fruit, too, such as chopped apples or orange segments.

 


American Heart Association recipes are developed or reviewed by nutrition experts and meet specific, science-based dietary guidelines and recipe criteria for a healthy dietary pattern.

Some recipes may be suitable for people who are managing diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and/or other conditions or seeking low-sodium, low-fat, low-sugar, low-cholesterol or low-calories recipes. However, this site and its services do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific dietary needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care provider.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Association, Inc. (AHA), except for recipes certified by the Heart-Check recipe certification program or otherwise indicated. All rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, to link to or share AHA-own recipes provided that no text, ingredients or directions are altered; no substitutions are made; and proper attribution is made to the American Heart Association. See full terms of use.