Chicken Fried Quinoa

Packed with shredded chicken and veggies, this protein-rich quinoa dish is a satisfying yet healthy lunch (or dinner!). 

Chicken Fried Quinoa - Packed with shredded chicken and veggies, this protein-rich quinoa dish is a satisfying yet healthy lunch (or dinner!). 

Last year, a reader requested some ideas for shaking up her lunch routine. Well, it’s taken me a year, but every Wednesday during the month of August, I’ll be posting a recipe that I like to serve or take for lunch. Whether you’re getting ready to get back into a routine with school starting or just looking to shake things up, I hope this is a series that you’ll enjoy.

And if 5 new lunch recipes isn’t enough, I’ll be sharing some fun and unique lunch recipes from my blogging friends DAILY, over on Facebook. Be sure to hop over and and follow Books n’ Cooks on Facebook for even more ways to get out of your lunchtime rut. As a bonus, there will also be a smattering of extras – including quick weekday breakfasts, lunchbox sweets and after school snacks – so that you can kick off the new school year with some great new recipes.

Chicken Fried Quinoa - Packed with shredded chicken and veggies, this protein-rich quinoa dish is a satisfying yet healthy lunch (or dinner!). 

To kick off this month’s lunch series, I’ve got a longtime favorite of ours – Chicken Fried Quinoa. Thanks to store-bought rotisserie chicken (or shredded chicken pulled from the freezer) and diced frozen veggies, this dish comes together relatively quickly and makes a portion large enough to feed you throughout the week. The dish takes tweaks well – increase the eggs, veggies or chicken according to preference or omit chicken to make it vegetarian. This dish is great for dinner, but a personal favorite for lunch – we make a batch (or two) on a Sunday and eat it for lunch for the week.

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Chicken Fried Quinoa

Packed with shredded chicken and veggies, this protein-rich quinoa dish is a satisfying yet healthy lunch (or dinner!).

Course Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Asian-Inspired
Author Liz

Ingredients

  • cooking spray
  • ½ c. chopped onion
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 Tbs. + 1/4 tsp. sesame oil divided
  • 6 Tbs. + 1/4 tsp. low sodium soy sauce divided
  • 12 oz shredded cooked chicken breast
  • 5 oz. mixed frozen peas and carrots about half a bag
  • 3 c. cooked quinoa
  • 3 scallions green parts, diced OR 1-2 Tbs. minced chives

Instructions

  1. Before starting, set a large bowl near the stove. The dish comes together in pieces, so after each piece is cooked, you'll transfer the cooked ingredients to the bowl.
  2. Spray a large saute pan (or wok) with cooking spray. Set over medium heat. When warmed, add onion and saute until onions are translucent and starting to brown. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
  3. Spray skillet again with cooking spray. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs with 1/4 tsp. each sesame oil and soy sauce. Add to skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, to scramble eggs. When fully cooked, transfer to bowl with onions.
  4. Add remaining 2 Tbs. sesame oil to skillet. Add chicken, peas and carrots, cooking until mixture is warm. Then add onions, eggs, cooked quinoa. Stir to mix well. Drizzle with soy sauce, stirring to mix for a few minutes, until entire mixture is heated evenly throughout.
  5. Transfer to a serving dish and top with diced scallions or minced chives.
  6. Serve warm (room temperature) or hot.

This recipe was adapted from Emily Bites.

Chicken Fried Quinoa - Packed with shredded chicken and veggies, this protein-rich quinoa dish is a satisfying yet healthy lunch (or dinner!). 

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