Chicken, Avocado & Quinoa Bowls with Herb Dressing

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Arrange the toppings individually on these protein-packed grain bowls so each bite has a contrasting taste and texture. Make big batches of the salad dressing, quinoa and roasted chicken thighs and you'll have healthy meal-prep lunches or dinners for days. Though the chicken thighs take just 15 minutes to prep, you can also make the salads with leftover chicken or store-bought cooked chicken to make prep even faster.

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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
8 cups
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Ingredients

Roasted Chicken Thighs

  • 5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1 1/4 pounds), trimmed

  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Quinoa

  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1 ½ cups quinoa

Italian Dressing

  • ¾ cup red-wine vinegar

  • 5 tablespoons water

  • 1 ½ tablespoons sugar

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

  • 1 large clove garlic

  • 2 teaspoons dried basil

  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper

  • 1 ¾ cups extra-virgin olive oil

Toppings

  • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed

  • 1 avocado, sliced

  • 6 radishes, thinly sliced

  • 1 cup sprouts or shoots

  • ¼ cup toasted seeds or chopped nuts

Directions

  1. To prepare chicken: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place chicken on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Roast the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 165 degrees F, 14 to 16 minutes. Slice 4 thighs. (Reserve 1 thigh for another use.)

  2. Meanwhile, prepare quinoa: Combine broth, 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Stir in quinoa and return to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer until the quinoa has absorbed all the liquid and the grains have burst, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. (Reserve 2 cups for another use.)

  3. To prepare dressing: Combine vinegar, water, sugar, mustard, garlic, basil, oregano, salt and pepper in a blender. Puree until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add oil and puree until creamy. (Transfer 1 3/4 cups to a large mason jar and refrigerate for up to 1 week.)

  4. To assemble bowls: Divide 3 cups quinoa among 4 large shallow bowls. Top with the chicken, chickpeas, avocado, radishes and sprouts (or shoots); sprinkle with seeds (or nuts). Drizzle with 3/4 cup dressing.

Tips

To make ahead: Prepare chicken (Step 1) and quinoa (Step 2); refrigerate separately for up to 5 days. Prepare dressing (Step 3); refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, September 2019

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

753 Calories
50g Fat
43g Carbs
34g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 2 cups
Calories 753
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 43g 16%
Dietary Fiber 10g 37%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 34g 69%
Total Fat 50g 64%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 76mg 25%
Vitamin A 160IU 3%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Folate 156mcg 39%
Sodium 490mg 21%
Calcium 74mg 6%
Iron 4mg 24%
Magnesium 129mg 31%
Potassium 836mg 18%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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