Need some more easy meals for busy weeknights? Try out this fried Quinoa Chicken recipe for something a little bit different. Move over panko breadcrumbs, we are going to coat our chicken breasts with some quinoa for an extra kick of nutrition and taste. The perfect weeknight meal for the whole family.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner is a popular saying for a reason. Check out one of these delicious dinner recipes next: lemon garlic chicken with mixed vegetables or these crusted sage and macadamia chicken breasts and serve with these green beans.
Did You know?
Quinoa is full of nutrition. It is a complete protein source rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a nutritious addition to your diet.
Fried Quinoa Chicken Recipe
Who doesn't love a quick and easy dinner recipe that packs a punch in flavor?
We certainly do, and this quinoa fried chicken recipe is just that.
Chicken breasts coated in some nutty red quinoa and then topped off with a deliciously flavorsome mustard sauce.
Pair with some veggies, or a simple side salad, and you are good to go.
Ingredients
You will need:
- Chicken breasts: look for similar-sized chicken breasts so they cook evenly. If your chicken breasts are all over the show in terms of size, simply cut them to make them more similar in size. You could always sub in some chicken thighs if you prefer, simply adjust the cooking time until they are cooked through;
- Yellow onion: you can also sub a brown onion if that's what you have, a yellow onion just tends to be a little sweeter and has a more pleasant flavor. I wouldn't sub with a red onion, as this would be a bit too intense flavor-wise;
- Uncooked red quinoa: you can change this for white or black quinoa, we simply use red quinoa because it has a great color on the plate. The best way to cook quinoa is according to the package directions, as it can vary slightly from brand to brand;
- Unsalted butter: this is used for cooking the chicken, and just adds a bit more flavor than just olive oil;
- Mustard: I like to use a Dijon mustard, but use what you prefer;
- Honey: look for a runny honey to make things easier;
- Soy sauce or tamari: check the ingredients if you want this dish to be gluten-free. Also be sure to check the sodium, as some soy sauce brands are a lot saltier than others;
- Apple cider vinegar: this can be found with other kinds of vinegar, or in the health food section of most stores;
- Olive oil: this is used for cooking, so feel free to sub for any other cooking oil of choice;
- juice of half a lemon: as always, fresh is best, however bottled will work in a pinch.
And of course you will need some black pepper, sea salt, and some veggies or a salad to pair with the chicken to make a complete meal.
NOTE: depending on the variety bought, quinoa can have a different cook time, so be sure to check the instructions on the packaging. For best results, make sure you are cooking until you have fluffy quinoa.
How To Make
This is a really easy recipe to put together.
Simply:
- cook quinoa according to the package directions
- slice the chicken breasts in half to make them thinner and easier to cook through
- puree the onion and then use it to coat the chicken breasts, along with some salt and pepper
- roll the chicken breasts in the cooked quinoa and then fry in a large skillet over medium-high heat in the olive oil and butter
- combine all of the ingredients for the mustard sauce in a small saucepan and heat through until smooth and warm
- serve up!
TIP: want some extra flavor? Coat the chicken in the pureed onion, salt and pepper mix up to two hours before and keep stored in the fridge until ready.
Tips, Tricks, and Substitutions
Busy week ahead?
Good news, the quinoa for this recipe can be cooked up to 3 days before you use it, so cook a big batch at the start of the week and use it for different recipes to save some time.
The chicken can also be coated in the onion, salt, and pepper mix beforehand, and kept stored in the fridge until you are ready to cook.
Fried quinoa chicken is also great for making at the beginning of the week and serving in meal prep containers, along with some salad, or in a wrap.
Quinoa
We use red quinoa here simply for aesthetics.
Feel free to use white quinoa, black quinoa, or even tricolor quinoa depending on what you have on hand.
TIP: Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165F or 75C before removing from the heat.
Serving Suggestions
I love chicken and mashed potatoes, so I usually serve my fried quinoa chicken with a big bowl of mashed potatoes, or this whipped feta and cauliflower mash, and a sprinkle of chopped green onion.
It is also great served with:
- a simple side salad to make a chicken quinoa salad perfect for packing for a work lunch
- lemon and garlic air fryer broccoli for a nice healthy dinner, or
- some roasted veggies.
I hope you enjoy this healthy recipe!
Happy Eating.
xx
Recipe
Fried Quinoa Chicken Recipe with Mustard Sauce
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Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts cut in halves
- 1 medium size yellow onion mashed
- ¼ cup uncooked red quinoa you can use white or black quinoa
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Mustard Sauce
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon apple vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- Wash the quinoa well under cold running water.
- Add to the saucepan and pour in 400ml water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat. Cook for 10-15 min or until the quinoa is fully cooked and the water was absorbed.
- Set aside to cool.
Chicken Breasts
- Using a blender or food processor, puree the onion.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt, add the mixed pepper, and pour over the onion puree. Stir well until the ingredients are combined.
- Heat a pan over high heat. Pour in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Set the other butter aside.
- Pour the cooked quinoa into a plate. Roll each chicken breast in the quinoa.
- Place the chicken breast in the pan and fry on medium-high heat on both sides until cooked through. This time this takes will vary depending on how thin the chicken has been cut, but should take a few minutes on each side. They should reach an internal temperature of 165F (75C).
Mustard Sauce
- Add all of the ingredients to a small saucepan over low-medium heat. Use a whisk to stir until everything is well combined and has heated through.
- Serve the cooked chicken breast with a drizzle of the mustard sauce and any sides of your choosing.
Notes
- a simple side salad
- lemon and garlic air fryer broccoli, or
- some roasted veggies.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Janice says
This was great, I love that the quinoa makes a coating without breadcrumbs. And the mustard sauce was the perfect complement! We will have this one on repeat!
Michael says
This was a great recipe to add to my weekly meal prep! The recipe was so easy to follow, and the chicken was amazing for my lunches; I paired mine with steamed broccoli!
Holly says
This recipe was really easy to throw together. I love that you can make the quinoa in advance. The chicken was moist and the mustard sauce was so delicious. I would definitely make this again.