Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl

Pesto chicken quinoa bowl is healthy, packed with protein and will keep you full for hours. Avocado, chickpeas, red onion, carrots, and tomatoes all come together in this delicious and flavorful bowl!

We love a healthy chicken bowl, especially this pesto quinoa bowl. It’s good to eat as soon as it's cooked or meal prepped for later. This is one of those meals you can eat and feel completely satisfied by. It's not heavy, it’s full of nutritious veggies, and it’s packed with protein from the chicken and quinoa. It reminds me of my Buckwheat Salad which is whole grain-based and full of fresh vegetables. Both are extremely refreshing in the summer.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl Recipe
• Is The Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl a Power Bowl?
• Is This The Same As The First Watch Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl?
• What You Need to Make Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl
• What Is Quinoa?
• The Benefits of This Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl
• How to Make The Basil Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl Recipe
• Other Ways to Top Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl
• Try These Other Quinoa Recipes
• Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl

Why You'll Love This Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl Recipe

• It’s healthy! Finding healthy bowl recipes that are really good and packed with flavor is hard sometimes. You won't have that problem with this pesto chicken quinoa bowl. The veggies and grains in this bowl are whole foods and will leave you feeling full and satisfied. It has so much fiber, protein, and is packed with many more vitamins and minerals.
• The pesto chicken quinoa bowl is extremely easy to make. Only two items need cooked and that’s the chicken and quinoa. The chicken is pan fried in pesto, paprika, and lemon juice. The quinoa is cooked in chicken broth and pesto. Once those are done the remaining veggies are placed on top and voila, lunch or dinner is served.
• There is so much versatility with the basil pesto chicken power bowl recipe. It’s so easy to make this quinoa bowl your own. Whether you have some extra veggies in your fridge or different types of beans in your pantry I suggest you throw them in. Consider trying seasonal vegetables in this.

Is The Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl a Power Bowl?

Yes, this pesto chicken quinoa bowl is considered a power bowl. A power bowl is an all in one meal in a bowl that packs abundant nutrition and tastes great. Most power bowls require there be a base of whole grains, in this case quinoa is used. Then the base is topped with veggies and protein. Power bowls are typically balanced with healthy ingredients that pack a lot of nutrition. Power quinoa bowls are commonly associated with eating healthy and aiding in weight loss. Other names for a power bowl include buddha bowl, grain bowl, or nourishing bowl.

Is This The Same As The First Watch Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl?

This is not a pesto chicken quinoa bowl First Watch recipe. In fact there are many differences. First, this recipe is soy free and egg free. As a result this recipe is low on saturated fat. First Watch’s bowl recipe contains both soy and egg. Second, we didn't add any greens to this recipe while the restaurant's recipe contains kale. They also top their bowl with a lemon white balsamic vinaigrette along with a basil pesto sauce. We use a homemade pesto vinaigrette made with only 3 ingredients. Both versions of this bowl are absolutely delicious but have key differences!

What You Need to Make Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl

For The Chicken

Olive Oil - choose a good quality olive oil for the best flavor. I used extra virgin olive oil in this recipe. If you don't have that on hand you can substitute vegetable oil instead.

Chicken Breasts - I used boneless skinless chicken breasts for this pesto chicken recipe. Chicken thighs can be substituted for the breasts. Turning this into a pesto chicken thighs recipe from this substitution would make these chicken thighs with pesto very tender, juicy, and flavorful.

Pesto - of course you need pesto for the chicken in the pesto bowl

Paprika - for deep color and flavor

Garlic - nothing can replace fresh garlic cloves they add the best flavor to the pesto chicken. Yes pesto already has a lot of garlic but if you love it as much as I do you won't mind a little more.

Lemon Juice - half of the lemon is squeezed for the chicken to deglaze the pan and add so much brightness to the dish.

For The Quinoa

Quinoa - only 1 cup is needed and this usually serves 4. I love using a tricolor variety.

Chicken Broth - I used a regular chicken broth but I suggest using a low sodium broth if you like to control the amount of salt in your dish

Pesto - yes, pesto is found all throughout the bowl and is added to spice up the quinoa since quinoa can sometimes be bland if not seasoned well. Plus, combining the quinoa with pesto adds some oil keeping it from being dry.

Bowl Toppings

• Avocado
• Chickpeas
• Pickled Red Onion
• Green Onion
• Carrots
• Cherry Tomatoes

For The Pesto Vinaigrette

• Pesto
• Olive Oil
• Lemon Juice

What Is Quinoa?

Quinoa is one of those foods that not many people know much about. It’s a superfood and known for its high nutritional content. It was first grown for food 7,000 years ago and was believed to be sacred. Today, the majority of quinoa comes from Bolivia and Peru. It has become more and more popular because it's a gluten free grain that lacks wheat and is very healthy.

There are three main types of quinoa commonly found in most stores the types are red, black, and white. These three are typically sold together and it’s what I used in this recipe. I love using the tricolor variety because the red and black types offer so much nutritional value. For example, the red and black varieties have twice the vitamin E content when compared to white. The black also has the lowest fat content when compared to red and white. It also has the most omega-3 fatty acids and carotenoids.

The Benefits of This Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl

• Protein - there’s a lot of protein from the quinoa and chicken. This is essential for building lean muscle, fueling energy, curbing hunger, and helping maintain a healthy weight.
• Fiber - fiber can be found in most if not all of these ingredients. Fiber is essential for digestive healthy, lowers cholesterol, and can help control blood sugar levels.
• Satiation - the pesto chicken bowl will keep you feeling full and satisfied. Don’t worry about feeling hungry shortly after eating the bowl.
• Healthy Fats - there are a lot of healthy fats. The high quality olive oil and avocados bring the healthy fats to this chicken pesto bowl. Healthy fats lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, lower blood pressure, and lower bad LDL cholesterol levels.

How to Make The Basil Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl Recipe

For The Chicken

Step 1. Heat a skillet with olive oil over medium to medium high heat.

Step 2. While the olive oil is heating, combine the chicken breasts with the pesto and paprika in a small bowl until completely covered.

Step 3. Place the chicken and garlic in the skillet with the heated oil and pan fry until the chicken is completely cooked through stirring occasionally (about 7 minutes)

Step 4. Once the chicken is cooked add 1/2 lemon juice to deglaze the pan. Stir the chicken well coating in the sauce drippings. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

For The Quinoa

Step 1. In a pot bring chicken broth and pesto to a boil. Add quinoa and reduce heat and simmer covered for about 15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Once done, fluff with a spoon and set aside.

For The Pesto Vinaigrette

Step 1. In a small bowl whisk together the pesto, olive oil, and lemon juice until well combined. Set aside.

To Build The Bowl

Step 1. Place the pesto quinoa in the bottom of a bowl. Top with chicken, avocado, chickpeas, pickled red onion, green onion, carrots, and cherry tomatoes. Pour over the pesto vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Other Ways to Top Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl

Greens - try adding spinach or kale, place over top of the bowl or add to the quinoa during the last 5 minutes to let cook down and absorb the flavors. Turning this into a pesto chicken spinach quinoa bowl would be so good.

Herbs - garnish with fresh herbs such as fresh basil or parsley. The pesto is full of basil but adding a little it of fresh basil over top with brighten up the bowl even more.

Seasonal Vegetables - for the spring try peas, asparagus, or brocoli, for summer try peppers, or green beans, in the fall try kale and radish, in the winter try spinach and brussel sprouts

Parmesan Cheese - if you're a cheese lover consider folding in some freshly grated parmesan cheese to the quinoa while it's still warm or drizzle some over the top

Bacon - everything is better with bacon isn't it? Consider topping the bowl with crispy bacon pieces to add smokiness to the dish

Hummus - this adds a delicious creamy element to the bowl. It also adds additional nutrients and vitamins. I highly recommend this Easy Lemon Dill Hummus Recipe for a pop of zestiness or Traditional Beiruti Hummus for a garlicky twist.

Try These Other Quinoa Recipes

Garlish Shrimp Scampi over Quinoa

Greek Pesto Quinoa Salad