Description
This Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken with Quinoa is a light, healthy, and flavor-packed dinner perfect for warm weather or meal prep. Juicy chicken breasts are marinated in zesty lemon and fresh herbs, grilled to perfection, and served over a fluffy, veggie-packed quinoa salad.
Ingredients
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water or chicken broth
1/3 cup olive oil
2 lemons (zest of 1, juice of 2)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cucumber, diced
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Rinse quinoa thoroughly. In a saucepan, combine quinoa and water (or broth). Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper.
3. Place chicken breasts in a shallow dish or ziplock bag. Pour HALF of the lemon-herb dressing over the chicken. Reserve the other half for the quinoa. Marinate for 15-30 minutes.
4. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Oil the grates lightly.
5. Grill chicken for 6-7 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F and nice char marks appear. Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes.
6. In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Pour the reserved dressing over the mixture and toss to combine. Taste and adjust salt/pepper.
7. Slice the chicken and serve over the quinoa salad.
Notes
Pound chicken breasts to even thickness for more uniform grilling.
Rinsing quinoa is essential to remove saponin, which can make it taste bitter.
Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days; this tastes great cold as a lunch salad!
Add crumbled feta or olives for a Greek twist.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 75mg