Chicken Broccoli Quinoa (Healthy One-Pan Recipe!)
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This Chicken Broccoli Quinoa recipe makes a healthy dinner that everyone in the family will love. It is well-balanced and very satiating, which makes it a great meal for weight loss. Learn how to make homemade chicken quinoa on the stovetop with this easy recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Quinoa Recipe
You are going to love this nourishing dish made with juicy chicken, fresh vegetables, and quinoa. It is perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavor, but is so simple to make. Everything gets cooked together in one pan, which means minimal cleanup is required once it is done. In addition, Chicken Broccoli Quinoa is a superb meal for anyone who wants to lose weight.
Chicken Broccoli Quinoa for Weight Loss
If you want to lose weight, you need to pay attention to both the quality and quantity of the foods that you consume. Calories matter, but so do the sources of those calories. You should eat healthy and balanced meals, which shut down hunger and prevent you from getting hungry for hours. This is vital for weight loss, as it prevents overeating and snacking between meals.
Two nutrients that play a key role in weight loss are protein and fiber. While protein and fiber are important nutrients on their own, they are even more powerful when combined. Eating meals that are high in protein and fiber keep you feeling full and satisfied, while also providing sustained energy.
This Chicken Broccoli Quinoa recipe is fantastic for weight loss, because it contains a good amount of both protein and fiber. Here is a closer look at each of the main ingredients in this dish:
- Chicken: Chicken is an excellent source of protein, which helps you feel satiated for a long period of time. This can help you eat fewer calories overall. Protein is also necessary for building and maintaining lean muscle mass. Plus, chicken is a relatively low-calorie protein source, which makes it a great choice for weight loss.
- Broccoli: Broccoli is a low-calorie vegetable that is rich in fiber, which also very filling. Additionally, multiple studies show that increasing your intake of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, can help prevent weight gain over time (source). Lastly, broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium.
- Quinoa: Quinoa is a high-protein grain that is also rich in fiber. It is also a good source of complex carbohydrates, which provides energy throughout the day. Finally, quinoa contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, and zinc.
Overall, this Chicken Broccoli Quinoa recipe is terrific for anyone who is looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. It makes a nutritious dinner that is packed with protein and fiber, while also being relatively low in calories.
How to Make Chicken Broccoli Quinoa
As always, the full instructions are listed in the recipe below. But here are a few notes about each of the steps required to make this recipe:
- Sauté the chicken: Cook the chicken pieces and then set them aside.
- Cook the veggies: Sauté the onion and celery in the same pan.
- Add the aromatics & herbs: Lightly cook the garlic, dried herbs, and crushed red pepper flakes until fragrant. Gently cooking these ingredients allows them to open up and release their aromas.
- Stir in the quinoa, broth & broccoli: Add the quinoa, broth, and broccoli. Leave everything alone to cook, until the liquid has been absorbed by the quinoa.
- Return the chicken: Add the cooked chicken back to the pan.
- Add the lemon & parsley: Finish the dish with a good squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of parsley.
Dinner is served! 🙂 That is all you need to do to make a good-for-you meal that is both simple and delicious.
Where to Get the Best Chicken
I am a huge advocate of only eating organic, humanely-raised meat and poultry. For the best organic chicken and other meats, I recommend using ButcherBox. ButcherBox is a very popular meat delivery company that sends hormone-free and antibiotic-free cuts directly to your home. Their meat selection includes organic chicken, grass-fed beef, wild seafood, and more.
If you want to learn more about ButcherBox and other similar brands, check out this post: The Top 7 Organic and Sustainable Meat Delivery Companies Online. In that article, I review a bunch of at-home meat delivery services that send high-quality meats to your doorstep.
More Healthy Chicken Recipes
Looking for more good-for-you chicken dinner inspiration? Here are a some of my favorite recipes:
- Easy Honey Mustard Chicken
- Spicy Cajun Chicken and Rice
- Chicken Avocado Quinoa Bowl
- One-Pan Herb Chicken and Rice
- Homemade Coconut Chicken Curry
If you make this Chicken Broccoli Quinoa recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating ★ below, because I love hearing from you! ♡
Chicken Broccoli Quinoa (Healthy One-Pan Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch cubes
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnishing
Instructions
- In a large pan or pot with a tight-fitting lid, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and season it liberally with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes, or until cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
- In the same pan, melt the butter. Add the onion and celery and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the quinoa and broth. Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low. Then, add the broccoli and cover. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed all of the liquid.
- Return the chicken to the pan. Add the lemon juice and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
Nutrition
Notes
- I recommend using organic chicken in this recipe for maximum health benefits.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.
This post was originally published on November 7, 2020. It has been updated to reflect new information and helpful content.
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This is a perfect healthy office lunch! Pinned so I can make it!
Aww thanks so much! 🙂
This recipe was a great way to put together all the random things in my fridge/pantry in a way I never would’ve considered. It is super flavorful for such an easy and healthy dish. Thank you!! Will make again.
Hi Korinne, thanks so much for letting me know! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe!! I hope you get to try some of my other recipes on the blog too!
Do you use fresh or frozen broccoli?
Hi Laura! I use fresh, but you can also use frozen broccoli. I recommend just letting it cook for a few minutes longer. 🙂
Easy quick and good. Doubled red pepper flakes to our liking.
Thanks so much, Judy! I’m very happy you liked the recipe. 🙂
I was wondering if you rinse the quinoa before using it as it can remove the bitterness.
Hi Patricia! Most of the boxed/bagged quinoa found in stores has been pre-rinsed, so I don’t bother rinsing it myself. However, it doesn’t hurt to give the seeds an additional rinse at home, if you find that doing so improves their flavor. 🙂
This was so good! I’ve never made quinoa before, and had a bit of a dingaling moment when I tried to pre-rinse it in a strainer with too big holes (oops!), but quickly got back on track. The flavors were great. The only thing I’d do differently next time is add the broccoli sooner, as the quinoa was done by the time I added it, so there wasn’t enough steaming action to cook it through so it was still a bit crunchy. Will definitely make again. Thanks!
Hi Martha! You’re very welcome. Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it! 🙂
Very tasty. Will make again. Thanks.
Yay! I’m very happy you enjoyed the recipe. You’re very welcome, Pam!
The flavors were good except for the broccoli. Way overcooked at 20 minutes. I questioned the cooking time when reading through the instructions. If I ever make this again, I would steam broccoli to desired doneness and add it in the end with the chicken.
Hi Dee, thank you for your feedback! I actually retested the recipe recently. I found that when I added the broccoli with the broth and quinoa it cooked perfectly, as long as I kept the heat on low. But, your way of steaming the broccoli to desired doneness and then adding it in the end with the chicken is a good idea too.
Great flavor, but had similar issue as a previous commenter. My broccoli (frozen) dissolved into mush and now I have green quinoa with chicken— but it is delish! I added a little finish of parmigiano reggiano for funsies and it helped the lemon sing a little.
Hi Sam! Thank you for your feedback. If you make the recipe again, then you can try adding the broccoli closer towards the end of the cooking time. Also, I love that you added parmigiano reggiano, so yummy!
Is 4 servings correct for the nutritional value info provided? It seems like a LOT of food.
Hi Chelsea! The recipe makes enough food to serve 4, and the nutritional information provided is per serving. So yes, it is correct! 🙂
Question! What if my quinoa is already cooked? I’m trying to use left overs.
Hi Tiffany! I haven’t tried doing this myself, but you could follow the recipe directions until you get to the step where you have to add the quinoa and the broth. Instead of doing that, keep the heat at medium and add the broccoli to the pan and just stir-fry it for about 5 minutes. Once the broccoli is cooked, add your cooked quinoa. Then, add the cooked chicken, lemon juice, and parsley and mix everything together. I hope that helps! 🙂
Thank you so much! My husband made the whole bag yesterday and didn’t realize how much it made. 😂😂🤦🏻♀️
You’re very welcome, Tiffany! 🙂 Please let me know how it turns out!
Made this tonight and followed quantities as recorded x 0.75, as there were only 3 of us for dinner. I did sub some cauliflower that needed to be used for half the broccoli, but we like these vegetables al dente, so they went in with the chicken near the end. Hubby did a “what’s this” at the quinoa as I used a tricolour variety. But, we all really enjoyed it and there’s enough left over for me to take to work for lunch tomorrow. I will happily add this recipe to my repertoire.
Hi Hilary, thank you so much for letting me know! I’m so glad that you enjoyed my chicken quinoa recipe and that you will be adding it to your recipe repertoire. 🙂
This was ok. It needs more flavour for our tastes. I’m thinking of adding some mini tomatoes to the leftovers. Maybe some red pepper, or roasted red pepper would also help. Bay leaves?
Hi Judith, thanks for your feedback. The ingredients you mentioned would add more flavor to the recipe. You could also try adding more spices, even just salt and pepper to enhance the other flavors more. Or you could sprinkle some shredded old cheddar cheese on top while it is warm, to give it a cheesy topping. I hope that helps!
Tried this recipe for a very picky hubby and he liked it! Was just a little too spicy for him, I thought it was perfectly spicy. Will definitely make it again and probably cut the red pepper flakes in half or just sprinkle them in. Full of flavors! Loved it!
Yay! Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed the recipe, Megan! 🙂
This was deeelish! I made a few changes, not in ingredients, but in how I cooked it. Marinated chicken breast in my own concoction of water, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and sea salt. For a couple of hours in the fridge. Precooked quinoa in homemade broth. Used a bit more oil and butter and doubled the fresh garlic (no vampires here tonight!). Used frozen broccoli florets, that I added almost at the end. Cooked in a cast iron pan added sliced mushrooms, a little red pepper flakes, finished it off with fresh lime juice and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. It was really tasty.
Hi Perla! Wow the way you cooked it sounds delicious. Thank you for sharing your technique! I’m very happy you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂