Have you ever come up with a fabulous idea for a recipe and thought to yourself, I’m a frickin’ genius!, only to realize after Googling said idea that you’re millionth person to the party?
Yeah, me too.
Always looking for a new way to use quinoa in my cooking, as it’s a food Ben and I can both agree on (unlike onions, fruit, cream cheese, eel, squash, bacon wrapped giblets, cool whip, chevre, eggs, peanut noodles, or mushrooms) and can’t be beat in the nutritional department, I thought –
What if – just WHAT IF – I paired quinoa with summer staples like grilled chicken & corn, then drizzled it with a cool dressing of sweet BBQ sauce and creamy Greek yogurt, and called it thebestthingeverrrr?!
Well, I can tell you why it’s a popular idea, because BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad is seriously unreal!
Full of over-the-top flavors like smoky grilled corn and sassy BBQ sauce, and protein-packed ingredients like grilled chicken, creamy black beans, and fluffy quinoa, BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad is pretty much a healthy and delicious party on a plate.
Use leftover grilled chicken and corn from your last BBQ, or even rotisserie chicken and frozen corn, to get BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad to your table even faster. No matter the method, the fresh and satisfying flavors will still shine through!
Start by rinsing 1 cup quinoa in a fine mesh sieve under cold, running water. Do not skip this step! Quinoa has a naturally bitter coating called saponin which will ruin the final dish if it’s not rinsed off.
After rinsing the quinoa, combine it with 2 cups chicken broth in a small saucepan, then bring it to a boil on the stovetop.
Place a lid on top, lower the heat to medium low, then cook the quinoa for 20 minutes or so, until it’s light, fluffy, and springy.
Meanwhile, grill 2 chicken breasts seasoned with salt and pepper, and 2 ears shucked corn, over medium-high heat. The chicken should take about 4-5 minutes a side, and the corn will take just as long. A match made in grilling heaven!
Let the chicken cool off the grill for a few minutes, then shred or chop it up, and toss with enough of your favorite BBQ sauce to coat.
Then slice the charred kernels off the corn cob.
To make the BBQ sauce drizzle that goes on top of the dish, simply stir together 1/4 cup each BBQ sauce and plain Greek yogurt.
Top the cooked quinoa with shredded BBQ chicken and grilled corn, then add black beans and shredded cheddar cheese. Pop the dish in the microwave for 20 seconds to melt the cheese (if you want) then drizzle with the BBQ sauce dressing, and top with chopped cilantro. Finally, face plant!
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BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad
Description
BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad is a healthy party on a plate!
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed very well
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 chicken breasts
- salt & pepper
- 2 ears corn, shucked (or 1 cup corn kernels)
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained & rinsed
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce (plus more for chicken)
Directions
- Rinse quinoa very well in a fine mesh sieve under cold running water. Combine with the chicken broth in a saucepan then bring to a boil. Place a lid on top, lower heat to medium-low, and cook until quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt & pepper, then grill over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes a side, or until no longer pink in the center. (Alternatively you could poach the chicken, or use leftover or rotisserie chicken.) Add corn to the grill at the same time, and rotate every couple of minutes to evenly char on all sides. Remove chicken and corn to a plate and let cool slightly. Shred or cut chicken into cubes, then mix with enough BBQ sauce to coat. Slice kernels off the cob.
- Mix together Greek yogurt and BBQ sauce in a bowl. Evenly divide the cooked quinoa, shredded BBQ chicken, grilled corn, black beans, and shredded cheese between four plates. Drizzle with yogurt and BBQ sauce mixture, then garnish with chopped cilantro.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I don’t know what I’m more tickled about – how filling or how flavorful this dish is!
The BBQ sauce + Greek yogurt drizzle totally put it over the top.
Enjoy for lunch, dinner, 4th meal – or heck, even breakfast, if you’re into that sorta thing!
ashley 06.05.2012
you definitely looked like a doll in that outfit! I have the jacket…but it is a million degrees in nashville and I over heat easily so its gonna have to wait till fall…fail!
most of my shopping is done at marshalls,tjmaxx, macys and francescas. They have some amazingly adorable dresses right now. i want them all!
Maura @ My Healthy 'Ohana 06.05.2012
Love the idea for this meal!! And the feed adam quinoa sounds like an amazing organization :)
Your outfit is so cute!
Kaelin 06.05.2012
I had been eating tons of quinoa over the last couple of years, but suddenly a couple of months ago I started to have terrible stomach cramps after eating it. I discovered I am allergic or intolerant to quinoa. Totally bummed! :(
Any good ideas for a quinoa substitute? This recipe is totally up my alley!!
JennP 06.05.2012
I bet it would also be really good (and lower carb) just served over a big bed of greens!
Iowa Girl Eats 06.06.2012
You could mix it up with some small cut pasta!
Rachel 06.05.2012
This looks delicious. I can’t wait to try it!
Michelle (Better with Berries) 06.05.2012
Anything with “barbecue chicken” in the name sounds like a winner to me.
Speaking of which, the BBQ chicken salad is back at Noodles and Co. this summer!! Have you tried it? It’s delish.
Iowa Girl Eats 06.06.2012
I haven’t – sounds awesome though!!
Ann 06.05.2012
Looks delicious! I’ll have to try that sometime this week, although I’ve used up my last bit of Cookies BBQ sauce. I wish they sold it out here in California (along with Blue Bunny Ice Cream!). Oh yeah, and Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen. . .
B @ Crags and Veggies 06.05.2012
That sauce looks great! I don’t eat chicken, but I think I could make this great with marinaded tofu! I like Ann Taylor a lot! I buy most of my clothes though from LOFT. Same company, but the clothes seem more casual which is great for my work style. Also, you look gorgeous, and definitely like you have fashion sense.
Trisha 06.05.2012
Even if there are 4 million other versions of this recipe out there, I’ll always try the IGE version first! :)
Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily 06.05.2012
You need a show on Food Network! Seriously, every time I visit your site, the recipes get better and better!!!
Linda 06.05.2012
WOW I am sooo excited to make this. I am also so happy that I found your blog- I get so excited to see what you are going to make next!
Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats 06.05.2012
Thanks for the quinoa dish…I just bought some and have still had the guts to make it. This sounds good!
Elizabeth 06.05.2012
Beautiful. Just want to know. Do you really use that red spoon to eat it? If you do then thats totally cool and I need to get me one of those.
Iowa Girl Eats 06.05.2012
Haha, I really did! :) It’s actually a spoon for chili! :)
Anna-Maria 06.05.2012
WOW!! That is Genius , sounds delish… this might be my new lunch time favorite… Thanks for sharing
Jessica 06.05.2012
Have you ever tried roasting your Quiona on the stove before cooking it? it gives it a really nutty flavor that is super tasty!
Iowa Girl Eats 06.06.2012
I don’t think I’ve tried toasting, but I have tried frying cooked quinoa in a couple Tbls of olive oil. AMAZING.
Amy 06.05.2012
I made a version of this ) and my boyfriend says it’s the best thing I’ve ever made :) I love the idea of adding greek yogurt to the BBQ sauce for a dressing. Mmm.
Katie 06.05.2012
You are definitely a genius, girl! This looks to die for!!
Lori H 06.05.2012
I would love to be able to afford J crew on a more regular basis! Love your cute outfit.
I think your salad looks delicious. I may add avocado since I love them.
Nicole 06.19.2012
Agree!! :)
Lauren 06.05.2012
Okay this looks phenomenal! I’m eating a quinoa and chicken salad right now but I wish I would have seen this before.
And I never rinse my quinoa and I never really knew why but this makes total sense!
Samantha 06.05.2012
Yum! I’ve yet to try Quinoa. I know, I’ve been living under a rock! I think this is going to be my first ever recipe using it!
Your outfit was super cute, especially the jacket :) I love target for basics!
Blog is the New Black 06.05.2012
Oh, totally unreal. Love this meal, yum!