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!
Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables 06.06.2012
I agree 100% with your store preferences, including the “j. crew if I had a bigger budget” :) And obviously I love this recipe…anything with quinoa is an obvious winner.
Sara 06.06.2012
Trying this recipe tonight!
I LOVE shopping at the Limited, Banana Republic and Von Maur :) I wish I had the budget to shop at JCrew more often too!
Erin 06.06.2012
My jaw hit the floor when you said you bought that Chobani large container for $.88 I had to (regretfully) pass it up at the grocery store yesterday as they were asking $6.30 for it. Yes. That’s right. $6.30!!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Jess S 06.07.2012
I usually pay $6 ($5.99) for a container that size. If my husband had any idea, he’d kill me!
Lauren T 06.06.2012
That looks incredible! Will have to try asap!
I’m a big LOFT fan too! My mom and I go shopping there all the time. She loves it for the petite clothes too! I love how their clothes can be worn in a professional setting and a casual one too :) Wish I had more money to shop there all the time ha!
Alice 06.06.2012
I love how the grill is incorporated into so many of your meals! I just wish we could keep ours on our deck (condo rules say “no”) so that we could utilize it more!
Banana Republic sales!
Anna 06.06.2012
Another fab salad recipe – I’m still in love with your Chipotle-Mango BBQ Chicken Salad recipe. Can´t wait to try this one.
molly 06.06.2012
Any suggestion if my family doesn’t like BBQ sauce?
INC Petites are the best at Macy’s!
bonni 06.06.2012
Recipe looks yummy! i love using greek yogurt as a base for things and making a dressing. I love Target for clothes and everything else shopping. They have fun pieces for each season and plenty of stables that don’t go out of style. The pants and jeans come in different fits and lengths (cause short legs are not fun). As a bonus they rotate items out so they soon hit the clearance racks, Score!
Month of the Core and More « Eat, Sweat, Smile 06.06.2012
[…] collecting some ingredients on the walk home, I made BBQ Quinoa Salad, another delicious recipe from Kristin over at Iowa Girl Eats (her photos are infinitely better […]
Heather {ModernMealsforTwo} 06.06.2012
This salad looks awesome! I’m about to write my shopping list and I’m pretty sure it’s getting added.
So of all the things Ben and you don’t agree on, I’m wondering who likes peanut noodles? I LOVE them and Hubster thinks they’re ok to mehh. :)
I buy a lot of my work clothes at Express. They have pants that fit me great. Outside work (ie dresses b/c that’s all I really want to wear) is a combination of Urban Outfitters (you have to dig but they have cute stuff) and random finds on flash sale sites. I also really like Francesca’s. I always find something cute when I’m there.
Jessica 06.06.2012
making this asap!! looks awesome and would please everyone.
i’m a huge nanner town (banana republic outlet) junkie. (thank HEAVENS for williamsburg)
between that and target, i’m set! :)
Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed 06.06.2012
I didn’t know about rinsing the quinoa! I’ve also never cooked it in a broth! Wow, you’re opening my eyes. This recipe looks delicious :)
I’m big into Forever21 and H&M! I’m also obsessed with Target, sometimes I need to avoid the clothing section because I get sucked in!
Kelly @ My Love Affair With Running 06.06.2012
I also work on a (small) rotation basis with my outfits! Can totally relate :)
Emily 06.05.2012
With our budget, we go to Goodwill, Forever 21, and JCPenney when we get the annual gift card from my bro. Sometimes I’m given clothes free which is awesome. We need all the help we can get!
Allison 06.05.2012
I also wear a lot of Ann Taylor Loft, due to their petite section. I don’t wear JCrew because I can’t quite bring myself to spend that much and their pants/skirts/dresses NEVER fit me. You always look nice on your blog – I think you do have fashion sense!
Lindsey 06.05.2012
Love Target when we are the States, but here I shop mainly at H&M, Old Navy and RW&Co.
Marie B. 06.05.2012
Do you have a Bealls? They have a great petite dept. also! My daughter & I have been buying most of ours from there! That outfit did look wonderful on you with your dark hair!
Great recipe!
Ashley 06.05.2012
That meal looks outstanding and I’m planning to make it this weekend!
I LOVE Banana Republic, Gap, Francesca’s, and the LOFT.
jad18 06.05.2012
My faves are Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. I actually think the Loft is no longer associated with Ann Taylor, it’s just The Loft.
Ashley @ coffee cake and cardio 06.05.2012
That salad looks amazing!! Do you use 1 chicken breast for both you and Ben!
Iowa Girl Eats 06.06.2012
Yeah. With the beans, quinoa, and cheese, it is plenty filling!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio 06.07.2012
Thats great. I’m still learning how to cook for two.