These chipotle chicken quinoa bowls are perfect for using up leftover roast chicken. A simple and healthy dinner, use any veg you have and make it your own.
There's something about calling a meal a 'bowl' which makes it sound immediately more appealing don't you think? It's like the act of eating out of a bowl means that you can curl up around it on the sofa in front of the TV (we're currently obsessively watching OITNB, what about you?).
These bowls are pretty much a mishmash of some of my favourite things. I used quinoa because a) it's super healthy b) I wanted to be cool like everyone else that eats it on the regs and c) because they sell it for really cheap in the shop at the end of our road. I also used up the chicken from making this recipe for slow cooker chipotle chicken quesadillas which you could totally do!
We had leftover chipotle sauce from that recipe as well which I used in these bowls but you could easily grab some store bought chipotle sauce to use instead. I added some chopped up raw yellow pepper and a big handful of fresh coriander to these which made them feel really refreshing and healthy.
The leftover chicken was crisped up in a pan with a handful of baby spinach just to make it even more healthy. This bowl also features one of my other favourite things which is roasted aubergine. All of this stuff is piled on top of the quinoa in a bowl (obvs) and I added a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of chopped spring onions to finish it all off. Amazing!
Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Bowls
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper
- 400 g Cooked Chicken cut into chunks
- Handful Baby Spinach
- 400 g Quinoa cooked according to package instructions
- 1 Yellow Pepper chopped into strips
- 1 Aubergine cut with a mandolin
- 2 Spring Onions chopped
- Fresh Coriander chopped
- Sour Cream
- Chipotle Sauce
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C. Sprinkle the slices of aubergine with salt on both sides and leave for 5 minutes to draw the moisture out. Pat dry with a paper towel. Place on an oiled baking tray in a single layer (you might need more than one baking tray) and sprinkle with a little more salt and some pepper. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
- Heat the olive oil over a medium high heat then add the chicken and cook for a minute until crispy. Add the spinach and allow to wilt for another minute until removing from the heat.
- Place the cooked quinoa into bowls and top with a helping of chicken and spinach, some yellow pepper, chipotle sauce, sour cream, aubergine slices, coriander and spring onion.
WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVER INGREDIENTS YOU’VE GOT FROM MAKING THESE Chipotle chicken quinoa bowls?
If you’re anything like me then you’re always looking for ways to save money and avoid food waste so I want to make sure you’ve get plenty of ideas on how to use up any ingredients that are leftover from my recipes!
My favourite vegetable, aubergine, pops up on this roasted garlic, pork and aubergine pizza
Herbs are something that always end up wilting in the back of the fridge in our house. Avoid that by sprinkling your leftover coriander over this chorizo shakshuka
Meliann says
First of all: Great pictures! They want me to actually go to the store right now and buy some quinoa! I've only had quinoa in salads so far since they aren't that popular yet over here in Germany. But lately I've been seeing quinoa in a few local stores nearby and I'm searching for quinoa recipes desperately. I wanted to start a healthy diet and this definitely comes in handy! I love bowl meals and as a half Thai I used to only eat soups in a bowl. I totally agree! Bowl meals make me want to chill in front of the TV and get stuffed! I'm definitely going to give this a try! 🙂
Kaitie says
Mmmm I love having dinner all combined into one bowl... easy, great way to reuse leftovers!
Ginny says
So glad you put chipotle sauce with that couscous and spinach bowl. Delicious!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
I love how healthy this looks. Would be great to prepare in advance and take in a lunchbox
Corina Blum says
These look so beautifully healthy and also full of flavour! Just the type of food I love to eat.