Fresh Mex~Grilled Chicken and Black Beans Quinoa Bowls

You know when you find a great deal on grocery items that you use all the time and you just can’t pass it up? Yes, that was me last week with this package of large boneless chicken breast. I would normally break down the package and freeze the breast individually. It was forecasted to be such a gorgeous day last Sunday that I decided to prep the chicken three ways, all cooked on the grill. This is the first of three recipes I will be sharing with you today. For today’s post I wanted to incorporate some quinoa and blacks beans to prepare a “rice bowl” but with quinoa instead. The combination of grilled vegetables and the raw, crispy vegetables wa tasty! Choose you favorite dressing to garnish with. No dressing? Drizzle on a little olive oil after the lime, salt and pepper and you are all set. Foods that are good for you and delicious! 

Fresh Mex ~Grilled Chicken Black Beans and Quinoa Bowls

You Will Need
4 grilled chicken cutlets, sliced thin
1 recipe for Black Beans and Quinoa
1 cup zucchini, grilled and diced
6 to 8 grilled sweet peppers and hot pepper mixed of your choice
1 cup carrots, shredded
1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup radishes, sliced
Cilantro, chopped
Lime
Hot Sauce
Your favorite dressing

Choose some vegetables to be grilled for the quinoa bowls and keep some vegetables raw for their crispiness.

Build Your Fresh Mex Quinoa Bowls

To each bowl add some quinoa in the center. Then you could let your guest build their own bowls with the ingredients available. Garnish with cilantro, lime juice, hot sauce or dressing. Recipes yield 4 to 6 servings.

*I was out of avocados on this day, but that really would have made this bowl awesome!

Dry Rub Grilled Chicken Breast

Dry Rub Grilled Chicken Breast

4 cutlet style chicken breast (1 1/2 pounds more or less)
salt and pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons dry rub for chicken, homemade or store bought
Olive oil

Tips~ If you can’t find the chicken sliced thin, cutlet style, buy 2 large chicken breast and butterfly them in half. Cover with plastic and pound out to 1/3 inch so they are thin.

Directions

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then add all of the dry rub to coat evenly. Cover and marinate for a 2 hours.

2.  Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling.   Prepare  outdoor grill for direct cooking at medium/high heat. Brush grates with oil and grill on high for about 3 minutes per side, let rest before slicing. If cooking indoors, cook in preheated skillet for 3 minutes per side, adding 2 tablespoons of olive oil while it preheats.

 

For Black Beans and Quinoa

Ingredients

Olive oil
1/2 cup red or white onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 serrano, minced
1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped fine
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
Juice of 1 lime
1 3/4 cup chicken stock/broth
14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

 

Directions

1. Rinse the quinoa, drain and set aside. In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil to medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, serrano and sun dried tomato. Season lightly with salt and pepper and saute for 6 to 7 minutes.

2. Add the oregano and cumin seeds and saute for 2 minutes. Add in the quinoa, lime juice and chicken broth. Stir gently to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid has evaporated. Add the beans, cover and let set for 15 minutes. Use a fork to fold in the beans, add cilantro. Yields 6 servings.