Best 7 Chicken And Quinoa Paella Recipes

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Chicken and quinoa paella is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is made with simple ingredients that are easy to find, and it can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Paella is a traditional Spanish dish that is made with rice, but this recipe uses quinoa instead of rice, making it a healthier option. The chicken and quinoa are cooked together in a flavorful broth, and the dish is then topped with a variety of vegetables, such as peppers, onions, and tomatoes. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table, and it is a great way to get your daily dose of protein and vegetables.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

CHICKEN AND QUINOA PAELLA



Chicken and Quinoa Paella image

Traditional paella is made with rice. This recipe replaces the rice with quinoa, which is very good at absorbing the flavor of whatever it cooks in. This recipe simplifies cooking paella by foregoing the paella pan and using a common baking pan, the perfect size for parties and potlucks. Garnish with lemon wedges.

Provided by Oliver P Villaescusa

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Chicken Breast Recipes

Time 1h35m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

6 cups chicken stock
2 bay leaves
3 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste, divided
2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 ½ pounds tomatoes, halved
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
½ cup onion strips, 1/4-inch thick
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ pound green beans, stem ends trimmed, halved
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
3 cups white quinoa
25 saffron threads
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, stemmed

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Bring chicken stock and bay leaves to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer while preparing the other ingredients. Taste stock; it should taste a little over-salted. Season with 1 to 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper as needed.
  • Season chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Squeeze out seeds from each tomato half over a sieve and into a bowl. Reserve the juice and discard the seeds. Grate the cut sides of the tomatoes over a bowl through the large holes of a box grater. Discard the skin. Combine the tomato juice and the grated pulp.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes and coat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add chicken in batches, in a single layer with space between pieces. Saute until meat is mostly opaque, about 4 minutes; it will continue cooking in the oven. Place chicken in a 9x13-inch baking pan. Repeat with the remaining chicken, being careful not to burn the fats rendering in the skillet.
  • Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the same skillet. Add the tomato juice-pulp mixture. Cook, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of skillet, until juices are mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and paprika. Mix well. Add onions and garlic; saute until is fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir the mixture, called a sofrito, into the baking pan with the chicken.
  • Heat the last tablespoon of olive oil in the hot skillet. Add green beans and saute for 1 minute. Add bell peppers; saute until green beans are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes more. Transfer mixture to the baking pan and stir well; mix in quinoa and saffron.
  • Remove and discard bay leaves from stock and bring to a boil. Pour 1/2 into the baking pan. Mix carefully until well combined. Add remaining stock and stir carefully. Lay rosemary sprigs on top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until quinoa is tender yet firm to the bite, 35 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 349.6 calories, Carbohydrate 40.5 g, Cholesterol 39.2 mg, Fat 10.8 g, Fiber 6.1 g, Protein 23.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 1030.2 mg, Sugar 3.6 g

QUINOA PAELLA WITH CHICKEN AND CHORIZO



Quinoa Paella with Chicken and Chorizo image

I'm sure that a traditional Spanish cook would find it odd to make a paella based on quinoa, but the concept works well. More important, it tastes good.

Provided by Lorna Sass

Categories     Cookstr Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 pound boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika or other paprika
½ teaspoon granulated garlic
¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
3½ cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cups quinoa
½ cup finely chopped dry-cured chorizo
1 cup frozen peas
½ cup thin strips roasted red bell pepper, preferably fire-roasted
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a heavy 3-quart Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat. Brown the chicken pieces, using tongs to turn, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
  • Turn off the heat and let the pan cool for a minute. Stir the paprika, garlic, and red pepper flakes into the hot oil in the pot.
  • Stir the broth into the pot, taking care to scrape up any browned bits sticking to the bottom. Blend in the tomato paste, and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the quinoa and chorizo. Cover and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 12 minutes.
  • Add salt to taste. Stir in the chicken. Cover and cook over low heat until the quinoa is done-it should have no opaque white dot in the center-and the chicken is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. If the mixture seems dry and the chicken or quinoa is not thoroughly cooked, stir in a little more broth or some water, cover, and cook a few minutes longer.
  • Stir in the peas and roasted red pepper. Cover and let sit for 1 minute. Stir in the parsley just before serving.

CHICKEN SURF 'N' TURF QUINOA PAELLA



Chicken Surf 'n' Turf Quinoa Paella image

Chef and single dad Mike Ward's 20-minute paella recipe can easily be customized to your family's varied tastebuds.

Provided by Mike Ward

Categories     Classics Made Clean, Dinner, Dinner Tonight

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tbsp olive oil
1 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into ½-inch cubes
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 each red and yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely sliced
1 tbsp each ground cumin and paprika
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
2½ cups chicken, vegetable or fish broth
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste
Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 lb peeled and deveined medium to large shrimp (fresh or frozen and thawed)
1 cup frozen peas

Steps:

  • In a large skillet or paella pan on medium-high, heat oil. Add chicken, onion, bell peppers, garlic, cumin and paprika and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add quinoa, broth, lemon zest and juice, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer on medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed and quinoa becomes a little tender (but not soggy), about 7 to 8 minutes. Add a little more stock, if required, to maintain a moist consistency. Add shrimp and peas and cover until shrimp is cooked and quinoa is al dente, about 5 to 8 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 460 calories

CHICKEN PAELLA



Chicken Paella image

Turmeric lends flavor and a pretty golden color to this Spanish-style entree. Haven't tried arborio rice? You'll love its creamy texture.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 55m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 1/2 pound), cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 cup cubed fully cooked ham
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup julienned sweet red pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1/2 cup uncooked arborio rice
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons chicken broth
3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, saute the chicken, ham, onion and red pepper in 2 teaspoons oil until chicken is browned on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon. , In the same skillet, saute rice in remaining 1 teaspoon oil until lightly browned. Stir in the turmeric, cumin, garlic and salt. Return meat and vegetables to pan; toss lightly. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover and simmer until rice is tender, 30-35 minutes. Stir in peas.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 516 calories, Fat 17g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 99mg cholesterol, Sodium 1242mg sodium, Carbohydrate 52g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 36g protein.

QUINOA PAELLA



Quinoa Paella image

A one-pot wonder inspired by a recipe from Chilean chef Maria Eugenia Terragno. I make this with homemade lean turkey chorizo to cut down on calories.

Provided by rpgaymer

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cups quinoa, rinsed well
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb chorizo sausage, peeled
5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 red bell peppers, seeded and roughly chopped
1 serrano pepper, minced
1 onion, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup frozen lima beans
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
4 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
2 lemons, cut into wedges

Steps:

  • Cover quinoa with cold water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat; add the quinoa and cook, stirring, until toasted, for 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  • Return pan to medium heat. Add oil and chorizo; cook, stirring occasionally to break chorizo into pieces, for about 10 minutes.
  • Add garlic, bell peppers, serrano pepper, onion, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in quinoa, both beans, tomatoes, and stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook uncovered until liquid is slightly reduced, around 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cover; let sit for 10 minutes.
  • Uncover and stir in parsley. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

CHICKEN AND QUINOA PAELLA



Chicken and Quinoa Paella image

Traditional paella is made with rice. This recipe replaces the rice with quinoa, which is very good at absorbing the flavor of whatever it cooks in. This recipe simplifies cooking paella by foregoing the paella pan and using a common baking pan, the perfect size for parties and potlucks. Garnish with lemon wedges.

Provided by Oliver P Villaescusa

Categories     Chicken Breasts

Time 1h35m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

6 cups chicken stock
2 bay leaves
3 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste, divided
2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 ½ pounds tomatoes, halved
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
½ cup onion strips, 1/4-inch thick
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ pound green beans, stem ends trimmed, halved
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
3 cups white quinoa
25 saffron threads
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, stemmed

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Bring chicken stock and bay leaves to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer while preparing the other ingredients. Taste stock; it should taste a little over-salted. Season with 1 to 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper as needed.
  • Season chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Squeeze out seeds from each tomato half over a sieve and into a bowl. Reserve the juice and discard the seeds. Grate the cut sides of the tomatoes over a bowl through the large holes of a box grater. Discard the skin. Combine the tomato juice and the grated pulp.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes and coat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add chicken in batches, in a single layer with space between pieces. Saute until meat is mostly opaque, about 4 minutes; it will continue cooking in the oven. Place chicken in a 9x13-inch baking pan. Repeat with the remaining chicken, being careful not to burn the fats rendering in the skillet.
  • Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the same skillet. Add the tomato juice-pulp mixture. Cook, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of skillet, until juices are mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and paprika. Mix well. Add onions and garlic; saute until is fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir the mixture, called a sofrito, into the baking pan with the chicken.
  • Heat the last tablespoon of olive oil in the hot skillet. Add green beans and saute for 1 minute. Add bell peppers; saute until green beans are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes more. Transfer mixture to the baking pan and stir well; mix in quinoa and saffron.
  • Remove and discard bay leaves from stock and bring to a boil. Pour 1/2 into the baking pan. Mix carefully until well combined. Add remaining stock and stir carefully. Lay rosemary sprigs on top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until quinoa is tender yet firm to the bite, 35 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 349.6 calories, Carbohydrate 40.5 g, Cholesterol 39.2 mg, Fat 10.8 g, Fiber 6.1 g, Protein 23.2 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 1030.2 mg, Sugar 3.6 g

QUINOA PAELLA



Quinoa Paella image

Anything rice can do, quinoa can do, too, with its distinctive nutty deliciousness. Try it in this paella with smoky ham and tender pieces of chicken.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 pkt. (1 tsp. or 6 g or .25 oz.) seasoning with coriander and annatto
1 can (14.5 oz.) fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 chicken leg quarters (1-1/2 lb.), skinned, split into leg and thigh
1 red pepper, cut lengthwise in half
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1 cup chopped onions
1 tomato, seeded, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1-1/2 cups quinoa, uncooked
4-1/2 oz. (1/2 of 9-oz. pkg.) OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Smoked Ham, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 lemon, cut into 6 wedges

Steps:

  • Mix first 2 ingredients until blended; set aside for later use. Cook chicken in large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat 3 min. on each side or until evenly browned. Remove from skillet; set aside. Cut half the red pepper into thin strips; chop remaining pepper.
  • Heat dressing in same skillet on medium heat. Add chopped peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic and 1/3 cup parsley; cook 5 min. or until peppers and onions are crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add quinoa; cook and stir 2 min.
  • Stir in broth mixture. Top with chicken, red pepper strips, ham and peas; cook 5 min. Cover; simmer on medium-low heat 30 min. or until liquid has been absorbed, uncovering for the last 5 min.
  • Remove skillet from heat; let stand 5 min. Top with remaining parsley and lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 330, Fat 9 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 90 mg, Sodium 700 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 6 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 27 g

Tips for Making the Best Chicken and Quinoa Paella

  • Use high-quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the paella will be.
  • Cook the paella over medium heat. This will help the rice cook evenly and prevent it from burning.
  • Do not stir the paella too much. Stirring the paella too much will break the rice and make it mushy.
  • Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld and the rice to absorb the cooking liquid.

Conclusion

This chicken and quinoa paella is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is packed with flavor and healthy ingredients, and it is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you are looking for a new recipe to try, give this chicken and quinoa paella a try. You won't be disappointed!

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