This Quinoa Pilaf brings together protein-rich quinoa, juicy chicken, and creamy chickpeas, all tossed with veggies and finished with a zesty lemon-herb sauce.
author’s note
Quinoa Pilaf That Will Have You Scraping the Bowl Clean!
In my latest Instagram poll, the most requested recipes were for high-protein meals, and this Quinoa Pilaf delivers with chicken, chickpeas, and quinoa. Just one cup of cooked quinoa has about 8 grams of protein!
But honestly, what keeps me coming back is how good it is. The nutty quinoa, tender chicken, and creamy chickpeas soak up that lemon-herb sauce in the best way. I could happily eat this for every meal and never get tired of it.
My biggest tip? Give the quinoa those extra few minutes to steam with the lid on after cooking. It’s tempting to rush right to the toppings, but that little rest makes it so much fluffier. Use that time to blend up the sauce, and everything is ready to toss together!
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swap or Tip |
|---|---|
| Quinoa | Rinse before cooking to remove bitterness. Swap with farro or brown rice if you prefer. |
| Chicken | Use rotisserie chicken to save time, or leave it out for vegetarian. |
| Chickpeas | Swap with cannellini beans or white beans. |
| Carrots & Onion | Dice finely so they mix in better. Pre-diced or frozen work great. |
| Chicken Stock | The better the stock, the better the pilaf tastes. Veggie stock works too. |
| Lemon-Herb Sauce | Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Try cilantro or mint instead of parsley. |
chelsea’s recipe tip
After Having Quinoa Pilaf On Repeat, Here’s My Top Tips:
- The chicken stock makes a big difference in flavor. a reliable is Swanson’s chicken stock.
- Finely dice the carrot and onion so they blend in better and improve the texture.
- Let the quinoa stand after cooking so it steams and turns out fluffier.
Quick Tip
Make sure to get flat-leaf Italian parsley, as opposed to curly for this recipe.
Storage
Store leftover quinoa pilaf in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Reheat on the stove with a splash of stock or water to loosen. This dish doesn’t freeze well since the quinoa can turn mushy.
More Ways To Use Quinoa:
Salads
Thai Quinoa Salad
Dinner
Quinoa Chili
Quinoa
Quinoa Fried Rice
Dinner
Chicken Quinoa BowlVariations
- Make it vegetarian: Use vegetarian stock instead and omit the chicken. Want more protein? mix in some frozen peas.
- Make it vegan: Use the same changes above and this is also vegan!
- Dairy–free: Quinoa Pilaf is naturally dairy-free.
- Change out the beans: If you aren’t a fan of chickpeas, feel free to leave them out. After cooking the Quinoa Pilaf, you can mix in some (drained and rinsed) white or cannellini beans instead.
- Swap the herbs: Swap parsley with cilantro or mint instead for a fresh twist.
