Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (2024)

Home Chicken Side Dishes Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Becky Hardin

4.66 from 81 votes

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Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice is a healthy version of the take-out favorite and an easy one pan dish that’s perfect for those busy weeknights. It’s chocked full of veggies and chicken, making it a wholesome, filling meal the whole family will love!

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (1)

Why we love this Quinoa and Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Do you ever want to eat chicken fried rice, but also want to keep things healthy? This quinoa version checks all the right boxes:

  • Healthy: To make this dish extra wholesome, we’re using the nutrient-packed grain, quinoa, instead of rice. It’s also loaded with plenty of hearty and colorful veggies. With just a bit of sesame oil for sautéing, this recipe is a healthier alternative to traditional fried rice.
  • Quick: This recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes! It’s a super quick and easy recipe that’s wonderful for crazy weeknights.
  • Satisfying: While it may be on the healthier side, have no fear. We never sacrifice flavor for health! Soy sauce, sesame oil and more lend plenty of flavor to this filling chicken dinner.

What kind of chicken is best for fried rice (or quinoa)?

For the chicken, I started with uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts and chopped them into tiny pieces. From there, I seasoned with salt and pepper and sautéed them in sesame oil. To save the step of cooking the chicken, you can always use leftover cooked chicken or even store-bought rotisserie chicken.

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How to Store and Reheat

You can store any leftover quinoa fried rice you may have in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. To reheat, pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time and stir every time it stops until heated all the way through.

How to Freeze

Let the meal fully cool to room temperature prior to storing in a freezer safe container. It’ll keep for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to date and label! Also, I recommend letting it slowly thaw in the fridge prior to reheating.

Serving Suggestions

This chicken fried quinoa is a meal all by itself! It’s well rounded with carbs, protein and veggies. If you’d like to compliment it with a Chinese take-out inspired side, some of my favorites include egg rolls and crab rangoon.

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (4)

More Healthy Chicken Recipes We Love

  • Broccoli and Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
  • Healthy Chicken Enchiladas
  • Chicken Caesar Salad
  • Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies
  • Asparagus Stuffed Chicken
  • Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti Squash

Top Reader Review

“This was a delicious recipe! I would have never thought to use quinoa in this way. I love Asian food so this was a nice, healthier twist. Thanks for the recipe!” – Debbie

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (5)

4.66 from 81 votes

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice is a healthy version of the take-out favorite, and it's an easy one pan dish that’s perfect for those busy weeknights. This fried quinoa is stuffed full of veggies and chicken, making it a wholesome, filling meal the whole family will love!

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

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Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil divided
  • 1 pound uncooked chicken breasts chopped into small pieces
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 medium carrots chopped
  • 1 cup peas
  • 1/2 bell pepper chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • green onion chopped, optional
  • Sriracha optional

Instructions

  • Cook the chicken: Add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once heated, add in the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Sauté the chicken for 7-8 minutes, or until the pieces are cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate.

    2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1 pound uncooked chicken breasts, salt and pepper

    Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (7)

  • Cook the veggies: Add the remaining teaspoon of oil to the same skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion until translucent. Add in the garlic, carrots, peas, and bell pepper. Season well with salt and pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the quinoa and chicken.

    2 teaspoons sesame oil, 1/2 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 medium carrots, 1 cup peas, 1/2 bell pepper, salt and pepper, 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa

    Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (8)

  • Scramble the eggs: Make a large well in the middle of the skillet. Add a bit of oil or cooking spray to the exposed portion of the pan. Crack the eggs in the well, and scramble the eggs. It’s okay if the eggs mix into the quinoa and veggies when scrambling.

    3 eggs

    Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (9)

  • Add the finishing touches: Pour in the soy sauce. Stir everything until combined. Season with salt and pepper or add more soy sauce to taste. Top with chopped green onion and a drizzle of sriracha

    1/4 cup soy sauce, green onion, Sriracha

    Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (10)

Notes

Storage: Store quinoa chicken fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days, or freeze for 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 383Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 163mg54%

Sodium 927mg40%

Potassium 615mg18%

Carbohydrates 36g12%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 23g46%

Vitamin A 6095IU122%

Vitamin C 37.6mg46%

Calcium 72mg7%

Iron 3.8mg21%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Becky Hardin

Course:Side Dish

Cuisine:Chinese

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at@easychickenrecipesfor a chance to be featured.

How to make Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Step by Step

Cook the chicken:Add 1 tsp sesame oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add 1bl chopped chicken breasts to the pan and cook for 7-8 minutes or until cooked all the way through. Set the cooked chicken aside on a plate.

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (11)

Cook the veggies: Add 1 tsp sesame oil to the same skillet over medium heat. Sauté 1/2 chopped onion until softened. Then, add in 2 cloves minced garlic, 2 medium chopped carrots, 1 cup peas and 1/2 chopped bell pepper.

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (12)

Scramble the eggs: Create a large well in the middle of the skillet. Add 3 eggs to the middle and scramble them.

Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (13)

Finish it off: Pour in 1/4 cup soy sauce. Stir to combine and season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with green onions if desired!

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Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin founded Easy Chicken Recipes in 2018. She has been creating trusted, easy, and delicious recipes on the web since 2012. Becky is known for simple dinner ideas, delicious crockpot recipes, creative chicken meals, and so much more. We have built a team of recipe developers, testers, and writers that love to create trust chicken recipes for every family.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (22)Debbie says

    Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (23)
    This was a delicious recipe! I would have never thought to use quinoa in this way. I love Asian food so this was a nice, healthier twist. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    • Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (24)Becky Hardin says

      Thanks for sharing, Debbie!

      Reply

  2. Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (25)Emma says

    Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (26)
    This recipe turned out great! My family loved it even the small one who isn’t a big fan of the quinoa. Thanks a lot

    Reply

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Quinoa Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Recipe - Easy Chicken Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is quinoa flour good for frying? ›

Quinoa flour's unique nutty and earthy flavor makes it perfect for your favorite pan fried dishes and pairs well with fruits, nuts, and spices!

Can you use quinoa instead of rice? ›

The short answer is YES! Quinoa is actually the perfect substitute for rice in almost any dish, especially when it involves cooked rice. Something like fried rice for example that uses cooked rice is a perfect place to use quinoa as a substitute.

What to add to bland chicken fried rice? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Is quinoa flour good or bad for you? ›

Quinoa flour is a good source of protein, fiber, iron, and unsaturated fat. Quinoa may be helpful for promoting digestive health, lowering inflammation, and reducing the overall risk of disease. Buckwheat flour. Buckwheat is a plant known for its grain-like seeds.

What is the crispiest flour for frying? ›

Rice flour and cornstarch work particularly well because they fry up crispier than wheat flour. They also absorb less moisture and fat during the frying process, making the products less greasy. This is why rice flour is often used when making tempura because it produces a very thin and crispy, dry crust.

Can I eat quinoa every day? ›

A study by the Harvard Public School of Health stated that eating a bowl of quinoa daily may reduce the chances of early death risk from cancer, heart disease, respiratory ailments, diabetes, and other chronic diseases by 17%.

What can be added to quinoa? ›

At the very least, toss it with salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice, and a drizzle of olive oil. To kick it up another notch, stir in chopped herbs, minced garlic, toasted nuts, or crumbled feta cheese, or use it in one of the quinoa recipes below!

Is quinoa a lot healthier than rice? ›

Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

What is fried rice syndrome? ›

Fried rice syndrome is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which is present in these types of starchy foods prior to cooking. Bacillus cereus is a heat-resistant bacteria, so even recooking foods that have not been appropriately refrigerated can result in food poisoning.

What is the healthiest flour for frying? ›

Brown rice flour is high in fiber and gluten-free. It has a very subtle, bland flavor, so it can work well in many recipes without having an impact on how the food tastes. It isn't the best option for baking, but it can be a healthy flour substitute for frying.

Can I substitute quinoa flour for all-purpose flour? ›

Quinoa Flour

It is also one of the oldest cultivated grains in the world. Quinoa is high in protein, calcium and iron. Use this delicate flour when baking. You can substitute this flour for 1/2 of the all-purpose flour in many recipes or completely replace wheat flour in cakes and cookie recipes.

Does quinoa flour taste like regular flour? ›

Some find it bitter, but I find that toasting the quinoa beforehand helps with the bitterness. You should know that it's not going to taste like all-purpose flour and that It goes best in recipes that have other bold flavors, like cocoa powder and warming spices.

Does quinoa flour thicken? ›

It works differently since quinoa flour lacks gluten, but it still thickens soups, as well as sauces, due to its high fiber and protein content. Adding some ground flaxseed to the quinoa flour will enhance the thickening ability of the flour.

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