Crispy Orange Chicken Quinoa Bowls
Dinnerrrrrrr is served.
I think I mentioned last week that I have been sort of terrible about feeding my family dinner. I'm trying to do better - really I am. But Snowmageddon here in the south is really not helping my mealtime resolve. They are calling for 8 - 12 inches here starting tomorrow which means that since Monday everyone has been in a state of panic.
Like no more carts at the store panic. Bottled water hoarding panic. Lines upon lines at the gas station panic. It's outta control. Doesn't everyone know that the southern snow rule of thumb is that it will melt by Saturday? Because it will. By Saturday we will be washing our cars and stepping onto the porch to feed the neighbors cat in our bare feet... okay that's probably just me. But really really - in 30 days it will feel like summer and snow will go back to being something that we marvel at on TV and you might just realize that 6 months worth of bottled water was a tiny bit excessive.
I am always the person that leaves here to buy normal person things like it's a normal person day and then realizes that the sky is preparing to fall when it's just a tad bit too late. Wah.
The up side of my endless trips to the grocery store though is that I had everything I needed to make this meal. Bite size little bits of oven fried chicken tossed in a honey orange sriracha sauce that is like the PERFECT consistency - you will seriously be so proud of yourself! AND it's ready in 40 minutes. AND it's all light and healthy with lots of protein and lean good calories. AND are you sick of me using ALL CAPS yet?
Sorry. I was a little excited.
- For the Chicken:
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs (plain is great - I used lemon pepper panko breadcrumbs in one trial and they were fantastic!)
- For the Sauce:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, very finely minced
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon orange zest ( about 1 medium orange, zested and juiced)
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice (from the orange listed above)
- 2 teaspoons sriracha (see note)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- red pepper flakes to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ cup cold low sodium chicken broth
- For the Bowls:
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1 large head of broccoli, florets cut into 2" pieces
- green onions to garnish
- Preheat the oven to 375 and grease a large baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl mix together the chicken,honey, and sriracha until evenly coated.
- Pour the panko breadcrumbs onto a plate or shallow dish. Coat the chicken pieces with the breadcrumbs and place them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- While the chicken bakes,heat the oil over medium in a small saucepan. Add the garlic and cook for just a minute. Then add the honey, orange zest, orange juice, sriracha, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Stir, simmer, and then reduce the heat.
- Stir together the cornstarch and chicken broth and then slowly pour it into the honey and orange mixture on the stove, stirring while you pour. Cook over medium low heat, stirring occasionally - sauce will thicken as it cooks.
- Prepare the quinoa according to package instructions.
- Place the broccoli in a medium sauce pan. Add about an inch of water. Bring it to a boil, cover, and steam for only a minute. (I like my broccoli crisp and bright green). Remove it from the heat and pour out any excess water.
- When the chicken is cooked through toss it with the sauce.
- Divide the quinoa between 4 bowls. Top with chicken, broccoli, and green onions. I like to reserve a little sauce to spoon over each bowl before serving.
I'm pinning this IMMEDIATELY because my mouth is already watering. Looks amazing!
Ha! Thanks so much Emily!
This looks and sounds amazing. My OH probably won't eat it, and not sure if my son will (the last time I tried chinesey food, he screwed his nose up), but I definitely want to try it. Maybe get the girls round one evening!
#SITS Blogging
Yes! Definitely make it for the girls. Or just cook it for yourself and have leftovers all week lol.
Hope you survive this next round of snow, crazy how much you have been getting. This looks so so good! I definitely am pinning this and want to make it soon.
Ahhh goodness, this quinoa bowl looks great and like it would be a big hit at the dinner table. Wishing for a big bowl right now!
Stumbling! love this dish!
This looks so delicious! I look forward to what you write, too. That's the mommy in me. Seriously, though, you make me laugh.
This looks so delicious! I love your posts, too. Look forward to every word!
I am loving your presentations! I want to eat all of this immediately!
Hi, looks absolutely delish! I have a question though, what is sriracha? I have never heard of this or seen this before. I hope I will be able to find so I can make this wonderful recipe. Thank You for sharing.
Hi Doris! Sriracha is a thick kind of paste-like Asian chile sauce. It is AMAZING. If you don't like spicy food you can definitely leave it out though the color of the sauce will be just a little more pale. The sweet is definitely enough to cut the spice and the flavor WITH the sriracha sauce is so good! You should be able to find it in the international section of any grocery store -- my Walmart carries it! It looks like this: http://www.huyfong.com/no_frames/sriracha.htm
Hope that helps!
Do you suggest any other substitute to the sriracha? Not a fan of spicy foods at all.
Thanks !
Hey Teressa! Sure! You could just double up the honey for the marinade part of the recipe - leave the sriracha out. In the sauce you can just leave it out as well -- or use a little extra orange juice. You may want to try a sweet chili sauce --you get that chili flavor without the heat. I can usually find it pretty easily in the International aisle of any grocery store (It is in a little jar). Hope that helps!!
Even though we are in the north and used to seeing snow, we all panic at the thought of a few inches it so weird! And thank you for serving such an incredible dinner!!!
Haha. I used to live in Central NY. Loads of snow meant the purple snow emergency lights and snowmobiles commandeering the road lol. Don't panic! Just eat good food.
I swear, Heather, I read your posts first of all my email just so I can laugh. Not only do I love your recipes, etc. you HONESTLY NAKE ME LAUGH! It's great stuff. KEEP it comin'!
Oh wow, Heather! These look absolutely delicious! 🙂
Pinned & sharing!
And I am hoping we move south one day. I know I am going to laugh when snow is predicted and everyone around me goes into a state of panic, lol!
Thank you Carrie!
Yeah. It's pretty hilarious. But also scary. Because on top of the mass hysteria there are lots of people that drive big trucks and think that that means they know how to drive in weather. NO. Needless to say I am staying home!
Oh, I stay home here when it snows. I know I would do the same when I move South! I know it would definitely be scarier with people who hardly ever see or drive in snow, lol! 😉
Chicken, quinoa and orange, they are so perfect together 😀
Lovely recipe my friend!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks Uru!