Buffalo Chicken Quinoa

I love quinoa. I love buffalo chicken. As I was making my lunch for work last night, I had the brilliant idea to combine my two loves. There was zero effort involved, and this dish is not only incredibly easy, but very tasty as well.

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa

sorry I can't take pictures of food like a pro

Ingredients (serves 4):

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used the thin ones since they are perfectly portioned. Otherwise use 2 regular ones and cut in half)

1 cup of uncooked quinoa

2 cups of low sodium chicken stock (or vegetable stock, or water...whatever you have on hand)

1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot Wing sauce

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

1 large yellow onion, diced (optional)

3 Tbl olive oil, separated

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

2 tsp cayenne pepper

S+P to taste

Directions for the Quinoa and Onions:

Heat 1 Tbl of olive oil a large skillet on medium high and add the onions. Cook until they are translucent and slightly brown. Remove the onions, and add 1 Tbl of oil. Add the quinoa and stir until you can smell it (about 3 minutes). Add 2 cups of chicken stock, turn down to simmer, and cook until all of the water is absorbed (you can add additional liquid if the quinoa dries out). When the quinoa is finished, fluff it with a fork and add the onions back in as well as a dash of both salt and pepper.

Directions for the Chicken:

Season 4 chicken breasts with the onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Heat 1 Tbl of olive oil over medium high heat and the chicken breasts. Cook through all the way, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. When the chicken is done, cut it into bite sized pieces.

Making the Magic Happen:

Combine the diced chicken into the quinoa-onion mixture. Add the cheese and the hot sauce (add more if you like it spicier) and voila! A super easy and delicious dish.

You could potentially add other vegetables like corn or peas but I kept it simple.

Enjoy :)

Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 467 per serving
Total Fat: 24.4g
Cholesterol: 103.1
Sodium: 1,621.8mg
Carbohydrates: 21.7g
Fiber: 2.9g
Protein: 39.1g