One Pot Wonder – Chicken and Quinoa

This chicken and quinoa (keen-wahhhhh!) dish is easy, super healthy, protein packed, gluten-free, and most importantly it falls into the “one pot wonder” category…… meaning you only have one dish to clean…. and it’s so simple you can pretty much make it with one hand, baby on hip. This is one of my mom’s recipes and always a crowd favorite. Even babies love this dinner. Got an immersion blender? Blend some up for your little ones and the whole family can enjoy this together.

Ingredients:

1 small onion chopped

4 large carrots chopped

2 cloves garlic chopped

1 1/2 pounds chicken thighs (fat removed and cut into bite sized pieces if desired…. if not, you can cut before serving)

olive oil

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 cup quinoa rinsed and drained

1 bay leaf

1 cup frozen peas (optional)

Sautee onion, carrots, garlic and chicken in large pot coated with olive oil for 10 minutes until chicken is mostly cooked. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add quinoa and bay leaf,  stir, and bring to boil again. Cover and turn to medium/low heat for about 20 minutes or until broth is absorbed and quinoa is cooked and fluffy. If desired, you can add the peas during the last few minutes of cooking time. Remove bay leaf. Serve alone or over a bed of greens.

Rating from the Critics:

4 year old boy (eats everything in sight. Might be part goat.): Mom, definitely make this dinner again.

2 year old boy (not into food these days) Me: Do you like this dinner, buddy? (He looks up at me with big brown eyes, and delivers a single head  nod and takes another bite)…… woo hoo!!! That’s a winner in my book!

 Husband: Mmm, this is definitely good substance. (Ok, I think that is a compliment?)

Baby: Mmmmmm, Mmmmm (mouth opens like a little bird for more) mmmmm, mmmm.