BBQ ranch chicken quinoa bowls

If you’re looking for a healthy meal prep lunch or dinner that’s easy, delicious, nutritious, high in protein and packed with flavor…as always, I’ve got you.

I started making these grilling Chicken Quinoa Bowls as a light dinner when Sidney was a newborn. They remind me of Panera’s BBQ Chicken Salad with southwestern flavors, BBQ sauce and a simple ranch dressing. Just toss the chicken in the slow cooker (or on the grill), cook your quinoa in 15 minutes, chop your veggies while the quinoa cooks, and you’re done! Food is served.

Bonus: you can use any ranch dressing you like or try my ranch Greek yogurt which is packed with flavor and SO easy to make!

Ingredients in BBQ Chicken Quinoa Bowls

These easy and delicious BBQ Chicken Quinoa Bowls are filled with a rainbow of veggies for tons of different flavors and textures. To craft them you will need:

• Chicken breast: Options for grilling or cooking your chicken in the slow cooker below to make it easier!
• BBQ sauce: I like to use a low-sugar BBQ sauce and love Spicy by Stubb or Mango Habanero by Primal Kitchen. These are other great products from Primal Kitchen!
• Andean millet: Add a protein boost from one of my favorite cereals. You can also use regular, brown, or cauliflower rice if you like.
• Black beans: The beans add plenty of fiber and protein to these bowls, giving them that burrito bowl flavor.
• Vegetables: These bowls are packed with a true rainbow of veggies. I like to add shredded red cabbage for crunch, cob-cut corn (or thaw some from frozen), red onions for some pizzazz, juicy Roma tomatoes, and a dash of jalapeño. Don’t forget to top your bowls with creamy avocado!
• Ranch: Feel free to Drizzle with your favorite ranch, or try my Greek Yogurt Ranch or Chipotle Ranch!
• For garnish: I like to add chopped cilantro and green onions for extra freshness.

Two ways to prepare your BBQ chicken

Below are easy ways to cook your rotisserie chicken, and check out all of our ways to cook chicken here!

1. Slow Cooker Chicken: Place the chicken and BBQ sauce in a slow cooker and stir to coat the chicken with the BBQ sauce. Cook on high for 2.5-3 hours. Then remove the chicken from the slow cooker, shred it with two forks and then return it to the slow cooker, stir and increase the heat until ready to serve.
2. Grill your chicken: Marinate chicken in bowl of BBQ sauce for 1 hour, then grill chicken over medium-high heat 6-9 minutes per side or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Remove from grill and allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes to retain juice, then cut into strips or dice into bite-sized pieces.

How to cook the best fluffy quinoa

Remember to get all of our best tips and tricks for cooking quinoa right here! For the basics:

1. Use a 1:2 ratio of quinoa to liquid. In this recipe, you cook 1 cup of quinoa in 2 cups of water, which makes about 3 cups of cooked quinoa.
2. Bring the water to a boil, then stir in the quinoa. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for exactly 15 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let stand covered for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Quinoa will crack and expand as it cooks. Use a fork to separate the grains and fluff up the quinoa.

Personalize your BBQ Chicken Quinoa Bowls

• Make it vegetarian by using tofu or chickpeas
• Grill up some BBQ shrimp or salmon to replace the chicken
• Keep it dairy-free by using a dairy-free Greek yogurt or ranch
• Top with this delicious avocado lime sauce, guacamole or fruity salsa
• Go wild with a chipotle ranch instead of a regular ranch!
• Make it grain-free with homemade cauliflower rice, or use your favorite grain like rice, spelt, or pearl couscous

save tips

I recommend storing the chicken, quinoa, veggies, and ranch dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble and enjoy your bowl. So everything stays nice and fresh!

More ways to use this BBQ chicken

When you make these healthy chicken quinoa bowls, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram. We would also appreciate if you leave a comment below and rate the recipe. We appreciate you! xo.