This easy Quinoa Crusted Chicken with Goat Cheese is quick, healthy and gluten free! A perfect meal for busy weeknights that both kids and adults will love!
PIN Quinoa Crusted Chicken with Goat Cheese
(Photos updated Sept 2018, originally post in 2014. Narration not changed)
You know what’s fun?
Putting the TV on mute and then making up your own narrative.
Not that I am currently sitting at my computer, with the TV on mute, narrating to myself while I type.
I just thought you might need a good date night idea sometime, or something.
Don’t say I don’t look out for you.
Also, I will allow you to judge my lame, 27-year-old self for thinking that watching a mute TV is an acceptable date night. How the Huberoni puts up with me, I don’t know.
I think it’s the food. Scratch that. I KNOW it’s the food.
You know what else is fun, and also a lot less lame? Eating your side dish and your main dish TOGETHER. Liiiiike, at. The. Same. Time.
Mind blown? That’s what I thought.
Ever since those Potato Poppers where I failed miserably at using quinoa as a breading, I have been determined to make some sort of crusted quinoa chicken recipe work. Which we WON when we ate that jalapeno popper chicken with quinoa crust!
Who would have thought that quinoa breaded chicken would actually be SO SO DELICIOUS. I mean, between you and me, I pretty much thought that quinoa hit its ceiling at something more “traditional” like a quinoa chickpea avocado salad.
JOKES ON ME because quinoa’s ceiling? It is made of GLASS and it CRUSHES it when hugged around a juicy piece of chicken in a magical combo of side dish meets main dish AT ONCE.
True life fact: If anything can make a chicken breast recipe a winner, it’s goat cheese. I mean, have you tried makes goat cheese stuffed chicken breasts? Or really, have you just tried goat cheese in general? It can even make a goat cheese CHEESECAKE.
It’s GOLD.
You guys, this is probably one of the easiest dinners you will EVER make in all the dinners of your life. Yes, I know I say that a lot, but this proves it:
Mr. FFF was watching me create this recipe and he said that he thought that even HE could make it.
If he can do it, so can you.
I mean, he would burn Cheerios if that was somehow a possibility. LOVE YOU BABE.
Anyway. Back to easy, yummy quinoa crusted chicken.
Besides being super stinking easy your Cheerio-burning husband could make it, it also feels EQUALLY fancy in the sense that you’re pulling out your MARTHA STEWART chops and making your own BREADED CHICKEN.
I mean, she probably doesn’t eat breaded chicken. Probably only super-fancy duck or something, but you get it.
If you wanted to make it feel a little more “kid friendly,” I bet you could slice the chicken into quinoa crusted chicken strips too. <– Told you. Glass ceiling. The sky is TRULY the limit.
As if you needed more reasons to make this quinoa crusted chicken for dinner TONIGHT – guess what – you probably even have all the ingredients…because there ain’t very many.
Healthy Carbs? Check. Healthy Fat? Double Check. Protein? CHECK CHECK CHECK
Mic. DROP.
Other Recipes You Might Like:
Blueberry High Protein Muffins with Quinoa
One Pan Mexican Quinoa Casserole in the Slow Cooker
Quinoa Crusted Chicken with Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1/2 Cup Uncooked quinoa divided
- 1/2 Cup Extra-Aged Goat Cheese Grated and divided*
- 1 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
- Salt/pepper to taste
- 1 Large egg white
- 1/2 Lb Chicken breasts 2 medium breasts
- Sliced roasted red peppers for garnish (From a jar, or I have a tutorial HERE)
- Sliced fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil and stir in 1/4 cup of the uncooked quinoa. Cover, turn the heat to low and cook until all the water is absorbed (about 15-20 minutes.) Set aside to let the quinoa cool.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside
- Place the remaining 1/4 cup of uncooked quinoa into a spice grinder (or a magic bullet!)** and process until ground into a fine flour. Pour the quinoa flour into a large, shallow plate.
- Transfer the cooled, cooked quinoa into a large bowl and add in 1/4 cup of the grated Goat Cheese, the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix well and pour into a large, shallow plate.
- Pour the egg white into a large shallow plate.
- Dredge each breast into the quinoa flour, pressing to get it evenly coated. Then, transfer each breast into the egg white, also making sure to evenly coat it. Finally, transfer the breasts into the cooked quinoa/cheese mixture, really making sure to coat each side. You will really have to press the quinoa in to make it stick. You will probably have leftover quinoa flour and cooked quinoa!
- Place the breasts onto the prepared baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Bake until lightly golden brown and crispy, about 20-25 minutes.
- Turn your oven to high broil, sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese on the chicken and broil until melted, only about 2 minutes.
- Garnish with sliced roasted red pepper and basil and DEVOUR
Notes
Nutrition
FOR THIS RECIPE, I RECOMMEND:
(per 1 chicken breast, using all the quinoa but you will probably end up not using some)
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Lauren says
This looks fantastic! I am a BIG fan of goats cheese – it is seriously tasty.
Taylor Kiser says
Me too! You would love this then Lauren! Thanks!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Not sure if I should admit this or not, but my husband and I have been known to put the TV on a spanish station (since we both don’t speak it) and make up words for what they’re saying! Pretty funny when doing that with soap operas! 🙂 This chicken looks amazing, Taylor! I love your use of quinoa and extra-aged goat cheese. Looks so easy to whip up! Pinned!
Taylor Kiser says
HAHA! Oh my gosh, I need to try that next Gayle – too funny! Soap operas would be SO good!
It truly is SUPA easy! Thanks lady! 😀
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Sounds like a great all around meal x evelenty billion. 🙂
Love the quinoa with the chicken.
Have a great day Taylor!
Taylor Kiser says
HAHA! I am so happy that you used eleventy billion Melanie!
Thanks so much, and you too!
Serene @ House of Yumm says
Quinoa as breading!? I’m so excited to try this out! My husband is going to love me for this one I’m sure 🙂 plus there’s the goat cheese! YUM!
Taylor Kiser says
My husband loved this! It’s a fun, new twist on quinoa as a side dish!
Thanks Serene!
TidyMom says
we are huge chicken lovers and I’m always looking for new recipes. This looks like a winner! gorgeous photos too Taylor!
Taylor Kiser says
Yay! I’m glad you think it’s a winner winner chicken dinner 😉 Thanks so much! 😀
Julie @ Table for Two says
Huge fan of using quinoa in dishes! I would love to try using it to crust chicken or any other meat – just looks fabulous! And goat cheese on top? Win-win!!
Taylor Kiser says
Isn’t quinoa so great and versatile?! Thanks so much Julie – goat cheese makes everything better!
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
You know I love quinoa!! And as a breading? So fun! I’ve breaded some chicken nuggets in quinoa before and loved them – the goat cheese on top of these sounds even better! Pinned 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
Oh, chicken nuggets would be so good – I gotta try that! Thanks for the love and pin girl!
Becca from ItsYummi.com says
I am ALL over that healthy plate up there. Girly, that is some amazing looking chicken!
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks lady friend! You the sweetest! xoxo
Julia says
ohhhhh giiiiiiirl! This is such a beautiful meal! I’m all about the crispety crusty chicken, and did someone say “aged goat cheese?” Please and thank you!
Taylor Kiser says
This is why we need to meat. I love of crispety crusty chicken and old goat cheese!
Thanks girl!
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg says
Taylor, I’m loving this. I bet it’s super crunchy and yum. I must try.
Taylor Kiser says
Totally crunchy and yum! Thank you Norma!
Beth @ bethcakes says
Oh wow! I’ve never had quinoa-crusted anything, but this chicken looks amazing! Totally going to have to try that soon. Love your photos! 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much Beth! If you like quinoa, you will love this girl!
Michelle @ Healthy Recipe Ecstasy says
Love goat cheese and quinoa! Super excited to try out this recipe. 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
Yay! I hope that you LURVE it Michelle! Thanks!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
Goat Cheese… enough said. I’m in!
Taylor Kiser says
I knew there was a reason I loved you 😉 Thanks lady!
Julia says
I love the idea of using quinoa in this recipe to crust the chicken! I must try this out!
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks so much Julia! It’s a nice change!
CakePants says
Yay, new ways to eat quinoa!! This looks super yummy (and simple – double yay!)!
Taylor Kiser says
Right?! Sometimes it gets a little boring! Thanks Girlfriend!
Christine says
I MUST try this!!!
Taylor Kiser says
Haha YES!!! Thanks Christine! 😀
Nutmeg Nanny says
This looks great! I love that you added in a little goat cheese too….yum!
Taylor Kiser says
Goat cheese makes life better. Thanks lady! 😀
Shaina says
Oh em gee that coating sounds delicious!! I think I might do it with eggplant…
Taylor Kiser says
OH YUM! Then it would be all creamy inside – DO IT!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
I had no idea that you could crust chicken with quinoa! Such a great idea Taylor!
Taylor Kiser says
I didn’t either until it worked! Ha!
Thanks Chris! 😀
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
Coating chicken in quinoa is clearly a brilliant idea. An idea that I’m going to execute in the kitchen soon. Your photos are stunning. Pinned.
Taylor Kiser says
YES! I hope that your lurve it girlfriend!! Thanks so much! 😀
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
OMG! Goat cheese anything sounds yummy, but quinoa crusted chicken, WOW, yes yes yes! Definitely pinning this, and I’m going to tell my husband that he needs to make it for me…and that we need to have a date night where we create our own narrative to the TV lol…I just see wins with this recipe (and I’m obsessed with Sartori Cheese)! Oh, and the photos are STUNNING! LOOOOVE!
Taylor Kiser says
Haha! I am so glad you agree on chicken and tv narration – it’s totally fun girl 😉
Isn’t Sartori the GREATEST?! So many awesome flavours!
Thanks lady!!
Shashi @ runninsrilankan(dot)com says
So…my daughter and I have a slight addiction to The Gilmore Gals – and they would mute the TV and make up their narrative to these old black and white movies – used to leave us in hysterics!!! Oh to have been a fly on the wall at your home when this was going on… 🙂
P.S. Quinoa crusted chicken – OH MEEOMY!! I haven’t stopped drooling since I saw this on FB last night!
Taylor Kiser says
Haha! Well maybe you should re-create the scenario with your daughter? 😉 It’s totally fun and not weird I promise!
You are da sweetest (as always!) You would totally lurve this..and I THINK goat cheese is lactose free? So you could eats it! YAY!
Thanks my dear!
Karly says
This is my kind of dinner! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Taylor Kiser says
You got it! Thanks for hosting!
Stephanie says
It would be helpful if the recipe noted that you need to have a TINY food processor in order to do this. Not a normal size one. Ugh.
Taylor Kiser says
I used a medium sized 3 cup food processor with no problem at all…I am sorry you had problems!! 🙁
Tamra says
I don’t have access to a food processor at all, but that is not going to keep me from trying this recipe tonight. Thanks to my daughter Nikki for sending me this link.
Taylor Kiser says
Oh no! I hope it still works out for you. It’s supposed to be chunky, so fingers crossed! Please let me know how it goes! 😀
Emma says
I’m so excited to try this, and I have to say, this is the most entertaining recipe I’ve ever read =D
Taylor Kiser says
Haha! Thanks Emma, I try to keep it interesting. Please let me know if you like it!
Side note: I used a small, 3 cup food processor to grind the quinoa. A huge one won’t work!
Maria says
Hello Taylor,
I see you are all people big lovers of goat cheese. I love that recipe and I intend to cook chicken coated quinoa tonight, but the problem is that I can’t stand goat cheese, it tastes like the smell of goat sweat. What cheese could be a substitute without overpowering the other tastes involved?
Thank you so much!
Taylor Kiser says
Hi Maria!
How do you feel about Parmesan Cheese? I think that would be SO good here too! If you try it, please let me know! 😀
Maria says
Once again, thank you so much! I postponed our dinner till tonight. I used Parmesan Cheese and it was just wonderful. The whole recipe so healthy and nutritious. It’s perfectly fit to our fiber diet. My husband was just as happy as I am.
Taylor Kiser says
YAY! I am SO SO glad to hear that, I thought Parmesan would be a winner! So glad you liked it and thanks for letting me know! 😀
Leslie says
I’ve never tried quinoa before but I’ve been wanting too & this recipe may be the perfect way to try. I love the plate presentation, yum!
Taylor Kiser says
Oh quinoa is so good, you must try it! Thank you Leslie, please let me know if you do try it!
Kari says
What a great way to add a “breading” to chicken while still being healthy!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks Kari! Glad you like the idea! 😀
Pascale says
Great idea ! I try tomorrow
Thanks for the recipe
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks Pascale! Please let me know how you like it!
Mariam says
I made this as a quick lunch after work. It was an absolute hit! My husband loved it!! and I did too. Definitely a keeper!
Taylor Kiser says
Woo hoo! I am so pumped you loved it as much as we did! Thanks Mariam!
Joy says
This was SO yummy! Thanks for the recipe! I had all the ingredients – surprisingly!! I could not get my food processor to make the flour and ended up having to substitute Wundra – which worked! I’ll master the quinoa flour next time – plan to do a bit of research on what I’m doing wrong. ????
Taylor Kiser says
Did you use a small food processor like the recipe says? It has to be one of those 3 cup ones, not a normal sized one! (A normal sized will work, but you need to make A LOT of flour! A blender is a better option. Here’s a great video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ4Nr7sDkIk)
But, either way, I am SO pumped you liked it!! Thanks for letting me know!!
Joe says
Loved this recipe, but when I pulled the chicken off the pan all of the quinoa crust on the bottom came right off. I had a feeling that might happen so I was very generous with oiling the pan. I really pressed the quinoa on the chicken as well so I’m not sure what else I can do… Any tips for keeping it all together?
Taylor Kiser says
I recomend using parchment paper! That should fix the issue! I’m sorry this happened to you but I am glad you like it! 🙂
Tzofit M says
Just made this recipe and it was delicious! I didn’t have the aged goat cheese that was hard, so I automatically used the Parmesan cheese instead and I didn’t have the Italian seasoning either, so I just used Oregano. The final product was wonderful! Light, filling, tasty, unique. Thank you for posting the video about how to make the quinoa flour in the blender, it was a total breeze. Definitely going to be making this recipe many times 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
I am SO excited that you love this! The aged goat cheese is hard to find and Parmesan is a great sub! Thanks for letting me know and I am glad the recipe video helped! 🙂
Stephanie says
Do you think there is anyway to make this recipe work without egg? Thanks!
Taylor Kiser says
I really don’t sorry! The egg is super necessary to get the quinoa to stick!
Saralee says
OHMYWORD!! i cant wait to try this!! I LOVE LOVE goat cheese ( like in you pomegranate and cheese stuffed chicken). It’ll be a hit for sure!!
Taylor Kiser says
I hope you LOVE girl!! I think you will! <3
Katie says
This looks ridiculously tasty! Not to mention the many healthy aspects of it!! Gonna have to make this soon!
Taylor Kiser says
You would love it Katie! let me know if you try!
Lindsay Cotter says
When is dinner because I want to fill my belly with this deliciousness?!!!
Taylor Kiser says
Ha! come on over!
Jennifer Blake says
Love the idea of using quinoa as a breading! My family (other than me) doesn’t like quinoa in the ways that I have prepared it in the past so maybe crunchy is the way to go…
Taylor Kiser says
I bet they would LOVE it like this Jennifer!
Samantha #FerraroKitchen says
Such a great idea to use quinoa as a coating!! And goat cheese…delish! This would be a fabulous date night in recipe!
Taylor Kiser says
Right?! So good for that! Thanks!
Liz says
I’m glad you got the quinoa coating figured out as this chicken is amazing!
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you Liz!
Toni says
I have quinoa flour that I plan to try instead of grinding the quinoa. Will see how that works!
Taylor Kiser says
I hope it works for you!