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Chicken Chopped Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

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The best chopped green salad made up of romaine, kale, green and red cabbage tossed together with quinoa, black beans, and avocado to give your immunity a boost and your tastebuds a party!

Chopped Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

 

Best. Salad. Ever.
This is one salad I will hunt down in the fridge to snatch the leftovers. It’s just that good. There are tons of fresh ingredients with loads of texture and flavors to keep me interested. The quinoa, black beans, and avocado do awesome things for this salad. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Now this is a salad. Just check out all of these beautiful ingredients!!

Chopped Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

 

So I always thought I made a mean salad back in my college days, but boy was I wrong. My salads these days could crush those salads back then without even looking. The difference? Let’s start with quinoa. Quinoa has been around for a long time but it hasn’t always been used as much as it is today.

Quinoa (pronounced keenwah) is a whole grain that is also gluten-free. It does not fall under the paleo list of foods. However, quinoa does have all 9 essential amino acids. During processing, the outer coating (saponin) is removed because it is bitter tasting and unpalatable.

 

Chopped Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

Kale also should not go unnoticed. Kale is one of the most nutrient dense foods, yet it only contains 33 Calories per cup. The top performers include Vitamins A, C, and K. Vitamin A is particularly important in eye health and cell growth. Vitamin C is an important component in immunity, keeping your skin looking healthy, and is an antioxidant which can help prevent disease and certain cancers. Lastly, Vitamin K is known for its role in blood clotting and bone metabolism. Anyone taking Warfarin knows that Vitamin K is antagonized by the drug so a consistent intake of Vitamin K is very important for these individuals. To read more detailed information about the actions of these vitamins click here.

Another craze on the rise (at least for me) involves beans. I have long been known to stay away from any form of beans unless it was a green one.  The taste + texture was just too much for me and I couldn’t handle them at all. Well, times are a changing and beans are somehow making their way into my food and they are doing wonderful things for my recipes. Black beans seem to be the most common ones I use so far. Gotta start slow, ya know!

Black beans are a good source of iron, protein, and fiber, making them a great substitute on meatless meal nights.

 

Chopped Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

This Chopped Chicken Salad is definitely a “go-to quick dinner meal” kinda salad. Yet, it would be a great salad to meal prep lunches for the week. Add the avocado the day of along with the dressing for best results.

Ingredients in this Salad:

Romaine
Kale
Green cabbage
Red cabbage
Tri-color quinoa
Black Beans
Avocado
Cilantro
Lime Juice
Recommended (crushed black bean chips on top!)
BBQ Smothered Chicken Breasts
Southwest Ranch Dressing (aim for one low in sugar)

 

 

Chopped Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

 

You gotta try this one!!

The best Chopped Chicken Salad ever.

 

Chopped Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

 

Chopped Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

Chicken Chopped Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

Megan
The best chopped green salad made up of romaine, kale, green and red cabbage tossed together with quinoa, black beans, and avocado to give your immunity a boost and your tastebuds a party!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Course Salads
Cuisine Gluten Free
Servings 4 Dinner Salads

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups Romaine lettuce chopped
  • 3 cups kale chopped
  • 3/4 cup each green and red cabbage
  • 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 cup black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 lb chicken breasts skinless and boneless
  • Salt and pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon Ground ancho chile powder or regular chile powder
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 avocado peeled, seeded, and sliced
  • 1/2 lime juiced
  • Optional: cilantro and crushed black bean chips to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Cook 1/2 cup quinoa according to package instructions. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350℉. Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Season with salt and pepper. Rub ancho chile powder over chicken breasts. In a small bowl add BBQ sauce. Brush both sides of chicken breasts with the BBQ sauce. Discard any remaining BBQ sauce.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes. Slice into strips.
  • In a large bowl, combine romaine, kale, cabbages, and toss together. Add 3/4 cup cooked quinoa and black beans and mix. Top salad with chicken, avocado slices, and cilantro.
  • Optional but definitely recommend some crushed black bean chips on top when serving.
  • Just prior to serving add your dressing.

Notes

Salad stores nicely in the fridge for a few hours prior to serving. Recommend adding avocado and dressing just before serving.
I cooked the chicken with the Pampered Chef Grill Pan and Press.(affiliate links) Recommend this method if you have one. Preheat to medium high for 5 minutes, and grill for 3-4 minutes, flip, and repeat for another 3-4 minutes until done.
This recipe would work well for meal prep if you added the avocado the day of.

 

 

 

Chopped Chicken Salad with Quinoa and Black Beans

 

More Awesome Salad Recipes

 

Kale, Carrot, and Cabbage Salad

Kale, Carrot, and Cabbage Salad with Avocado Dressing

 

Winter Spinach, Pear, & Pecan Salad

winter spinach, pear, and pecan salad with honey poppy seed dressing

 

Simple Kale and Couscous Salad

simple kale and couscous salad with apricot vinaigrette and sea scallops

Healthier Homemade Runzas

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Healthier Homemade Runzas made with ground beef, cabbage, and seasonings that contain just 253 Calories per runza! A dinner your whole family will ask for over and over again.

healthier homemade runzas

 

Runzas. Mmm, hey there!

Can I begin to count the reasons why you should try these delicious runza sandwiches?! As a Nebraska native, I can fully appreciate the greatness of a runza sandwich. There were many cold nights on the football field growing up that started off with a runza. They warmed me up instantly.

A little secret: This healthier version contains 253 Calories and 5.5 grams of fat. The Runza from the actual Runza fast food restaurant contains 530 Calories and 20 grams of fat. 

The filling is simple yet special! Ground beef and cabbage are the perfect match in this cute little runza. It’s all about balance and portion size. And these little runzas will have you at hello!

healthier homemade runzas




You can go to the trouble of making homemade dough but when I mention I am making homemade runzas, my family isn’t in the mood for waiting around. Just keep your rising dough out of sight! For this recipe I like to use Rhodes yeast dinner rolls. You can find them in the freezer section at the grocery store and it is in dough form.  Three to five hours ahead of time, let the dough rise and thaw. Then when it’s time to brown the hamburger and cook it with the cabbage your dough will be ready for you. No better way to do it.

healthier homemade runzas

healthier homemade runzas

 

I absolutely love it when I get rave reviews from my five year-old. I mean it’s great from my husband too but it just doesn’t happen as often from my kids so when it does it is HUGE!! And he just LOVED these runzas. He keeps asking me when we are going to have them again. Aww, moments like these I just have to savor.

healthier homemade runzas

 

healthier homemade runzas

Healthier Homemade Runzas

Megan
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dinner
Cuisine Healthy
Servings 6 runzas

Ingredients
  

  • 12 frozen dough dinner roll balls I used Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls dough
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 yellow onion chopped
  • 2 cups green cabbage chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

Let Dough Rise

  • In a 9x13 baking dish, arrange frozen roll dough and let rise for 3-5 hours or according to package instructions.

Runza Prep

  • Preheat oven to 375℉.
  • In a large skillet, cook ground beef and chopped onion for 7-10 minutes over medium high heat or until beef is cooked through. Add chopped cabbage and cook for another 5-7 minutes to allow the cabbage to soften a bit.
  • Add salt, garlic powder, and black pepper and stir.
  • Reduce heat to medium low. Stir occasionally.
  • On a floured surface, roll out dough of two dinner rolls to 1/4 inch thickness.
  • Add 1/2 cup ground beef mixture to center of dough. Bring sides of dough together over filling and pinch sides together all along opening and fold the ends under to make sure they don't open in the oven.
  • On a greased baking sheet, place runzas seam side down. Spray tops of runzas with olive oil spray or non-stick cooking spray.
  • Let rise 10-15 minutes on baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until runzas are golden brown.

Notes

Active prep time is 25 minutes however don't forget to allow for the rising of the frozen dough for 3-5 hours.

 

healthier homemade runzas

 

More Delicious & Healthy Dinners

 

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

stuffed poblano peppers with lime crema

 

Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti Squash

healthy chicken parmesan with spaghetti squash

 

 

Best Hamburger Soup with Quinoa

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Nothing will warm you up faster than this comfy and cozy hamburger soup with quinoa. It’s full of veggies including carrots, celery, onion, and cabbage and all of the right seasonings.

best hamburger soup with quinoa


 

Something special happens when you take a bunch of fresh vegetables and add ground beef and make them into a soup. Not just any old soup. Nah, we are talking one of my favorite soup recipes from my childhood that I tweaked just a tad (sorry mom I can’t help it) to make something special and new while still holding on to the original flavor that is ohhh so good.

Call me crazy but there is something so fun about buying carrots at the store with the green tops still on. You just rolled your eyes didn’t you. Well take a bite of that green topped carrot and tell me it tastes just the same as the package of baby carrots…you won’t be able to. It’s soo much better!

best hamburger soup with quinoa



 

You know what else is crazy? How bad you will savor the leftovers and carefully portion out some to be stored in the freezer AND the fridge. The goal is to enjoy some today, tomorrow, and then in a week when you are praying for a meal to make itself and then you remember about this soup and all you have to do is move it from the freezer to fridge a day in advance and that prayer will be answered.

best hamburger soup with quinoa

 

This soup does require a little planning because it needs to simmer for an hour. That time is necessary though because it helps the potatoes to soften and the flavors to come together just right.

Here are the main ingredients:

  • Ground beef
  • yellow onion
  • beef stock
  • carrots
  • celery
  • potatoes
  • green cabbage
  • stewed tomatoes
  • quinoa

 

best hamburger soup with quinoa

 

As the cold weather moves in, here we are all prepared and ready to take it on with some delicious homemade hamburger soup. This soup will make the cold days much more tolerable believe me. And who knows, you may even look forward to those cold days a bit more so you can say hello to this nutritious and delicious soup. Just maybe…

But I do know every year I continue to make this soup and not one spoonful goes to waste.

 

best hamburger soup with quinoa

 

Best Hamburger Soup with Quinoa

Best Hamburger Soup with Quinoa

Megan
Nothing will warm you up faster than this comfy and cozy hamburger soup with quinoa. It’s full of veggies including carrots, celery, onion, and cabbage and all of the right seasonings.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Gluten Free

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped
  • 32 oz low sodium beef stock
  • 1 cup sliced raw carrots
  • 1 cup diced raw celery
  • 2 small-med potatoes diced
  • 4 cups green cabbage shredded
  • 2 15 oz cans stewed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup quinoa
  • 1 bay leaf crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons Lawry's seasoning salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, brown hamburger with chopped onions on medium high heat. Continue cooking until onion is soft and hamburger is cooked through about 8-10 minutes.
  • Add beef stock and stir. Reduce heat to medium low.
  • Add carrots, celery, potatoes, cabbage, and stewed tomatoes.
  • Bring pot to a boil.
  • Add quinoa, bay leaf, thyme, basil, Lawry's seasoning sat, and black pepper.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
  • Simmer pot for one hour.
  • Optional toppings: dried parsley, cheddar cheese but recommended!

 


 

best hamburger soup with quinoa

 

More Delicious Cold Day Recipes

 

Healthy Chicken Enchilada Pot

healthy chicken enchilada pot

 

Best Chunky Tomato Soup

best chunky tomato soup with tuscan bread

 

Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel

rigatoni with sausage and fennel