Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese
This Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese balances tender chicken and fluffy grains with creamy goat cheese, toasted pecans, and sweet-tart cranberries. Warm cubes of squash add buttery richness while parsley brightens each bite. Serve it for a cozy weeknight dinner or a satisfying fall lunch when you want hearty textures and layered flavors.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook30 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 51 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 34 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 58 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 37
- Heart Health
- 81
- Metabolic
- 57
- Digestive
- 29
- Inflammatory
- 43
- Performance
- 46
- General Wellness
- 1
Place the chicken breasts in a saucepan; add water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts and let them cool, keeping the cooking water.
- 2
Measure 3 cups from the reserved water and discard the rest. Return the 3 cups of water to the saucepan. Add the quinoa and bouillon; bring back to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
- 3
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pecans and toss until fragrant and slightly darker, about 5 minutes. Remove the pecans and set aside. Add the butternut squash and 2 tablespoons water to the same skillet; cook and stir until just tender, adding more water if needed, 4 to 5 minutes.
- 4
Cut the chicken breasts into 1/2-inch pieces.
- 5
Combine the cooked quinoa, chicken, squash, and pecans in a bowl. Stir in the cranberries, goat cheese, and parsley; season with salt and pepper.
- Calories 676.54 kcal High 34%
- Protein 33.08 g Good Source 66%
- Carbohydrate 72.44 g 26%
- Total Fat 31.26 g High 40%
- Saturated Fat 8.01 g High 40%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 66.74 mg High 22%
- Sodium 488.22 mg High 21%
- Dietary Fiber 10.28 g Good Source 37%
- Total Sugars 15.4 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 156.89 mg Moderate 12%
- Iron 4.71 mg Good Source 26%
- Potassium 831.33 mg Moderate 18%
- Vitamin A 1070.82 mcg Good Source 119%
- Vitamin C 44.27 mg Good Source 49%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Milk 🥛
About This Recipe
Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese is made with 11 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 45 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Butter, Butternut Squash, Chicken Bouillon, and Chicken Breast. Each serving provides about 676.54 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese made of?
- The main ingredients are Butter, Butternut Squash, Chicken Bouillon, Chicken Breast, Chopped Pecans. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese?
- About 45 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 676.54 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 11 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese healthy?
- Quinoa Bowl with Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Goat Cheese has an easyChef Pro health score of 48/100. Per serving, it provides 676.54 calories and 33.08 g of protein, or 66% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 488.22 mg (21% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 8.01 g (40% of the Daily Value). It contains Tree Nuts and Milk, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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