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Lemon Garlic Herb Chicken Breast Power Bowls

This is the recipe I make more than any other healthy food with chicken breast — I’ve tested it at least a dozen times, tweaking the marinade until the chicken stays juicy every single time. The secret is a quick 30-minute marinade (the lemon starts tenderizing fast, so don’t go longer than 2 hours) and pulling the chicken at exactly 165°F.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course: Dinner

Ingredients
  

For the chicken
  • 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3 medium)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • Juice of 2 lemons about ¼ cup
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
For the bowls
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa about ⅔ cup dry
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cucumber diced
  • ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese optional
  • Fresh parsley chopped, for serving

Method
 

  1. Marinate the chicken. In a large bowl or zip-top bag, whisk 2 tablespoons of the olive oil with the lemon juice, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and paprika. Add the chicken, turn to coat, and refrigerate for 30 minutes (no more than 2 hours — the acid will start to make the texture mushy past that).
  2. Prep the quinoa and vegetables. While the chicken marinates, cook the quinoa according to package directions (usually 15 minutes). Toss the broccoli with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt.
  3. Cook the chicken. Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade (let excess drip off) and cook 6–7 minutes per side, until the thickest part reads 165°F on an instant-read thermometer — that's the USDA-recommended safe internal temperature for chicken. (My skillet has hot spots, so I rotate the breasts once for even browning.)
  4. Rest — don't skip this. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and rest for 5 minutes. This lets the juices redistribute instead of running all over the board. Slice against the grain.
  5. Char the broccoli. In the same hot pan, sear the broccoli 4–5 minutes until bright green with charred edges. A little char adds smoky flavor for zero extra calories.
  6. Assemble the bowls. Divide the quinoa among 4 bowls. Top with sliced chicken, charred broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. Sprinkle with feta and parsley. Squeeze extra lemon over everything and serve.