Paprika Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Vibrant bowl with roasted vegetables, quinoa, chicken, and fresh avocado.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
03 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
04 - 1 small red onion, cut into wedges
05 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Quinoa

10 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
11 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water
12 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Chicken

13 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
14 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
15 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
17 - ½ teaspoon salt
18 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Lemon Salad

19 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or romaine)
20 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
21 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
22 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
23 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Bowl Finish

24 - 2 ripe avocados, sliced
25 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, toss bell peppers, zucchini, red onion, and carrots with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and lightly caramelized.
03 - While vegetables roast, combine quinoa, vegetable broth or water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
04 - Pat chicken breasts dry and rub with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add chicken, and cook 5-6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F). Rest for 5 minutes, then slice.
05 - In a salad bowl, toss mixed greens and cucumber slices with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
06 - Divide cooked quinoa among four bowls as the base. Top each with roasted vegetables, sliced chicken, a portion of lemon salad, and avocado slices. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks on different timelines but lands on your plate simultaneously, which feels like small kitchen magic.
  • The paprika roasting technique makes ordinary vegetables taste like you actually know what you're doing.
  • It's one of those rare meals where you can eat it three times a week and never feel tired of it.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting step for the chicken—it's the difference between meat that's tender and meat that's dry and stringy.
  • The lemon salad needs to stay separate until the last moment or the greens will wilt and the whole bowl becomes sad.
03 -
  • If you're cooking for guests, you can roast the vegetables and cook the quinoa earlier in the day, then just warm them gently while you cook the chicken.
  • Slice your avocado directly over the bowl so it doesn't have time to oxidize between cutting and eating.
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