I’ll be honest, this past week and a half has been overwhelming for me. My husband got step throat and was sick in bed for five days. It was rough. The task of taking care of the kids, cooking, cleaning, raking and snagging the deals on black Friday all fell on me this year. As I struggled to keep up with everything, I started to feel tired, cranky, stressed and just plain not fun to be around. I knew I needed a break.

I finally slowed down today, chose not to make my day revolve around getting a great deal, and came up with a 3 step dinner just to keep things easy, and it felt great. I felt more like myself again today, our house is (relatively) under control again, everyone has clean socks again, and I actually enjoyed making dinner without stressing out… again.

A great dinner when you feel overwhelmed.

So, why I am telling you all of this?

I thought there was a chance that some of you might be feeling overwhelmed too. This dinner is a stress reducer. It’s easy to make,  so if you are finding yourself feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, try throwing this recipe into your meal plan.

Just three steps to make this dinner:

1. Cook the quinoa.
2. Mix the marinade.
3. Cook the chicken in the marinade.

More recipes perfect for when you are tired, stressed, and overwhelmed.

Come back to the blog tomorrow for a list of great WW friendly recipes that are perfect for those times when you are feeling tired, stressed, and/or overwhelmed. For today, this Sweet and Soy Chicken with Quinoa recipe is a great place to start.

Here is what you need:

1/2 uncooked quinoa
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
1 green onion, sliced, optional

Here is what you do:

Cook quinoa according to the instructions on the package, substituting the water with chicken broth.

In a medium bowl, mix marinade ingredients: soy sauce, honey, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Toss chicken pieces in with the marinade.

Spray large skillet with cooking spray and set to medium heat. Add chicken and marinade to skillet and cook 6-7 minutes, stirring half-way through.

In a small prep bowl, mix cornstarch with water and mix in with the chicken. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes to let the sauce thicken a little.

Serve 1/2 cup chicken and marinade mixture over 1/3 cup cooked quinoa. Top with green onion, if desired.

Makes 4 servings.
One serving is 1/2 cup chicken/marinade and 1/3 cup cooked quinoa.
One serving is 6 Green, 4 Blue, and 4 Purple points.

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Print Recipe

Sweet and Soy Chicken with Quinoa

6 Green, 4 Blue, and 4 Purple points per serving.

Makes: 4 servings

Calories: 257

Author: Alisha Hughes

Ingredients

• 1/2 uncooked quinoa
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• Cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 green onion, sliced, optional

Instructions

• Cook quinoa according to the instructions on the package, substituting the water with chicken broth.
• In a medium bowl, mix marinade ingredients: soy sauce, honey, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Toss chicken pieces in with the marinade.
• Spray large skillet with cooking spray and set to medium heat. Add chicken and marinade to skillet and cook 6-7 minutes, stirring half-way through.
• In a small prep bowl, mix cornstarch with water and mix in with the chicken. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes to let the sauce thicken a little.
• Serve 1/2 cup chicken and marinade mixture over 1/3 cup cooked quinoa.
• Top with green onion, if desired.