Rate This Recipe
These easy and healthy Trader Joe’s pollo asado quinoa bowls come together with just 6 simple ingredients. Using Trader Joe’s frozen quinoa as a kitchen shortcut, the recipe takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish, but feel free to cook it from scratch if you prefer. My quinoa bowls feature a base of quinoa, the pre-marinated pollo asado, black beans, shredded cabbage, peppers and onions, and a spicy cashew dressing. It’s got sweet, savory, and spicy flavors along with crunchy, soft, and filling textures. Try this Trader Joe’s pollo asado recipe next time you need a quick and nutritious meal or meal prep recipe.
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”2UGNXFtM” upload-date=”2020-10-03T00:00:00.000Z” name=”23 BEST Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods” description=”Did your favorite frozen Trader Joe’s item make the list?” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]
Trader Joe’s Pollo Asado Quinoa Bowls Ingredients:
- Pollo Asado
- Fire Roasted Bell Peppers and Onions
- Frozen Quinoa
- Black Beans
- Shredded Cabbage
- Spicy Cashew Butter Dressing
How to Make Trader Joe’s Pollo Asado Quinoa Bowls:
These quinoa bowls were made with meal prep (read EASY) meals in mind, so I was super happy with how simple these are to make.
Using the pre-marinated pollo asado saves both time and effort since it doesn’t need anything besides olive oil to make. Here’s how to make the quinoa bowls:
- Cook chicken. Wondering how to cook trader joe’s pollo asado? You are not alone! I’m not sure why they don’t include directions on the package, but the chicken is pretty thin, which makes it cook up quickly. You can cook in a pan on the stove or in the oven.
- Cook peppers and onions. Stir-fry the fire roasted veggies in a nonstick skillet for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
- Cook quinoa. I used Trader Joe’s frozen quinoa here as a kitchen shortcut, but you can also make the quinoa from scratch.
Pollo Asado Quinoa Bowl FAQs:
What is the best way to cook Trader Joe’s pollo asado?
You have a few options for how to cook pollo asado. You can grill, pan-fry, or bake. Use whatever method you prefer, just make sure to cook the
Trader Joe’s pollo asado cooking instructions:
- Grill – Grill chicken over medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes per side.
- Pan Fry – Cook chicken in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes per side.
- Oven – To bake the pollo asado, spread out chicken on a lined baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
What are the Trader Joe’s chicken asada ingredients:
From the package: chicken breast meat, water, seasoning (dextrose, spices [including paprika, black pepper, crushed red pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin], salt, dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, lemon juice powder [maltodextrin, lemon juice with added lemon oil], lime juice powder [maltodextrin, lime juice with added lime oil], bell pepper powder, cilantro flakes, soy sauce powder [soy sauce, {soy beans, wheat, salt}, dextrin, salt], sunflower oil, parsley flakes, with no more than 2% silicon dioxide as anticaking agent), sodium lactate.
Is Trader Joe’s pollo asado gluten-free?
No, this chicken contains wheat and soy, so it’s not gluten-free.
What are the Trader Joe’s frozen quinoa instructions?
There are two options for Trader Joe’s frozen quinoa directions: microwave or stove top.
I prefer using the microwave, because the whole purpose of this kitchen shortcut is to save time and effort! It microwaves in less than 5 minutes. You can also cook in boiling water.
How to cook Trader Joe’s frozen quinoa:
According to package instructions, to microwave: puncture bag 4-5 times on the seam side. Microwave (seam side up) and heat on high for 3 1/2 minutes. Let sit in microwave for 2 1/2 minutes.
According to package instructions, to cook on stovetop: Heat sauce pan over high heat, pour frozen quinoa into sauce pan and add 2 tablespoons water. Stir, cover, and reduce heat to medium heat. Heat for 5-6 minutes, adding up to 2 tablespoons more water if necessary, stirring frequently.
How to Meal Prep Pollo Asado Quinoa Bowls:
This Trader Joe’s pollo asado recipe makes a great meal prep lunch or dinner! Decide if you’ll serve it warm, cold, or a mix of both as this will determine how we store the components.
- Make Trader Joe’s frozen quinoa, pollo asado, and peppers and onions. Cook and set aside.
- To serve hot – Store all ingredients except for shredded cabbage and dressing in a glass storage container.
- To serve cold – Store quinoa, chicken, beans, peppers, and cabbage in a glass storage container. Drizzle with dressing right before serving.
- To serve hot and cold – Store chicken, peppers, and black beans in a glass storage container. Store quinoa and cabbage in another. Heat chicken, peppers, and black beans and serve over quinoa and cabbage. Drizzle with dressing right before serving.
Trader Joe’s Pollo Asado Quinoa Bowls Nutrition + Substitutes:
If you want to swap out any of the ingredients and toppings, here are a few ways you can add even more nutrition into this meal:
- Grains – I love Trader Joe’s frozen quinoa, but you could really use any grain you like here. Try white rice or brown rice instead of the quinoa.
- Greens – I chose shredded cabbage for simplicity, but you could also use a shredded iceberg, sliced romaine, or even chopped spinach.
- Chicken – You could swap the chicken for carne asada or skip it completely and bulk up the quinoa bowls by using more quinoa and more beans. You could also add some shredded cheddar cheese.
- Extras – In all of the recipes in my Easy Trader Joe’s eBook, I include ideas for “extras,” meaning you can add optional ingredients if you like! Try shredded cheddar or cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, pickled red onion, or a fresh lime wedge.
More Trader Joe’s Recipes:
If you like this Trader Joe’s pollo asado chicken recipe, you might like some of my other easy Trader Joe’s recipes:
- Easy Trader Joe’s eBook – 25 Insanely Fast Recipes, 10 Ingredients or Less! Just $9.99.
- The Ultimate Guide to Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi – Everything you need to know, and the BEST way to cook the cauliflower gnocchi so it doesn’t turn out soggy!
- Italian Sheet Pan Cauliflower Gnocchi – Turn cauliflower gnocchi into a full meal with Italian sausage and veggies. Works well for meal prep, too!
- 16 On-The-Go Breakfast Items – Grab and go breakfast items, perfect for a nutritious and quick weekday meal.
- Trader Joe’s Breakfast Board – Think SUPER fun breakfast/brunch that the family will go crazy for. Can customize based on what you love.
- 23 Best Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods – The BEST items from the freezer aisle at TJ’s.
- Trader Joe’s Curry Meatballs – Healthy rice bowls with protein, veggie, and tons of flavor. One of my favorite meals.
- Trader Joe’s Cheese Platter – Options for both $20 and $45 cheese boards, all with TJ ingredients!
Helpful Tools to Make Pollo Asado Quinoa Bowls:
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer – This is the easiest and safest way to check to see if your Trader Joe’s pollo asado is cooked to the proper temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Glass Storage Containers – Make sure you have a 4 cup container if you plan on taking these quinoa bowls on-the-go.
