Go Back
Appetizing chicken Caesar salad wraps, a perfect example of easy lunch ideas, displayed on a clean surface.

The Ultimate Easy Lunch Idea: Flavorful Quinoa Taco Bowls

Create a delicious and easy lunch with these flavorful quinoa taco bowls, featuring seasoned ground turkey or chicken, fresh vegetables, and a creamy homemade avocado dressing. Perfect for a quick, healthy, and satisfying meal.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Calories: 500

Ingredients
  

Taco Bowls
  • ¾ pound ground turkey or chicken
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • small onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 2 cups Romaine Lettuce thinly shredded
  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup Pico de Gallo
  • ½ cup freshly grated colby jack cheese
  • 2 ears corn shucked and sliced off the cob
  • 2 avocados diced
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • cilantro leaves
  • red onion chopped or sliced
  • 1 cup black beans rinsed and drained
Avocado Dressing
  • 1 pound tomatillos husked and rinsed
  • ½ jalapeno seeds optional for extra kick
  • 1 small yellow onion quartered
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro roughly chopped
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 lime juiced and zested
  • salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Medium Skillet
  • Baking Pan
  • Food Processor

Method
 

Prepare the Meat
  1. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté diced onion for 5 minutes until soft, then add chopped garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
  2. Add ground chicken or turkey to the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes until fully cooked. Stir in taco seasoning and a few tablespoons of water, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
Assemble the Bowls
  1. Divide cooked quinoa among 4 bowls. Top with the seasoned meat mixture, thinly shredded romaine lettuce, Pico de Gallo, grated Colby Jack cheese, corn, diced avocado, sliced green onions, cilantro leaves, chopped red onion, and black beans.
  2. Add a dollop of the avocado dressing to each bowl, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
Prepare the Avocado Dressing
  1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Husk and rinse the tomatillos, then cut them in half.
  2. Place the halved tomatillos in a baking pan with the quartered small yellow onion and half a jalapeño (with or without seeds). Roast for 20 minutes until tender, then remove from oven and let cool.
  3. In a food processor, combine the roasted tomatillo mixture, the remaining 3 cloves of garlic, honey, roughly chopped fresh cilantro, the remaining avocado, and the juice and zest of one lime.
  4. Pulse for 1-2 minutes until the dressing is smooth and creamy. Add a few tablespoons of water if needed to achieve a smooth, salad-dressing-like consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

The avocado dressing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.