I’ll be honest—there are days I just don’t have the energy to pull off a complicated dinner. But I still want something that feels homemade, warm, and healthy.

That’s when I reach for this Chicken and Pea Quinoa Skillet.

It’s creamy without cream, comforting without being heavy, and made with ingredients I always have on hand: frozen peas, cooked chicken, and quinoa. Everything simmers together in one pan, and the flavors just melt into each other in the best way.

This is one of those meals that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together… even if the laundry is still in the dryer from three days ago. 😉

📝 Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 small onion, diced

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa (rinsed)

• 2 cups chicken broth (or veggie broth)

• 2 cups cooked, shredded or diced chicken (rotisserie works great!)

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 1 tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Optional: grated parmesan, lemon zest, or fresh parsley for topping

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté 2–3 minutes until soft.

2. Add quinoa + broth: Stir in the rinsed quinoa and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Stir in chicken + peas: Once quinoa is tender, stir in the cooked chicken, peas, and seasoning. Cook uncovered for another 5–7 minutes, until everything is hot and peas are tender.

4. Finish + serve: Taste and season with salt, pepper, and any optional toppings like parmesan or lemon zest.

💡 Sarah’s Tips

• Make it creamy: Stir in a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt or cashew cream for extra richness.

• Swap the protein: Use turkey, tofu, or chickpeas if you’re out of chicken.

• Double the batch: This is a meal prep dream—stores well in the fridge for 4 days.

• Fresh touch: A squeeze of lemon juice at the end really brightens everything.

🥣 Dinner That Feels Like a Warm Hug

This is one of those comforting, protein-packed meals that works year-round, but especially in that weird in-between season when you want something warm and light at the same time.

Simple. Healthy. And zero dishes to juggle.

Add it to your weeknight rotation—I promise it’ll be one of those “how did I ever live without this?” kind of recipes.