Southwest Chicken Bowl with Butternut Squash

This one skillet southwest chicken bowl with butternut squash is delicious, healthy, and so simple to make. The quinoa and bone broth pack so many nutritional benefits as well as a delicious boost of flavors. Topped off with black beans, cilantro, and lime this southwest chicken bowl is one of our favorites.

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This can be made in a large skillet with a lid or dutch oven. Before we got my dutch oven we would always make this in our large stainless steel skillet but now I love making this in my favorite dutch oven. Neither my husband nor I ‘enjoy’ doing dishes, I mean who does, so we love that this meal is made in just one dish.

This is also an easy meal to throw together last minute if we forget to plan ahead. The ingredients are things we often have on hand including the butternut squash when we opt to use frozen butternut squash.

These southwest chicken bowls also align really well with my anti-inflammatory diet. Read more about my anti-inflammatory diet here. This healthier way of eating plays a significant role in managing my autoimmune conditions and ankylosing spondylitis.

Let’s Highlight a Few Healthy Benefits in this Southwest Chicken Bowl:

Organic Pasture-Raised Chicken: Chicken is a wonderful source of lean protein. It is also packed with vitamins and minerals, especially B vitamins. I think it is important to get organic pasture-raised chicken that is air-chilled. Organic pasture-raised chicken will be much healthier for decreasing inflammation and avoiding the antibiotics, chlorine baths, and more that come with conventionally farmed chicken.

Butternut Squash: Butternut squash is high in fiber which is wonderful for supporting gut health. It is also a great source of vitamins, especially vitamins A and C. The antioxidants in butternut squash can help increase cellular health and reduce inflammation.

Quinoa: Quinoa, a superfood, is another wonderful source of protein and fiber. It is a gluten-free ancient whole grain that is nutrient rich and has antioxidants like quercetin.

Bone Broth: Among many other benefits, bone broth is gut-healing and the collagen in it can help lubricate joints and reduce pain from inflammation. Collagen is also very beneficial for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Check out my recipe for homemade anti-inflammatory bone broth!

How to make the Southwest Chicken Bowl with Butternut Squash:

Ingredients:

An important part of my anti-inflammatory diet is making sure to always buy organic ingredients (read more about why here) and to also check ingredient labels, making sure there isn’t unwanted additives.

• 1-2 lbs Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Read more on selecting quality anti-inflammatory oils)
• 1 medium Sweet Onion, Chopped
• 1 cup Quinoa
• 2 cups Butternut Squash Cubes (fresh or frozen, peeled and cut into cubes)
• 2 cups Chicken Bone Broth
• 1 1/2 cups Sprouted & Cooked Black Beans (or 1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed)
• 1-2 Limes, cut into wedges for garnish
• Cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat your skillet or dutch oven on the stovetop over medium high heat. Add a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, about 2 tbsp, to the skillet.
2. In a small dish mix together the spice rub (sea salt, paprika, cumin, and chili powder). At this point I like to cut the chicken breasts into halves or thirds, this isn’t necessary but just my preference. Rub the spice mixture onto the chicken breasts.
3. Add the chicken breasts to the hot oil and sear/brown them for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Then remove the chicken from the dutch oven and set aside on a plate for now.
4. Add the chopped onion to the dutch oven and sauté until caramelized, about 4-5 minutes.
5. Stir in the quinoa, butternut squash, and bone broth. Add the chicken back into the dutch oven, nestling it into the liquid.
6. Bring to a boil. Cover with the lid and reduce the heat to simmer for about 20 minutes or until the chicken and quinoa are fully cooked.
7. Remove from heat. Stir in the cooked black beans. Serve with a cilantro garnish and lime wedges for juicing over the southwest chicken bowls.
8. Enjoy!

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5 from 7 votes

Southwest Chicken Bowl with Butternut Squash

This one skillet southwest chicken bowl with butternut squash is delicious, healthy, and so simple to make. The quinoa and bone broth pack so many nutritional benefits as well as a delicious boost of flavors. Topped off with black beans, cilantro, and lime this southwest chicken bowl is one of our favorites.

Ingredients

• 1-2 lbs Chicken Breasts boneless, skinless
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 medium Sweet Onion Chopped
• 1 cup Quinoa
• 2 cups Butternut Squash fresh or frozen, peeled and cut into cubes
• 2 cups Chicken Bone Broth
• 1 1/2 cups Sprouted & Cooked Black Beans or 1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
• 1-2 Limes cut into wedges for garnish
• Cilantro for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat your skillet or dutch oven on the stovetop over medium high heat. Add a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, about 2 tbsp, to the skillet.
• In a small dish mix together the spice rub (sea salt, paprika, cumin, and chili powder). At this point I like to cut the chicken breasts into halves or thirds, this isn’t necessary but just my preference. Rub the spice mixture onto the chicken breasts.
• Add the chicken breasts to the hot oil and sear/brown them for about 3-4 minutes on each side. Then remove the chicken from the dutch oven and set aside on a plate for now.
• Add the chopped onion to the dutch oven and sauté until caramelized, about 4-5 minutes.
• Stir in the quinoa, butternut squash, and bone broth. Add the chicken back into the dutch oven, nestling it into the liquid.
• Bring to a boil. Then cover with the lid and reduce the heat to simmer for about 20 minutes or until the chicken and quinoa are fully cooked.
• Remove from heat. Stir in the cooked black beans. Serve with a cilantro garnish and lime wedges for juicing over the southwest chicken bowls.
• Enjoy!

Notes

I love using my homemade bone broth in this recipe. Here is the full recipe with benefits, tips and more: Homemade Bone Broth: Gut-Healing and Anti-Inflammatory

If you try this southwest chicken bowl recipe, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Share a photo and tag @thispurelyjoyfullife on social media. If you are interested in more gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free recipes that are anti-inflammatory be sure to sign up for my email list below.

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