Name: Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl with Honey Sriracha Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (or about 2 cups frozen cubes); 1 cup uncooked quinoa (or about 2-3 cups, cooked); 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds; 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts; 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, garlic powder; 1/2 cup honey (or hot honey for more spice); 1/4 cup unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 3 tablespoons sriracha, or to taste

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This sweet potato quinoa bowl with the most delicious sweet and spicy sauce is so good I had a hard time not going in for seconds. It’s really quite simple with just a few ingredients but the combination of sweet potatoes, chicken, quinoa, chopped walnuts and the honey sriracha sauce makes for the perfect bite! {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}

A large bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, chopped walnuts, quinoa, and chicken drizzled with honey sriracha sauce on a counter.

If you’re feeling adventurous, and are looking for a new healthy recipe – give this one a try! It makes for a simple dinner idea with all the cozy feels.

If quinoa is not your thing, it can be substituted with rice or even pasta. This bowl is very filling and perfect for fall and winter!

Why I Love This Recipe:

It’s healthy and nutritious: This bowl not only tastes amazing, but it’s a powerhouse of essential nutrients – specifically iron, vitamin D, and potassium. The chicken also makes this meal higher in protein, which aids in feelings of fullness and satisfaction. Add in the healthy fats from the chopped walnuts and it’s a high protein, high fiber, well-balanced meal.
You love sweet and spicy: That honey sriracha sauce adds a sweet and spicy combo that pairs really well with the sweet potatoes. It’s then topped with crunchy walnuts which add the perfect bite and texture.
Meal prep friendly: For those who swear by the convenience of meal prep, this bowl can be made in larger batches and stored in the fridge for quick, grab-and-go lunches. It’s relatively simple to make and takes about 35 minutes total.

INGREDIENTS

2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed. For convenience, you can also sub with frozen sweet potatoes!
1 cup of uncooked quinoa or two cups cooked.
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If using raw chicken, make sure they are thick because they are cooked with the sweet potatoes. Or, sub with 2-3 cups of cooked chicken
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
Olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder for seasoning.

For the Honey Sriracha Sauce:

1/4 cup of unsalted butter. You can totally use salted butter if you prefer.
1/4 cup of honey or hot honey if you love spice.
3 tablespoons of sriracha, or to taste.
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar (or any vinegar).
Garlic powder or 2-3 minced garlic cloves.

A large bowl of sweet potatoes, quinoa, chopped walnuts, and chicken next to a small bowl of it on a wooden board.

Step-By-Step Instructions

This recipe is just 6 simple steps! The only reason this recipe takes over 30 minutes is because the chicken and sweet potatoes take awhile to cook. For more convenience or busy weeknights, pre-cooked chicken and frozen sweet potatoes would work just as well. For less dishes, batch cook some quinoa or rice earlier in the week!

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Season the chicken and sweet potato cubes with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
For increased convenience, place both chicken breast and sweet potato cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread out the sweet potato cubes and fit the chicken breasts in on the sides. Bake for about 30 minutes.
Cook quinoa according to package directions. When cooked, keep on simmer until ready to serve.
When there is about 5 minutes left on the chicken/sweet potato, start making the honey sriracha sauce. Measure out a 1/4 cup of butter and add to a small saucepan on low heat. Coat 1/2 cup measuring cup with cooking spray and add honey so it pours easily. Add to pan, along with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and garlic powder to taste. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Take the chicken breast out of the oven when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the sweet potatoes are soft but not mushy. Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Assemble the bowls: 1/2 cup quinoa on the bottom, top with sweet potatoes, diced chicken, chopped nuts and drizzle with honey sriracha sauce. Enjoy!

More Healthy Bowl Ideas

Recipe Tips & Variations

Make sure the chicken breast is not too thick, so it can cook along with the sweet potatoes.
To make this recipe easier, use 2-3 cups of diced rotisserie chicken, frozen sweet potato cubes (see above picture) and/or already cooked quinoa.
Cooked, chopped bacon would be a delicious addition to this recipe to really amp up the salty/sweet combo.
Use hot honey for even more spice and top with red pepper flakes.
For a low carb option, serve over cauliflower rice.
Want more veggies? Carrots and cauliflower would be great additions if you’re looking to increase the variety of vegetables in this dish. This bowl would be amazing with butternut squash as substitute for the sweet potato, as well!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does the Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl Store in the Fridge?

For maximum flavor and freshness (and for food safety reasons), this bowl can be kept fresh for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Is This Recipe Allergy Friendly?

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, as most rice wine vinegars are gluten-free – however, make sure to read food labels just to be sure. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute with a plant-based butter.

How Do I Prevent the Quinoa From Being Too Mushy?

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly before cooking to remove excess starch. Make sure to use the correct water-to-quinoa ratio.

Can I Substitute the Honey For a Different Sweetener?

You could use maple syrup, agave nectar, or another sweetener of your choice. Adjust the sweetness based on your preference.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl with Honey Sriracha Sauce

Author: Alex Evink, MS, RD

434kcal

5 from 1 vote

Prep 5

Cook 30

Total 35

A delicious and nutritious sweet potato quinoa bowl with a spicy, sweet honey sriracha sauce – topped with crunch walnuts for the perfect bite. Packed with protein, fiber, vitamin D, iron and potassium – yet comforting and decadent.

Servings servings

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Ingredients

Method

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Season the chicken and sweet potato cubes with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Keep it easy and place both chicken breast and sweet potato cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread out the sweet potato cubes and fit the chicken breasts in on the sides. Bake for about 30 minutes.
Cook quinoa according to package directions. When cooked, keep on simmer until ready to serve.
When there is about 5 minutes left on the chicken/sweet potato, start making the honey sriracha sauce. Measure out a 1/4 cup of butter and add to a small saucepan on low heat. Coat 1/2 cup measuring cup with cooking spray and add honey so it pours easily. Add to pan, along with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and garlic powder to taste. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Take the chicken breast out of the oven when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the sweet potatoes are soft but not mushy. Dice the chicken into bite-size pieces.
Assemble the bowls: 1/2 cup quinoa on the bottom, top with sweet potatoes, diced chicken, chopped nuts and drizzle with honey sriracha sauce. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories434kcal

Notes

Make sure the chicken is not too thick if being cooked with the sweet potatoes.
Use frozen sweet potatoes, microwaveable rice or quinoa packets, and/or pre-cooked chicken for added convenience.

Nutritional information is only an estimation, and individual ingredients and preparation may cause discrepancies. Nutrition facts calculated for 4 servings, however, this recipe could potentially feed 5 people.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	434
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16.4g	21%
Saturated Fat 4g	20%
Cholesterol 45mg	15%
Sodium 94mg	4%
Total Carbohydrate 53g	19%
Dietary Fiber 5.9g	21%
Total Sugars 10.9g
Protein 20.5g
Vitamin D 4mcg	18%
Calcium 41mg	3%
Iron 3mg	16%
Potassium 906mg	19%

Tried this recipe?

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A Good Source of Vitamin D!

I hope you enjoy this nourishing recipe full of bold, yet comforting flavors and packed with nutrients often lacking in most diets.

Getting an adequate amount of vitamin D is difficult in the winter months, if you live in colder climates – and this recipe contains 18% of our daily value! This bowl is versatile – feel free to customize it however you like with what’s available in your kitchen.