• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • about
    • Baby
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Appetizers
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef & Pork
      • Chicken & Poultry
      • Pizza & Flatbreads
      • Pasta & Grains
      • Salads & Vegetables
      • Sandwiches
      • Soups
    • Paleo
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Snacks
    • Spiralized
  • 30 Min Recipes
  • Meal Prep Meals
  • Meal Plans
  • shop
  • Contact
    • Press
    • Nutritional Disclaimer
    • Work with Me

With Salt and Wit

Laugh Often. Eat Well.

5 July 26, 2016 Allergy Friendly

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls with Cherries + A Blogging Break

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!
Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

Grab a cup of coffee. I’ve got lots of emotions today.

First off, so much love for these honey balsamic glazed chicken quinoa bowls. Bowls are kind hot right now, you agree? You can practically throw anything into a bowl, load on the toppings and chow down. You really can do no wrong. There are smoothie bowls. Salad bowls. And dinna bowls. As in quinoa bowls! Just about anything goes, as long as you can fit it into a bowl.

Tip?

Grab the biggest bowl you have and get mixing!

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

Typically bowls start with a base – a hearty, carby base. Oh, carbs. How I love thee. Today I chose quinoa but you can use brown rice, farro, couscous; pick your favorite. Next, comes a protein; chicken, eggs, beef, even tofu! As you probably already guessed given the recipe title, we have sweet and savory glazed chicken. I adore balsamic vinegar in just about any fashion. But with honey? Oh, mama. We are talking a whole different ballpark. As it cooks, it caramelizes and creates a delicious glaze. The chicken is marinated to maximize the flavor, but between you and me? You can totally skip this step if you are hangry (hungry + angry = never a good thing).

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

After you pile on your protein, go crazy with the toppings. This includes cheese, other veggies, sauces, nuts for crunch. Just about anything you can get your paws on in your pantry. I have an extreme obsession with cherries currently; sweet, slightly tart and are just as tasty in savory dishes as they are in sweet. Plus cherries just scream summer, don’t they? I also added thinly sliced red onion and creamy , sweet goat cheese. But if goat cheese isn’t your thing, swap in parmesan or even blue cheese. I am not lying here folks, just about anything goes here. Except cheddar. Just no.

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

Now onto the other feelings I’ve got going on. I’ve decided to break from the blog for a bit. It is something I have bounced around in my head for quite some time, but never pulled the trigger. Even after Aiden was born, I still cranked out recipes. Just always powered through.

There are many things I am beyond grateful for in my life. My beautiful family. A husband that continually supports me and makes me a laugh. A baby boy that keeps me on my feet and makes me proud to call him mine. A home that I find new projects to start on each week. Family and friends close by to share a glass of wine with to unwind. Along with a job that I get to call the shots.

Along with calling the shots, comes endless hours of work. Running a food blog is much more than creating dishes in the kitchen, snapping a couple photos and putting them up on the blog. I am forced to wear many hats. Many that I had little or no experience in, or aware of, prior to starting this little blog.

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

Over the past 2 years, I have grown leaps and bounds in those categories; all while maintaining a job for the first year, getting married, becoming pregnant, moving and now being a full-time Mama. What does that all mean? It means I have always been in the fast lane, never coasting. Never just living. So this break is a long time coming and extremely needed for the soul.

In case you haven’t read my ‘About Me’ page, I have been in and out of dealing with PCOS, a hormone imbalance that comes with a slue of other problems. I thought upon having Aiden I was in the clear. Appears my hormones were working, right? Well since his birth, I have had a rollercoaster of feelings. From highs to lows; unfortunately more lows than I would like to experience. I decided to visit a naturopath doctor to help sort out this laundry bag of issues. The first thing she suggested was an allergy sensitivity panel. The results? Are you ready for this? Eggs (already knew, but apparently more allergic to than I thought), dairy, soy, cane sugar, gluten, yeast, almonds, peas and beef. Luckily, my doctor doesn’t think I am allergic to all these foods. Rather I have something called “Leaky Gut”; in a nut shell it means the walls of my intestines are breaking down and allowing particles of food to pass into my blood stream that are not supposed to pass. This causes my body to essentially fight itself since it sees these foods as foreign. Which causes many symptoms I have been experiencing the past couple of years; digestive issues, food allergies, PCOS, fatigue, anxiety, skin issues. Needless to say upon this diagnosis I was overwhelmed. With having to revamp my already pretty clean diet, my anxiety level went into a tailspin.

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

It has been a little over a month since I received that news and I am on the path to, hopefully, a quick recovery. But it is not an easy road. Stress is a big culprit and I have finally realized I do not handle stress well. So this blogging break? Very, very needed.

This break will be the first time that I have truly stepped away from the blog; even on my honeymoon and vacations, I have worked here and there. The blog was always on mind. So after three years, I need some time to regroup.

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

I plan on being away or about a month; and by that I mean, I won’t be posting new recipes besides the weekly meal plans. But you will probably see me pop in and out of Instagram and Snapchat (missmeglink) along with posting on Facebook and Twitter! I want you to realize this is a very hard decision to step away from my own creative corner. This place has become my outlet from the craziness that has become my household. There’s only so many times I can listen to the Hot Dog Dance. Right? I love sharing the recipes we are loving lately, and most of all, hearing from you, my amazing readers. But I am finding myself tired, burned out and with no motivation to create unique dishes or even snap pictures of them.

What am I finding is the desire to step back, concentrate on my health and decompress. My family needs this. I need this. I need this more than anything to regain my health. Regain my desire. And set my path straight.

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

I hope this little break will rejuvenate me and wash way that exhaustion I feel every time I sit down to do something for the blog. I don’t want you to think that I don’t care about the blog; that’s the reason I am stepping away is because I care. I want to be open, honest and myself with you all. So a short hiatus is just the ticket to get my groove back.

Until then, stay hungry!

Megan

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls are a hearty and flavor meal! Juicy chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze then paired with fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and fresh cherries. A perfect make ahead meal!

Items I used to make this recipe:
 

Honey Balsamic Glazed Chicken Quinoa Bowls with Cherries

15 minPrep Time

20 minCook Time

35 minTotal Time

Yields 4

Author:

Megan

Recipe Image
Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe
My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 4 - 4 ounce chicken breasts
  • Honey Balsamic Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Quinoa Bowl:
  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 4 cups chopped kale
  • 2 ounces soft goat cheese
  • 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup chopped cherries, pits removed

Instructions

  1. In a glass mixing bowl, mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic powder, dijon, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  2. Toss the kale with 1 tablespoon of the dressing. Set aside.
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place chicken in glass baking dish sprayed with nonstick spray. Add to preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and reaches 165 degrees F. In the last 5 minutes, brush the dressing over the chicken. Flip and repeat.
  4. Meanwhile, cook the quinoa according to package instructions but subbing water with chicken broth.
  5. When ready to serve, divide the quinoa, marinated kale, goat cheese, red onion, and cherries between 4 serving bowls. Slice chicken and add to bowls.

Notes

*This dish is perfect for meal prep! Simply make the chicken and quinoa ahead of time. Reheat when its time to heat!

7.8.1.2
366
https://withsaltandwit.com/honey-balsamic-glazed-chicken-quinoa-bowls-with-cherries/

Hungry for more quinoa dishes?

Goat Cheese & Mushroom Quinoa Risotto is a shortcut version of the classic risotto! Creamy goat cheese, bacon and quinoa come together in under 30 minutes and require minimal hands on time; making this the perfect healthy, side dish!

Goat Cheese & Mushroom Quinoa Risotto

A delicous and flavorful quinoa salad made of caramelized butternut squash, smoked almonds, creamy goat cheese and roasted grapes! Make ahead and store in the fridge until ready to serve!

Caramelized Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad with Goat Cheese and Roasted Grapes

A healthy and filling, One Pot Thai Quinoa Bowl filled with crunchy veggies and drizzled with a spicy and addicting peanut sauce!

One Pot Thai Quinoa Bowl with Chicken and Spicy Peanut Sauce

If you make this recipe, make sure to snap a photo and hashtag it #WITHSALTANDWIT. I’d love to see what you are cooking up in your kitchen!

5

Categories: Allergy Friendly Tags: balsamic, Bowl, dinner, gluten free, healthy, make ahead, Meal Prep, Quick Dinner, quinoa

Interested in easy recipes with meal prep tips?

Sign up & receive
- My Weekly Meal Planner
- Plus, you'll receive my FREE Top 15 Make Ahead Recipes eBook!

Previous Post: « Healthy Meal Plan Week #52
Next Post: Healthy Meal Plan Week #53 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy Holland says

    July 26, 2016 at 8:49 am

    So proud of you for recognizing your needs, and taking steps to take care of you!!! There are more than enough delicious recipes on the blog to keep us well fed for months. (Though I'm totally excited you're still posting the weekly meal plans- I LOVE those!) I have no doubt your audience will understand, and accept you with open arms (and hungry bellies) when you decide you want to return. But until then- rest, relax, and enjoy your home!
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 26, 2016 at 9:53 am

      Gosh thank you so much Amy! I really appreciate your support!!
      Reply
  2. Jessica @ Sprinkle Some Sugar says

    July 26, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    First of all, these bowls look SO DELICIOUS, omg. Second, I am so sorry to hear about all of these issues with your health. :( I hope this little break from blogging helps you relax and is just what you need to refresh yourself! I'm sure your audience will be so supportive about your decision. (As well as the blogging community - we're here for you! <3)
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 26, 2016 at 7:22 pm

      Thank you so much, Jessica! I appreciate your support!
      Reply
  3. Julia says

    July 26, 2016 at 7:11 pm

    Loving the goat cheese and cherries together! What a beautiful bowl.
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 26, 2016 at 7:19 pm

      Thanks so much Julia!
      Reply
  4. Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says

    July 26, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    That is a brave step, and your body will thank you for it by recovering. Did you see the piece in the most recent EatingWell (tomato issue) about leaky gut? Sounds like a tough nut to crack, but diet is a good step. I can imagine that recipe testing and developing while working that all out would be counter productive. Rest up and I look forward to seeing you back here and better than ever Meg!
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 26, 2016 at 7:50 pm

      Thank you so much Katie! I will have to look into it as I do get Eating Well! Seems like perfect timing. And counter productive is right...no point in making brownies when I can't enjoy them ;)
      Reply
  5. Dana Barker says

    July 27, 2016 at 8:08 am

    You always have wonderful recipes, and today's is no exception! Please check out (devour ;-) the book Wheat Belly Total Health by Dr. William Davis. He addresses leaky gut and how to help restore it with pre- and pro-biotics. In fact, his information will complement that of your naturopath's (good decision, by the way). Best wishes in restoring your health, loving your family, and focusing on what's truly important! I look forward to hearing from you on this blog again.
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 28, 2016 at 7:35 pm

      Oh thank you so much, Dana! I totally will check that book out so thank you for the recommendation! I love knowing as much as I can (which can be good and bad!).
      Reply
  6. Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims says

    July 27, 2016 at 8:23 am

    Take a break girl, sounds like you need it! We will be here ready to read and eat your new recipes when you come back :)
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 28, 2016 at 7:34 pm

      Thank you so much Rebecca! I appreciate you stopping by :)
      Reply
  7. Cathy | Lemon Tree Dwelling says

    July 27, 2016 at 9:00 pm

    Good for you for listening to your heart and following what you need to do. To be honest, I'm a little bit jealous of your break. Enjoy the time, Meg! <3
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 28, 2016 at 7:33 pm

      Thanks so much Cathy! And I say take some time to yourself too! It will be great for soul :)
      Reply
  8. Nancy | The Bitter Side of Sweet says

    July 27, 2016 at 9:40 pm

    I know your break won't come easy but I know it will be SO good for you! Just one week of vacation can keep me going for quite awhile! Enjoy it! And i hope you start to feel SO much better!
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 28, 2016 at 7:32 pm

      So true! Surprising what a bit of time away does for the soul :) Thanks so much Nancy!
      Reply
  9. Ami@NaiveCookCooks says

    July 28, 2016 at 1:56 am

    I feel ya girl!! I have been feeling so much pressure lately too but since it's just two of us for the time being, I am ok handling all of it by myself!! Hope you have a relaxing break and come back feeling all refreshed and with tons of fresh ideas!!
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 28, 2016 at 7:32 pm

      So glad I am not alone! Thanks so much Ami!
      Reply
  10. Katerina @ Diethood says

    July 28, 2016 at 10:04 am

    WOW! Ain't those the most gorgeous bowls of evah!!! I'm always on the lookout for new chicken recipes and this one is so PURDY!
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 28, 2016 at 7:31 pm

      Gosh thank you so much Katerina!
      Reply
  11. Malinda@Countryside Cravings says

    July 30, 2016 at 9:21 pm

    Oh my goodness girl! I know it will be hard to step away but your blog will always be here and WE will always be here too! Take care and prayers for a speedy recovery! Oh and these bowls with those cherries, mmmwah!! <3
    Reply
    • Meg says

      July 31, 2016 at 7:23 am

      Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement, Malinda!
      Reply
  12. Nutmeg Nanny says

    August 1, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    These bowls look like nourishment in a bowl! I love the addition of summertime cherries, yum! Also, breaks are always deserved. Take some time off and treat yo self!
    Reply
    • Meg says

      August 4, 2016 at 5:34 am

      Thanks so much Brandy!
      Reply
  13. Karly says

    August 25, 2016 at 8:50 am

    Hanger be gone!!! This looks SO stinking delicious and so satisfying! Perfect for a power lunch or healthy dinner option. Love!!
    Reply
    • Meg says

      August 26, 2016 at 9:08 am

      Ha, yes! So long ;) Thanks Karly!
      Reply
  14. Debra @ Bowl Me Over says

    August 30, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    It will be good to give yourself a break. (Hard but good!) You're a very talented, writer, blogger, recipe developer, photographer, social media manager and website developer - pretty sure I missed at least 5 duties! No wonder you need a break. Take care of yourself look and your family first and everything else will fall into place. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
    Reply
    • Meg says

      August 31, 2016 at 7:24 am

      Hi Debra, awe you just made my day. Thank you so much! I am definitely on my way to better health! Have a great day :)
      Reply
  15. Larsen says

    June 29, 2017 at 4:41 am

    Thank you so much for your instructions!. I love natural light. Between me and you: I use tissue paper on windows to act as diffusers when it gets too bright.
    Reply
  16. Barbara Hollingsworth says

    August 3, 2017 at 9:36 pm

    This look so delicious, I love cheese and cherries. I will try make it tomorrow. Thank for share.
    Reply
    • Meg says

      August 6, 2017 at 7:09 am

      Thank you so much, Barbara! And You bet...enjoy!
      Reply
  17. Jordan says

    November 10, 2023 at 4:10 pm

    I’ve been making this recipe for years now and love it so much. The flavors are so perfect with the goat cheese!!! I’ve made variations of it - rice instead of quinoa, broccoli instead of kale, and so on, and it’s always just terrific. Thank you!!!
    Reply
    • Megan Kohrs says

      September 8, 2024 at 3:50 pm

      Love all those suggestions! Thanks so much for reporting back!!
      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Hi There!

I'm Megan! A wife, mama and have a serious love of nutritious, time-saving meals with a knack for meal prep hacks. I crave simple, wholesome and balanced meals with a bit of humor on the side! Welcome to my kitchen. Read More…

Interested in easy recipes with meal prep tips?

Sign up & receive
- My Weekly Meal Planner
- Plus, you'll receive my FREE Top 15 Make Ahead Recipes eBook!

Search

Footer

SUBSCRIBE & JOIN TO RECEIVE A FREE FAST MEALS EBOOK!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
All Images and content are © With Salt and Wit. Please do not republish without prior consent. If you wish to share a recipe, please simply rewrite the directions, in your own words, with your own photos, and link back to the specific post to provide credit. If you have any questions or wish to republish anything, please contact me: megan {at} withsaltandwit {dot} com

Copyright© 2025 · by Shay Bocks