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one pot 30 minute quinoa biryani meatballs and chicken
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One-Pot Biryani! 30-Minute Low-Carb Chicken & Meatball Quinoa Biryani

One-Pot! 30-Minute Chicken & Meatball Quinoa Biryani (Middle Eastern Inspired)Forget takeout! We're transforming the classic Biryani concept into a high-protein, low-carb weeknight meal ready in just 30 minutes. By swapping traditional Basmati rice for fiber-rich quinoa and combining savory chicken with tender meatballs, this Middle Eastern-inspired dish delivers on flavor and nutrition. This one-pot wonder is packed with aromatic spices and saffron, making it the perfect healthy meal prep or fast dinner solution! Now you can make it as often as you like!

Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Indian, Mediterranean
Keyword: 30 minute meals, Biryani, chicken, dinner ideas, easy recipes, high protein, homemade, low carb, meatballs, one pot meal, quick recipes, Quinoa, Quinoa Biryani
Yield: 6 people
Calories: 398kcal
Cost: $16

Equipment

Materials

  • 2 cups Quinoa
  • 2 cups Chicken Broth
  • 0.5 lb Ground beef 93% lean
  • 0.5 lb Chicken Breast
  • 2 small potatoes cut into small pieces that can be completely cooked in 20 minutes
  • 4 Medium Onions Sliced
  • Seasoning for the Pot:
  • 1 Teaspoon Biryani Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Curry Paste Optional
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric
  • Saffron Mixture
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 0.5 Teaspoon Pepper Optional
  • Saffron Mixture:
  • A Pinch of Saffron
  • 1/4 Cup Rose Water
  • Meatball Seasoning:
  • 2 cloves Garlic Chopped less or more
  • A pinch of Salt
  • A Pinch of Black Pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon Allspice
  • Chicken Marinade seasoning:
  • A Pinch of Salt
  • A Pinch of Black Pepper
  • 0.5 Teaspoon of Turmeric
  • A Pinch of Coriander powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Curry Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Biryani Powder
  • Drizzle of Olive Oil

Instructions

  • Start with the Meatball, Add all Ingredients in the bowl:
  • 0.5 lb Ground Beef (93% lean)
  • 3 cloves Chopped Garlic (We like it garlicky; adjust to your preference.)
  • 3 Tablespoons Chopped Parsley
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 Teaspoon Allspice
  • Mix well, don't knead the meat, just gently blend until the seasoning is combined. Shape the mixture into meatballs.
  • Quick Marinade Chicken Seasoning: In the bowl add
  • 2 pcs. Chicken Breast (We like it lean; feel free to add your preferred type of meat.)
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 0.5 Teaspoon Pepper
  • 0.5 Teaspoon Turmeric
  • A Pinch of Coriander Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Curry Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Biryani Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Tomato Paste
  • Drizzle of Olive Oil. Mix well. You can make this in advance up to overnight. The meat will be tender. But since this is a quick recipe, it is ok to cook it right away, it's still good.
  • Now, we are ready to turn on the stove!
  • In the Pot , Begin Browning the meatballs on all sides on medium low heat
  • We use lean meat, so you'll notice no oil is rendering out. We won't be adding any extra oil, which makes this meal healthier.
  • Cover with the lid for 1 minute to trap the steam and ensure the meat stays moist.
  • Once the meatballs are browned but not completely cooked, remove them to rest on a plate.
  • Now, add the sliced onions to the same pot. Cook on low heat without adding any oil. We want to keep it light! Allow the onions to absorb the flavor residue in the pot. The natural moisture will be released, which prevents the pot from burning.
  • Scrape the onions to one side of the pot, add your chicken to the other side, and brown them just like the meatballs.
  • Don't forget to stir the onions once in a while.
  • Once the chicken is browned but not completely cooked, remove it to rest on a plate. it can be the same plate as meatballs because they will go back in the pot late on together.
  • Next, add the chopped potatoes in the pot (cut into a size that will cook completely in 20 minutes)
  • Add about 1/4 cup of chicken stock to prevent the pot from burning. The stock will also help the potatoes start cooking and absorb the flavors from the pot.
  • Close the lid and let it cook for about 2-3 minutes on medium-low heat.
  • Then Add
  • 1 Teaspoon Biryani Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Curry Paste (Optional)
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 0.5 Teaspoon Black Pepper (Optional)
  • Add 2 cups of well-rinsed quinoa. (You can substitute with Basmati rice, like the original, but we prefer quinoa for a low-carb option.)
  • Add 2 cups of Chicken Stock.(The ratio is 1:1 with the quinoa, which is the same ratio used if you substitute rice.)
  • Saffron mixture: 1/4 cup Rose Water and A Pinch of Saffron ,It's best to let the saffron sit overnight in rose water, but since this is a last-minute recipe,
  • we will heat this mixture in the microwave for 1 minute, just to release the Saffron aroma and color.
  • Then add half of your saffron mixture in the pot
  • Add 0.5 Teaspoon Turmeric
  • We will add the rest of the saffron mixture once the biryani is cooked, as the rose water aroma would otherwise evaporate during the cooking process.
  • Add your Meatballs and Chicken, Stir Well
  • Cover the lid and cook on medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked.
  • stir once in a while, just to make sure nothing stick at the bottom.
  • After 20 minutes, The Quinoa is already cooked.
  • Squeeze some lemon juice (Optional),
  • Add the rest of the Saffron mixture,
  • and cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Feel free to adjust the quinoa and meat quantities to suit your preference. We personally love adding a lot of meat
  • Or add your choice of vegetables to this dish. We also love serving it with our favorite soft-boiled eggs.
  • Low-carb, High-protein Biryani is ready to enjoy!

Video

Notes

make meatballsmeatballs are ready to cookchicken marinadestart cooking the meatballsdon't add any oilbrown the meatballs all around and rest them on a platecook the onion one side and brown the chicken on the other side, then take the chicken out to rest on a plate.Chicken are brown, same as meatballsput potatoes into the onionsAdd quinoa and seasoning      Put back the meatball and chicken in the pot and cook for 20 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked     Rose water and saffron  Add Saffron mixture into the Biryani and cook for another 5 minutesDinner is served!Enjoy!
Note: Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on ingredients and preparation.

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9.3g | Trans Fat: 0.13g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Fiber: 6.3g | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4.3mg