Quorn Chicken Pieces Recipe with Pesto and Vegetables (Meat Free!)
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This nutritious vegetarian recipe consists of Quorn chicken pieces that are high in protein, verdant asparagus, tender broccoli, and the bursting flavor of pesto to bring it all together. This meat-free meal is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
For years I tried eating vegetarian food at least one day a week, but found that I would feel hungry a short time later. My solution was to add more protein, but the recipes took a long time to make. So I stopped all together.
Until I found that I really liked the taste and texture of Quorn Chicken Pie. That was how I tried Quorn for the first time. After that I tried the Quorn Chicken and Leek Pie and realized that this Quorn chicken could be the answer I was looking for. It is quick and easy to make so it doesn’t add any additional time to my cooking, and it is high in protein.
But when I looked for Quorn chicken pieces recipes, I realized there were hardly any out there. So I decided to come up with my own.
- Vegetarian and vegan options – This Quorn chicken recipe is perfect for vegetarians, vegans, or people like me who are just trying to eat less meat on a weekly basis.
- Budget friendly protein – Quorn chicken is less expensive than regular chicken but still has all the protein. It is a really good meat substitute.
- Filling and flavorful – I have to admit I was hesitant to try it, but Quorn pieces of chicken are full of flavor and since they are high in protein, they fill you up.
For a more filling vegetarian meals, try serving these yummy dishes; Easy Quorn Bolognese, Easy Mushroom Ragu (Ragout) and Lentil and Chickpea Curry
What are Quorn chicken pieces?
Quorn chicken pieces are a chicken substitute that actually tastes and feels like chicken when you eat it. It is a good meat substitute for people who are trying to cut down on the amount of meat they actually eat.
Vegan Quorn
The Quorn company makes all different kinds of meat including vegan chicken. The Quorn vegan chicken pieces are made up of potato protein, mycoprotein, and pea fiber along with seasonings and preservatives.
Vegetarian Quorn
The vegetarian Quorn chicken is made up of a combination of proteins, yeast, preservatives, and seasonings. One of the proteins used is egg whites making this not a good choice for vegans but a great choice for vegetarians who want high protein.
Flavor and texture
Quorn chicken pieces are essentially fake chicken because there is no meat or chicken in them. The texture and the way they fry up in the pan is almost identical to real chicken. Which I like because I like chicken. However, I realize that if you have chosen to be vegetarian or vegan, this may turn you off.
Quorn chicken pieces are a chicken substitute that actually tastes and feels like chicken when you eat it. It is a good meat substitute for people who are trying to cut down on the amount of meat they actually eat.
Ingredients
Quorn Chicken Pieces – Making this dish with meat free chicken means you won’t be missing out. The taste and texture are quite similar to real chicken.
Asparagus – Nutritious and delicious, the asparagus adds vitamins and minerals to this dish on top of that lush green color and tender texture.
Pesto – The pesto is what packs the biggest flavor punch in this dish. The pesto brings the pungent garlic, sweet basil, zesty parmesan, and pine nuts into this healthy, meat free meal. If you love pesto try my Broccoli Pesto Orzo or Easy Red Pesto
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations/ Adaptations
There are a few ways you can make this meat-free dish different. First, you can try using different vegetables. Kale, cauliflower, and courgette are all great variations.
Another great way to change this meal up is by using a different flavoring agent besides pesto. Something like marinara or an Asian sauce would be great.
Add a side dishes to make this meal more substantial ; Airfryer Frozen Fries, Airfryer Hash Browns or Frozen Jacket Potato in Air Fryer
How to make this Quorn chicken pieces recipe
- Add the rapeseed oil to a non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Pour the quorn chicken pieces into the pan and shake to evenly distribute (Image 1).
- Leave to sear for around 5 minutes, then stir and add a few spoons of pesto and continue to cook for a further 5 minutes. Set aside (Image 2).
3. Add the broccoli, asparagus and 100 ml of boiling water into the pan. Season with salt and pepper and cook for around 7 minutes. After this time, the water should have evaporated and the veg should be frying nicely (Image 3).
4. Pour the frozen/or defrosted peas into the pan (Image 4).
5. Then once defrosted, cook the peas with the veg for a further 3 minutes (Image 5).
6. Add the remaining pesto and stir to combine. Add the Quorn chicken back into the pan and cook for a final 2 minutes (Image 6).
7. Finish with the juice of half a lemon and season with salt and pepper (Image 7).
8. Serve and enjoy! (Image 8).
Tips for the best results
- Be careful not to overcook the Quorn chicken. Unlike real meat, this is already cooked completely and therefore there is no risk of eating raw meat. Overcooked Quorn can become tough and rubbery.
- Use a high heat to achieve nice browning on the Quorn chicken pieces.
Leftover storage and reheat instructions
Can you freeze this?
Yes, you can freeze this meal. Cooked Quorn can be refrozen for up to 1 month.
How long will it keep in the refrigerator?
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Can you reheat quorn chicken pieces?
When reheating Quorn products, use the microwave and make sure the meal is piping hot before serving.
FAQs
For this recipe, I recommend using thawed Quorn chicken pieces so you can get a good sear on them in the skillet.
Frozen peas will work just fine, though it may take longer to bring the frozen peas up to the temperature of the other ingredients.
The trick to not drying out Quorn is to not overcook it. It is not meat, so it just needs to be heated until piping hot all the way through, then removed from the heat.
If you tried this Quorn Chicken Pieces recipe, it would be mean so much to me if you could leave a review & a star rating to let me know how you found it! I love hearing about your experiences – it motivates me to keep creating more and more recipes for you guys 💛 Let’s get cooking! – Mimi x
Quorn Chicken Pieces Recipe
Ingredients
- 500 g Quorn chicken pieces (£2.95)
- 200 g tenderstem broccoli, trimmed and sliced in half (£1.15)
- 300 g asparagus, trimmed and sliced in half (£1.35)
- 300 g frozen peas (£1.45)
- 6 tbsp pesto fresh pesto (£0.99)
- Juice of half a lemon (£0.30)
Cupboard Essentials
- 1 tbsp rapeseed oil
- Salt and Pepper
- Instructions
Method
- Add the rapeseed oil to a non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Pour the quorn chicken pieces into the pan and shake to evenly distribute.
- Leave to sear for around 5 minutes, then stir and continue to cook for a further 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Add the broccoli, asparagus and 100 ml of boiling water into the pan. Season with salt and pepper and cook for around 7 minutes. After this time, the water should have evaporated and the veg should be frying nicely.
- Pour the peas into the pan and cook for a further 3 minutes. Then, add the remaining pesto and stir to combine. Add the quorn chicken back into the pan and cook for a final 2 minutes.
- Finish with the juice of half a lemon and season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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