Amazing 4-Ingredient Chicken farro beets

When I tell people I specialize in making weeknight dinners exciting, they usually picture complicated sauces or tricky techniques. But with recipes like this Chicken Farro Beets bowl, I prove that hearty, beautiful food can be simple! I’m Anna, and I’m obsessed with sharing flavorful chicken recipes that cut down on kitchen stress and boost your everyday joy.

I’ve spent years figuring out how to balance big flavor with fast prep times. This specific bowl—combining nutty, chewy farro with sweet roasted beets and perfectly seasoned chicken—is my go-to when I need something truly satisfying that doesn’t keep me chained to the stove. It’s proof that wholesome ingredients, when treated right, create magic. You get protein, grains, and veggies all in one dish. Trust me, this one is going straight into your rotation!

Gathering Your Ingredients for Chicken Farro Beets

Alright, let’s get organized! Having everything ready before you start is the secret weapon for busy cooks, especially when we are making a layered dish like this Chicken Farro Beets bowl. We need three main groups of things: the beets and grains, the chicken spices, and the bright, fresh dressing components.

Don’t panic about the list; it looks long, but everything comes together fast once you start roasting. I’ve organized the exact amounts needed for four satisfying servings right below, so you can grab exactly what you need from the pantry and fridge.

Essential Components for This Chicken Farro Beets Recipe

• 1 pound red beets, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (for beets)
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (for beets)
• 1 1/2 cups pearled farro
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth plus 1/2 teaspoon salt (for cooking farro)
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 inch thick)
• For the Chicken Rub: 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (for searing chicken)
• 4 cups baby spinach or arugula
• 1/2 cup toasted walnut halves, roughly chopped

Creating the Simple Lemon-Dill Dressing

This dressing is what ties the earthy beets and savory chicken together! It’s just a quick whisk job, but it adds so much brightness.

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

Preparing Your Kitchen Equipment

Since we are juggling roasting beets and simmering grains, efficiency is key! Grab a sturdy rimmed baking sheet for those gorgeous beets. You’ll also need a medium saucepan with a lid for the farro and a large skillet for searing the chicken. Don’t forget your small bowls for mixing up that spice rub and the amazing lemon-dill dressing. Having these tools ready means you can move quickly!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Chicken Farro Beets

Now for the fun part—bringing all these fantastic components together to make our beautiful Chicken Farro Beets bowls. We are multitasking here, but stick to the timing, and you’ll have dinner ready in under an hour. Remember, organization makes this feel easy, not overwhelming!

Roasting the Earthy Beets

First things first, we need heat! Go ahead and preheat your oven to 400°F. Take those peeled and cubed beets and toss them right on a rimmed baking sheet. Use just 1 tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle with a tiny bit of salt and pepper, and make sure they are spread out in a single layer. This is important—if they are piled up, they steam instead of roasting! Slide them in and let them roast for about 45 to 50 minutes. You’ll want to give them a stir halfway through. They are done when a fork slides right in easily, and those edges start to look a little deeply colored and sweet.

Cooking the Chewy Farro Base

While those beets are doing their thing, let’s tackle the farro. Pour your 1 1/2 cups of pearled farro into a medium saucepan. Instead of just using water, we are using 4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth and that 1/2 teaspoon of salt right from the start. Bring it to a rolling boil, then immediately turn the heat down low, cover it up, and let it simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Pearled farro is great because it’s faster than hulled, but you still want it tender but with that satisfying little chew. Once it’s done, drain off any leftover liquid—there usually isn’t much—and fluff it up with a fork.

Seasoning and Searing the Chicken

Next up is our protein! Take those chicken breasts and pat them totally dry with paper towels—this helps get that gorgeous golden crust we love. In a small bowl, mix up your spice rub: garlic powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Rub that seasoning mix all over the chicken breasts until they look perfectly coated. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Lay the chicken in the hot pan and cook it for about 6 to 7 minutes per side. The absolute most crucial step here for safety and texture is checking the temperature: it must hit 165°F internally. Once it’s there, pull it out and let it rest on a cutting board for a full 5 minutes before you even think about slicing it.

Assembling Your Flavorful Chicken Farro Beets Bowls

Time to build! This layering process makes the final Chicken Farro Beets bowl look as good as it tastes. Divide the cooked farro evenly into your four bowls. Next, pile a handful of fresh spinach or arugula right on top of the warm farro—the heat will wilt it just slightly. Then scatter the roasted beets and the sliced chicken over the greens. Now, quickly whisk together the dressing ingredients (olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon, and dill) until they look creamy. Drizzle that dressing generously over everything. Finish it off with a sprinkle of those toasted walnuts and maybe a tiny bit more fresh dill if you’re feeling fancy!

Tips for Success with Chicken Farro Beets

I want your Chicken Farro Beets bowls to be absolutely perfect, just like mine turn out every time! It really comes down to a couple of tiny details that make all the difference between a good grain bowl and a truly fantastic one. Pay attention to the grain texture and the resting time for the chicken, and you’re golden.

Perfecting the Farro Texture

Remember when I mentioned pearled farro should be tender but still slightly chewy? That’s the sweet spot! If you find your farro is too mushy after the 30 minutes of simmering, it means it cooked too fast or you added too much liquid initially. Next time, make sure the heat is truly just a gentle simmer, not a bubbling boil. The texture should feel substantial in your mouth, not like risotto.

Ensuring Evenly Cooked Chicken

Never, ever skip resting the chicken after you sear it! I know you’re hungry and it smells amazing, but cutting into that hot chicken right off the skillet lets all those lovely juices run out onto the cutting board instead of staying inside the meat. Letting it rest for those five minutes allows the juices to redistribute. This keeps your sliced chicken tender and moist when you finally add it to your Chicken Farro Beets bowl.

Ingredient Substitutions and Variations for Your Bowl

I always encourage folks to play around with this recipe once you nail the basic technique—it’s so versatile! If you can’t find fresh dill, don’t worry about running to the store. Just swap it out for about 2 teaspoons of dried dill; the flavor will be a little more concentrated, so start with less. Also, if you aren’t a huge fan of spinach or arugula, Swiss chard is a fantastic, sturdy green that works beautifully in this bowl instead. It holds up well to the warm farro and dressing.

For variety, you could easily swap the chicken breasts for chicken thighs if you prefer darker meat, just remember to adjust your searing time slightly to ensure they hit that safe 165°F internal temperature. This Chicken farro beets concept is really about balancing earthy, chewy, and bright flavors, so feel free to swap walnuts for pecans if that’s what you have on hand! If you are looking for other ways to prepare chicken breasts, check out these tips for juicy baked chicken breasts.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Chicken Farro Beets

This is truly the best kind of lunch— leftovers! Because we have a mix of components in our Chicken Farro Beets bowls, the best way to store them is to separate the dressing. Keep the dressing in its own small jar in the fridge. The farro, chicken, and beets can be stored together in an airtight container for up to three days.

When you’re ready to eat, just reheat the grain and protein mixture briefly in the microwave—about 60 to 90 seconds until it’s warm through. Then, add your fresh greens (if you saved any, or just grab a fresh handful) and drizzle with that bright lemon-dill dressing. It tastes almost as good the next day! If you enjoy meal prepping, you might also like this Greek Chicken Bowls recipe.

Here’s a quick recap of what this meal offers:

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 580
• Fat: 23g
• Carbohydrates: 48g
• Protein: 42g

Frequently Asked Questions About This Bowl

I get so many questions about making this bowl work for different schedules, and honestly, that’s what I love about it! It’s designed to be flexible. People always want to know how to make the prep work for the Chicken Farro Beets dish easier on a busy Tuesday night. Here are the things I hear most often!

Can I prepare components ahead of time for this Chicken farro beets dish?

Absolutely! This is a meal prepper’s dream. You can totally roast the beets ahead of time—they keep beautifully in the fridge for days. Also, cook the farro completely, fluff it, and store it in the fridge. When it’s time to eat, you just need to quickly season and sear your chicken, toss the dressing, and assemble. It cuts your active cooking time down to about 15 minutes!

What is the best way to store the dressing separately?

Always keep the dressing separate! If you mix it in too early, the farro soaks it all up, and the greens get soggy. I just use a tiny Mason jar with a tight lid—shake it up really well before you pour it on. If you used Dijon mustard, it might firm up a little in the cold, so let it sit on the counter for five minutes before shaking, or give it a quick whisk to re-emulsify.

Is this a gluten-free recipe if I substitute the farro?

That’s a great question regarding dietary needs. Since farro contains gluten, this recipe as written is not gluten-free. However, it’s incredibly easy to swap! You can use brown rice, quinoa, or even barley if you want something similar to farro. Just follow the liquid ratios for the grain you choose, and you’ll have a perfectly safe and delicious gluten-free Chicken Farro Beets bowl! For more recipe ideas, feel free to browse my Pinterest boards.

Share Your Experience Making This Recipe

I truly hope this recipe for our hearty Chicken Farro Beets bowl brings some easy joy to your dinner table! I cook for my family every day, and knowing these tips help you save time and eat well means the world to me. If you made this, please come back and tell me how it went! If you are looking for other simple chicken ideas, perhaps you’d enjoy this 4 ingredient chicken dinner.

Drop a star rating below and let me know your favorite part—was it the beets, the dill dressing, or the easy cleanup? Your feedback helps other busy cooks decide to try it next!

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