Dijon Sage Roasted Chicken with Pecan Quinoa Stuffing

Sometimes I just need a good ol' homemade hot meal. Not a cold salad or a sandwich, something with a little..umph. Is that even a thing with food? Umph? Well, I think it is. This recipe is inspired by hours of studying like a hermit and wanting to have a nice hot meal at the end of it. One that would both fuel my brain and satisfy my need for deliciousness.



I like chicken,

I like stuffing.

I like them together. 

Cookin' Tunes:
No Turning Back [Audrey Assad]
Only Hope I Got [Ellie Holcomb]
Mirrors [Boyce Avenue ft. Fifth Harmony]
Runners [Lecrae]

Dijon Sage Roasted Chicken with Pecan Quinoa Stuffing

For the stuffing:

1 cup rinsed quinoa

2 cups water

pinch of salt

1 half red or spanish onion

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup crushed pecans

1/4 cup craisins

For the Chicken:

1 medium size chicken, skin on

2 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp dijon (grainy)

2 tbsp dried sage (ground)

1 tbsp honey

1 red or spanish onion

1 zucchini

1 cup baby carrots

pepper to taste

1. Cook quinoa with water and salt until water has been reduced.
2. Meanwhile, dice the onion. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and add to a pan on medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened (using a lid to cover the pan will trap the steam and speed up this process)
3. Add the cooked quinoa, crushed pecans and craisins to the onion. Mix well and set aside.
4.  Combine oil, dijon, sage and honey in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
5. Preheat the oven to 350F. In a small roasting pan, place 1 roughly chopping onion, a sliced zucchini and baby carrots. Cover the whole bottom of the pan.
6. With a medium spoon, stuff the chicken with the quinoa mixture. Try to fit in as much as possible, so there isn't too much leftover :)
7. Place the chicken on top of the veg in the roasting pan.
8. Cover the chicken with the marinade

9. Set in the oven until cooked, about 1.5 hours depending on the size of the chicken you use. We're aiming to have the meat thermometer to be ~175-180. A general rule for roasting poultry is 30min per pound if it's unstuffed and adding an extra 20% of the total time if it is stuffed- works for me! You can also use this helpful chart as a guide: here

10. Serve with your favourite bread and veg and enjoy a lovely study break! :D Try the roasted and minted baby potatoes, a fresh baguette or rosemary seasalt focaccia!