I know what you’re thinking…two spinach salads in a row? Well I do always keep a Costco-sized tub of the green goodness in the fridge, but the truth of the matter is I made this one a while ago and I am just now getting around to sharing it.
I don’t typically eat out during the week, for lots of reasons- I have healthier choices at home, I don’t have extra money to waste and I am just usually home with the the kids during lunchtime. However once in a great while, if I am out shopping for long hours, I will treat myself to Panera or Chipotle…you know “fast food” with healthier fare.
Panera has so many delicious options- some healthier than others, but I had heard about this salad that you could order off their “secret menu”. That’s right, one of the healthier items they sell was on a secret menu. What sense does that make right? Keep the light, healthy goodness that is this Power Bowl a secret? Strange I tell ya.
Well good news is that it’s no longer on a secret menu (and in fact I have no idea if they even still have such a thing); this Power Chicken Hummus Bowl is super simple, nutritious and yummy and one of their lowest calorie salads at 270 calories.
Fact: food taste better when you don’t have to make it. Fact #2: food taste better when you don’t have to pay eight dollars for it. Therefore I believe these will cancel each other out when you make this salad. If you make this super easy chicken hummus bowl at home you will save a little money and be able to enjoy it for a few days (I packed leftover salads in separate tupperware so that we could enjoy them for lunch another day).
It’s so simple: spinach, tomato, red onion, chicken and their signature cilantro hummus (please note I do not have the actual recipe for their chicken or hummus, but I did my best). I actually posted this cilantro-jalapeno hummus almost 3 years ago (oh time, please slow down because it feels like yesterday). So I just made that recipe, sautéed some chicken breasts and assembled the rest.
There is no dressing which makes it super light and healthy- you just use the hummus and lots of fresh lemon juice as you’re dressing. Don’t skimp on either one of those!
This is what I call a perfect, healthy lunch that makes me feel good and happy.
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning (a combination of dried basil, rosemary, sage, marjoram, thyme and oregano)
- salt and pepper
- 12 ounces baby spinach leaves
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- ½ English cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 lemons, cut in half
- ⅓ cup chopped cilantro for topping
- For the Cilantro-Jalapeno Hummus
- 1 can low sodium garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained, skins removed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons tahini
- 3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 4 Tablespoon water
- ½ cup packed cilantro leaves, chopped
- ½ fresh jalapeno, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- For the hummus, combine all hummus ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer mixture to a storage container and refrigerate until needed.
- Combine paprika and poultry seasoning and set aside. To make chicken, pound chicken breasts to an even thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper and paprika and poultry seasoning.
- Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet to medium heat. Add chicken breasts and cook 10-12 minutes or until done. Remove to a plate to let cool. Then thinly slice.
- Place ~2 to 3 cups of spinach in a large salad bowl. Decoratively top with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, grilled chicken slices (~1/2 large chicken breast per salad), a half of a lemon and a scoop of cilantro-jalapeno hummus and hearty sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
- Enjoy!
There are different types of "poultry seasoning" seasoning but I used the one that is the combination of dried herbs, not the fine powdered one which has different ground herbs. The ingredients in my seasoning are: basil, rosemary, sage, marjoram, thyme, oregano. If you do not have this blend just use similar spices.
[Tweet “Make this Copycat Panera Power Chicken Hummus Bowl- high protein, clean and gluten free! via @nutritiouseats”]
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Quite possibly the sexiest salad I have seen in awhile! 🙂
GiGi Eats recently posted..Food Porn Alert: GiGi Eats Down Under
Aww, that means a lot coming from you! Thank you 🙂 XO
yours looks a million times prettier than Panera! YUM!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted..1st Birthday Party
Thanks Brittany! xo
YES! I love your version girlfriend! And these photos are GORG!! Pinning! 😀
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness recently posted..Protein Muffins with Quinoa, Prunes, Dates and Coconut
Thanks friend!! XO
Yay!! 😀 I like this recipe better than the original! <3 (Very much agreed that life is a lot better when you don't have to pay $8 for it. ;P ) Leftovers are wonderful!
Farrah recently posted..Cervical Cancer
Thanks Farrah! It’s crazy how expensive eating out can be.
I’m usually not a salad girl, but I’m ready to dig into this recipe!
Earl-Leigh recently posted..Monday Meal Prep & a Recipe
Haha, well thank you!
Another delicious salad recipe 🙂 I love using hummus instead of dressing – it’s so satisfying and creamy…and I’m a tad hooked on the stuff to begin with.
Alanna recently posted..Mini Cheesy Potato Bites
I agree, hummus is the best!
Haha, food does taste better when you don’t pay 8 dollars 😉
This looks so heavenly though! I would totally eat this everyday!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted..Power Monday #67 How To Keep The Newness Of The New Year
Aww, thanks girl!
Gorgeous, Melanie. A must pin!!!
diane boyd recently posted..The Ultimate Match-Up: Super Bowl Food Challenge
Thank you Diane!
Pinned!
Tayler Morrell recently posted..Un-Branding the Blog
This looks like an amazing lunch option. Definitely going to give this a try!
Erin @ Platings and Pairings recently posted..Easy Roasted Chicken
Thanks Erin! It’s a great make-ahead lunch too. 🙂
What is Tahnini? so confused lol I’m so excited to try this!!
It’s a paste made from sesame seeds and one of the ingredients in hummus! You can find it almost everywhere. Usually in the ethnic section of a grocery store. Places like Walmart should also have it.
I just made this recipe and am eating it while typing this post. It is SOOO GOOD!! Thanks for the recipe. It tastes just like Panera but better 🙂 I didn’t skin the garbanzos because that seemed a bit punishing…is there some trick to that?
Oh so glad you liked! Well the skinning of the garbanzos just makes a creamier hummus, but yeah, a bit tedious and obviously not essential. 😉