Maybe it’s the Paleo craze that prompted the shift, but whatever the origin, meat bars are definitely on the rise. Our fried chicken quinoa bar is more satisfying, filling, and non-insulin spiking than your store bought on-the-go options. Eat it at room temperature for a snack or warm it as you head out the door in the morning. A square little meal!

I keep a batch in the refrigerator as a healthy snack feeding them to my family as a nibble when someone comes in hungry and there is still an hour before dinner. Protein from the fried chicken, egg, and quinoa, a touch of heat, and savory fat from the chicken skin and optional hit of cheddar. A great combination for taking the edge off those cravings!

Use leftover Chicken Fried In One Tablespoon of Olive Oil and toast some cooked quinoa with garlic salt and paprika for 15 minutes. Add the eggs, cheese, and salt, then cook on a sheet pan, divide into squares and reheat later. If taking for lunch or snack, remove from the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes before eating to bring up to room temperature, or give it a few seconds in the microwave. Because they have actual meat and cooked eggs as ingredients they must be kept refrigerated.

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Debone the chicken (put bones in the freezer for future broth making) and chop/dice the meat and skin into small pieces. Spread the cooked quinoa on a sheet pan, and sprinkle with the paprika and garlic salt. Toast for 15 minutes.Place the chicken in a bowl with the 2 eggs (broken into the bowl), the toasted quinoa, the grated cheese, dried onion flakes, and salt to taste. Mix the ingredients together with a fork.

Spread evenly on a sheet pan lined with parchment, using a rubber spatula if you have one. Bake for 15 minutes until the big bar holds together. Turn the bar over and remove the parchment so the bottom of the meat bar will brown.
Once the bar reaches the desired consistency–about 25-30 minutes, remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes and then chop into squares and refrigerate in a sealed container. They are best warm or at room temperature. I reheat on the stove top or in the microwave for a few seconds. Because they contain meat and baked eggs, do not leave out at room temperature for more than 30 minutes.