Recipe: $11.80 | Per Serving: $2.95 | Yield: 4
Harissa is such a great way to spice up your meals, and using it for this homemade frozen dinner provides tons of flavor! I love to pair it with hummus for a creamy - spicy combination.
This post is part of a series about homemade frozen dinners. Please see How to Make Homemade Frozen Meals for more information.
I love using a flavorful sauce to keep things exciting, and the combination of harissa and tahini (or hummus) is one of my favorites! Trader Joe's also has a few other "clean" sauces without too many ingredients, but the flavor and spice of this Tunisian Harissa never fails me.
Another thing I like about this sauce is that it is Whole30! So you can combine it with tahini and olive oil for a salad dressing, or spread it on boring chicken (as I've done here) for a flavorful dish!
Ingredients for Harissa Chicken Rice Bowl Frozen Meal Prep (All Ingredients Found at Trader Joe's)
- 1 package (16 oz) Trader Joe's Simply Roast Chicken (refrigerated section - you'll use all of it)
- 2 Tablespoons TJ's Harissa Paste
- Frozen Brown Rice
- 16 oz Frozen Broccoli
- 4-8 Tablespoons Hummus
How to Make Harissa Chicken Rice Bowl Frozen Meal Prep
- Start by chopping up the cooked chicken. You can use any cooked chicken you have, but the Trader Joe's Simply Roast Chicken Breast is a quick option without any additives. (Rotisserie chicken, slow cooker chicken, and Idiot Proof Chicken are other good options.)
- Toss chopped chicken with 2 Tablespoons Harissa paste. Divide among the four freezer-safe containers.
- Using a measuring cup, measure ½ cup cooked brown rice and add to the other side of the containers.
- Divide the frozen broccoli evenly among the containers, filling the rest of the container all the way. (NOTE: you may have to chop some of the larger pieces of broccoli.)
- Top with a dollop of hummus (about 1-2 Tablespoons), cover, seal, and store in the freezer!
Does this Frozen Meal Get Soggy?
No! This one doesn't get soggy at all. :)
Suggestions for Reheating this Meal:
Microwave: Remember that every microwave is a little different, so be sure to check them every 90 seconds or so. Thaw them in the fridge overnight - so just put the container into the fridge to thaw overnight the evening before you plan to eat it.
- From Thawed: Dump the contents onto a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl or plate. Microwave on high heat for about 2-3 minutes.
- From Frozen: I recommend 2-3 90-second intervals. You’ll want to stop and stir / check it in between.
Make sure the food is "piping hot" i.e. steaming visibly since you're not cooking them ahead of time.
For more cooking methods, please see this post.
Dietary Modifications and Substitutions:
- Paleo: If you skip the hummus and use cauliflower rice instead of brown rice, yes!
- Vegetarian: You can replace chicken with chickpeas for a vegetarian/vegan option.
- Low FODMAP: unfortunately, it is hard to find harissa without lots of garlic, so to make this low-FODMAP, you would need to use white rice instead of brown rice, replace the broccoli or reduce the serving size, and find a sauce to use instead of Harissa.
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Harissa Chicken Rice Bowl Frozen Meal Prep
Ingredients
- 16 ounce shredded chicken 16 oz Trader Joe's Simply Roast Chicken (or use homemade shredded chicken)
- 2 Tablespoons Trader Joe's harissa paste
- 2 cups Frozen Cooked Brown Rice
- 16 oz Frozen Broccoli
- 4-8 Tablespoons Hummus
- Optional: If your chicken is particularly dry you can add a drizzle of olive oil as well.
Instructions
- Start by chopping up the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Toss with 2 Tablespoons Harissa paste. Divide this Harissa Chicken among the four freezer-safe containers. (About 4 oz per container.)
- Using a measuring cup, measure ½ cup cooked brown rice and add to the other side of the containers.
- Divide the frozen broccoli evenly among the containers, filling the rest of each container all the way. (NOTE: you may have to chop some of the larger pieces of broccoli.)
- Top each with a dollop of hummus (about 1-2 Tablespoons), cover, seal, and store in the freezer!
Neato! I actually already have some super spicy harissa spiced hummus- this might be the perfect way to use it!
Love that idea! Harissa-spiced hummus is such a treat! Let us know what else you use it in! :) Thank you for your comment!
I recently picked up some harissa and have been looking for ways to use it! Thank you for this recipe.
Harissa is SO good, but before recipes like this I would always let it go bad in the fridge. I also love just mixing into hummus, soups, and stews. :) Thanks Lyn!