How will I know when my quinoa is done cooking?

You will know the quinoa is done when it is soft and looks as if it has popped open, with the germ of the kernel visible as a little spiral. I've gotten quite a few comments about the liquid not absorbing right away - if that's you, just bake it a little longer. With enough time, it should get that moisture soaked right up into a creamy sauce.

I don't love quinoa. Can I substitute rice?

Rice takes a lot longer to cook compared to quinoa, but it should work. Just give yourself some extra baking time.

Sure! Just freeze the casserole right before baking it with the chicken and quinoa raw and without the broccoli. Just add the broccoli right before cooking.

Creamy Chicken Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole Recipe

Description

Creamy Chicken Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole is real food meets comfort food. From scratch, quick and easy, and a big gentle hug loaded with good-for-you ingredients.

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup 2% milk
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 cup flour
2 cups water, divided
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1/4 cup cooked, crumbled bacon (optional… sort of)
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 teaspoons seasoning (like Emeril’s Essence or any basic blend you like)
1/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (any kind will work)
3 cups fresh broccoli florets

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Instructions

Sauce: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and generously grease a 9×13 baking dish (seriously, be generous because it really, really sticks to the sides). Bring the chicken broth and 1/2 cup milk to a low boil in a saucepan. Whisk the other 1/2 cup milk with the poultry seasoning and flour; add the mixture to the boiling liquid and whisk until a smooth creamy sauce forms.
Assembly: In a large bowl, mix the sauce from step one, one cup water, quinoa, and bacon and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips and lay the chicken breasts strips over the top of the quinoa mixture. Sprinkle with the seasoning. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Broccoli: While the casserole is in the oven, place the broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute until it turns bright green and then run under cold water. Set aside.
Bake: Remove the casserole from the oven, check the mixture by stirring it around in the pan, and if needed, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to get the right consistency. When the quinoa and chicken are cooked and the sauce is thickened, add the broccoli and a little bit of water (up to one cup) until the consistency is creamy and smooth and you can stir it up easily in the pan. Top with the cheese and bake for 5 minutes, or just long enough to melt the cheese.

Equipment

Serving Spoon

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Mixing Bowl

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9×13 Baking Dish

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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Category: Dinner
Method: Bake
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chicken and broccoli casserole, quinoa casserole, chicken casserole