It’s wintry outside… hello, casserole and soup season.
I happen-stanced upon this recipe over the weekend, and thought it perfect to make this week because my man is out of town for work and I wanted leftovers for lunch.
Quinoa. One of those ingredients most people will make a funny face at. I’ll be honest and say in some dishes I’m not really a fan of quinoa. Texture thing. But in this dish? It was great.
If you’re looking for canned cream of something soup, look no further than a casserole. That is the nature of a casserole and I never question it.
Nothing from a can. Everyone = happy.
Ingredients
- 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup milk (I used 2%)
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ cup flour
- 2 cups water, divided
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
- ¼ cup cooked, crumbled bacon (optional… sort of)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons seasoning (we often use something like Nature Seasoning, but it can be whatever you like)
- ¼ cup shredded cheese (any kind will work)
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
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 ½ cup milk to a low boil in a saucepan. Whisk the other ½ 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.
Other thoughts
You will know the quinoa is done when it is soft and looks as if it has popped open. Also, if it’s watery, don’t worry — with enough time, it should get that moisture soaked right up into a creamy sauce. PS – it serves about 6. As you can see I may or may not have added an absurd amount of cheese… doesn’t necessarily need that much. Unless you just really dig cheese. Enjoy :)
