This broccoli chicken quinoa casserole is perfect for a healthy, balanced meal. Perfect for food prep or make it for dinner and enjoy the leftovers for lunch!
Hi friend!
We’re continuing our series of easy quinoa meals with another easy and flavorful chicken and broccolic quinoa casserole. In case you missed any of the previous recipes, be sure to check out:
- Slow Cooker Chicken Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
- Quinoa Risotto
- Easy Sheet Pan Shimp Quinoa Bowl
- Greek Quinoa Salad with Feta
- Tuna Quinoa Cakes
Since my last recipe was a slow cooker recipe, I decided to use the oven this time. This recipe does involve making a quick cheese sauce on the stovetop but I promise it’s not too much extra work.
How To Make Chicken and Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
To make this casserole you just need a few simple ingredients:
- Broccoli – I use fresh broccoli florets
- Quinoa- I use white but you could also use tri-colored quinoa
- Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work well but you could also use chicken thighs
- Chicken broth
- Bacon – This is optional but adds flavor
- Leeks – I always keep these on hand in the freezer but you could substitute onions
- Cornstarch – This is used as a thickening agent
- Milk – I use 2% milk but any kind should work
- Cheese – Cheddar or Colby jack are good options. To change things up you could try pepper jack
- Spices – A simple blend of paprika, garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper
Chicken Broccoli and Quinoa Bake Recipe
Here’s the recipe and directions!
PrintChicken Quinoa Broccoli Casserole
chicken quinoa broccoli casserole
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 4 cups chopped broccoli
- 3–4 strips bacon, diced
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2/3 cup sliced leeks
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided (or colby jack)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Spray 9×13 pan with oil and add diced chicken, broccoli, quinoa and broth to the pan.
- Cook bacon in a pan, then drain excess grease and add bacon to the chicken mixture.
- Wipe the pan clean, add butter and leeks and saute 3-4 minutes.
- Add cornstarch and spices and stir to combine.
- Slowly add milk, stirring constantly.
- Add 1 cup shredded cheese and stir for 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted and mixture is slightly thickened.
- Add cheese sauce to the chicken mixture in the pan and stir until well combined.
- Cover pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil, stir well and return to oven for 30 more minutes.
- Stir again, top with remaining cheese and place under broiler for about 4 minutes.
Healthy Chicken Broccoli Quinoa Casserole FAQs
Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh?
Since frozen broccoli releases moisture as it cooks, subbing fresh for frozen could affect this casserole. I recommend using fresh but if you don’t have it, I would saute the frozen broccoli for a few minutes to help it thaw before adding to the casserole.
Can this recipe be made gluten-free?
This recipe is naturally gluten-free! If necessary, look for certified gluten-free quinoa, bacon cornstarch and spices.
How can I make this casserole vegetarian?
You could substitute cannellini or great northern beans for the chicken and omit the bacon to make this casserole vegetarian.
Can I prepare this casserole ahead of time?
Yes! This casserole is great for food prep. Simply cook it when you have time and reheat the leftovers when you’re ready to eat them.
How should I store and reheat the leftover broccoli chicken quinoa casserole?
Store the casserole in a glass storage container and reheat in the microwave or warm in the oven!
Can I freeze this casserole?
Yes! I love to use Souper Cubes (aff link) to freeze this casserole in 1 or 2 cup portions and then reheat to eat in the future.
Can I add other vegetables to this chicken and broccoli quinoa casserole?
You could easily mix in vegetables like corn, bell peppers, or green beans. I would not recommend adding firmer vegetables like potatoes or carrots unless they diced very small to ensure they cook.
Is there a dairy-free version of this recipe? What can I substitute for cheese?
This recipe is not dairy-free but you could try this Easy Broccoli Quinoa casserole from Ela Vegan.
Looking for a similar recipe with the quinoa cooked ahead of time? Try one of these:
- Creamy Chicken Broccoli and Quinoa Casserole
- Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
- Roasted Broccoli, Chicken & Cheddar Bake
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
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Thank you for sending me this recipe when in your testing phases Lindsay! I added fried onions to the top in the last ten min. And everyone loved it!!
This was good but the instructions could have been clearer. For the first “pan”, I used a ceramic casserole dish with a lid but a rectangle pyrex would do. For the second “pan”, I used a medium sized skillet, melted the butter on medium heat, added the leeks , then after saute-ing them for 3-4 minutes, reduced the heat to medium low to add the milk and cheese. I left out the bacon as a personal preference. I may try this again with other veggies like zucchini or asparagus.