Broccoli Quinoa Casserole (Print)

Wholesome bake with chicken, quinoa, broccoli, and creamy cheese perfect for easy meals and meal prep.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains & Base

01 - 2 cups cooked quinoa (approximately 3/4 cup dry)

→ Protein

02 - 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
03 - 1 large egg

→ Vegetables

04 - 3 cups broccoli florets, steamed until tender

→ Dairy

05 - 2 cups shredded cheese, divided
06 - 1/2 cup low sodium chicken stock

→ Seasonings

07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 9-inch baking dish with oil or nonstick spray.
02 - If not already prepared, cook the quinoa according to package directions and allow to cool slightly.
03 - Steam broccoli florets in 1/2 inch water, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain thoroughly.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa, cooked chicken, steamed broccoli, egg, chicken stock, 1 cup shredded cheese, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until evenly incorporated.
05 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and press gently to create an even layer.
06 - Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese evenly over the top.
07 - Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Portion into bowls and enjoy hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did.
  • Your leftovers stay fresh and delicious for four days, which means fewer decisions at lunchtime.
  • The whole thing freezes beautifully, so you can assemble it on a calm Sunday and bake it on a chaotic Wednesday.
02 -
  • If you skip the 5-minute resting period and serve it immediately, it'll be too loose and won't hold its shape on the plate, so fight the urge to dive in right away.
  • Steaming the broccoli until just tender is crucial; if you boil it or steam it too long, it turns mushy and gray instead of staying vibrant.
03 -
  • Buy pre-cooked rotisserie chicken whenever it's on sale and shred it yourself; it's cheaper than pre-shredded and tastes better.
  • Don't skip cooling the quinoa and broccoli slightly before mixing, because hot ingredients can partially cook the egg and create weird texture issues.
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