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Home » Creative Recipes » Recipe Attributes » Casserole » Chicken Casserole Recipes » Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

BY: Michele
PUBLISHED: Jan 16, 2015
UPDATED: Sep 10, 2023
17 Reviews / 4.4 Average
Featured Comment
My favorite!! I make it often and freeze in single servings!! Favorite go to lunch!
Lucretia
33 More Comments
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Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole is a twist on a favorite classic comfort-food casserole, Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole, because instead of rice, it uses high-protein, gluten-free quinoa to make it healthy yet delicious.

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

I love the classic comfort food casseroles, like the broccoli cheese casserole my Mom made when I was a kid. It was always a favorite of mine. It was so comforting on a cold day, or when I had a bad day, and no matter what was going on in my life, it made me happy whenever my Mom made it.

However, as an adult, I am looking for the flavor, and creamy comforting texture, like this Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta, King Ranch Chicken Casserole, or Chicken Tetrazzini with Asiago Cream Sauce, but not all the preservatives in the canned soups, etc. So I tweaked the famous Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole.

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Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

I tweaked the recipe to ditch the canned soups and use high protein, gluten-free quinoa.  It still takes fantastic, and is a one dish casserole, and freezes well. It would also be a wonderful dish for a put luck or church supper.

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

In addition, it is a fantastic (and yummy) way to use up leftovers, feed a crowd, and not break the bank because it is budget-friendly. I recommend using leftover chicken in the dish. It works well with leftover Cajun Blackened Chicken, or Pan Seared Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs (Chicken Breasts could be substituted). or Chicken Piccata.

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

Now it is your turn.  Leave a comment, answering the question:  For which occasion you will serve Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole?

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On your way to the printable recipe, be sure to check out these other amazing recipes! Continue scrolling down for the Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole printable recipe.

If you like this recipe be sure to try my Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Chicken And Rice Casserole for when you want comfort food fast!

For another cheesy chicken casserole, try my Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta.

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Bake

Or try my Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells.

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells

Chicken Tetrazzini with Asiago Cream Sauce

Chicken Tetrazzini with Asiago Cream Sauce

Cheesy Chicken Skillet Pasta

Cheesy Chicken Skillet Pasta

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Recipe

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4.36 from 17 votes

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole Recipe

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole is a twist on a favorite classic comfort-food casserole, Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole, because instead of rice, it uses high-protein, gluten-free quinoa to make it healthy yet delicious.
Course Chicken, Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Keyword Chicken, Chicken Broccoli Quinoa Casserole, Chicken Casserole
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour
Servings 6
Calories 381kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

  • 3 cups low sodium chicken broth divided
  • 1 cup quinoa rinsed and drained
  • 3 cups broccoli florets cut into bite size pieces
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup celery chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 Tablespoons gluten-free or all purpose flour I used gluten-free flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 chicken breasts cooked, shredded or cut into bite size pieces
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
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Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray then set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan, over high heat, bring 2 cups low sodium chicken broth to a boil. Stir in the rinsed and drained quinoa. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until almost all the liquid has been absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat then let sit, covered, for 10 minutes and set aside.
  • In a large microwave-safe bowl, add the broccoli florets and 1/4 cup of water. Heat in the microwave for 2 minutes until the broccoli florets are bright green and slightly tender. Set aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and melt one tablespoon of butter. Add chopped onion and chopped celery and saute for about 5 minutes until the onions are soft. Add minced garlic and saute for about 1 minute.
  • Sprinkle in flour (gluten-free flour, if desired) and stir to cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium. Slowly pour in 1 cup low sodium chicken broth, followed by one cup of milk, stirring to avoid lumps. Add poultry seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Turn heat back down to low then simmer until slightly thickened, 5 minutes.
  • Remove skillet from heat then pour sauce into the large bowl of broccoli. Add cooked quinoa, cooked chicken, and half the cheese and then stir to combine.
  • Pour mixture into prepared 9×13 baking dish then sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly on top. Place the baking dish on top of a baking sheet in case of bubble overs then bake for 20-25 minutes or until top is golden brown and bubbly. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 313mg | Potassium: 807mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 570IU | Vitamin C: 42.9mg | Calcium: 187mg | Iron: 2.9mg

Filed Under: American, Bake, Budget-friendly, Casserole, Chicken, Chicken Casserole Recipes, Comfort Food, Dinner, Fall Recipes, Freezer Food, Gluten Free, Healthy, Holiday Leftover Recipes, Low Carb, Low Fat, Lunch, Make Ahead, One Pot Meals, Pot Luck, Spring Recipes Tagged With: broccoli, Casserole, cheese, chicken, chicken casserole, comfort food, Freezer food, One Pot Wonder, potluck, quinoa

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Reader Interactions

Michele F - Owner / Founder / Creator / Blogger at Flavor Mosaic
Michele

Hi, I’m Michele Feuerborn, wife, and dog Mom, with 20+ years experience as a home cook. I’m the Founder of Flavor Mosaic, as well as the author, recipe developer, and photographer. I share fast, easy, flavorful recipes with bold flavors, featuring Instant Pot recipes and Southern and Mexican cuisines.

Comments

  1. pam (Sidewalk Shoes) says

    January 17, 2015 at 9:31 am

    I’ve been in a casserole kind of mood lately. This looks perfect!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 17, 2015 at 1:36 pm

      Yay! I’m happy this one fits the bill.

      Reply
  2. kristy @ the wicked noodle says

    January 17, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    What an awesome, healthy casserole! I love that you revamped one of my favorite casseroles and didn’t use any canned soup – well done!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 17, 2015 at 4:56 pm

      Thank you Kristy!

      Reply
  3. Renee ~ The Good Hearted Woman says

    January 17, 2015 at 6:02 pm

    Quinoa is one of my favorite grains, and I am always looking for a new way to prepare it. This looks healthy and very appetizing. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 18, 2015 at 5:57 am

      Thank you! It is definitely both of those.

      Reply
  4. Jennifer Orr Finocchiaro says

    January 19, 2015 at 5:43 pm

    I can’t wait to make this but I have a couple questions. The ingredient list calls for 2 cups broth but the instructions call out a total of 3 cups. Can you clarify? When do I add the panko? My guess is on top with the cup of cheese.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 19, 2015 at 8:49 pm

      Hi Jennifer. Thank your for your questions. I have updated the instructions to clarify. You are correct that there is a total of 3 cups of broth: 2 cups to cook the quinoa and 1 cup to add to the sauce for casserole. You are correct also about the bread crumbs. You sprinkle those evenly on top of the casserole just before baking. I hope you enjoy it.

      Reply
  5. Valerie says

    August 18, 2015 at 1:56 pm

    This looks delicious. I can’t wait to try it. I have one question about cooking the broccoli. Will I be able to steam my broccoli instead of cooking it in the microwave?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      August 18, 2015 at 8:00 pm

      Hi Valerie, yes. You could certainly steam your broccoli.

      Reply
  6. Shannon says

    November 19, 2015 at 12:10 pm

    Is it possible to bake the whole thing in the Dutch oven (5 quart)? Is the cooking time the same if I double the recipe?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      November 21, 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Shannon, since I have not cooked this particular casserole in a dutch oven, I can’t give you first hand advice. However, anytime you double the recipe and cook it in a different type of pan, it will change the cooking time. The changes you mention would significantly increase the cook time. The dutch oven is much deeper and may also affect the texture of the dish.

      Reply
  7. Joy says

    November 30, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    This sounds Delicious. I am subsituteing chicken with Turkey!!!

    Reply
  8. Michelle says

    March 4, 2016 at 10:19 am

    Wonder if I could make this in the crock pot for my weekday lunches? Anyone have any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      March 7, 2016 at 4:32 pm

      I have never made this in a crockpot. So I can’t say. If I were to try it I would probably cut back on the chicken broth by about 1/2 cup to try to prevent it from being soggy. If you try it in the crockpot, please let us know how it worked out for you.

      Reply
  9. Jessica says

    April 21, 2016 at 5:53 pm

    I made this and it’s delish!!! Great recipe! Do you think I could freeze it for a quick meal option?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      April 22, 2016 at 7:13 am

      Hi Jessica, I have not tried freezing it before baking. However, I think it should be fine to freeze it before baking.

      Reply
  10. Jessica says

    April 21, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    Turned out great! Do you think I could freeze this before baking?

    Reply
  11. lauri blevins says

    May 11, 2016 at 6:00 am

    Hey Michele
    Recipe looks amazing love idea of no can soup. Question can you make this ahead of time day before you eat it? Going out of town wanting to make for husband.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      May 11, 2016 at 1:16 pm

      Hi Lauri. Yes. You could make it ahead of time the day before you eat it.

      Reply
  12. Amar Kumar says

    July 27, 2016 at 7:01 am

    Hey Michele,

    Glad to read your wonderful healthy post.

    In your recipe, there is two things which i love most first one broccoli and second is quinoa.

    These two ingredients are mainly present in my menu, they are so healthy for us. I am looking for strange kind of recipe which consist these ingredients.

    Your dish yields maximum proteins and very delicious. Here i have found, your instruction is so simple to make me dare to prepare your recipe.

    Eventually, thanks for sharing your valuable post with us.

    Amar kumar

    With best regards,

    Reply
  13. Andrea says

    August 16, 2016 at 5:32 pm

    This looks amazing! Wondering if the milk could be eliminated? We dont drink milk. Thank you!

    Reply
  14. Michele says

    August 17, 2016 at 9:43 am

    Hi Andrea, you could use something like almond milk, cashew milk, or soy milk instead.

    Reply
  15. Kristina says

    December 15, 2017 at 7:23 am

    I made this last night for the family and it was a big hit! This was definitely the most flavorful quinoa casserole I’ve made. I didn’t have enough milk on hand so I used plain greek yogurt instead and it worked wonderfully. I will be making this again! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Michele says

      December 15, 2017 at 7:26 pm

      Hi Kristina, That is wonderful! I’m so happy to hear that. Thank you for coming back here to let me know. It is a favorite of my family’s also.

      Reply
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Michele F - Owner / Founder / Creator / Blogger at Flavor Mosaic

Hi, I’m Michele, a home cook with 20+ years experience. I created Flavor Mosaic as a place to share our favorite fast, easy, and flavorful creative recipes with bold flavors, including Southern, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Instant Pot recipes.
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