Broccoli Quinoa Chicken Casserole (Printable)

Hearty blend of chicken, quinoa, and steamed broccoli topped with melted cheese. Simple and nutritious comfort dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Grains & Base

01 - 2 cups cooked quinoa (about 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 just tender

→ Dairy

05 - 2 cups shredded cheese, divided (cheddar, mozzarella, or blend)
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 - Cook quinoa according to package directions if not already prepared. Allow to cool slightly.
03 - Steam broccoli florets in 1/2 inch water, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until bright green and tender. Drain well.
04 - In 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 combined.
05 - Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Press down gently to create an even layer.
06 - Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese evenly over the top.
07 - Cover dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and bake for 5 to 10 minutes additional until cheese is melted and bubbly.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Portion into bowls and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd expect, making it perfect for those nights when you need dinner on the table without the stress.
  • Assemble it ahead and let the fridge do the heavy lifting—or pop an unbaked version straight into the freezer for future you.
  • One dish, real protein, actual vegetables, and that melted cheese moment that makes everything taste like you tried harder than you did.
02 -
  • Don't skip the broccoli steaming step and then add it raw—steaming gives it just enough tenderness so it absorbs flavors while staying textured, and dry broccoli releases moisture into the casserole as it bakes.
  • That 5-minute rest at the end isn't just nice-to-have; it gives the egg time to set properly so your casserole doesn't fall apart when you serve it.
03 -
  • Drain your steamed broccoli really thoroughly—I learned this the hard way when a watery casserole taught me that broccoli releases moisture as it bakes.
  • Let your quinoa cool before mixing it with the egg so you don't accidentally scramble the egg and end up with little cooked bits throughout the casserole.
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