Chicken Quinoa Casserole with Broccoli

This was one of the other recipes I wanted to try for my Secret Recipe Club post this month, but I chose the Tuna Enchiladas, which I happen to have made for dinner again tonight.  Only this time I used a can of salmon instead of the tuna.  So good! My SRC recipes often become favorites around here.

I made this casserole a week or so ago, and I see why Cathleen called it her new favorite casserole.  It is excellent!  I'd tried quinoa a time or two in the past, but I hadn't really been impressed.  But this?  This casserole makes me love it.  There's just something about the texture of the quinoa and all the flavors.  Everything goes together so well.  You should definitely try this.  Soon.

A little melted cheese on top doesn't hurt, either.

Chicken Quinoa Casserole with Broccoli
adapted from A Taste of Madness

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp. chicken seasoning (I used Canadian Chicken seasoning)
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed (I used 1/2 red quinoa and 1/2 white)
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced in thin strips
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
• 3 cups broccoli, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup hot water, from steaming broccoli

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
2. In a large nonstick pan (preferably oven-safe), bring the chicken broth to a low boil. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, chicken seasoning and flour until fully combined. Slowly add the flour mixture to the boiling liquid and mix until smooth and bubbly.
3. Stir in 1 cup water and the quinoa. Place the chicken strips over the quinoa mixture and sprinkle with salt and chili powder. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. (If your pan isn't oven safe at 400˚, pour the mixture into a greased 13x9" baking dish before adding the chicken.)
4. While the casserole is in the oven, steam the broccoli until tender. Set broccoli aside and reserve 1 cup of the hot water.
5. Remove the casserole from the oven, and add the broccoli and up to 1 cup of the hot water until the consistency is creamy and can be easily stirred in the pan. Sprinkle with the cheese, and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

I recently got a gorgeous ceramic nonstick pan that worked perfectly for this.  I figured why use a separate baking dish if I don't have to?  Fewer dishes, right?  Even though I really don't mind washing dishes...

 

I'm not exactly sure what chicken seasoning the recipe referred to, so I used some Weber Canadian Chicken seasoning.  I visited their webpage but couldn't find it listed, so I'm not sure if it's available anymore or not, but it's similar to this Montreal Chicken seasoning. The flavor was really good, and now I'm thinking of ways to use this seasoning for things besides just grilling chicken.  I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of it before.

 

I will definitely be making this again.  I'm now wondering how it would turn out to mix everything up and put it all in the crockpot instead of baking it.  I'm thinking of using some chopped cooked chicken and just mixing in a 16-oz. bag of frozen chopped broccoli, and then letting it all cook together.  I think it would be great for a potluck.

Chicken, Potatoes, and Broccoli in Creamy Mustard Sauce

I've been making this occasionally for several years. It's easy, creamy, and flavorful, and cooks in one skillet.  That makes it pretty much perfect in my book.

Chicken, Potatoes, and Broccoli in Creamy Mustard Sauce
adapted from American Heart Association One Dish Meals

Ingredients:

• 1 T olive oil
• 1/2 a medium onion, diced
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
• 4 medium red potatoes, unpeeled and quartered
• 1 cup chicken broth
•  16-oz. package frozen chopped broccoli
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 T Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oil in large deep skillet over medium high heat.  Add onion and cook for a couple minutes before adding chicken.  Cook chicken for 5 to 6 minutes, until browned, stirring occasionally.
2. Stir in potatoes and broth.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced.
3. Stir in the broccoli.  Simmer, covered for 5 minutes or until broccoli is tender crisp.
4. Stir in remaining ingredients and cook until mixture is warmed through and bubbly, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serves 4 

I don't always have red potatoes, so I just use ordinary Russets which I usually peel.  I also sometimes use a spicy mustard instead of the Dijon.  Either way, it turns out really good.

Of course, since it was a recipe from an American Heart Association cookbook, the original recipe called for low sodium chicken broth and reduced-fat, reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup.  I don't buy those and am not convinced they're any 'healthier' than the regular kind, so I don't use them.  Feel free to substitute the kind you usually use.