This gentle and creamy hen and broccoli casserole is the right all-in-one meal. It’s made with tender hen, broccoli, tasty quinoa, and melty cheeses, all baked in a creamy, flavorful sauce.
Wholesome Hen and Broccoli Casserole
You’re in for a deal with! This sensational casserole combines the right medley of tastes and textures, from tender chunks of juicy hen to crunchy, vitamin-rich broccoli to chewy, nutty quinoa to not one, however two delectable cheeses! Your style buds are in for an unforgettable journey. The perfect half is that this scrumptious hodge-podge of great substances is mixed with a luscious and flavorful creamy sauce. The entire meal is baked right into a gloriously savory, tacky casserole that’s certain to have you ever coming again for seconds and thirds.
Whether or not you’re in search of a comforting household dinner or a dish to impress your friends, this hen and broccoli casserole will certainly be successful. Put together to savor a culinary masterpiece that can elevate your casserole sport to new heights of deliciousness!
Why You’ll Love This Hen Broccoli Casserole
Want somewhat motivation to hop within the kitchen and make this divine casserole? Listed below are only a few of the explanations you need to attempt it.
- Wholesome and nutritious. Filled with protein from tender hen and quinoa, and loaded with nutritional vitamins and minerals from broccoli, this casserole is a splendidly well-rounded, wholesome meal.
- The perfect taste combo. The wealthy, savory cheese mixed with the broccoli and nutty notes from the quinoa is sufficient to deal with your style buds to one thing completely different. Additionally, including a wealthy, creamy, garlicky sauce with simply the slightest kick of spice makes this dish irresistible.
- So many textures. The gentle, barely chewy quinoa subsequent to the tender hen, the slight crunch of the broccoli, and the ooey-gooey melted cheese is a texture mixture that can have you ever coming again for extra.
- Fast and simple. With nearly 20 minutes of lively time within the kitchen and some easy steps, you’ll quickly pop this hearty, wholesome casserole within the oven.
Tips on how to Make Hen and Broccoli Casserole
Prepared to start out cooking? Good! Right here’s a fast have a look at how you can make hen broccoli casserole with quinoa. For actual measurements and instructions, scroll down the web page to get to the recipe card.
Substances You’ll Want
- Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa in a high-quality mesh strainer till the water runs clear. This can take away some bitterness from the quinoa and any mud/residue it carries.
- Frozen broccoli florets: If utilizing recent broccoli, I counsel you first blanch them for a few minutes.
- Olive oil
- Boneless skinless hen breasts: Boneless skinless thighs will work as properly. Not a hen particular person? Attempt turkey as a substitute.
- Hen broth
- All function flour
- 1% milk: Be happy to make use of 2% or complete milk.
- Seasonings & Spices: garlic powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Decreased-fat shredded cheddar cheese: Full-fat will do exactly high-quality when you’d like. You can additionally use shredded pepper jack or mozzarella as a substitute.
- Shredded parmesan cheese: If you need a barely sharper taste, attempt shredded pecorino cheese as a substitute.
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 375˚F and grease a casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Begin layering. Unfold the quinoa within the backside of the casserole dish and high with broccoli.
- Brown the hen. Saute the hen in olive oil over medium-high warmth till browned on all sides. Unfold the hen over the broccoli.
- Make the sauce. Add the hen inventory to a saucepan over excessive warmth, whisk within the flour, and cook dinner till clean. Whisk within the milk, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook dinner till thickened.
- Put all of it collectively. Pour sauce into the casserole dish and blend to coat the entire substances. Sprinkle the cheeses.
- Bake. Cowl with foil and bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Can I Use Contemporary Broccoli?
I counsel not utilizing recent broccoli on this recipe as a result of it received’t cook dinner by way of within the oven. You possibly can steam the recent broccoli first, then add them to the casserole dish.
Can I Use Rice As an alternative Of Quinoa?
Rice will soak up completely different quantities of liquid than quinoa, and the cooking time will likely be completely different, so it’s greatest to precook the rice – simply boil till tender for white long-grain rice – and drain it earlier than utilizing it on this casserole.
Suggestions for Success
Should you’re aiming for the right casserole, comply with these easy suggestions and methods. They are going to enable you to obtain the top of casserole deliciousness.
- Rinse the quinoa. Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer beneath chilly water for two minutes. This won’t solely take away any residue and a number of the bitterness inherent within the grain, however it’ll additionally assist be sure that it cooks utterly within the oven.
- Brown the hen. Getting a pleasant caramelization on the hen earlier than including it to the casserole brings a whole lot of taste to the completed product, so don’t skip this step.
- Be affected person. It may be tempting to whisk collectively the entire substances for the sauce and add it to the casserole instantly however don’t do this. You actually wish to give the sauce an opportunity to thicken up on the stovetop. In any other case, you’ll end up with a runny casserole.
- Whisk, whisk, whisk. You should definitely whisk the sauce repeatedly because it cooks. This can assist forestall it from burning and can enable it to cook dinner and thicken evenly.
What to Serve with Hen Broccoli Casserole
This hen and broccoli casserole is a whole meal by itself however that doesn’t imply you may’t serve it with a favourite facet dish or two. Listed below are some ideas for you.
Tips on how to Retailer & Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Cool the casserole utterly earlier than wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or putting it in an hermetic container and storing it within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer. Cool the casserole to room temperature, wrap the dish tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap, or switch the contents of the casserole dish to an hermetic container. Retailer it within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Enable the casserole to thaw within the fridge earlier than reheating.
- To reheat. Switch the casserole to an oven-safe dish, cowl it with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 minutes at 350˚F or till heated by way of. Alternatively, switch the specified portion to a microwave-safe dish and microwave at 30-second intervals till heated by way of.
Extra Simple Casserole Recipes
Mud off your casserole dish and get impressed by these tasty, loaded casserole recipes. They’re good for even the busiest weeknights.
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Preheat oven to 375˚F.
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Grease a casserole dish with cooking spray and layer the quinoa on the underside of the casserole dish. Prime with the frozen broccoli and put aside.
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Warmth the olive oil in a frying pan. Add the hen items to the pan and cook dinner for two minutes or till browned on all sides. Switch the browned hen to the casserole dish. Put aside.
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Place a saucepan over excessive warmth; add hen broth and flour and whisk and cook dinner till clean, about 1 minute.
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Whisk within the milk, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, chili powder, salt, and pepper; proceed to cook dinner for 3 to 4 minutes or till thickened.
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Pour the sauce over the hen combination within the casserole dish; combine and stir to mix.
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Sprinkle the shredded cheeses excessive and canopy the casserole dish with foil.
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Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or till the casserole is bubbly and the quinoa is completely cooked.
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Take away from oven and let stand for 7 to eight minutes.
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Garnish with parsley and serve.
- Wash the quinoa beneath chilly water for two minutes in a high-quality mesh strainer. It removes any bitterness and helps it cook dinner evenly.
- Brown the hen first. It makes the casserole style higher, so don’t miss this half.
- Broccoli: Frozen broccoli works like a attraction right here. If you need to use recent broccoli, I counsel blanching them for about 2 minutes earlier than including them to the casserole.
- Rice vs. Quinoa: Rice will soak up completely different quantities of liquid than quinoa, and the cooking time will likely be completely different, so greatest to cook dinner the rice and drain it earlier than utilizing it on this casserole.
- Cheese decisions: I counsel utilizing reduced-fat shredded cheddar, however full-fat works too. You can too use shredded pepper jack cheese or mozzarella or no matter shredded cheeses you’ve readily available.
- Be affected person with the sauce. Let it thicken on the stovetop, otherwise you may need a watery mess. Hold whisking that sauce whereas it cooks; it’ll cease it from burning, and ensure it thickens up good.
- Storing Leftovers: Switch leftovers to a sealed container and maintain them within the fridge for about 3 days. To freeze it, place the casserole in a freezer-safe container, and maintain it within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
Energy: 410 kcal | Carbohydrates: 46 g | Protein: 29 g | Fats: 11 g | Saturated Fats: 3 g | Ldl cholesterol: 50 mg | Sodium: 322 mg | Potassium: 702 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 6 g | Vitamin A: 430 IU | Vitamin C: 0.7 mg | Calcium: 298 mg | Iron: 3.1 mg | Web Carbs: 43 g
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could differ based on the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
