This Tex-Mex crock pot hen quinoa casserole is a straightforward dinner recipe loaded with hearty quinoa, shredded rotisserie hen, salsa, black beans, and veggies. Layer the whole lot within the sluggish cooker and let it go!
Love quinoa? Identical. And in case you love the flavors on this crock pot casserole, take a look at these simple quinoa stuffed peppers and this quinoa Southwestern salad.
Inspiration for this never-fail hen quinoa casserole got here from considered one of my favourite cookbooks by my pal and colleague, Trish, from Mother on Time Out. She’s a grasp of turning hen leftovers into new, scrumptious meals! This crock pot hen and quinoa casserole is one such dinner. I believe I’d eat it each night time if I might. It has all of my favourite Tex-Mex substances, together with salsa, black beans, candy corn, chilies, and queso, cooked along with juicy shredded rotisserie hen and hearty quinoa within the crock pot.
What’s to Love About This Rooster Casserole Recipe?
- Daring flavors. I’m an enormous fan of tacky, zesty, Mexican-inspired casseroles like hen enchiladas (a basic), King Ranch hen, and my simple salsa verde hen. So, naturally, this quinoa casserole loaded with gooey melty cheese, hen, and Tex-Mex flavors matches the invoice.
- Tasty textures. There’s loads of crunchy quinoa, tender hen, juicy corn, and hearty beans to go round, right here. Each chunk packs a scrumptious mixture of textures and flavors, all wrapped in cheese. You possibly can’t beat it.
- Cooked within the crock pot. I’ll take any excuse to whip out my crock pot. Who doesn’t love a meal that makes itself? Simply add the whole lot to the sluggish cooker and say “hasta la vista” till mealtime.
- Make it forward. Not solely can I set this casserole to prepare dinner and overlook about it for the day, however it’s additionally an excellent dinner to make forward. Leftovers retailer, freeze, and reheat effectively and the flavors get even higher with time.
Components You’ll Want
I like quinoa as a substitute for rice or pasta in the whole lot from a hen broccoli casserole to stuffed tomatoes. It’s a healthful little grain with a hearty, fluffy texture, and it’s a good way to stretch substances like hen in recipes!
Beneath, you’ll discover some fast recipe notes. Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card for the total substances record with quantities.
- Rooster – This recipe requires store-bought or home made rotisserie hen. Any cooked, leftover hen does the trick, although.
- Quinoa – This may be white, pink, black, or tri-colored quinoa. You’ll discover quinoa in the identical aisle because the rice in most main grocery shops.
- Corn and Beans – Canned candy corn and black beans, rinsed and drained earlier than you begin. You possibly can swap black beans for one more variety, like pinto beans or kidney beans in case you favor.
- Salsa – Use your favourite model of jarred pink salsa from the shop. In case you have a home made salsa recipe, that works, too.
- Rooster Broth – I take advantage of low-sodium hen broth, however you may also use vegetable inventory.
- Shredded Cheese – Any Mexican cheese mix, like the type from Previous El Paso, works completely right here. In any other case, you need to use freshly grated cheddar or one other melty variety, like Monterey Jack cheese.
- Diced Inexperienced Chilies – I take advantage of a can of diced inexperienced chilies. For those who’d favor to make use of recent, cube up jalapeño or poblano peppers as a substitute.
- Queso Fresco – Translating to “recent cheese”! That is one other kind of Mexican cheese that’s gentle and crumbly, a bit like feta. You possibly can substitute feta cheese in a pinch.
- Seasonings – Floor cumin, plus salt and pepper to style. For those who’d like, you possibly can swap the cumin for taco seasoning.
Casserole Toppings
Whilst you’re gathering your substances, you may as effectively spherical up some scrumptious toppings! I like garnishing this casserole with dollops of bitter cream and recent chopped cilantro when serving. However why cease there? These are a couple of extra taco-style toppings we’ve tried and liked with this quinoa casserole over time:
- Diced tomatoes
- Avocado or guacamole
- Sliced inexperienced onions
- Black or inexperienced olives
- Further salsa
- Enchilada sauce (in case you prefer it spicy!)
Easy methods to Make Rooster Quinoa Casserole
You can also make this recipe in a 4- or 5-quart sluggish cooker by following the steps under:
- Mix the substances. It’s as simple as loading up your crockpot or sluggish cooker with the whole lot you see on the substances record, aside from 1 cup of hen broth and about 4 ounces of shredded cheese.
- Prime with broth and cheese. Easy out the highest of the substances, and pour over the reserved broth. Sprinkle on a remaining layer of cheese.
- Prepare dinner. Set your casserole to prepare dinner for 6-8 hours on Low, or 4 hours on Excessive. The quinoa must be cooked via and the cheese must be melted and bubbly.
- Serve! Dish up the hen quinoa casserole together with your favourite taco toppings (see above). I additionally embody some simple serving concepts in a while.
Ideas and Variations
- Rinse the quinoa beforehand. Some quinoa doesn’t require rinsing, however it doesn’t harm to run the dry quinoa below chilly water for a minute or two (I take advantage of a tremendous mesh strainer) to take away any bitterness earlier than cooking.
- Use any leftover hen. This hen quinoa casserole is a good excuse to make use of up a rotisserie hen, however be happy to make use of any cooked leftover hen you might have within the fridge. I’ll typically use baked hen breasts and even leftover beer can hen.
- Make it spicy. This recipe makes a kid-friendly, delicate casserole as written, however in case you’d favor yours with a little bit of kick, it’s very adaptable. Use sizzling diced inexperienced chilies, or amp up the warmth with recent jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or crushed pink chili flakes.
- Substitute the quinoa. If wanted, swap quinoa for one more grain like long-grain rice, millet, or barley. You may also strive couscous for a wheat-based possibility.
- Bulk up the veggies. Add quick-cooking greens like diced bell peppers, tomatoes, or mushrooms to the crock pot for much more veggies in each chunk.
Serving Options
With or and not using a few toppings, this simple hen quinoa dish is an ideal weeknight casserole served as-is. I often simply have a aspect of lime wedges to squeeze on high and dinner rolls readily available to take in the leftover salsa! For those who’re searching for extra methods to spherical out dinner, serve this quinoa casserole with an avocado salad or elote (Mexican road corn), or a starter of creamy corn dip with tortilla chips. I additionally love these enjoyable Southwest egg rolls. And for dessert, strive a batch of spicy Mexican sizzling chocolate fudge.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Switch the casserole to an hermetic container and let it cool fully earlier than refrigerating. It lasts for 3-4 days within the fridge.
- Reheat. I prefer to reheat this casserole in an oven-safe dish, lined with aluminum foil, at 350ºF for 15-20 minutes till it’s heated via.
- Freeze. You possibly can freeze this hen casserole for as much as 3 months. Thaw the casserole within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Extra Methods to Use Leftover Rooster
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Mix all of the substances. Add all of the substances to a 4 to 5-quart sluggish cooker aside from 4 ounces of shredded cheese and 1 cup of hen broth. Easy excessive.
Prime with extra broth and cheese. Add the remaining broth and shredded cheese over the substances.
Prepare dinner. Cowl with a lid and prepare dinner on LOW for six to eight hours or on HIGH for 4 hours, or till the quinoa is totally cooked.
Get pleasure from! Serve this hen quinoa casserole together with your alternative of toppings.
Energy: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 40g | Fats: 20g | Saturated Fats: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 6g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 1789mg | Potassium: 1019mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 916IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 657mg | Iron: 5mg
Dietary data is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could differ in response to the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
