This Tex-Mex crock pot hen quinoa casserole is a simple dinner recipe loaded with hearty quinoa, shredded rotisserie hen, salsa, black beans, and veggies. Layer every thing within the gradual cooker and let it go!
Love quinoa? Identical. And in the event you love the flavors on this crock pot casserole, try these straightforward quinoa stuffed peppers and this quinoa Southwestern salad.
Inspiration for this never-fail hen quinoa casserole got here from one in every of my favourite cookbooks by my good friend 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 evening if I might. It has all of my favourite Tex-Mex components, 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 Hen Casserole Recipe?
- Daring flavors. I’m a giant fan of tacky, zesty, Mexican-inspired casseroles like hen enchiladas (a traditional), King Ranch hen, and my straightforward salsa verde hen. So, naturally, this quinoa casserole loaded with gooey melty cheese, hen, and Tex-Mex flavors suits the invoice.
- Tasty textures. There’s loads of crunchy quinoa, tender hen, juicy corn, and hearty beans to go round, right here. Each chew 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 every thing to the gradual cooker and say “hasta la vista” till mealtime.
- Make it forward. Not solely can I set this casserole to cook dinner and neglect about it for the day, however it’s additionally an amazing dinner to make forward. Leftovers retailer, freeze, and reheat nicely and the flavors get even higher with time.
Substances You’ll Want
I really like quinoa as an alternative choice to rice or pasta in every thing 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 components like hen in recipes!
Beneath, you’ll discover some fast recipe notes. Scroll right down to the printable recipe card for the complete components checklist with quantities.
- Hen – This recipe requires store-bought or do-it-yourself rotisserie hen. Any cooked, leftover hen does the trick, although.
- Quinoa – This may be white, crimson, 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 form, like pinto beans or kidney beans in the event you want.
- Salsa – Use your favourite model of jarred crimson salsa from the shop. You probably have a do-it-yourself salsa recipe, that works, too.
- Hen Broth – I exploit low-sodium hen broth, however it’s also possible to use vegetable inventory.
- Shredded Cheese – Any Mexican cheese mix, like the sort from Previous El Paso, works completely right here. In any other case, you should utilize freshly grated cheddar or one other melty form, like Monterey Jack cheese.
- Diced Inexperienced Chilies – I exploit a can of diced inexperienced chilies. If you happen to’d want to make use of contemporary, cube up jalapeño or poblano peppers as an alternative.
- Queso Fresco – Translating to “contemporary cheese”! That is one other sort 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. If you happen to’d like, you possibly can swap the cumin for taco seasoning.
Casserole Toppings
Whilst you’re gathering your components, you may as nicely spherical up some scrumptious toppings! I really like garnishing this casserole with dollops of bitter cream and contemporary chopped cilantro when serving. However why cease there? These are just a few extra taco-style toppings we’ve tried and beloved with this quinoa casserole over time:
- Diced tomatoes
- Avocado or guacamole
- Sliced inexperienced onions
- Black or inexperienced olives
- Further salsa
- Enchilada sauce (in the event you prefer it spicy!)
How you can Make Hen Quinoa Casserole
You can also make this recipe in a 4- or 5-quart gradual cooker by following the steps under:
- Mix the components. It’s as straightforward as loading up your crockpot or gradual cooker with every thing you see on the components checklist, aside from 1 cup of hen broth and about 4 ounces of shredded cheese.
- High with broth and cheese. Easy out the highest of the components, and pour over the reserved broth. Sprinkle on a closing layer of cheese.
- Prepare dinner. Set your casserole to cook dinner for 6-8 hours on Low, or 4 hours on Excessive. The quinoa must be cooked by means of 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 embrace some straightforward 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 exploit 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’ve gotten within the fridge. I’ll generally use baked hen breasts and even leftover beer can hen.
- Make it spicy. This recipe makes a kid-friendly, gentle casserole as written, however in the event you’d want yours with a little bit of kick, it’s very adaptable. Use sizzling diced inexperienced chilies, or amp up the warmth with contemporary jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or crushed crimson chili flakes.
- Substitute the quinoa. If wanted, swap quinoa for one more grain like long-grain rice, millet, or barley. You may also attempt couscous for a wheat-based choice.
- 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 chew.
Serving Ideas
With or with no few toppings, this straightforward hen quinoa dish is an ideal weeknight casserole served as-is. I normally simply have a facet of lime wedges to squeeze on high and dinner rolls available to absorb the leftover salsa! If you happen to’re in search of 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, attempt a batch of spicy Mexican sizzling chocolate fudge.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Switch the casserole to an hermetic container and let it cool utterly earlier than refrigerating. It lasts for 3-4 days within the fridge.
- Reheat. I wish to reheat this casserole in an oven-safe dish, coated with aluminum foil, at 350ºF for 15-20 minutes till it’s heated by means of.
- 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 Hen
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Mix all of the components. Add all of the components to a 4 to 5-quart gradual cooker aside from 4 ounces of shredded cheese and 1 cup of hen broth. Easy excessive.
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High with extra broth and cheese. Add the remaining broth and shredded cheese over the components.
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Prepare dinner. Cowl with a lid and cook dinner on LOW for six to eight hours or on HIGH for 4 hours, or till the quinoa is absolutely cooked.
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Take pleasure in! 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 might fluctuate in line with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
