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 part within the sluggish cooker and let it go!
Love quinoa? Identical. And should you love the flavors on this crock pot casserole, try these simple quinoa stuffed peppers and this quinoa Southwestern salad.
Inspiration for this never-fail hen quinoa casserole got here from one among 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 feel 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 Rooster Casserole Recipe?
- Daring flavors. I’m a giant 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 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’ll be able to’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 part 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 neglect about it for the day, but it surely’s additionally an excellent dinner to make forward. Leftovers retailer, freeze, and reheat nicely and the flavors get even higher with time.
Components You’ll Want
I like quinoa as an alternative choice to rice or pasta in every part from a hen broccoli casserole to stuffed tomatoes. It’s a healthful little grain with a hearty, fluffy texture, and it’s an effective way to stretch components like hen in recipes!
Beneath, you’ll discover some fast recipe notes. Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card for the complete components listing with quantities.
- Rooster – 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’ll be able to swap black beans for an additional type, like pinto beans or kidney beans should you want.
- Salsa – Use your favourite model of jarred crimson salsa from the shop. When you’ve got a do-it-yourself salsa recipe, that works, too.
- Rooster Broth – I take advantage of low-sodium hen broth, however you may as well use vegetable inventory.
- Shredded Cheese – Any Mexican cheese mix, like the type from Outdated El Paso, works completely right here. In any other case, you should utilize freshly grated cheddar or one other melty type, like Monterey Jack cheese.
- Diced Inexperienced Chilies – I take advantage of a can of diced inexperienced chilies. For those who’d want to make use of contemporary, cube up jalapeño or poblano peppers as a substitute.
- Queso Fresco – Translating to “contemporary cheese”! That is one other sort of Mexican cheese that’s gentle and crumbly, a bit like feta. You’ll be able to substitute feta cheese in a pinch.
- Seasonings – Floor cumin, plus salt and pepper to style. For those who’d like, you may swap the cumin for taco seasoning.
Casserole Toppings
Whilst you’re gathering your components, you would possibly as nicely spherical up some scrumptious toppings! I like garnishing this casserole with dollops of bitter cream and contemporary 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
- Additional salsa
- Enchilada sauce (should you prefer it spicy!)
Find out how to Make Rooster Quinoa Casserole
You may make this recipe in a 4- or 5-quart sluggish cooker by following the steps under:
- Mix the components. It’s as simple as loading up your crockpot or sluggish cooker with every part you see on the components listing, aside from 1 cup of hen broth and about 4 ounces of shredded cheese.
- Prime with broth and cheese. Clean out the highest of the components, and pour over the reserved broth. Sprinkle on a ultimate layer of cheese.
- Cook dinner. Set your casserole to prepare dinner for 6-8 hours on Low, or 4 hours on Excessive. The quinoa must be cooked by way of and the cheese must be melted and bubbly.
- Serve! Dish up the hen quinoa casserole along with your favourite taco toppings (see above). I additionally embody some simple serving concepts afterward.
Ideas and Variations
- Rinse the quinoa beforehand. Some quinoa doesn’t require rinsing, but it surely doesn’t damage to run the dry quinoa below chilly water for a minute or two (I take advantage of a advantageous 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 got 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, gentle casserole as written, however should 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 an additional grain like long-grain rice, millet, or barley. You may as well 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 Options
With or and not using a few toppings, this simple hen quinoa dish is an ideal weeknight casserole served as-is. I normally simply have a facet of lime wedges to squeeze on prime and dinner rolls readily available to take in the leftover salsa! For those who’re on the lookout 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, 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, lined with aluminum foil, at 350ºF for 15-20 minutes till it’s heated by way of.
- Freeze. You’ll be able to 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 components. Add all of the components to a 4 to 5-quart sluggish cooker aside from 4 ounces of shredded cheese and 1 cup of hen broth. Clean excessive.
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Prime with extra broth and cheese. Add the remaining broth and shredded cheese over the components.
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Cook 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.
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Get pleasure from! Serve this hen quinoa casserole along with your selection 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 information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could differ in accordance with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.