This Tex-Mex crock pot rooster quinoa casserole is a simple dinner recipe loaded with hearty quinoa, shredded rotisserie rooster, salsa, black beans, and veggies. Layer every thing within the gradual cooker and let it go!
Love quinoa? Identical. And for those who love the flavors on this crock pot casserole, try these straightforward quinoa stuffed peppers and this quinoa Southwestern salad.
Inspiration for this never-fail rooster quinoa casserole got here from certainly one of my favourite cookbooks by my good friend and colleague, Trish, from Mother on Time Out. She’s a grasp of turning rooster leftovers into new, scrumptious meals! This crock pot rooster and quinoa casserole is one such dinner. I feel I’d eat it each night time if I may. It has all of my favourite Tex-Mex elements, together with salsa, black beans, candy corn, chilies, and queso, cooked along with juicy shredded rotisserie rooster 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 rooster enchiladas (a traditional), King Ranch rooster, and my straightforward salsa verde rooster. So, naturally, this quinoa casserole loaded with gooey melty cheese, rooster, and Tex-Mex flavors suits the invoice.
- Tasty textures. There’s loads of crunchy quinoa, tender rooster, 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 every thing to the gradual 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 awesome dinner to make forward. Leftovers retailer, freeze, and reheat nicely and the flavors get even higher with time.
Components You’ll Want
I really like quinoa as a substitute for rice or pasta in every thing from a rooster broccoli casserole to stuffed tomatoes. It’s a healthful little grain with a hearty, fluffy texture, and it’s an effective way to stretch elements like rooster in recipes!
Beneath, you’ll discover some fast recipe notes. Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card for the complete elements checklist with quantities.
- Hen – This recipe requires store-bought or do-it-yourself rotisserie rooster. Any cooked, leftover rooster 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 an additional sort, like pinto beans or kidney beans for those who choose.
- Salsa – Use your favourite model of jarred pink salsa from the shop. If in case you have a do-it-yourself salsa recipe, that works, too.
- Hen Broth – I take advantage of low-sodium rooster broth, however you may also 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 need to use freshly grated cheddar or one other melty sort, like Monterey Jack cheese.
- Diced Inexperienced Chilies – I take advantage of a can of diced inexperienced chilies. Should you’d choose 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. Should you’d like, you may swap the cumin for taco seasoning.
Casserole Toppings
When you’re gathering your elements, you may as nicely spherical up some scrumptious toppings! I really like garnishing this casserole with dollops of bitter cream and recent 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
- Additional salsa
- Enchilada sauce (for those who prefer it spicy!)
Make Hen Quinoa Casserole
You may make this recipe in a 4- or 5-quart gradual cooker by following the steps beneath:
- Mix the elements. It’s as straightforward as loading up your crockpot or gradual cooker with every thing you see on the elements checklist, other than 1 cup of rooster broth and about 4 ounces of shredded cheese.
- High with broth and cheese. Easy out the highest of the elements, and pour over the reserved broth. Sprinkle on a last layer of cheese.
- Prepare dinner. Set your casserole to prepare dinner for 6-8 hours on Low, or 4 hours on Excessive. The quinoa needs to be cooked via and the cheese needs to be melted and bubbly.
- Serve! Dish up the rooster 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, but it surely doesn’t damage to run the dry quinoa beneath chilly water for a minute or two (I take advantage of a nice mesh strainer) to take away any bitterness earlier than cooking.
- Use any leftover rooster. This rooster quinoa casserole is a superb excuse to make use of up a rotisserie rooster, however be happy to make use of any cooked leftover rooster you’ve gotten within the fridge. I’ll generally use baked rooster breasts and even leftover beer can rooster.
- Make it spicy. This recipe makes a kid-friendly, gentle casserole as written, however for those who’d choose 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 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 chunk.
Serving Recommendations
With or with no few toppings, this straightforward rooster quinoa dish is an ideal weeknight casserole served as-is. I often simply have a aspect of lime wedges to squeeze on prime and dinner rolls available to take in the leftover salsa! Should you’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, 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 via.
- Freeze. You possibly can freeze this rooster 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 elements. Add all of the elements to a 4 to 5-quart gradual cooker other than 4 ounces of shredded cheese and 1 cup of rooster broth. Easy excessive.
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High with extra broth and cheese. Add the remaining broth and shredded cheese over the elements.
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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.
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Get pleasure from! Serve this rooster 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 information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could fluctuate in line with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
