Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa Casserole

Pin It

My inspiration for this recipe came from wanting to do a healthier remake of the classic comfort dish Broccoli Rice Casserole. This recipe leaves out the butter, cans of condensed soup, and uses quinoa instead of rice. Even though it's inspired by broccoli rice casserole, it's not your typical ooey-gooey casserole. We love it just the way it is, but adding 1-2 beaten eggs to the mix before baking will help achieve a little bit more of a typical casserole consistency if that's what you prefer.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups dry quinoa
1/2 onion
2-3 cloves garlic
1 large head broccoli (or 3-4 cups broccoli florets)
8 oz. mushrooms
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, more for topping
1 tsp. paprika
Salt/pepper
1-2 eggs, lightly beaten (optional)

Directions
Rinse quinoa well. Cook in 3 cups boiling, salted water for 15-20 minutes, or according to package directions.
Meanwhile, dice onion and mushrooms, mince garlic, and chop broccoli florets.
Preheat oven to 375.
Saute onion and mushrooms with salt over medium-high heat for about 5-7 minutes or until slightly softened. Remove any extra liquid from the mushrooms.
Steam broccoli for 2-3 minutes.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients with the hot quinoa. Mix well.
Add to a lightly sprayed 9x13 baking dish. Spread out mixture evenly and lightly press down. Sprinkle additional cheddar cheese on top.
Bake for about 15-20 minutes.


{Freezing instructions}
You can freeze this before or after baking. If freezing after baking, let it cool completely before freezing.
Place in a freezer safe and oven safe container. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, then foil.
Before serving, it's best to thaw casserole in the refrigerator overnight if possible. If not, be sure to leave extra time for baking.
Heat in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes or until center is hot. Add additional time if casserole isn't thawed completely before baking, checking every 10-15 minutes. If the top is browning too quickly, cover with foil and continue baking until heated through.

Tip: you can also freeze smaller portions in individual containers to reheat a single serving or a couple servings at a time.

{Printer Friendly Version}