If you had told me a year, or even six months ago, that there would come a time that Shane would request quinoa for dinner, I would never have believed you. Frankly, it’s still not something I look forward to all that much. Of the dishes I’ve made, the buffalo chicken quinoa mac and cheese has been the biggest hit. While we both really like it, we would probably never choose it over traditional mac and cheese made with pasta if that were also an option.
Last month I discovered this baked quinoa chicken parmesan from Elly of Elly Says Opa, however, and all bets went out the window. It’s been on our menu nearly once a week since I first made it, and on more than one occasion it’s been because Shane specifically said “we should have that quinoa chicken parm again, it’s so good!” Words I never expected to hear from my meat and potatoes husband π In my opinion, the biggest compliment I can give this dish is that I’ve never eaten it and secretly wished the quinoa was pasta instead. You really won’t miss it one bit!
There are several components to this meal but they can all be prepped ahead of time so at the last minute all you have to do is assemble and bake. It definitely falls in the weeknight category here. And unless you’re feeding an army, this baked quinoa chicken parmesan will feed you for several days; we find the leftovers reheat very well. I love that it still feels very much like the comfort food I so crave during the winter, but with a healthier, more protein-packed twist!
It’s actually been a week or twice since I last made this dish, and I can almost guarantee that as soon as Shane sees the post he’s going to email me and ask when we’re having it again π
Baked Quinoa Chicken Parmesan
adapted just slightly from Elly Says Opa
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup quinoa
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray a 2-qt baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
To make the sauce: Add the oil to a large saucepan set over medium heat. When it shimmers, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, just until fragrant. Add the vinegar and scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Continue cooking until the vinegar is almost completely absorbed. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and allow to simmer as you continue with the recipe.
To make the quinoa: Add the quinoa to a fine-mesh strainer, and rinse well under cold water (if you don’t, it will have a bitter taste). Transfer the quinoa to a saucepan and add the chicken broth. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed.
Add the cooked quinoa and the chicken to the sauce and stir to combine. Add half of this mixture to the prepared baking dish then top with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Add the remaining half of the quinoa mixture and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella. Top with the Parmesan cheese and then the breadcrumbs.
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Garnish with the parsley before serving.
So…when are we having this again? π
My husband would love this & its a healthier than pasta option for me!! Amazing! Thanks!!
I would love this, Tracey! We are big fans of quinoa here. Love this creative dish!
I’ve been meaning to make this, as you know, and now I really need to make it!
I’m so glad you guys like this so much!
ooo I totally want this for dinner tonight! I have to pin this to make this at some point!
I bookmarked this back when Elly posted it but still haven’t gotten around to making it. Sounds like I should move it up the list pretty quick!
looks amazing and tasty
I’m going to give this a try. Like you I don’t look forward to quinoa. My kid loves it, however (go figure). This might trick me into liking it actually!
That’s awesome! I wonder if I can get my meat leaving husband to try this. π
Shane’s comment above cracks me up! Totally sounds like something that would come from my husband… Loving this recipe too!
Well if anything this just goes to prove that when people say they don’t like something, they really just mean that they don’t like the way they’ve had it prepared…I maintain there’s a recipe for every ingredient out there for everyone!
Shane enjoying quinoa? Never would have imagined that. LOL! Looks good!
Ok OK! I get it. I need to try quinoa. Really, drooling over my screen at this really makes me want to pull that bag I bought out of the pantry right now. (Hopefully I can get Handsome to request quinoa too!)
Just pinned this for later! We like quinoa, but I need more things to do with it, and this looks perfect!
I have tried several times to like quinoa but I just can’t seem to get used to it. But it kind of reminds me of cuzcuz (probably butchered that spelling) and I do like that stuff.
Despite my distaste for quinoa, this looks very delicious! π
This looks a warm and lovely dinner option. I love quinoa and chicken parm, what a great combination.
I’m loving this dish! I know I’d love it, and I’m guessing if Shane ate it, my husband would eat it too. π
Made this for my husband and I and it came out really delicious! Great recipe =)
This was a hit with everyone! Thanks π
Tracy I hopped over here from Erin’s blog. What a lovely dish this is, so yummy and healthy.
This looks amazing!! I too have a weakness for chicken parm π I will be making this tonight as my first shot at making something with quinoa. Any chance you have the nutritional info per serving?
And another good quinoa dish to try.