Get ready to satisfy your taste buds with this delicious and nutritious cashew chicken quinoa bake.
This one-dish meal packs a punch of flavor with its tender chicken, hearty quinoa, and crunchy cashews.
Not only is this casserole dish a crowd-pleaser, but it’s also loaded with high protein and veggies making it the perfect healthy dinner option for the whole family.
Say goodbye to unhealthy casserole dishes filled with condensed soups and cheese, and embrace this wholesome, comforting, and easy-to-make dish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of quinoa (uncooked)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or coconut oil cooking spray)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup cashew nuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- A couple of green onions for garnish
- Low sodium salt and pepper to taste
Cashew Chicken Quinoa Bake Recipe
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
Step 2
Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve and place it in a saucepan with the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
Step 3
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it is cooked through about 6 to 10 minutes.
Step 4
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, red pepper, and peas to the skillet and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
Step 5
Stir in the cashew nuts, soy sauce, honey, salt, and pepper.
Step 6
Transfer the quinoa and chicken mixture to a casserole dish and spread it out evenly.
Step 7
Cover the chicken casserole dish with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Step 8
Garnish the cashew chicken casserole quinoa bake with slightly salted green onion, a side of wild rice, and a few extra cashews.
Cashew chicken quinoa bake variations
You can try the following substitutes for your cashew chicken quinoa bake recipe:
Toppings: apart from green onion, you can also use the following topics with this chicken quinoa casserole dish: fresh lime juice or cilantro.
Veggies: you can try substituting the red peppers and frozen peas with a combination of other veggies like cauliflower and broccoli or beets and asparagus. You can also spice things up a little by adding some fresh ginger in the Step 4 of this recipe.
Expert Tips
Type of chicken: for this dish you can use both chicken breast of chicken tenderloins. Chicken tenderloins are often more budget-friendly.
Quinoa cooking tips: To prevent dry and crunchy quinoa, it’s important to fully immerse it in the liquid. The key to a successful quinoa casserole lies in getting the right liquid to quinoa ratio. Ensure a perfectly cooked dish by using a 2:1 liquid to quinoa ratio.
Equipment
Sauce pan to cook the quinoa
Casserole dish to bake the chicken quinoa bake
