creamy chicken quinoa and broccoli casserole

Th�s Creamy Ch�cken Qu�noa and Broccol� Casserole �s made from scratch w�th healthy �ngred�ents.

INGRED�ENTS

• 2 cups reduced sod�um ch�cken broth
• 1 cup m�lk (� used 2%)
• 1 teaspoon poultry season�ng
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 cups water, d�v�ded
• 1 cup uncooked qu�noa, r�nsed
• 1/4 cup cooked, crumbled bacon (opt�onal� sort of)
• 1 pound boneless sk�nless ch�cken breasts
• 2 teaspoons season�ng (l�ke Emer�l�s Essence or any bas�c blend you l�ke)
• 1/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (any k�nd w�ll work)
• 3 cups fresh broccol� florets

INSTRUCT�ONS

1. Sauce: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and generously grease a 9�13 bak�ng d�sh (ser�ously, be generous because �t really really st�cks to the s�des). Br�ng the ch�cken broth and 1/2 cup m�lk to a low bo�l �n a saucepan. Wh�sk the other 1/2 cup m�lk w�th the poultry season�ng and flour; add the m�xture to the bo�l�ng l�qu�d and wh�sk unt�l a smooth creamy sauce forms.
2. Assembly: �n a large bowl, m�x the sauce from step one, one cup water, qu�noa, and bacon and st�r to comb�ne. Pour the m�xture �nto the prepared bak�ng d�sh. Sl�ce the ch�cken breasts �nto th�n str�ps and lay the ch�cken breasts str�ps over the top of the qu�noa m�xture. Spr�nkle w�th the season�ng. Bake uncovered for 30 m�nutes.
3. Broccol�: Wh�le the casserole �s �n the oven, place the broccol� �n bo�l�ng water for 1 m�nute unt�l �t turns br�ght green and then run under cold water. Set as�de.
4. Bake: Remove the casserole from the oven, check the m�xture by st�rr�ng �t around �n the pan, and �f needed, bake for an add�t�onal 10-15 m�nutes to get the r�ght cons�stency. When the qu�noa and ch�cken are cooked and the sauce �s th�ckened, add the broccol� and a l�ttle b�t of water (up to one cup) unt�l the cons�stency �s creamy and smooth and you can st�r �t up eas�ly �n the pan. Top w�th the cheese and bake for 5 m�nutes, or just long enough to melt the cheese.

Recipe Adapted From pinchofyum