Our Quinoa Broccoli and Cheese Casserole is a fan favorite! It’s made with just 7 ingredients and has 29g of protein per serving. Serve up this quinoa casserole recipe this Fall for the entire family!
Ah the casserole. I kid you not, here in Minnesota restaurants have these on the menu…they are everywhere! There is even a place called Haute Dish (aka Casserole) in Minneapolis. So today, I present you a healthier spin on the classic Broccoli and Cheese Casserole, but fully equipped with quinoa! In my opinion, our Quinoa Cheesy Broccoli Casserole is even better than the real thing because it has 29g of protein per serving without compromising any flavor. If you’re thinking the addition of quinoa is going to make this broccoli casserole take forever to prep, you’re wrong! You actually bake this casserole with uncooked quinoa and things are ready in 60 minutes. So, what 7 ingredients do you need?
Here’s What You Need
- Quinoa
- Broccoli
- Onion
- Broth
- Milk
- Sharp White Cheddar
- Sea Salt
I’m not going to lie, this broccoli and cheese casserole pretty much tastes like mac and cheese with broccoli in it. A freaking GENIUS way to get your kiddos to eat vegetables, AMIRIGHT?! If you’re hoping to pack more into this quinoa casserole, feel free to add whatever veggies you like and even chicken, too if you want even more protein.
Quinoa Casserole Recipes
- Asian Stuffed Pepper Steak Quinoa Casserole
- Sweet Potato Green Curry Quinoa Casserole
- Spinach Quinoa Lasagna Casserole
- Lasagna Zucchini Casserole
Quinoa Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/4 large yellow onion finely diced
- 1 cup quinoa uncooked
- 4 cups chopped broccoli florets
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1.5 cups broth any kind
- 1.5 cups 2% milk or any kind of milk
- 8 oz. sharp white cheddar cheese freshly grated, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF and spray a casserole dish with coconut oil cooking spray.
- Place quinoa, onion, and broccoli florets on the bottom of your casserole dish. Set aside.
- Next, add milk, chicken broth, and salt into a medium saucepan. Turn to medium-high heat and use a whisk to constantly stir. When liquid is heated, slowly add 4 oz. of grated cheese and whisk until cheese dissolves into the mixture.
- Pour liquid on top of ingredients in casserole dish and stir so that everything combines.
- Cover with tin foil and place in oven at 375ºF for 30 minutes. Remove and stir.
- Sprinkle on the additional 4 oz. shredded cheese and place back in the oven (uncovered) for 15 more minutes.
If we’re doubling the recipe, how long should it be in the oven for? Took it out at 30min the first time and it was was too liquidy!
I ended up doing about ~45min but was definitively just guesstimating
This was so delicious, definitely adult mac and cheese but without the guilt! I read a couple people mention issues with too much liquid so I reduced the broth by a skosh, it was really a trivial amount less than the recipe. It turned out wonderfully! I will definitely make this again.
I made this recipe and followed it exactly but for some reason, it turned out very liquidy. It basically looks like the broth didn’t cook and thicken. Any ideas why this might happen? Has anyone else had this issue? The flavor was delicious, however, we really enjoyed it!
This dish is amazing!! My toddler absolutely loves eating this, everytime I make it for her. Can I freeze it?
This is one of my go to recipes. My entire family enjoys this dish. I like to add cauliflower and carrots for some extra veggies.
I made this tonight for my husband and I and we thought it was pretty good. I increased the quinoa to 1 and 1/4 cup dried and also added spinach. We used mild cheddar and thought it gave it a nice flavor. My husband still thought it needed to be topped with sriracha though. Hope to put this recipe into the rotation. Thanks!
This is a favorite in my house! So easy and the kids eat it all up. I actually make it with almond milk and it tastes great. I add more cheese though because we like it extra cheesy.
These proportions are way off. EXTREMELY wet.
Mine was also waaaay watery. I’m wondering if it’s the quinoa?? This was basically soup. Super disappointed, it had all my picky daughter’s favorite things.
Can Almond milk be used instead?
Yes, that will work!
Can I replace rice with quinoa?
This sounds great but it doesn’t show measurements of ingredients. I am making it for Thanksgiving so if you could please send the measurements to me that would be awesome.
Thanks!
Hi there! You need to keep scrolling down. There is a recipe card with the written recipe!
Gotcha, didn’t see them at first. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving 🦃!
that’s a ton of calories and carbs and fat for a quarter cup serving
Hi! That is actually for 1/4 of the recipe, not 1/4 cup!
Does the quinoa get cooked first? Your ingredients say uncooked, but I wasn’t sure! Looks yummy. I plan to add chicken to have more substance and feed a larger crowd 🙂
Everything goes in raw! That’s the beauty of this casserole <3
Is there something I could use to swap out the mushroom gravy?? This sounds SO delicious, but I’m in a household with 2 mushroom haters. ??
Is it the texture or flavor of mushroom that they object to? I love the flavor but hate the texture of cooked mushroom, but I like them raw in salads. What I do for flavor in cooked meals is use mushroom powder.
++
I was SO excited to find this with my Gluten-Free Mother-in-Law coming to visit, but then I read the ingredients in the gravy…WHEAT FLOUR!!!
Glad I noticed that before I bought it. I’ll use some chicken broth and thicken w/ corn starch, I guess, unless you have another suggestion.
Excuse me? I believe this is actually broccoli, cheese, and quinoa HOTDISH. You are living in Minnesota after all. All teasing aside I’m looking forward to giving this a try.
Love from another Minnesotan
HAHAHA. I need to change the title of this recipe ASAP.
Can I substitute white cheddar powder for the white cheddar? I have difficulty shopping due to physical disabilities so I do most of my shopping online.
Hi Martha! I’ve never actually used white cheddar powder, but I don’t see why not if you normally sub 1 for 1!
hey;
can you give me an estimate of calories and fat grams?
thanks.
How would you suggest adding chicken to this recipe?
Last week, for the first time, I made broccoli quionoa casserole for the first time. We devoured it. Sincethen I have searched and searched on line for the recipe I used, and I can’t find it. I am going to try this one. It sounds amazing!
I hope you like this one as much as the one you had last week! You’ll have to let me know how it goes 😀
I tried your recipe, but I put crabs instead of chicken and it was absolutely yummy.
o0o yum!!!! I don’t think I’ve ever used crab in a recipe before.