Is Chicken Heaven Bake divinely delicious? With a name like that, you know it has to be! Tender, savory chicken stacked atop a fluffy, nutty bed of creamy quinoa and served with a mix of vibrant and floral broccoli sounds positively angelic! With some succulent bacon and your favorite seasoning blend added in, Chicken Heaven Bake will put you on cloud nine!
Ingredients
- 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup 2% milk, divided
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 cups water, divided, plus more, to taste, for cooking the broccoli
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
- 1/4 cup bacon, optional, cooked and crumbled
- 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 2 teaspoons seasoning blend, such as Emeril’s® Original Essence seasoning
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1/4 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 –Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add the chicken broth and 1/2 cup of the milk and bring to a low boil.
Step 4 –In a bowl, add the remaining milk, the poultry seasoning, and the flour and whisk to combine.
Step 5 –Add the milk-seasoning mixture to the hot broth-milk mixture and whisk until a smooth, creamy sauce forms.
Step 6 –In a large bowl, add the sauce, 1 cup of the water, the quinoa, and the bacon and stir to combine.
Step 7 –Pour the quinoa-sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 8 –Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips.
Step 9 –Lay the chicken strips over the top of the quinoa mixture.
Step 10 –Sprinkle the chicken with the seasoning blend.
Step 11 –Bake the casserole, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Step 12 –Fill a pot with the extra water and bring it to a boil.
Step 13 –Place the broccoli in the boiling water and cook until it turns bright green, about 1 minute.
Step 14 –Run the broccoli under cold water and drain it well.
Step 15 –Transfer the casserole from the oven and stir, checking to see if the quinoa is tender and the chicken strips are cooked through, with the meat reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. If needed, bake the casserole for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Step 16 –When the quinoa and the chicken are both cooked, add the broccoli and a small portion of the remaining 1 cup of water, adding a little bit at a time, until the sauce is creamy and smooth. You may not need all of the remaining water.
Step 17 –Top the casserole with the cheese and bake until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes.
Step 18 –Serve.
