I recently discovered that my little 16-month-old loves quinoa. Yay! So I've been preparing it all different ways for the whole family. This one was a real hit.
1 c. quinoa
2 c. chicken broth
4 oz. (1/2 block) cream cheese
1 & 1/2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese
1-2 t. onion powder
salt & pepper to taste
any seasonings (i.e. italian seasoning, garlic, herbs, etc.), optional
In a saucepan, combine quinoa and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
Stir in the rest of the ingredients, reserving 1 c. of the sharp cheddar. Spread into a baking dish (or 4 individual sized baking dishes).
Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake at 350 F for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
It's really fun to experiment with quinoa. It's great in place of rice in many recipes. Enjoy!
I'm trying this tonight but adding some shredded chicken and maybe some chicken just because I have it on hand and I'm wanting to make this a one dish wonder (easier while chasing the babies!)...any suggestions for adding these ingredients? PS...I have an 18 month old (you mentioned your little boy was 16 months in January) who also loves quinoa!!
ReplyDeleteJust add the (cooked, shredded) chicken in with the rest of the ingredients before topping with cheddar, that's what I'd do.
DeleteChicken would be wonderful in this dish. I would agree with Jil and stir in the chicken with everything. Sounds yummy! Maybe I'll try that next time I make this.
DeleteAnd by the way, my little guy does love quinoa. For kids that young, I might try canned chicken because it's softer to chew. Let me know how yours turns out! :)
DeleteI wonder how we could make this crock pot friendly and add another protein source like ground turkey or shredded chicken?? This is a great base for a full meal option. I cant wait to try it out!
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah! Crockpot would be awesome. You'll have to let me know if you make a slow cooker version! :)
DeleteWhat is the calorie content in this?
ReplyDeleteI actually never calculated the calorie content for this recipe. I know there are places that you can do that online such as www.myfitnesspal.com. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteJust made this. Onion was a little strong, but it was still amazing!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm afraid I'm a bit of an onion/garlic fanatic. You could always add less to taste. You might even replace it altogether with another herb or spice that suits you. Thanks for the feedback!
DeleteThis is SO good! I added shredded chicken and baked in an 8x8 for hubby and me. We are cheese fanatics, so we decided to layer quinoa, cheese, quinoa, cheese so that it's extra cheesy inside!
ReplyDeleteOoooo sounds delicious! I'm going to have to try it that way! :)
DeleteI made this at home! It was great! Though I changed up the recipe just a tiny bit. I didn't use any cream cheese… Instead I used a homemade cheesy roux sauce, it turned out great!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! That sounds amazing! I'm so glad you let me know. Oh, man, now I want to try that!!!! :)
DeleteI made this on the weekend and it was delicious! My kid ate it and didn't wonder where the pasts is.
ReplyDeleteI think I am never going to use pasta again, it's so much nice with Quinoa!
Thanks very much for the lovely recipe, Mikelle!
I'm glad you liked it! It really is a great recipe for kids. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteYummy! I've never had quinoa yet but this looks so good.
ReplyDeleteDo you think I could substitute the cream cheese for greek yogurt? I can't handle so much cheese but really wish I could!
ReplyDeleteProbably. Someone said they tried greek yogurt with success.
DeleteThis really is delicious. I added one egg, Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese and a little cream to the mixture. My husband was skeptical at first, but he loved it. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad! Quinoa is pretty fun. :)
DeleteThanks for sharing! And I LOVE how you put that you're a Mormon!!!! :D So am I! How did you add that button to your post? I have a blog called Femiology that gets 30k-100k visitors per month, it would be AWESOME to share that with people also!!! :D <3
ReplyDeleteHaha, awesome! I think I found it on the church website somewhere, but I honestly can't remember exactly. I bet you could find one if you google "I'm a Mormon widget." I'll have to check out your blog! :)
DeleteSo this dish has become a staple in our house we add mushrooms and spinach every time we are having it tonight and im adding bacon with fresh onion and garlic and butternut squash along with the mushrooms and spinach lol.
ReplyDeleteHoly monkey, that sounds delicious!!! I am going to have to try that! :) Thanks for visiting.
DeleteDo you happen to have to nutritional info of this recipe? By the way, it was delicious. I made it for Christmas dinner.
ReplyDeleteI don't. But I'm so glad you liked it! :)
DeleteWhy is my quinoa bitter? I have only made the breakfast version and when I bought just regular quinoa it came out bitter now my kids won't eat it. Help
ReplyDeleteMake sure to rinse quinoa before cooking. The powdery residue is what causes bitterness.
DeleteMake sure to rinse quinoa before cooking. The powdery residue is what causes bitterness.
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