Chicken Enchilada Quinoa Bake

I have been wanting to cook with quinoa for a while but it's just so expensive that I've been leaving it on my grocery list every time I go to the store. Finally I just gave in and bought it. This was the first thing I made. I saw it on Pinterest and it made my mouth water. When I'm hungry I should not be allowed to look at recipes, especially dessert recipes! Anyway, this recipe was delicious. I wish I had an awesome Mexican dish like the Pinterest picture though. I will say, it was delicious right out of the oven but it tasted even bettter as leftovers because all the juices soaked into the quinoa. So yummy!

The recipe came from Tablespoon.com

Chicken Enchilada Quinoa Bake

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (white or red)

1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

1 can (15 oz) black beans

1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 cups enchilada sauce (from 19-oz can)

1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese (4 oz)

Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

Sliced avocado

Fresh cilantro

Crumbled cotija (white Mexican) cheese, if desire 

 

 

 

Directions: 

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) ceramic or broiler-proof baking dish with cooking spray.
• Heat 10- or 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and onion; cook 5 minutes or until onion is soft.
• Reduce heat to low. Add quinoa, chicken, black beans, green chiles, chili powder and 2 cups of the enchilada sauce; stir to combine. Remove from heat.
• Stir in Cheddar cheese. Transfer quinoa mixture to baking dish. Top evenly with pepper Jack cheese.
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes.
• Turn oven control to broil. Place baking dish about 5 inches from broiler; broil 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly. Remove from broiler. Top with sour cream, avocado, cilantro and cotija cheese. Serve immediately.

 

*This recipe is another easy one to prepare ahead and leave in the fridge until you are ready to bake it. It was great for a busy evening.