This Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole is made in the crock pot so it’s SUPER quick and easy. Perfect for weeknights and the WHOLE family will love it!
PIN Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole
(Photos updated Oct/2018 – narration not changed (I did not cut my finger recently)
I chopped my finger off.
I mean, I might be slightly over-exaggerating (are you surprised?) and I may have only sliced it REALLY REALLY BADLY, but that is not what I said while sobbing into Mr. FFF’s voicemail 🙂
I have this serrated knife. It’s really pretty and orange and all kinds of unassuming because it looks like the sun. The sun is bright and happy and it would NEVER chop someone’s finger off.
BUT, when I use this knife, I ALWAYS cut myself. I don’t mean “sometimes,” Like EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
When I was using this knife the other day I was even saying in my head “don’t cut self. DON’T DO IT”
And I did.
And then I didn’t know what to do. So, I called the Hubs, while he was at work, and left a SOBBING voicemail about how I “cut my finger off, and it won’t stop bleeding and OH MY GOSH IT HURTS SO BAD, WHAT DO I DO.”
Of course he called me 2 hours later on his break, FREAKING OUT because he is a nurse and he assumed all kinds of badness.
Then I pick up the phone and I’m all like “I got me some leftover paleo chocolate chip cookies and bandaids. GOOD TO GO.”
He wasn’t thrilled. He also banned me from pretty, orange knife use-age.
Good thing I have a PINK ONE. SUCCESS.
THEN, that night when we were saying our prayers before bed he goes “thank you that Taylor did not chop her finger off, but I pray that she can stop cutting herself and maybe someone can invent soft knives so that I can stop worrying about leaving her unattended”
It was adorable.
So, in honor of Mr. FFF wanting to be able to go to work without fear of coming home to a wife who has given herself nubs, I am sharing with you a SUPER SAFE chicken and quinoa casserole recipe that has the magical taste sensation of BBQ chicken. Remember the Zucchini Noodle BBQ Chicken Casserole and BBQ Chicken Summer Rolls? I LOVE IT.
Also, this chicken quinoa bake doesn’t use knives because, like the like the one pan Mexican quinoa casserole, you just throw it in a big, SUPER SAFE (see babe!) Crock Pot that has NO sharp edges. Just takin’ a playbook from me favorite Slow cooker Thai peanut butter chicken quinoa bowls ya know?
I know you’re glaring at me because those peppers did not cut themselves. Let’s just not talk about that.
You’re still glaring at me because there is that SMALL chance that the Crock Pot could light itself on FIRE and burn your whole house down while making this chicken and quinoa bake, THEREFORE, making it notsosafe.
Can you just stop so that I can pretend that I am being the best wife evah? Thanks.
But, fo’ cereal, this healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa casserole? I love it. As in I ate it for breakfast instead of my FAVORITE Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats.
That is how you KNOW it’s true love. No one messes with my oatmeal. You know this.
I almost jumped right into the Crock Pot when I tasted the creamykindaspicybutsmokeyandwaitwhat?sortofsweet goodness of this healthy bbq chicken quinoa casserole.
But, then I would burn myself. Which goes against my safety arguments.
I may also be a wee bit larger than my Crock Pot, which makes jumping in kinda of on the uncomfortable side.
But, that is neither here nor there.
ANYWHO.
Do I sense a dinner win, WITH NO POSSIBLE BAD THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO IT, coming on?
Y to the E to SSSSSS.
Other Recipes You Might Like:
BBQ Baked Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole
BBQ Paleo Chicken Wings in the Slow Cooker
Healthy BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 Cup Chicken Broth
- 1 Cup Quinoa, uncooked
- 1 Cup Frozen corn kernels
- 1 Cup Red Bell pepper, chopped
- 1 Cup Hickory BBQ sauce + additional for drizzling (GF if needed)
- 1/2 Cup Onion, diced
- 2 tsp Fresh Garlic, minced
- 1/2 Tbsp Cumin powder
- 1/2 Tbsp Smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp Chili powder
- 1/2 tsp Hickory Liquid smoke
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- Pepper
- 1/2 Pound Raw Chicken breast
- Cilantro, for garnish
- Green onion, for garnish
- Cheddar cheese, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients up to the liquid smoke in the bottom of your crock pot and stir together until well mixed.
- Nestle the chicken breasts into the mixture, so that the liquid covers them. Cook on HIGH heat for 2-3 hours, or until the broth is absorbed and the chicken is no longer pink inside.
- Remove the chicken breasts and shred with two forks. Place the shredded chicken pack into the slow cooker and mix well.
- Garnish with remaining BBQ sauce, cilantro, green onions and cheddar cheese (if desired).
- DEVOUR!
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
FOR THIS RECIPE, I RECOMMEND:
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PER SERVING: FREESTYLE POINTS: 10 POINTS+: 11. OLD POINTS: 8
(Per 1/4 of the recipe)
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Brian @ Cooking For Profit says
This looks great. I am so into any baked quinoa casserole these days. It really works well with so many flavors and is better for us than rice. Win, win!
Taylor Kiser says
So glad to hear that!
Snaya Chandigarh says
Nice post keep it up!!
jill says
Can you clarify what is meant by “Combine all ingredients up to the liquid smoke”? Do I put all the ingredients including salt, pepper and liquid smoke and place chicken in afterwards? Or do I put in salt pepper and liquid smoke later?
Taylor Kiser says
Yes, you are correct. You put all those ingredients including the salt, pepper and liquid smoke and then place your chicken in.
jill says
Thanks, if I am using frozen chicken breasts, what do you recommend for cooking time and low/high setting?
Taylor Kiser says
Hi Jill! I can’t tell you because recipes are only tested as written, and I’ve always used thawed chicken breasts. Sorry.
Reade says
Is the liquid smoke necessary or can I omit if I don’t happen to have it?
Taylor Kiser says
Yes, it helps give a smokey flavor. You can omit, but it won’t have that smokey flavor.
Megan says
Quick question, what ingredient is causing the carb content to be so high? Is the nutritional info for one serving? I use quinoa a lot so I know its not that. Is it something I can sub out?
Thank You.
Taylor Kiser says
I can’t tell you a substitution because recipes are only tested as written. The carb content is the combination of quinoa and corn. Yes, the nutritional information is for one serving.
Jenn says
Hi are you able to freeze this?! Thank you so much
Taylor Kiser says
Hi Jenn! I haven’t, but you can try. Just let it cool completely before freezing.