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Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole (Slow cooker)

Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Egg Free
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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!

Slow Cooker Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole - This chicken quinoa bake is made in the crock pot so it's SUPER quick and easy. Perfect for weeknights and the WHOLE family will love it - even picky eaters! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Dairyfree #Healthy #Slowcooker #Crockpot

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.”

Slow Cooker Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole - This chicken quinoa bake is made in the crock pot so it's SUPER quick and easy. Perfect for weeknights and the WHOLE family will love it - even picky eaters! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Dairyfree #Healthy #Slowcooker #Crockpot

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.

Slow Cooker Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole - This chicken and 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 - even picky eaters! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Dairyfree #Healthy #Slowcooker #Crockpot

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.

Slow Cooker Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole - This chicken and 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 - even picky eaters! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Dairyfree #Healthy #Slowcooker #Crockpot

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.

Slow Cooker Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole - This chicken and 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 - even picky eaters! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Dairyfree #Healthy #Slowcooker #Crockpot

Other Recipes You Might Like:

BBQ Baked Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole

BBQ Paleo Chicken Wings in the Slow Cooker

Healthy BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

Slow Cooker Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole - This chicken and 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 - even picky eaters! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Dairyfree #Healthy #Slowcooker #Crockpot
5 from 3 votes
Print

Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole

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!

Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword bbq chicken quinoa, gluten free, slow cooker bbq chicken, slow cooker quinoa
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Servings 4 People
Calories 412 kcal

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

  1. Combine all ingredients up to the liquid smoke in the bottom of your crock pot and stir together until well mixed.

  2. 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.

  3. Remove the chicken breasts and shred with two forks. Place the shredded chicken pack into the slow cooker and mix well.

  4. Garnish with remaining BBQ sauce, cilantro, green onions and cheddar cheese (if desired).

  5. DEVOUR!

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

If you try this recipe I would love to see it and share it! Tag me on IG @foodfaithfit, using the hashtag #foodfaithfit

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FOR THIS RECIPE, I RECOMMEND:

Nutrition Facts
Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole
Amount Per Serving
Calories 412 Calories from Fat 32
% Daily Value*
Fat 3.6g6%
Saturated Fat 0.3g2%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 1.6mg1%
Sodium 933.8mg41%
Potassium 357.9mg10%
Carbohydrates 74.2g25%
Fiber 5.3g22%
Sugar 29.4g33%
Protein 21.3g43%
Vitamin A 2435IU49%
Vitamin C 112.9mg137%
Calcium 14mg1%
Iron 2.6mg14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PER SERVING: FREESTYLE POINTS: 10 POINTS+: 11. OLD POINTS: 8

(Per 1/4 of the recipe)

Slow Cooker Healthy BBQ Chicken Quinoa Casserole - This chicken and 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 - even picky eaters! | #Foodfaithfitness | #Glutenfree #Dairyfree #Healthy #Slowcooker #Crockpot
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Beth says

    I have the same problem in my house, knives cutting me.. is it a girl thing?! Maybe Caleb could buy you some rubber gloves to wear while you use the knife! 🙂

    Reply

  3. Katharine says

    Oh serrated knives….I cut myself on Super Bowl Sunday a few years ago while making sandwiches with one of those. It was a pretty deep cut, and I was one bandaid away from needing stitches. It took 2 years to get feeling back on the tip of the finger that I cut. :-O

    This looks very yummy! We love BBQ anything in our house. 🙂

    Reply

  5. Julie | This Gal Cooks says

    I don’t usually have any battles with knives but I DO have battles with all things hot – like the inside of my oven, my slow cooker (yep, I’ve burned myself on my slow cooker!) and my cast iron skillet! Glad you didn’t actually chop off your finger. 🙂 Totally digging this recipe, Taylor. It’s my kinda meal.

    Reply

  6. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says

    I don’t cut myself all that often, but OH THE BURNS. My oven is my archnemesis (in the burning-my-fingers category, not the it-bakes-me-delicious-cookies category). So I’m all about the slow cooker recipes when it comes to avoiding personal injury (though I have actually burned myself on my slow cooker before, too <– WINNING). This one looks and sounds fab!

    Reply

    • Taylor Kiser says

      OHH Burns are the worst! Luckily, I am more on the cutting myself side of injuries. (is that lucky?)
      You ARE winning with no slow cooker burns. GO YOU! Thanks girl!

      Reply

  8. Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says

    Oh my gosh, I am totally in the knife-boat as you. I seriously don’t think I’ll ever have a single finger on my hand that doesn’t have knife-cutting wounds on it. LOL.
    Gahhh and this chicken? Uh, LOVING it! Crockpot, BBQ and quinoa thrown into the mix? Imma faceplant. 🙂

    Reply

  9. Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says

    Lol! Your hubby is too sweet. I also will say a prayer for you today that you don’t have any more knife mishaps in the kitchen so you can keep all your fingers and be safely left unattended. Haha! I love any recipes that get out my crock pot. I’m all in on this one. Looks delicious! Happy New Year, lady!! 🙂

    Reply

  11. Matea says

    It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one who manages to cut myself when cooking! I could use one of those “soft knives” too 🙂 ha

    Reply

  12. Kelly s. says

    Glad your finger isn’t chopped completely off 😉 and hope it heals very soon.

    I want to try this recipe, and soon! But the directions are missing (ingredients list posted twice?) and I’m not confident enough to improvise myself! Thanks for double checking this. 🙂

    Reply

  14. Julia says

    The sun would never chop fingers off! bahahaha! Every time I get a new knife, I cut myself umpteen times until my fingers really feeeel the breadth of the thing. It’s a damn shame, knives. Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em. This crock o’ pig…I needs!

    Happy New Year, sister!

    Reply

  19. CakePants says

    Mmm…BBQ chicken quinoa sounds super tasty! I really have to get a slow cooker one of these days. I hope your finger heals quickly! My boyfriend is kind of like that with knives. He cuts himself about 50% of the time when he’s cooking – makes me nervous!

    Reply

    • Taylor Kiser says

      You don’t have a slow cooker?! You totally need one!
      I guess there has to be one finger cutter per couple 😉 Ha! Thanks CakePants!

      Reply

  21. Arman @ thebigmansworld says

    And here we were thinking you were a leopard/tiger hybrid.

    If a severed finger can produce this beauty, you need the knife back. I LOVE BBQ CHICKEN so this is a winner! Pinning, winning and grinning. (Well not grinning, it’s really hot here).

    Reply

    • Taylor Kiser says

      Hahaha #tayfierce 🙂
      You and me both, I can’t get enough BBQ Chicken goodness – thanks Arman. I’ll take yo’ sun!!

      Reply

  26. Annie @ Annie's Noms says

    Yum, yum. yum – I’m in dire need of some lightened up dinner ideas this week. Christmas was not good for my waistline!! Love BBQ chicken and with Quinoa?! YUM! My crockpot has barely been away recently, so will be making this!

    Also, I’m fairly sure my partner is getting close to banning me from sharp implements… how I actually haven’t lost a limb yet I don’t know! 😉

    Reply

    • Taylor Kiser says

      Totally not dumb! You put it in uncooked so the slow cooker cooks it for ya! Thanks Kari, I hope you love it!

      Reply

  29. Amanda says

    That dish looks amazing!! Pinned ♥ Also, I feel your pain… I cut myself every. single. time. I use a new kitchen tool. Not just knives, I got a new vegetable peeler… yep, took a chunk out of my thumb. New handheld grater? I zested my finger. *sigh* for me, cooking is a contact sport 😛

    Reply

  31. ashley says

    Trying to find this recipe, not showing up anywhere. Originally saw on pinterest and bought all the ingredients but now the recipe is nowhere to be found. Is there any way to get it? Thanks! 🙂

    Reply

    • Taylor Kiser says

      Hi Ashley! Sorry for the inconvenience! I’m working with the owner of the website that it’s posted to get it up ASAP. If it’s not up tonight, I’ll email it to you. I’m just not home to do so at the moment. Sorry!

      Reply

    • Taylor Kiser says

      There’s a sentence at the bottom of the post that says “I’m sharing this recipe on WholeYum today!” Just click that and you’ll get the recipe. I hope that helps! Thanks!

      Reply

  35. Sarah says

    Taylor – I just threw this all in the crockpot but I am missing where it tells me what to do with the liquid smoke. I have never used liquid smoke before so perhaps it’s obvious what to do but for a liquid smoke novice like me, can you tell me at what point I use it? Thanks a ton

    Reply

    • Taylor Kiser says

      Hi! Sorry I couldn’t get to this – travelling! You just throw it in with everything! It’s not NECESSARY, but you’re quinoa just won’t be as ‘smokey”
      I hope that helps!! Let me know how it turns out please!

      Reply

  36. Kristi says

    This looks like such a great recipe! Can’t wait to try it. I was just curious- how many people do you think it serves?

    Thanks!

    Reply

  38. Amanda says

    The link to this recipe still doesn’t work. This is one of my fave crock quinoa recipes and now I don’t have access to it anymore. So much sadness! Do you have a copy of the recipe somewhere else? I beg you to share if you do!!!

    Reply

    • Taylor Kiser says

      It will be up soon I promise, I have been emailing with them EVERY SINGLE DAY. Unfortunately, I had a huge virus attack my computer awhile back and it completely killed all my files, and the recipe was included. I’m sorry. Please keep checking as it WILL come back!

      Reply

  39. A says

    After all the hype from the “quinoa pizza ” page, and this whole page of talking it up… And the recipe is gone!

    My tastebuds are crying.

    Reply

  40. Jennifer Whitworth says

    Really random question….what does it mean when it says “combine all ingredients UP TO THE LIQUID SMOKE” so do I add that too? Or do I add that after the chicken breasts? Thanks for the clarification!

    Reply

  45. Jennifer Blake says


    Love the added protein from the quinoa in this recipe. Anything I can make in the crockpot, especially during the cool weather months is a total bonus with me!

    Reply

  48. Denise Daniel says

    Hmmm the instapot might be a good alternative although nothing really beats how a crockpot makes my whole house smell!

    My only concern in the crock is the quinoa getting mushy. I think I’m gonna give this a whirl! Looks phenomenal!

    And LOL@your finger… I am accident prone myself. Knives, paper, plastic edges, banging my head and hips into all walls and corners, plus I tend to fall down alot. For now reason. But at least I can cook great meals thanks to recipes like this! Lol

    Reply

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