Instant Pot Chicken and Quinoa Casserole

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Have you tried cooking quinoa in your Instant Pot? If not, you’re missing out! It’s a fantastic way to make a healthy and delicious casserole out of just about anything. In this recipe, we’ll show you how to cook chicken and quinoa together in your Instant Pot for an easy weeknight Chicken And Quinoa Instant Pot meal! Not only is it fast and easy to make, but it’s also packed with protein and other nutrients.

Instant Pot Chicken Recipes are always a  delicious and healthy recipe option that I love.

Chicken has to be my favourite meat and this fantastic Instant Pot Chicken and Quinoa recipe makes a wonderful tasty and hearty family meal. After you cook it, there’s the option to serve or bake the meal for a further 20 minutes. 

But first, let’s jump into the recipe!

Why You’ll Love Instant Pot Chicken and Quinoa Casserole

• Balanced Meal: This Chicken and Quinoa Casserole offers lean protein and nutritious grains.
• One-Pot Wonder: The Instant Pot simplifies cooking and cleanup, perfect for busy nights.
• Comforting and Savory: It’s a heartwarming dish that brings a home-cooked feel.

Ingredients for This Chicken Quinoa Instant Pot Meal

When you’re looking for a healthy chicken recipe, the Instant Pot is always a great option. With just a few minutes of prep time, you can have a delicious and nutritious meal that the entire family will love. Here’s how to make chicken (a whole, natural chicken) in your Instant Pot, followed by cooking your quinoa.

Instant Pot Chicken

• Whole Chicken: Provides the main source of protein, offering a hearty and savory flavor.
• Filtered Water: Ensures the chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender in the Instant Pot.
• Fresh Thyme, Sage, and Citrus Peel: Enhance the flavor of the chicken, adding a hint of earthiness and citrusy brightness.
• Salt and Pepper: Fundamental seasonings that enhance the natural flavors of the other ingredients.
• Onion: Contributes a sweet and slightly sharp flavor that complements the savory chicken.
• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the onion, it adds a touch of richness to the dish and helps release the onion’s flavors.

Quinoa Ingredients

• Quinoa: Adds a delightful, nutty flavor and fluffy texture to the casserole.
• Broth: Used for cooking the quinoa, it infuses the grain with a rich and savory taste, enhancing its natural flavors.
• Salt: Brings out the flavors of the other ingredients.

Baked Chicken Dish Ingredients

• Gruyere, Fontina, and Cheddar Cheese: Blend together to create a beautifully melty and flavorful layer in the casserole.
• Whole Milk or Additional Broth: Adds moisture to the dish, helping to bind all the ingredients together and create a creamy texture.
• Corn: Provides a sweet crunch that contrasts nicely with the richness of the cheeses and the savory chicken.

Brown the onion in the pot with olive oil using the Saute setting.

To continue making this a fabulous chicken and quinoa instant pot meal, deglaze the pot with the water, being sure to scrape off all of the flavour filled bits that might stick to the bottom of the pan.

Set the trivet inside the pot and then place the chicken on top (be sure to remove all packaging and anything still inside the chicken before putting it in the IP)

Add the citrus peel and herbs, I simply wrapped the peel around the herbs here, nothing fancy needed.

Twist on the locking lid and cancel the Saute setting.

Select the Manual setting and program the pot so that you cook the chicken for about 5 minutes per pound. So a 4.5 pound chicken would cook for 22 -23 minutes. Either is perfectly fine.

When the pressurized cook time has ended and the pot beeps, allow everything to Natural Pressure Release for 25 minutes.

This will help finish cooking and allow the moisture to lock into the chicken

(Quick releasing the pressure on some meats can pull the moisture out at the same time).

When the time has finished, carefully lift the chicken out of the pot using the trivet handles and set onto a deep plate for the liquid to drip into.

Let the chicken rest and cool down for at least 15 minutes so you won’t burn your hands when removing the meat.

Chicken Broth and Quinoa Recipe

Now the chicken is cooked remove the herbs and any other part of the chicken that may have fallen off while cooking.

Transfer the liquid-and onions from the Instant pot to your blender and liquify everything.

(I get the liquid that has dripped into the plate as well).

We call this liquid gold in our house and everyone loves to drink this gut healing, collagen filled broth, it is thicker, smoother and tastier than traditional broth that doesn’t typically have the onions in it.

You will want 5 cups of broth to cook the quinoa, if you don’t quite have that amount, you can certainly supplement with water or store bought broth. But you need something like that in order to make this a drool-worthy chicken and quinoa instant pot meal favorite!

You don’t need to wash the pot or lid after cooking the chicken, just remove the seal in the lid and completely wipe dry the lid and seal, otherwise the pot may not seal correctly the next time it’s trying to pressurize to cook the quinoa.

Combine the liquid and quinoa and stir well to ensure nothing is stuck to the bottom or sides.

Then twist on the locking lid and select the Manual setting for 2 minutes.

When the pot is finished cooking, let it Natural Pressure Release for about 12 minutes.

Combining the Chicken and Quinoa

While the quinoa is cooking, you can break down the chicken.

I save the skin, bones and all of the extra bits in a big bag in the freeze to make bone broth the traditional way-but faster in the Instant Pot!

I make the traditional broth when I have 3 or 4 sets of chicken bones saved up.

Shred the chicken in your hands so it’s in little bits.

Remove the lid and stir in the cheese, milk and corn. 

Stir well and the cheese will melt right in within just a minute of mixing.

Add the shredded chicken and corn, as much or little as you would like.

Two Options for Serving This Instant Pot Chicken and Quinoa Recipe

At this point you could now serve and enjoy the fully cooked meal or transfer everything to an oven safe baking dish, sprinkle with breadcrumbs, cover with a lid or foil and then bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Both of these options are very tasty and a great way to have a healthy chicken and quinoa meal cooked in no time at all. We enjoy it both ways!

Healthy Chicken and Quinoa Instant Pot Recipe: A Fantastic Casserole

This Healthy Instant Pot Chicken and Quinoa Recipe is a fantastic casserole that will please the whole family! It’s healthy, easy to make, and delicious. We hope you enjoy this delicious and tasty Instant Pot chicken dish! 

Have you made this recipe? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Please pin this delicious chicken recipe for later! ⬇️

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