Cheesy Chickpea Broccoli Quinoa Casserole {Freezer-Friendly}
The name of this post does not leave much to the imagination in terms of the main ingredients used in this vegetarian and gluten free casserole. The main stars include—you guessed it—cheese, chickpeas, broccoli, and quinoa.
This cheesy chickpea broccoli quinoa casserole recipe was found on Lexi’s Clean Living. I stumbled upon the post in a search for freezer-friendly quinoa casseroles, knowing quinoa is both healthy and gluten free.
What I love about this dish is that it’s easy to make and both hearty and healthy. There’s no pre-cooking, sauteing, etc., which helps save on time. Simply chop the onion, mince the garlic, drain and rinse the chickpeas, and dump all ingredients (except the cheese) into a baking dish. Cover and bake. That’s pretty much it. However, I would recommend giving the dish an occasional stir while baking.
If you are making this dish for a carnivore (nothing wrong with that), add chicken for additional protein. Use canned shredded or a rotisserie chicken to save time. You could also use chicken broth instead of vegetable broth.
What about the cheese? The sky is the limit. I chose a shredded sharp cheddar, but feel free to use Parmesan, mozzarella, Swiss, or Monterey jack. Mix two or three cheeses of your choice. If cooking for a vegan or one who is sensitive to dairy, omit the cheese or use a vegan option.
Last but not least, feel free to throw in another vegetable of choice, like a red or yellow bell pepper. This would add a little bit of kick and texture to the casserole.
Cheesy Chickpea Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Equipment
- Casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1 onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 c vegetable broth
- 12 oz broccoli
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 1 c uncooked quinoa
- 1 c shredded cheese
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- olive oil or cooking spray (for coating dish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Rinse and drain chickpeas. Rinse and drain quinoa.
- Dice onion and mince garlic.
- Add all ingredients (except for the cheese) to a lightly greased casserole dish and stir. Cover dish and place in oven. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed and quinoa is cooked.
- Remove from oven, and let sit until the rest of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in 1/2 cup of cheese and top dish with remaining 1/2 cup.
- If eating now: Put dish back in oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- To freeze: Let dish cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap and lid. Place in freezer.
- Thaw overnight in fridge. Warm portions in microwave or heat dish (uncovered) in oven at 375°F until dish is warmed through and cheese is melted and bubbly.