Broccoli and Chicken Quinoa Delight

This dish was absolutely amazing and made for great leftovers!
My inspiration for this recipe came from wanting to do a healthy remake of the classic comfort food broccoli rice casserole. This version substitutes chicken broth & quinoa for condensed soup & rice, while leaving out the butter completely. 
Even though this dish is inspired by the classic recipe, it's not your typical cheesy, creamy, and extra calorie dish. This rendition is half the fat and calories without sacrificing the great taste. Try it out and let me know what you think! That's what's on my table tonight.

Broccoli and Chicken Quinoa Delight:
Serves about 6
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Total Cook Time: 40-45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• ½ cup flour
• 2 cups water, divided
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, washed, diced and seasoned
• ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
• Salt and pepper to taste 
• Olive oil cooking spray

Directions:

1. To make the sauce: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and use cooking spray to coat a casserole dish. Bring the chicken broth and ½ cup milk to a low boil in a saucepan. Whisk the other ½ cup milk with the poultry seasoning and flour; add the mixture to the boiling liquid and whisk until a smooth creamy sauce forms. Avoid adding it quickly because it may form chunks.
2. In a large bowl, mix the sauce from step one, one cup water, and quinoa; stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Lay the diced chicken breasts cubes over the top of the quinoa mixture. Sprinkle with the seasoning if you would like. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
3. While the casserole is in the oven, place the broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute until it turns bright green. Set aside.
4. Bake:  Remove the casserole from the oven, check the mixture by stirring it around in the pan, and if needed, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to get the right consistency. When the quinoa and chicken are cooked and the sauce is thickened, add the broccoli and a little bit of water (up to 1/2 cup) until the consistency is creamy and smooth and you can stir it up easily in the pan. The amount of water will depend on how thick the sauce is. Top with the cheese and bake for 5 minutes, or just long enough to melt the cheese.

Note: Quinoа is donе whеn it is soft аnd looks аs if it hаs poppеd opеn, with thе gеrm of thе kеrnеl visible and forming little spirаls.