Pizza Stuffed Chicken Quinoa Bake
Chicken breasts filled with garlic herb cheese and pepperoni bake atop a pizza-flavored quinoa mixture with tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms. Topped with mozzarella and turkey pepperoni, this one-pan casserole combines Italian flavors with protein-rich quinoa for a complete meal.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 3 wedges Light Laughing Cow Garlic & Herb spreadable cheese
- herbed soft goat cheese(optional)ricotta1:1
- 1 pkg (6oz) turkey pepperoniregular pepperoni1:1
- 1 ¾ c pizza sauce
- 1 ¼ c chicken brothvegetable broth1:1conf:4Full guide →
- 2 c quinoa, uncooked
- 1 ½ c onion, diced
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 c cherry tomatoes, halveddiced roma tomatoes1:1Full guide →
- ⅝ c bell peppers, diced
- ⅝ c mushrooms, thinly sliced(optional)zucchini1:1Full guide →
- ¾ c reduced fat shredded mozzarellafull fat mozzarella1:1
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 400°F.
- 2
In a sprayed 9x13 pan, mix quinoa, pizza sauce, chicken broth, onion, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and vegetables until well combined.
- 3
Cut a horizontal slit through the thickest portion of each chicken breast to form a pocket.
- 4
Spread one wedge of cheese inside each breast and top with pepperoni slices.
- 5
Lay chicken breasts on top of the quinoa mixture and top with shredded mozzarella.
- 6
Cut remaining pepperoni into quarters and sprinkle over the casserole.
- 7
Bake covered for 45 minutes.
- 8
Remove cover and stir the quinoa.
- 9
Bake uncovered for 10-20 minutes or until quinoa is sprouted and chicken is cooked through.
- 10
Serve immediately.
Tips
Ensure chicken breasts are pounded to even thickness before cutting pockets for more uniform cooking.
Stir quinoa at the 45-minute mark to prevent sticking and ensure even hydration.
Good to Know
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do not freeze as quinoa texture degrades.
Prepare chicken pockets and fill with cheese and pepperoni up to 4 hours ahead. Prepare quinoa mixture separately and combine just before baking.
Serve immediately after baking for best texture. Can be portioned directly from the baking dish.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the 45-minute covered bake and quinoa stir to avoid undercooked or unevenly hydrated quinoa.
Do not overcook uncovered bake time to avoid dry chicken and mushy quinoa.
Do not cut too shallow a pocket in chicken breasts to avoid cheese and pepperoni falling out during baking.