This easy pressure cooker chicken quinoa casserole is healthy and yummy! I’ll show you a simple Instant Pot chicken cabbage soup recipe too!
If you’re looking for a few healthy electric pressure cooker recipes this easy pressure cooker chicken quinoa casserole should make your list! Packed with vegetables, lots of spices and quinoa it is a complete meal all thrown into one pot and done in less than 25 minutes flat! It’s one of our latest Instant Pot recipes that was shared with me by my cousin who is new to the IP world but came out with this winner winner chicken dinner. 😉
Everyone in my family (ok, and beyond) knows that I’m kinda’ obsessed with my fancy multi cooker and have been since they first came out almost 2 years ago…..
Ever since then I’ve experimented with just about every type of meat, made side dishes, and even yummy desserts!
It’s just my thing…….
So……when my cousin got one recently she too started experimenting and adapted my Instant Pot stuffed cabbage casserole into her own version using more veggies and quinoa instead of rice.
Of course we all tweak recipes to make it suit our tastes but I used her basic instructions and cooked it up myself tonight…it was yummy!
She was unsure how to cook quinoa inside this dish so hers came out like an Instant Pot chicken cabbage soup (similar to what you see below), then she cooked her quinoa separately, drained the liquid and put her chicken cabbage creation on top (picture of hers at the bottom of this post).
SO…..that is the FIRST way you could make this:
- Make the perfect quinoa in your Instant Pot, slow cooker, or on the stove top
- Then cook this recipe stopping after step 6 of the recipe below, use only 1 3/4 c. chicken broth
- Serve vegetable/chicken/cabbage mixture on top of quinoa
The SECOND way you could make and serve this is:
- Make this as Instant Pot chicken cabbage soup
- Make recipe below as stated with 2.5 c. chicken broth
- Stop when the initial cooking is done, step 6
- Do not add quinoa or cook a second time
- Serve as soup and enjoy!
The THIRD way you can make this is as pressure cooker chicken quinoa casserole, you need the following items to do so:
- Chicken – I used chicken thighs (I feel they are more tender and have more flavor) but you could use chicken breasts
- Cabbage
- Fresh green beans
- Celery
- Chicken broth
- Onion
- Traditional quinoa (not quick style) – this is what I used
- Garlic – minced in jar is what I use
- Lots of spices – add more or omit any
Here is what the pressure cooker chicken cabbage soup would look like if you were going for that!
Super yummy, you’d serve after cooking for just 13 minutes!
I like to make everything in one pot if possible, and make a lot of Instant Pot casseroles so I experimented with adding the quinoa after all the chicken and vegetables were cooked in the initial stage and it worked well!
Of course everyone likes a bit different consistency/stiffness when it comes to rice and quinoa I feel but 4 minutes was perfect for us.
If you lift the lid after 4 minutes and want it much softer just set it for just 1 more minute and you’ll get that.
I will also say that the vegetables and cabbage is soft when done.
If you prefer that they are less tender then I would add all of your vegetables when you add the quinoa, that will give you still a bit of crunch with your vegetables.
Again…everyone is different, thus the tips here so you get the outcome you desire. 😉
Ready??
Here’s our pesto chicken quinoa casserole made in our 6 qt. Instant Pot!
Of course you can make it in larger pots and if so you could increase the amount of cabbage inside.
1/3 of a head cubed was enough for mine so I didn’t fill it more than 3/4 of the way full (if you do overfill with cabbage it may not reach pressure at all).
After you’ve tried this you should try our pressure cooker breakfast quinoa recipe too.
Pressure Cooker Chicken Quinoa Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs boneless, skinless, cubed
- 1/2 onion sliced
- 3 stalks celery sliced
- 1.5 c green beans fresh, ends cut off, cut in half
- 1/3 cabbage cut into chunks
- 4 tbsp pesto
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 3/4 tsp garlic minced, I use jarred
- 2-2.5 c chicken broth depending if you're making the casserole or cabbage soup
- 1 c quinoa not quick quinoa, traditional
Instructions
- Cube your chicken thighs and add it to the pot (you can use 2 chicken breasts cubed if you prefer).
- Add your onion, celery, green beans and all of your spices. Stir until well combined.
- Add cabbage cut into chunks on top of this chicken/spice mixture (don't fill pot more than 3/4 of the way full, I have a 6 qt. and 1/3 of a head was about what would fit, larger pots you could add a bit more).
- Pour chicken broth on top. If you are making chicken quinoa casserole use 1 3/4 c. broth, if you're making chicken cabbage soup add 2-2.5 c depending on how soupy you want it.
- Push the poultry button on your Instant Pot and adjust the time to 13 minutes.
- Do a quick release.
- Open lid and add 1 c of uncooked traditional quinoa, stir.
- Close lid, close steam valve, and set to pressure high for 4 minutes.
- Do a quick release and serve!
Here was the inspiration and where it all started!!
She is a rockstar for creating this as a newbie.
As you can see it was served on top of quinoa that was cooked separately…..so if you don’t like to cook everything together this is a great option (she used chicken breasts also, thus the difference in appearance).
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wow, the food plate looks delicious and very attractive, thank you for sharing