
It was one of those days I didn’t want to worry about dinner. So before work I pulled out the Crock Pot and a pound of chicken breast from the freezer. Genius! Right? Who ever came up with the crock pot idea should be named inventor of the century. It’s a life savior!
So this idea is simple, a can of creamed corn, a can of diced tomatoes, a can of beans and some chicken. Spice it up anyway you like and add the quinoa at the end to soak up the liquid!
You should have seen the husbands face when I put the bowl in front of him. I tried not to say anything and wait for his reaction (he’s never seen, heard of or would ever want to try quinoa). He was quiet and after about 1 minute I said, “don’t worry I left the chicken in big pieces so you can find it easily.”
He just laughed and said “What is it?”
I went on to explain what quinoa is and he continued to pick out all the chicken pieces. He said he liked it but left most of the quinoa and beans in the bowl. Hey… at least he tried it! The toddler picked at it too but ate a few good bites.
To be honest, the picture doesn’t do it justice, it was really good. Especially if you are a one bowl meal lover like me.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (16oz) of chicken breast trimmed and cut into large chunks
- 1 15oz can of cream style corn
- 1 15oz can of pinto beans rinsed and drained
- 1 15oz can of diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon dehydrated onion
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
- 1 cup (170g) uncooked Quinoa
Instructions
Put all ingredients except quinoa in a crock pot on low and cook for about 6 hours.
A half an hour before dinner, add the quinoa. It will soak up the remaining liquid.
Here’s a picture before and after cooking. I’m sorry they aren’t the greatest, it was a really hard dish to photograph!
I got 5, 1 cup servings and boy was it filling!
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooked Pinto Chicken with Corn and Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 lb 16oz of chicken breast trimmed and cut into large chunks
- 1 15 oz can of cream style corn
- 1 15 oz can of pinto beans rinsed and drained
- 1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 teaspoon dehydrated onion
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
- 1 cup 170g uncooked Quinoa
Instructions
- Put all ingredients except quinoa in a crock pot on low and cook for about 6 hours.1 lb 16oz of chicken breast trimmed and cut into large chunks, 1 15 oz can of cream style corn, 1 15 oz can of pinto beans rinsed and drained, 1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes, ½ teaspoon ground sage, 1 teaspoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dehydrated onion, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
- A half an hour before dinner, add the quinoa. It will soak up the remaining liquid.1 cup 170g uncooked Quinoa
Megan
I made this today and got 7 1 cup servings?? It was very delicious though.
jeerjeerak
Hi Roni,
I realize this post is old, but i ask my question and hope you notice it. Is there anything else i can substitute for Quinoa? I live in a small midwestern town and we don't have trader joe's, or anything alike.
Krista
I am planning to try your recipe, but will make one change. Quinoa needs to be rinsed very well before it is cooked. It naturally has a very bitter coating on it that a good rinse with water will get rid of.
nicole
this looks sooooo good. i'll just have to get my fiance into beans and quinoa...lol! i'd love to have some more healthy crockpot ideas from you. we both work full-time, and as you know, it's so nice to walk in the door at 5pm and smell dinner ready?! mmm...thanks roni!
sharla
My family really liked this!
I have had Quinoa sitting in my pantry for almost a year and didn't know what to do with it.
This reminded me of the KFC bowl-in a much healthier way!
I put a link on my blog today to this recipe, I hope it was ok!
Thanks for your great food ideas!
roni
Hey guys, sorry for the late response.
Julie - I found it at trader joe's. But I think it's getting more popular now. I'll check the local grocery store to see if I can find any.
Chritsine and Kja - I defrosted the chicken just enough to be able to cut it. So it was still frozen in the crock pot, that's one of the reasons I cooked it so long.
I've used frozen in the crock pot before no problem, as long as you know it completely cooked, I think it's ok.
Laura
How funny is this -- I just read your post on quinoa and then look at what I found right afterwards on the Baltimore Sun Online: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bal-fo.quinoa09jan09,0,6346998.story
Chritsine
Is it ok to put in frozen chicken, or do you need to defrost if first?
kja7522
did you defrost the chicken first, or put it in frozen? i've heard mixed things about what to do...
Kathy
I'll have to file the idea of adding it near the end of a Crockpot recipe...hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the idea.
julie
where are you finding quinoa? I love love love this, but haven't found it at the store yet!