A requirement of summer should be getting at least one serving of Caprese a week, am I right? The combination of fresh, soft mozzarella cheese, juicy tomatoes, and flavorful basil screams summer and I can never get enough of it. How long it takes: 10 minutes to prep; 1 hour, 35 minutes to bake Equipment you’ll need: 9 x 13 inch baking dish, foil Servings: 6 Thankfully I have you covered with some fun Caprese options and I’m excited to be adding to that list with this recipe. If you’re looking for more, make sure to try this irresistible hot Caprese dip, Caprese turkey burgers, and this Israeli couscous salad with tomato, mozzarella, and herbs. We love these caprese couscous stuffed tomatoes! One more: This roasted tomato crostini may not be technically categorized as Caprese but it’s similar and it’s one of my personal favorite appetizers.
About this chicken Caprese quinoa bake
This chicken Caprese quinoa bake is a good one to carry over into those busy fall evenings, too. It takes some time to bake but it’s nearly all hands-off, giving you lots of time to do whatever else you need to do. It’s a take on my green chile chicken quinoa casserole; it uses the same technique and cooking method but brings different flavors to the table. You basically just stir everything together in a baking dish, cover, and bake. That’s really all there is to it. It couldn’t be easier. Once it’s done baking, add fresh mozzarella cheese and Roma tomatoes and return it to the oven just long enough to melt the cheese. Before serving, top it with fresh basil and balsamic reduction.
How to make this quinoa bake your own
Add pesto! I like to, but my kids are allergic to nuts and it’s hard to find a safe pesto (Yes, I know I could make my own without pine nuts- in fact I have a great pesto recipe on Rachel Cooks.) I’d add ¼ to ½ cup of pesto, depending on how basil-y you like it. Add more veggies: I’m always trying to sneak vegetables in. I think spinach would be great in this. Chop it really finely and everyone will think it’s basil. Make it vegetarian: I haven’t tested this, but if you leave out the chicken and leave everything else the same, this should still turn out great. Bonus: Quinoa has lots of protein! Make it dairy-free: You could leave off the cheese. If you have to. I don’t think we can still call it Caprese, but it will still be tasty. Make it gluten-free: Did you know quinoa is naturally gluten-free? No changes needed!