Tired of the same old slow cooker dishes? Here’s a unique one to try! The chorizo adds a ton of flavor, and the spinach adds a ton of nutrition. And this recipe could not be easier, it is one of those where you toss everything in the slow cooker, and then come back 6 hours later to a hot, yummy meal!
My new favorite way to cook quinoa is in the slow cooker, it is just so easy and I get perfect results every time! Plus, it frees up my stove top and my attention as I prepare other foods for a meal.
If you want to cook some plain quinoa as a side dish or to pair up with a different entree, head over to my Slow Cooker Quinoa recipe!
If you are a vegetarian, you can easily skip the chorizo, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth, and you will have a great meat-free dinner. If you are vegan, you can also skip the Parmesan cheese, but then you may need to incorporate some additional spices for more flavor.
If you can’t find chorizo or just happen to have another type of sausage on hand, you can definitely substitute. We got the best results with the more flavorful sausages. If it weren’t for the kids, I would probably throw in the spiciest sausage I could find!
Slow Cooker Chorizo and Quinoa
Ingredients
- 16 ounces chorizo (cut into bite-size pieces)
- 1 1/3 cups quinoa (rinsed if necessary (I used tri-color, pre-rinsed quinoa))
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup chopped onion (frozen is fine)
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (1 can)
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low 5-6 hours.
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Maya says
Hello, I tried this. It tastes really flavourful but it’s wetter than I thought it would be. Do you think baking it would dry it up a bit?
Kristin says
I am sorry to hear that! I would say that letting it sit in the crock pot, still set on low, for 30 minutes with the lid off may help. The next time, cut a back on the chicken broth a bit, maybe add 2 1/2 cups instead of 3, and see how that turns out. Thanks for the feedback and for stopping by! 🙂
Paige Vogel says
Would this recipe fit into a 3 quart slow cooker?
Kristin King says
I think it might, although it would be a tight fit. But I am totally guesstimating, so please don’t get mad if I am wrong! I don’t have a 3 qt slow cooker. Mine is a 5 qt but there was plenty of room, which is why I am saying it might fit. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Frugal Hausfrau says
What a wonderful combo of flavors and it’s right up my alley! Thanks for linking up to us on Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
Yum! We’ve been chorizo eating fools over here lately,, os this looks right up my alley!
Lisa @ Fun Money Mom says
I’m always looking for new slow cooker recipes and this one looks really good! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Share The Wealth Sunday! xoxo
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table says
What a gorgeous dinner! I love how easy this recipe is – perfect for a busy week! And so flavorful… chorizo and quinoa? Love it! Pinned!
Peter says
I am a huge Cajun fan and always put chorizo in my dishes. This is a very comforting dish.