15 Best Quick and Healthy Quinoa Recipes - Damn Delicious (2024)

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Post navigation Want to Save this Recipe for Later? Leave a Reply 19 comments Chi Laigo Vallido — February 29, 2020 @ 12:35 PM Reply Your quinoa recipes are so yummy. It has been difficult making a switch from eating rice. Asians without rice? What’s up with that right? But my lab results showed that I am pre-diabetic so I need to make changes while I still have time to reverse my condition. Thank you for this. I will now be a regular follower. MaryAnn Kazmierczak — January 12, 2018 @ 3:48 PM Reply Would love to see nutritional values of your recipes. Chungah — January 12, 2018 @ 3:49 PM Reply Nutritional information is provided only for select and new recipes at this time. However, if it is not available for a specific recipe, I recommend using free online resources at your discretion (you can Google “nutritional calculator”) to obtain such information. Hope that helps, MaryAnn! Susanne — January 12, 2018 @ 12:45 PM Reply Wow, what a bunch of great recipes! Thanks, Chungah. I really like quinoa & make it a lot — but never even *thought* of putting it in spring rolls or using it as “breading”! I’ll be making the quinoa garlic mushroom dish for supper tonight because I have a bunch of mushrooms I want to use up. My usual “go to” for quinoa is either a cold salad or a hot veggie dish, both made the same way: I dice raw carrot, celery, bell pepper & green onion and toss them into cooked quinoa. Add some lightly steamed broccoli, olives, feta and/or blue cheese. In the summer, I sprinkle that with some balsamic & olive oil & eat. In winter, I toss it all into the microwave & nuke it for a minute or two & eat it hot, sometimes adding cooked peas, corn and/or black beans. Delicious either way. And I always toss a spoonful or two (uncooked) into my ancient grains’n’seeds porridge. Good, and good for you — how can you not love it? Amanda — September 5, 2017 @ 7:51 AM Reply The one pan Mexican quinoa is my new go to dish. Everyone who’s tried it has asked for the recipe so I’ve sent them to your website. It is so easy and so delicious! Taylor (Utah Health) — July 30, 2017 @ 7:11 PM Reply I tried the Kale salad with Lemon dressing and it’s fantastic! I’ll try the Blueberry Quinoa breakfast bowl next, and I can’t wait! Thanks so much for the recipes. Nicole G — March 2, 2017 @ 3:17 PM Reply OK, so this week I made the one pan mexican quinoa…OH.MY.GOD!! I hardly have words. My husband and I just kept looking at each other. I could eat that every day for the rest of my life – no joke!Tonight I made the Cheesy broccoli casserole, and again it was another hit! We were eating salads for dinner and if I eat another salad, I’ll upchuck. These are delicious, healthy and easy.Thank you so, so much! Abigail Murdock — May 19, 2016 @ 8:50 PM Reply Blueberry Breakfast Quinoa sounds my type, healthy and yummy, thanks Chungah for sharing your 15 best recipes for quinoa. Mary M. Martinez — March 16, 2016 @ 8:09 AM Reply LOVE this post! And your pictures are beautiful! Chelsea Love — February 24, 2016 @ 9:38 AM Reply I purchased quinoa on a whim a few months ago but have been unable to find any toddler/boyfriend-friendly recipes until this list. Thanks for putting it all together! Rebecca — January 17, 2015 @ 2:12 PM Reply These look great! I’ve had a hard time finding a variety of good quinoa recipes. So many yummy options here! Simple Green Moms — January 16, 2015 @ 10:23 AM Reply I have always been more of a rice kinda gal, BUT some of these recipes just changed my mind! =) PINNED. Thanks for sharing! Chels — January 16, 2015 @ 9:35 AM Reply Mmm, I love quinoa and am always looking for more ways to use it. Pinned! Tina Coulombe — January 12, 2018 @ 1:01 PM Reply I have never tried quinoa Could give me some ideal what its like Thank you Jules @ WolfItDown — January 15, 2015 @ 2:28 PM Reply Mmm I love the flavour of quinoa, and these are all such great recipes! I would never have thought to use them in spring rolls – clever 😀 Thanks for the round-up, I’ll be sure to stock up on quinoa 😀 x Abigail — January 15, 2015 @ 10:10 AM Reply Nom nom nom!! These look amazingDo you think I use botched soggy quinoa for any of these recipes and if not could you provide ideas on what I could do with it, because of my new years resolutions is not to waste food so it will be used for something even if I have to make a foot scrub out of it lol? I was going to make some fried quinoa and some barbeque chicken quinoa and I ruined two cups of dried quinoa. I’d never cooked that large an amount before, I should have stuck to making each batch separately like I had in the past lol. I did use one cup in a broccoli and cheese casserole so I chuckled a bit when I saw that recipe. Chungah — January 15, 2015 @ 10:18 AM Reply Unfortunately, I don’t have much experience using “botched soggy quinoa” before in any of my recipes! Although this quinoa veggie fried rice might be worth trying out – you’ll be adding in a ton of other veggies so it may balance out the botched quinoa! kelsey — August 17, 2016 @ 9:57 PM Reply If you over cook your quinoa chop up some herbs and jalapenos mix in some egg and panko and turn them into patties…you can freeze them and store for a later time Olivia - Primavera Kitchen — January 15, 2015 @ 4:41 AM Reply Wow so many delicious quinoa recipes in here! FAQs References

19 Comments »

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So easy, nutritious and hearty. Best of all, they don’t even taste “healthy”!

15 Best Quick and Healthy Quinoa Recipes - Damn Delicious (1)

To compensatefor all those non-diet-friendly recipesI started posting since the start of January – particularly that lemon butter chicken and the easy creamy mushrooms – I thought it would be best to redeem myself by rounding up some of my favorite quinoa recipes. After all, life is all about balance, right?

1. Quinoa Enchilada Casserole – A lightened-up, healthy enchilada bake chockfull of quinoa, black beans and cheesy goodness. [GET THE RECIPE.]

2. Kale Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette – Perfect as a light lunch or even a meatless Monday dinner option. [GET THE RECIPE.]

3.Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers – These stuffed bell peppers will provide the nutrition that you need for a healthy, balanced meal. [GET THE RECIPE.]

4.Blueberry Breakfast Quinoa – Start your day off right with this protein-packed breakfast bowl. [GET THE RECIPE.]

5. Roasted Shrimp Quinoa Spring Rolls – Quinoa is a wonderful protein-packed substitute for rice noodles in these easy peasy spring rolls. [GET THE RECIPE.]

6. Whole Food’s California Quinoa Salad – A healthy, nutritious copycat recipe that tastes 1000x better than the store-bought version. [GET THE RECIPE.]

7. Garlic Mushroom Quinoa – An easy, healthy side dish that you’ll want to make with every single meal. [GET THE RECIPE.]

8.Strawberry Quinoa Salad – A healthy, filling salad tossed in a sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette, creating the perfect blend of flavors. [GET THE RECIPE.]

9. Quinoa Chicken Parmesan – With an amazingly crisp quinoa crust, you’ll never guess that this is actually so healthy and packed with tons of protein. [GET THE RECIPE.]

10. Black Bean Quinoa Salad – A light and refreshingsalad tossed in an orange vinaigrette, loaded with plenty of fiber. [GET THE RECIPE.]

11. Asian Quinoa Meatballs – Perfect as a light dinner over brown rice and a side of roasted vegetables.[GET THE RECIPE.]

12. Quinoa Fruit Salad – This protein-packed salad is balanced with a tart vinaigrette and refreshing mint. [GET THE RECIPE.]

13. Broccoli Quinoa Casserole – Healthy, cheesy comfort food without any of the guilt. [GET THE RECIPE.]

14. Asian Quinoa Salad – A quick and easy healthy salad dressed in sweet and tangy Asian flavors, loaded with tons of vibrant veggies. [GET THE RECIPE.]

15. One Pan Mexican Quinoa -Wonderfully light, healthy and nutritious. And it’s so easy to make – even the quinoa is cooked right in the pan. [GET THE RECIPE.]

posted on January 14, 2015under round up
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19 comments
  1. Chi Laigo Vallido February 29, 2020 @ 12:35 PM Reply

    Your quinoa recipes are so yummy. It has been difficult making a switch from eating rice. Asians without rice? What’s up with that right? But my lab results showed that I am pre-diabetic so I need to make changes while I still have time to reverse my condition. Thank you for this. I will now be a regular follower.

  2. MaryAnn Kazmierczak January 12, 2018 @ 3:48 PM Reply

    Would love to see nutritional values of your recipes.

    • Chungah January 12, 2018 @ 3:49 PM Reply

      Nutritional information is provided only for select and new recipes at this time. However, if it is not available for a specific recipe, I recommend using free online resources at your discretion (you can Google “nutritional calculator”) to obtain such information. Hope that helps, MaryAnn!

  3. Susanne January 12, 2018 @ 12:45 PM Reply

    Wow, what a bunch of great recipes! Thanks, Chungah. I really like quinoa & make it a lot — but never even *thought* of putting it in spring rolls or using it as “breading”! I’ll be making the quinoa garlic mushroom dish for supper tonight because I have a bunch of mushrooms I want to use up. My usual “go to” for quinoa is either a cold salad or a hot veggie dish, both made the same way: I dice raw carrot, celery, bell pepper & green onion and toss them into cooked quinoa. Add some lightly steamed broccoli, olives, feta and/or blue cheese. In the summer, I sprinkle that with some balsamic & olive oil & eat. In winter, I toss it all into the microwave & nuke it for a minute or two & eat it hot, sometimes adding cooked peas, corn and/or black beans. Delicious either way. And I always toss a spoonful or two (uncooked) into my ancient grains’n’seeds porridge. Good, and good for you — how can you not love it?

  4. Amanda September 5, 2017 @ 7:51 AM Reply

    The one pan Mexican quinoa is my new go to dish. Everyone who’s tried it has asked for the recipe so I’ve sent them to your website. It is so easy and so delicious!

  5. Taylor (Utah Health) July 30, 2017 @ 7:11 PM Reply

    I tried the Kale salad with Lemon dressing and it’s fantastic! I’ll try the Blueberry Quinoa breakfast bowl next, and I can’t wait! Thanks so much for the recipes.

  6. Nicole G March 2, 2017 @ 3:17 PM Reply

    OK, so this week I made the one pan mexican quinoa…OH.MY.GOD!! I hardly have words. My husband and I just kept looking at each other. I could eat that every day for the rest of my life – no joke!
    Tonight I made the Cheesy broccoli casserole, and again it was another hit! We were eating salads for dinner and if I eat another salad, I’ll upchuck. These are delicious, healthy and easy.
    Thank you so, so much!

  7. Abigail Murdock May 19, 2016 @ 8:50 PM Reply

    Blueberry Breakfast Quinoa sounds my type, healthy and yummy, thanks Chungah for sharing your 15 best recipes for quinoa.

  8. Mary M. Martinez March 16, 2016 @ 8:09 AM Reply

    LOVE this post! And your pictures are beautiful!

  9. Chelsea Love February 24, 2016 @ 9:38 AM Reply

    I purchased quinoa on a whim a few months ago but have been unable to find any toddler/boyfriend-friendly recipes until this list. Thanks for putting it all together!

  10. Rebecca January 17, 2015 @ 2:12 PM Reply

    These look great! I’ve had a hard time finding a variety of good quinoa recipes. So many yummy options here!

  11. Simple Green Moms January 16, 2015 @ 10:23 AM Reply

    I have always been more of a rice kinda gal, BUT some of these recipes just changed my mind! =) PINNED. Thanks for sharing!

  12. Chels January 16, 2015 @ 9:35 AM Reply

    Mmm, I love quinoa and am always looking for more ways to use it. Pinned!

    • Tina Coulombe January 12, 2018 @ 1:01 PM Reply

      I have never tried quinoa Could give me some ideal what its like Thank you

  13. Jules @ WolfItDown January 15, 2015 @ 2:28 PM Reply

    Mmm I love the flavour of quinoa, and these are all such great recipes! I would never have thought to use them in spring rolls – clever 😀 Thanks for the round-up, I’ll be sure to stock up on quinoa 😀 x

  14. Abigail January 15, 2015 @ 10:10 AM Reply

    Nom nom nom!! These look amazing

    Do you think I use botched soggy quinoa for any of these recipes and if not could you provide ideas on what I could do with it, because of my new years resolutions is not to waste food so it will be used for something even if I have to make a foot scrub out of it lol? I was going to make some fried quinoa and some barbeque chicken quinoa and I ruined two cups of dried quinoa. I’d never cooked that large an amount before, I should have stuck to making each batch separately like I had in the past lol. I did use one cup in a broccoli and cheese casserole so I chuckled a bit when I saw that recipe.

    • Chungah January 15, 2015 @ 10:18 AM Reply

      Unfortunately, I don’t have much experience using “botched soggy quinoa” before in any of my recipes! Although this quinoa veggie fried rice might be worth trying out – you’ll be adding in a ton of other veggies so it may balance out the botched quinoa!

    • kelsey August 17, 2016 @ 9:57 PM Reply

      If you over cook your quinoa chop up some herbs and jalapenos mix in some egg and panko and turn them into patties…you can freeze them and store for a later time

  15. Olivia - Primavera Kitchen January 15, 2015 @ 4:41 AM Reply

    Wow so many delicious quinoa recipes in here!

15 Best Quick and Healthy Quinoa Recipes - Damn Delicious (2024)

FAQs

How to make quinoa that tastes good? ›

If you're serving it as a simple side, season it first. At the very least, toss it with salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice, and a drizzle of olive oil. To kick it up another notch, stir in chopped herbs, minced garlic, toasted nuts, or crumbled feta cheese, or use it in one of the quinoa recipes below!

Can you freeze quinoa? ›

Editor: Yes, you can definitely freeze cooked quinoa; it's one of our favorite healthy meal shortcuts. Let the cooked quinoa cool down completely, then transfer it to a resealable plastic bag. Press all the air out before sealing, then pat the quinoa into an even layer before freezing.

How much quinoa per person? ›

You'll need about 50g of quinoa per person (make sure to rinse it first) and chicken or vegetable stock. We can't emphasise using stock enough. It really makes a difference to the flavour, yet is subtle enough not to distract from your final dish.

What is the healthiest way to eat quinoa? ›

Toss it in salads.

Quinoa is a complete source of protein and makes a great addition to a healthy salad. The combination of fiber, protein and healthy fats can turn a light side salad into a robust entrée.

How long will quinoa last in the fridge? ›

For a healthier twist on pasta or potato salad, toss cooked quinoa with chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, vinegar and olive oil. Add cooked quinoa to soups, stews and casseroles. Store cooked and cooled quinoa in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Can dogs eat quinoa? ›

But, can dogs eat quinoa? The answer is generally yes. The edible seed is actually an ingredient in some high-quality dry dog foods. Its strong nutritional profile makes it a healthy alternative to corn, grains like wheat, and soy—all starches that are often used to make kibble.

Can you eat cooked quinoa cold the next day? ›

It can be eaten hot or cold and combined with ingredients such as chopped pepper, salad onions and nuts to make a quick and easy salad dish. To store: Keep quinoa in a cool, dry place and consume by the best before date.

Is 1 cup of quinoa too much? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

What to eat with quinoa? ›

Quinoa's got the carbs covered, so you'll likely want to add some additional protein (eggs, lentils, beans, tofu, chicken), a fat (olive oil, nuts, butter, cheese), and, ideally, some kind of fruit or vegetable (broccoli, berries, squash, spinach).

How many minutes to cook quinoa? ›

Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh sieve until water runs clear. Transfer quinoa to a medium pot with water (or broth) and salt. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer, uncovered, until quinoa is tender and a white "tail" appears around each grain, about 15 minutes.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating quinoa? ›

But for some people, eating quinoa may cause stomachaches, itchy skin, hives, and other common symptoms of food allergies. The seed and its coating contain the compound saponin, which could cause these symptoms. If you're allergic to quinoa or sensitive to saponin, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on tasty recipes.

Is it better to eat quinoa at night or in the morning? ›

Mornings demand something healthy and tasty and we think there's no better way to start our day than quinoa. This super grain is packed with loads of proteins, fibre and iron so when you have it for breakfast be assured of less hunger pangs and sugar cravings throughout the day.

How does quinoa burn belly fat? ›

How Quinoa Helps In Weight Loss? Rich dietary fibre and protein increase metabolism, and that makes quinoa good for weight loss. Cooked Quinoa contains five grams of dietary fibre per cup. Eating high fibre foods is often the missing piece when a person is trying to shed weight.

How do you make quinoa not taste bad? ›

All you have to do is thoroughly rinse the raw quinoa under running cold water, dragging your fingers through it as you rinse to make sure the water gets to every grain. (When rinsing quinoa, pick a colander with a very fine mesh to keep individual grains from falling out!)

What can I add to quinoa to make it less bitter? ›

Happily, the solution to preventing bitter quinoa is very simple. All you need to do is rinse your uncooked quinoa in cold running water for a minute or so until the water runs clear.

How do I make sure my quinoa isn't bitter? ›

Unless you prefer the more pronounced, earthier taste of the seed, I recommend giving it a quick rinse under cool running water, which gets rid of its natural coating that can cause a bitter taste. Even if the box says it is pre-washed, I find it doesn't hurt to give the quinoa another rinse.

Is quinoa healthier than rice? ›

Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

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