Best Tried-and-True Healthy, Easy Quinoa Recipes
~ These Healthy, Easy Quinoa Recipes are all tried-and-true favorites – beloved by our family, and our readers! Try a few yourself, and we think you’ll agree that they’re some of the yummiest, very best quinoa recipes out there, and definitely great inspiration for working more quinoa into your family’s meals! ~
Looking for more delicious ways to eat quinoa? New, healthy quinoa recipes to breathe a little life into a stale, ho-hum meal rotation?
Or maybe you’re just now trying to jump on the quinoa bandwagon, and you need no-fail, easy quinoa recipes to get you started?
Either way … you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got some favorite recipes we’re dying to share! From burstingly flavorful salads to EASY, mix-it-right-in-the-pan casseroles. Even a classic soup that’s boosted with the addition of nutrient-rich quinoa!
And, just like all our recipes, they’re tested and retested (again and again and again) until we LOVE them, and we’re sure you will, too.
So … Just What Makes These Healthy Quinoa Recipes So Healthy?
Well, first of all … the quinoa!
As we explain in our “primer” post How to Cook Quinoa (And Why You Should!), quinoa is loaded with goodies like:
- fiber
- potassium
- magnesium
- and iron
It’s also:
- gluten free
- high in protein
That protein is worth a little further discussion, though, because that’s where quinoa really shines! Quinoa is one of the only plants that has all the amino acids needed to be a complete protein (which means it’s especially great for vegetarians and vegans).
It also has a very high ratio of protein to carbs, and the carbs it does have are complex carbs. Those complex carbohydrates help you feel full longer, which definitely makes quinoa a better source of sustained energy than simple carbs like white pastas or white rice.
But even beyond the quinoa itself, our recipes are designed to boost big, big flavor while focusing on great nutrients from lots of colorful veggies, lean meats like chicken, and lower-fat dressings and dairy.
It all adds up to recipes that you’ll feel great about serving – not just because people rave and pester you for the recipes … but also because you know you’re sharing foods that are actually good for your friends and loved ones, too!
It’s an all-around win!
Ok – But Exactly What Makes These Easy Quinoa Recipes?
If you’ve never made quinoa before and it seems a little bit daunting, not to worry! Here at THK, we’re all about food that’s actually DO-able!
Some of these recipes are fantastic big-batch, make-ahead recipes that keep well for days. So, they’re great for meal prepping and make-ahead meals. And of course, we always try to give you mini make-ahead tips and shortcuts all along the way!
Maybe even better … the two casseroles in our list rely on one of our very favorite quinoa shortcut tricks – mixing uncooked quinoa with other ingredients, right in the baking pan! It all cooks together as the casserole bakes, so you don’t even have to pre-cook the quinoa.
Now that’s easy!
And that delicious Tortilla Soup? Yep – there’s slow cooker magic happening there! Just toss ingredients in your crock-pot in the morning, and dinner’s waiting when you roll through the door at night! Boo-yah!
Because quinoa is so neutral-flavored, it’s incredibly adaptable for lots of different flavor profiles – from summery tomatoes and basil to Mexican spices, and from Mediterranean ingredients to Italian combinations … and beyond! It easily swaps in to replace pasta or rice in a wide variety of recipe types, boosting nutrition without getting in the way of the flavors you love.
Are you convinced yet?!? Ready to get cooking? The hardest part will be deciding which to try first!
These are the quinoa recipes we LOVE ... and so do our readers! Vibrantly delicious yet healthy and easy, too! They're tried-and-true favorites that are always a BIG hit! This unique quinoa salad recipe wins BIG raves, every time we serve it! Plus, it also doubles as a delicious spin on the ever-popular Cowboy Caviar – great with whole-grain tortilla chips! So versatile – serve it as a vegetarian main-dish salad, a picnic or potluck side dish, or a scrumptious appetizer dip! The always-popular flavors of chicken fajitas, in a super-easy baked casserole! The base includes healthy quinoa, mixed up right in the pan with black beans and salsa ... absolutely no pre-cooking needed! It's seriously delicious, and soooooo simple! Bursting with the cheerful flavors of summer, this chicken-quinoa salad is perfect as a main dish, or as a hearty side! It's terrific served warm or totally chilled, so it's a great make-ahead for meal prepping. Bonus: it can even be adapted for vegetarians. Trust me – it’ll quickly become a favorite at picnics ... and at family dinners! Dubbed “exploding good,” this salad showcases just a few simple ingredients to create bold, bright flavors! Protein-packed, gluten-free quinoa stands in for traditional bulgur wheat, and kale adds even more nutrition … but this still has all the flavors and textures you love in a tabouli salad (with healthy advantages you’ll feel great about)! Plus, it makes a big, big batch that keeps well for several days – a perfect meal prep make-ahead for busy weeks! Such easy, healthy comfort food! The brilliant twist on this recipe is that you don’t even have to pre-cook the quinoa – you can just mix up the yummy quinoa base right in the baking pan. Then top it with zucchini boats full of lean Italian sausage. Sprinkle with Italian cheeses, and dinner’s in the oven in no time! Even better – you can prep it almost entirely ahead! This family favorite sneaks in a little extra nutrition thanks to a handful of quinoa! It's got all the delicious, hearty Mexican flavors you expect in a tortilla soup. Plus, it's super-easy since you basically just toss everything in the slow cooker! I’ve been making this beautiful, wildly delicious salad for years, and everyone asks for the recipe (and even offers to take home the leftovers)! Inspired by a beloved Disney recipe, this simple quinoa salad is absolutely brimming with vibrant, refreshing flavors! It's also really quick and easy, and packed with great nutrition! We dubbed this our "Celebration Salad," and it definitely tastes like a party (a super-fun, kale and quinoa party)! It's turbo-loaded with nutritious superfoods, but it's so tantalizingly delicious that no one will even notice it's also so incredibly healthy! This article goes back to the essential basics – the simple tips and tricks for cooking PERFECT quinoa every time!Best Healthy, EASY Quinoa Recipes
Corn, Edamame and Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette
Mexican Chicken Fajita Casserole (with Quinoa)
Easy, Healthy Chicken Salad with Quinoa, Tomatoes, Lemon and Basil
Easy Kale and Quinoa Tabouli Salad
Stuffed Zucchini Boats Casserole with Italian Sausage and Quinoa
Crock-Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Mediterranean Confetti Quinoa Salad
Citrus Quinoa and Chickpea Salad
Kale Chopped Salad with Berries and Quinoa (or Freekeh)
How to Cook Quinoa (and Why You Should!)
Amazing recipes! I served Kale Salad in an event I was hosting for my neighbours. They really loved it. Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks for the sweet comment, Gabriella!! We’re always so glad to hear what our readers are enjoying — and the kale salad is also a favorite in our family! 😀 ~Amy