5 Quinoa Recipes To Try Today

I probably should have named this blog quinoa something or other. Really. I’m kind of obsessed with quinoa lately. It’s ironic that I used to not be able to pronounce the word and now it’s in my meal plan at least once or twice a week. I love that quinoa is packed full of protein and is so versatile. It can be used in place of rice or pasta in any sort of dish.

I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 (current) quinoa dishes. Be warned that this could change at any given time though! No worries, I will keep you updated on all of my new favorites!

Quinoa Quinoa Quinoa!

Spring Quinoa Salad w/ Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

Spring Quinoa Salad With Honey-Lime Vinaigrette: Don’t let the word “salad” in this dish fool you into thinking you’ll still be hungry afterwards.  Quinoa is packed full of protein and so are almonds. This dish from Pinch of Yum is a great addition to your spring salad rotations. I skipped the bacon and added in some chicken and grape tomatoes. I also added some fresh basil to it.  The honey lemon vinaigrette is so tasty, I can’t wait to use it on other salads as well.

Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Mini-Muffins

Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Mini-Muffins: My 4 year old is obsessed with these mini-muffins from Alida’s Kitchen. It’s not even because they have the word “muffin” in them, although that certainly helps.  She devours them, and in all honesty, I do too.  I love these muffins for a few reasons.  The first is that the recipe is easily customizable to your tastes.  I’ll make some with just the broccoli, cheddar, and quinoa and to others I’ll add the crushed red pepper, garlic, and onions.  Add carrots or whatever veggies your heart desires.  If we don’t eat them all the first night, they are a great snack the next day and a really easy lunch box addition.

Quinoa Vegetable Salad w/ Lemon-Basil Dressing

Quinoa Vegetable Salad With Lemon-Basil Dressing: I also like to call this dish from The Garden Grazer the little bit of everything salad. I love the chickpeas in this one because it makes the dish that much more filling. It already has it’s fair share of veggies with the corn, tomatoes, and orange bell pepper, but I’ve also added red and green bell peppers and spinach. It’s great as leftovers for lunch the next day too (if you don’t devour it all in the first sitting!)

One Pot Thai Quinoa Bowl

One Pot Thai Quinoa Bowl: This recipe from The Housewife in Training Files had me at one pot.  You know I’m a big fan of one pot dishes right? Less dishes=happy mom indeed. I love the colorful veggies in this dish and I’ll never say no to peanut sauce.  Feel free to omit or add veggies as you like.  I didn’t have any broccoli, but added some red bell pepper instead. I always like to add a little Sriracha sauce to my Thai dishes for an extra kick as well.

Crockpot Enchilada Quinoa

Crockpot Enchilada Quinoa: Quinoa+crockpot=love.  I’ve made this recipe from Lecremedelacrumb several times already and each time I make it I find new ways to use the leftovers, which is a huge plus in my book. I’ve served it on its own, in a tortilla, and in a salad and all were delicious. You get plenty of protein from the black beans and quinoa and just the right amount of spice. Plus, it’s all cooked in the crockpot.  Hello, can’t get much easier than that!

 icon-thumb-tack Quick tip: Since I clearly have a mild obsession with quinoa, I usually make extra and just stick it in the fridge until the next recipe beckons.  And if my cupboards are getting bare, sometimes I’ll just have a bowl of quinoa sprinkled with some cheese and balsamic vinegar for lunch.  

What is your favorite quinoa dish at the moment?

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