If you’re looking for a versatile, nutritious, and delicious ingredient to add to your diet, look no further than quinoa! This grain is not only gluten-free but also packed with essential amino acids and protein.
One of the best things about quinoa is how easy it is to cook, making it a perfect addition to your weekly meal prep routine. It also pairs well with a variety of flavors and textures, from roasted vegetables and sweet potatoes to black beans and Mexican spices. Whether you’re looking for a main dish or a side, quinoa has got you covered.
In this blog post, I’m sharing some of my favorite quinoa recipes that are quick, easy, and healthy. From quinoa bowls to quinoa stuffed sweet potatoes and black bean quinoa fried rice, there is something for everyone.
15 Quick Quinoa Dinner Recipes
Vegan Quinoa Dinner Recipes
Tabouli
267 calories
Ingredients
6 tsp Parsley, dried – 0 calories
½ cup Tomatoes, grape – 16 calories
½ Cucumber, medium – 21 calories
½ cup Quinoa, cooked – 111 calories
1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories
1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook quinoa as described on package.
Step 2: Chop cucumbers, tomatoes, and parsley.
Step 3: Mix all ingredients.
Note: 6 tsp parsley = 2 Tbsp.
Hot Lentil & Chickpea Salad
429 calories
Ingredients
½ cup Quinoa, cooked – 111 calories
¼ cup Lentils, cooked – 57.5 calories
¼ cup Beans & legumes, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked – 67 calories
6 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 42 calories
1 cup Tomatoes, grape – 32 calories
1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories
1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
1 Basil, dash – 0 calories
1 Oregano, dash – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook quinoa and lentils as instructed on package.
Step 2: Drain & rinse chickpeas.
Step 3: Slice tomatoes in halves.
Step 4: Add oil to a pan.
Step 5: Saute tomatoes, 3 cups spinach, beans, and quinoa ~4 minutes on medium heat.
Step 6: Top with seasonings.
Step 7: Add remaining 2 cups (raw) greens to a bowl, top with the stir fry.
Savory Quinoa
296 calories
Ingredients
½ cup Quinoa, cooked – 111 calories
½ Zucchini, medium – 16.5 calories
½ cup Tomatoes, grape – 16 calories
½ cup Carrots, baby – 22.5 calories
1 Tbsp Garlic, minced (Tbsp) – 0 calories
1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
1 Tbsp Soy sauce (Tbsp) – 0 calories
½ cup Edamame, shelled – 130 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook quinoa as instructed on package.
Step 2: Boil edamame if cooking from frozen.
Step 3: Chop vegetables into small pieces.
Step 4: Spray a pan with an oil spray.
Step 5: Add in all ingredients, stir fry on low heat for 7-8 minutes.
Quinoa-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
This Mexican-inspired quinoa plant-based dish hits all of the marks: it’s healthy, quick, easy to make, and delicious! It’s also easy to customize to your liking, so it’s perfect even for picky eaters.
Find the recipe here: https://minimalistbaker.com/quinoa-stuffed-sweet-potatoes/
Black Bean Quinoa Fried Rice
If you love fried rice, you’ll definitely love this recipe! It’s a more nutritious version of the traditional fried rice (as quinoa is more nutritious than rice), it’s easy to make, and it’s protein-packed as it includes both black beans and quinoa. By the way, if you’re looking for some low carb rice substitutes, I got you.
Find the recipe for the black bean quinoa friend rice here: https://alkalineveganlounge.com/black-bean-quinoa-fried-rice-10-minute-recipe/
Quinoa Bowl Dinner Recipes
Thai-Inspired Peanut Bowl
535 calories
Ingredients
6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories
¾ cup Carrots, shredded or julienned – 33.75 calories
¾ cup Cabbage, shredded – 16.5 calories
½ Bell pepper, red – 18.5 calories
½ cup Quinoa, cooked – 111 calories
1 Tbsp Peanut butter (Tbsp) – 94 calories
1 Tbsp Peanuts (Tbsp) – 51 calories
2 Tbsp Soy sauce (Tbsp) – 0 calories
1 Red pepper flakes, dash – 0 calories
1 Ginger (ground), dash – 20 calories
1 Lime (half) – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook quinoa as instructed on its package.
Step 2: Cube chicken.
Step 3: Mix with ginger, red pepper flakes, and 1 Tbsp soy sauce. If possible: marinate in the fridge for 2+ hours. If not possible, don’t worry about it!
Step 4: Spray a pan with an oil spray and stir fry chicken on medium heat until cooked through, about 8 minutes.
Step 5: Finely slice bell pepper.
Step 6: Make your dressing by mixing together the juice from 1/2 a lime, another Tbsp of soy sauce, your peanut butter, and more ginger and red pepper flakes.
Step 7: In a large bowl, add your cabbage, carrots, peppers, quinoa, and chicken.
Step 8: Top with dressing and peanuts, and mix to combine.
No chicken? Use tofu. No nuts? Use sunflower seed butter and sunflower seeds.
Salmon & Quinoa Buddha Bowl
547 calories
Ingredients
4 oz Salmon fillet – 200 calories
½ Avocado, small – 116.5 calories
½ cup Carrots, shredded or julienned – 22.5 calories
½ Cucumber, medium – 21 calories
1 cup Cabbage, shredded – 22 calories
½ cup Quinoa, cooked – 111 calories
1 Seaweed snacks, single serving pack – 30 calories
1 Tbsp Sesame seeds (Tbsp) – 18 calories
2 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) – 6 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray it with an oil spray. Bake salmon filet for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F, or until flakes easily.
Step 2: Chop cucumber into small pieces, cube avocado, and shred (or cut with scissors) seaweed snacks.
Step 3: Combine all ingredients in a bowl and top with red wine vinegar and sesame seeds.
Vegetarian Quinoa Burrito Bowls
If you’re a vegetarian or you want to incorporate some meatless meals into your diet, making burrito bowls is the easiest and most delicious way to eat some meat-free meals.
This recipe uses quinoa instead of rice, it’s packed with nutrients, and super tasty. So, if you’re looking for some healthy quinoa recipes, this one is for you.
Find the recipe here: https://www.simplyquinoa.com/meal-prep-vegetarian-quinoa-burrito-bowls/
Pesto Quinoa Bowl
If you’re a fan of pesto like I am, and you’re looking for easy quinoa recipes, this is the recipe for you! It combines quinoa, veggies, and the most delicious sauce ever in my opinion – pesto.
Find the recipe here: https://www.simplyquinoa.com/spring-pesto-quinoa-bowls/
Quinoa Dinner Recipes with Chicken
Quinoa Pineapple Chicken Bowl
459 calories
Ingredients
1 cup Broccoli – 31 calories
1 cup Pineapple, fresh chunks – 83 calories
4 Tbsp Barbeque sauce – 30 calories
6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories
¼ Onion, red – 13.75 calories
½ cup Quinoa, cooked – 111 calories
1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook quinoa as package instructs.
Step 2: Cube chicken, slice broccoli into small pieces, and dice onion.
Step 3: Spray a pan with an oil spray. Cook chicken and broccoli for ~10 minutes on medium heat, until chicken has cooked through.
Step 4: Mix all ingredients.
No chicken? Use fish, tofu, or beans.
One-Pot Chicken and Quinoa Recipe
This delicious meal has everything you could ask for: chicken as the protein, quinoa as the healthy carb and protein a swell, mushrooms, and spinach for fiber. It’s a nutrient-packed meal that will satisfy all of your cravings.
Find the recipe here: https://www.cookincanuck.com/one-pot-chicken-quinoa-mushrooms-spinach-recipe/
Spicy Cajun Chicken Quinoa
If you like spicy Cajun meals, you’ll love this chicken & quinoa meal!
Find the recipe here: https:
//www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spicy-cajun-chicken-quinoa
Quinoa Salad Recipes
Copycat SweetGreen Fish Taco Salad
344 calories
Ingredients
4 oz Salmon fillet – 200 calories
½ cup Cabbage, shredded – 11 calories
1 Tbsp Cilantro – 0 calories
½ oz Tortilla chips – 61.5 calories
¼ cup Quinoa, cooked – 55.5 calories
2 cups Leafy greens, arugula, raw – 10 calories
1 tsp Hot sauce (tsp) – 0 calories
2 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) – 6 calories
1 slice Lime, slice – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook quinoa as instructed on package.
Step 2: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 3: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil & spray it with an oil spray. Bake salmon for 15 minutes or until flakes easily.
Step 4: Crumble tortilla chips.
Step 5: Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Step 6: Top with dressing, hot sauce & lime juice.
No salmon? Use chicken, tofu, or beans.
Plant Powered Lentil Salad
356 calories
Ingredients
¼ cup Edamame, shelled – 65 calories
½ cup Lentils, cooked – 115 calories
1 oz Cheese, goat – 103 calories
¼ cup Quinoa, cooked – 55.5 calories
1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
1 Basil, dash – 0 calories
1 Oregano, dash – 0 calories
1 Tbsp Vinaigrette, light (less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp) – 17.5 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook lentils and quinoa as instructed on their packages.
Step 2: Heat soybeans in microwave or stovetop if desired (get frozen soybeans if you can, so they last longer!)
Step 3: Add lentils, quinoa, soybeans, and goat cheese to bowl.
Step 4: Top with seasonings, dressing & enjoy!
No dairy? Use a dairy-free version or avocado. No edamame? Use a calorie-equivalent amount of tofu, chicken, tuna, etc.
Note: I like Trader Joe’s fat free vinaigrette – but Paul Newman, Whole Foods, etc. all have good light dressings.
Quinoa Greek Style Box
444 calories
Ingredients
1 Cucumber, small – 32 calories
1 cup Tomatoes, grape – 32 calories
½ cup Beans & legumes, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked – 134 calories
¼ cup Cheese, crumbled, feta – 99.75 calories
½ cup Quinoa, cooked – 111 calories
2 Tbsp Vinaigrette, light (less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp) – 35 calories
1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
1 Basil, dash – 0 calories
1 Oregano, dash – 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Cook quinoa as instructed on package.
Step 2: Slice cucumber and tomatoes.
Step 3: Mix all ingredients.
No dairy? Use an oil-based vinaigrette.
Note: I like Trader Joe’s fat free vinaigrette – but Paul Newman, Whole Foods, etc. all have good light dressings.
