If you are looking for a healthy recipe that kids love, give this Quinoa Mac and Cheese a try. This recipe is the perfect marriage of the creamy yumminess of traditional Mac n Cheese combined with the nutritional benefits of quinoa. It keeps perfectly for lunch all week and is comfort food you can feel good about serving your family.
How to make Quinoa Mac & Cheese
Ingredients:
• 1 ½ cups quinoa rinsed and drained
• Veggies of your choice
• Good pinch of salt or season salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup unsweetened soy milk or non-fat milk
• 1 ½ cups grated 2% or part-skim cheddar cheese (consider Cabot brand for a lactose-free variety)
• Crushed red pepper, optional
• Toppings – salsa, hot sauce, Greek yogurt, scallions
Directions:
1. Lightly sauté veggies.
2. Cook quinoa to packaged instruction (2:1 ration of water or broth to grain for 15 minutes or in a rice cooker).
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 13×9 pan with non-stick spray.
4. Whisk eggs and milk in a large bowl. Fold quinoa mixture and cheese. Stir very well and let some of the cheese melt.
5. Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake 30-35 minutes until the top is browned.
Tips
- Want to up the nutrition game even more? Try adding spinach or broccoli. Another great option would be sautéed red bell pepper.
- Want to make this recipe quicker? Cook a big batch of quinoa during your weekend meal prep.
Cooking with Quinoa has its benefits!
- Easy – You will find it easier to make than rice. With Quinoa you rarely have problems with it being too sticky or too gummy.
- Fiber – Hello fiber. We all need it in our lives. When it’s traditional rice pasta vs. quinoa, quinoa will win.
- Not Starchy – Quinoa doesn’t create the excess starch that rice does, which you will find what makes it the more ideal for One-Pot Meals!
