Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole

This Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole is light, easy to make, and packed with nutrients and flavor! Everything is made in a single pan, and it’s only 290 calories a serving!

For another tasty one pot recipe, you have to try my Easy One Pot Shakshuka! These dinners will save your life on busy weeknights.

Table of Contents

• Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole
• Why I Love This Healthy Quinoa Casserole
• Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole

Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole

I consider myself a pretty fit and active person. I usually try to work out between 3-5 times per week. Of course there are some weeks that it doesn’t happen at all, but there’s grace in those weeks.

But for the past couple of weeks now I’ve felt in a little bit of a physical rut. Not really seeing much change, at least not the changes I want to see. So I decided for the first time ever that I was going to sign up for personal training sessions at our gym.

I scouted out the gym trainers while I was in there working out. I figured, if I can find one that takes care of themselves (aka is looking good or hot) then she will be able to do the same for me. Good logic right? 🙂 I thought so.

I had my first training session this past Monday and it was great, I really liked her. The exercises were different, challenging, and I learned new things. Then Tuesday came around and now I don’t like her, because I am walking around the house like an 80 year old woman. It takes everything I have to get up out of bed or push myself off the ground after playing with Cason, actually the sitting down part might be worse. I haven’t quite figured it out yet, basically because all around I hurt. Anywho, it is now Thursday and I’m still sore. Manageable soreness, but still sore none the less.

The worst part about this situation is today I have another lesson with her and we are doing upper body. EEK!!!

I don’t even want to think about what my weekend is going to look and/or feel like. I just have to keep reminding myself “pain is weakness leaving the body…. pain is weakness leaving the body.” That’s the quote we use to say all the time during volleyball pre-season each year – where we had three 2 1/2 hour practices a day … for two weeks … ughh!

Even though I will be limping and asking for mike to carry things for me all weekend at least I can take solace in this Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole dish!

Why I Love This Healthy Quinoa Casserole

The recipe came about because I was really craving Green Chili Enchiladas. Well, first off carbs from the tortillas, loads of dairy, and in general not the absolute best for you … at least the kind that I was craving … ahem the full fat kind. I was racking my brain trying to think of a healthier gluten free and less dairy way to make my craving appear on our dinner table.

Which is why this Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole came about. This recipe has all the yummy southwestern flavors I love, smoky paprika, green chili’s, pinto beans, sweet peppers, cumin, cilantro, and avocado – with only 290 calories a serving! That’s under 300 for a dinner folks, and even though it’s light on calories it’s definitely not light on flavor. Cason gobbled this meal up and my strong enchilada cravings were completely satisfied!

PS, when I say “one pot” I literally mean everything is made in one pot. So yeah for less dirty dishes!! High fives all around!

Hope you and your family enjoy this meal as much as we did! Bon Appetite my friends!

Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole

★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews

• Author: Krista
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 7-9 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stove
• Cuisine: Mexican

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Description

This Healthy One Pot Mexican Quinoa Casserole is light, easy to make, and packed with nutrients and flavor! Everything is made in a single pan, and it’s only 290 calories a serving!

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Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2” cubes
• 1 cup diced red onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 mini assorted color sweet red peppers, sliced
• 2 (4 oz.) cans diced green chilis
• 14 oz can low sodium pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup diced roma tomatoes
• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded colby cheese
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/4 cup diced green onions

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Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet to medium high heat.
2. Add olive oil to pan as well as diced chicken. Cook until chicken is no longer pink, turning throughout. About 5-7 minutes.
3. Remove chicken from the pan and put on plate. Set aside.
4. Add onions to pan. Saute until translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
5. Add in garlic, saute for 30 seconds and immediately add in mini peppers. Saute for 1-2 minutes.
6. Add in green chilis, pinto beans, chicken broth, roma tomatoes, quinoa, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, ground pepper, and cilantro to the pan.
7. Stir and bring to a boil.
8. Add chicken in, stir, cover, and reduce to simmer.
9. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until liquid is evaporated and quinoa is cooked through.
10. Remove from heat.
11. Add cheese to the top. Place cover on and let sit for 1 minute until cheese it melted.
12. Serve with fresh avocado, green onions, and fresh cilantro.

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Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 1/2 cup
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 595 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 7 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg

Keywords: quinoa casserole, mexican quinoa, mexican casserole recipe, mexican casserole, easy mexican casserole, healthy quinoa recipe, healthy casserole recipe, healthy mexican casserole

IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, BE SURE TO SNAP A PIC AND HASHTAG IT #JOYFULHEALTHYEATS. I LOVE SEEING WHAT YOU MAKE!

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