Vegan Quinoa Casserole | Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipe - Simply Quinoa (2024)

By: AlyssaRating 28 Comments on Vegan Quinoa Casserole

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This vegan quinoa casserole is easy to make, great for meal prep and is a simple healthy dinner recipe. The recipe can also be customized with any veggie!

Vegan Quinoa Casserole | Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipe - Simply Quinoa (1)

this recipe

There are a few things that I look for when it comes to cozy dinner ideas. It needs to be piping hot. It needs to be easy to make. And it needs to be something I can reheat for later.

Casseroles are exactly that. They're one of those foods that don't sound so glamorous but are totally practical. They take no time to put together, can be made really healthy, and they're also vegan-friendly.

Typical casseroles are loaded with cheese. But not today! Today we're making a vegan quinoa casserole that uses broccoli, nutritional yeast and quinoa to give you a nutritious, delicious, high protein and totally meal prep friendly dinner idea!

Vegan Quinoa Casserole | Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipe - Simply Quinoa (2)

Ingredients for this Vegan Quinoa Casserole

I wanted to create a healthy vegan dinner recipe that was not only easy to make but also doesn't use a ton of crazy ingredients. Which is precisely what we're doing today. We're using just 10 ingredients and, if you're not a broccoli fan, I'm also going to show you how you can make with different veggies!

Here's what need for the base of this vegan quinoa casserole:

  • quinoa
  • veggie broth
  • cashew cream (more on this in a sec)
  • veggies
  • flavorings

I went the more “cheesy broccoli” route and used a ton of broccoli as my veggies and used nutritional yeast and garlic powder as my spices. But as we'll chat about in a sec, this can also be made with whatever flavor combo you'd like!

Vegan Quinoa Casserole | Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipe - Simply Quinoa (3)

How to Make Quinoa Casseroles

Making a quinoa casserole is super simple. Similar to a slow cooker meal, we basically just dump and cook.

You're going to add all your ingredients into a baking dish, stir it up so all the flavors meld together and then bake it. In about 45 minutes or so, out will come a delicious, bubbling quinoa casserole. And to make it vegan? A cinch. Just use veggie broth and cashew cream.

Now, a note about a cashew cream:

To make cashew cream, you have to soak some cashews in hot water and then blend it up to form a thicker cream consistency. Similar to the consistency of heavy cream. You can totally swap this for almond milk, but I personally find that the cream consistency adds a little richness to the dish. You could also use coconut milk if you wanted, but that would add the coconut flavor (hence why I like the cashews).

Vegan Quinoa Casserole | Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipe - Simply Quinoa (4)

Other Vegan Casserole Ideas

I said I would give you some more ways to make a vegan quinoa casserole, so let's do it. I do want to preface this by saying that I haven't tested these all, but knowing what I know about cooking (and specifically cooking quinoa), they'll work.

This is mainly if you want to change out the broccoli. Say you don't have any. Or maybe you're just not a fan. No worries at all. You can totally swap the broccoli for other ingredients.

Here are some ideas for other veggies to add to your casseroles:

  • cauliflower
  • sweet potato/butternut squash
  • carrots, onions & peas
  • tri-color peppers (maybe with some black beans)
  • eggplant & tomatoes

And you can always throw in some greens if you want! I definitely think you should start with this version and then try your hand at other flavors. I do have another yummy one coming early next year, but in the meantime… cheesy broccoli vegan quinoa casserole for life! ????

Vegan Quinoa Casserole | Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipe - Simply Quinoa (5)

More Healthy Vegan Dinner Ideas:

  • Vegan Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta
  • Vegan Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Quinoa
  • 5-Ingredient Quinoa Flour Pizza Crust
  • Vegan Jackfruit Enchiladas
  • Vegan Red Curry Noodle Bowls

Vegan Quinoa Casserole

This vegan quinoa casserole recipe is high protein, naturally gluten-free and so simple to make. The recipe can also be customized with whatever veggies you'd like!

author: Alyssa

yield: 6 servings

Vegan Quinoa Casserole | Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipe - Simply Quinoa (6)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

  • In a baking dish, combine all the ingredients except for the broccoli. Mix them all together so the ingredients are evenly combined in the dish. Add the broccoli. Top with vegan cheese if desired.

  • Bake on the center rack for 40 - 50 minutes until the quinoa is cooked and it's no longer liquidy.

  • Cool for 5 - 10 minutes, then scoop and serve. Drizzle with tahini or hot sauce and enjoy!

Video

Notes

* to make cashew cream: add 1/2 cup raw cashews into a bowl and cover with 2 cups of hot water. soak for at least 30 minutes. rinse then add to a blender with 1 1/4 cups water. blend on high until smooth and creamy!

** swap broccoli with 1 cup of vegetables of choice!

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 433mg | Potassium: 434mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 681IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 3mg

cuisine: American

course: Entree

★★★★★

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Filed Under:

  • Blender
  • Dairy Free
  • Dinner
  • Gluten-Free
  • Lunch
  • Meal Prep
  • Oven
  • Vegan
Vegan Quinoa Casserole | Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipe - Simply Quinoa (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest way to eat quinoa? ›

Toss it in salads.

Quinoa is a complete source of protein and makes a great addition to a healthy salad. The combination of fiber, protein and healthy fats can turn a light side salad into a robust entrée.

How to cook quinoa Alton Brown? ›

Bring 2 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan. Whisk the rinsed quinoa into the boiling water, add the cinnamon, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Does quinoa burn belly fat? ›

It is very healthy due to its plant chemical contents that cause the secretion of appetite-suppressing hormones that curb your appetite. 25. Quinoa: High in protein, quinoa keeps you full with its high levels of plant-based proteins. It decreases your appetite and promotes belly fat decrease.

What does quinoa do to your gut? ›

Studies suggest quinoa may improve gut health by enhancing the diversity of beneficial gut bacteria and reducing the inflammatory symptoms of conditions like colitis. Acting as a prebiotic, quinoa supplies the fuel for beneficial gut bacteria, allowing them to thrive.

Why do you soak quinoa in vinegar? ›

For people who still find quinoa difficult to digest, soaking your quinoa can help release the phytic acid (which binds to certain vitamins and minerals and keeps us from absorbing them) and activating phytase, the enzyme that helps us digest them. What you'll need: Quinoa. Lemon juice or white or apple cider vinegar.

Should you soak quinoa before cooking? ›

Do you need to soak quinoa before cooking it? In short, no, you don't need to soak quinoa. However, doing so is said to remove phytic acid, which may make it easier for people to digest quinoa. If you just want to remove the bitter flavor from quinoa, rinse it under cold water for about a minute.

Is quinoa healthy to eat everyday? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

Is quinoa actually better for you than rice? ›

Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

Is quinoa better for you than rice or pasta? ›

Quinoa not only has more protein and minerals than pasta, couscous, or rice, but it also has a more favorable glycemic index. Glycemic index is a measure of how quickly a food can make your blood sugar rise and it's an important metric for diabetics. The lower the number, the less a food will raise blood sugar.

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