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Taco Wednesday anyone?
Or really, lets just go with tacos any day. They always win.
With pretty much everyone. Unless they’re this quinoa version and your feeding well, my family.
If you have been reading for pretty much any amount of time, than you know that my brothers don’t eat quinoa. Heck they will not even go anywhere near the stuff.
So yeah, this meal was not for them, but they are totally missing out because this is some good Mexican. Same awesome flavor, just a little healthier.
I actually almost felt (sort of) bad pulling this out of the oven in front of them the second time.
It smelled like tacos, it looked super cheesy, but then one look at the smile on my face and they knew that something was up. Kai called it right away, “wait, there’s no meat in this, is there”?
I mean seriously, they know me too well.
Whatever, the rest of us quinoa eaters loved this.
And I mean, just look at all of this cheese!!
Yup.
I had too. The cheese stretch. Nothin’ better.
So there’s the cheese, but there is also tortilla chips stirred in with the quinoa making it kind of similar to chilaquiles. If you added a fried egg on top you would be my hero.
Please do it!
Just like this caprese quinoa bake I made over the summer, this too is super easy to make. This dish has a few more ingredients, but don’t let them freak you out. Promise it is just as easy and quick. Perfect for a mid-week, early spring meal when the weather could be really nice or just plain miserable.
It’s full on snowing here and yet I do believe tomorrow is officially spring, so this healthy, cheesy comfort food is very welcomed.
Also, there is queso fresco involved. Just too good.
Cheesy Black Bean + Quinoa Taco Bake.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 of a large onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 2 red bell peppers, chopped
- 2 jalapeños, seeded + chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- a good pinch of cayenne pepper, more or less to your taste
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups cooked quinoa, use 2 1/12 cups for a larger dish
- 2 cups cooked black beans, rinsed and drained if using canned
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 cup Mexican beer or water, I used I used Negra Modelo
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
- 1/3 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup fontina cheese, shredded
Toppings
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1 head butter lettuce, chopped
- queso fresco, crumbled
- blue or yellow corn tortilla chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8 or 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Once hot add the oil and then the onions, garlic, red bell peppers and jalapeños, cook 5 minutes or until the veggies are soft. To the skillet add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, pepper, salt and cayenne. Stir in the tomato paste and continue to cook 1 minute. Stir the quinoa and black beans, mix well.
- Add the lime juice and beer (or water). Simmer until the beer has cooked out, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tortilla chips, pepper jack cheese and some fresh chopped cilantro if desired. Transfer the quinoa to the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes and then turn the broiler on and broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and top with fresh cilantro, grape tomatoes, diced avocado and tortilla chips. Serve!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Oh, double also, those tomatoes you see above – they were delicious. Spring is on its way somewhere!
The boyfriend (bless his meat loving heart) would probably eat quinoa if I covered it in cheese and flavoured it up like nachos. Might have to fry a few bacon strips for him so that he doesn’t think I’m conspiring to move him to the meatfree camp. Although, I think once he sees that cheese stretch he might be a goner!
Love the bright and gorgeously styled photos Tieghan 🙂
Haha! I should have tried the bacon, maybe the boys would have eaten this them! You can also through in some ground beef or chicken if needed!
Thanks Amy!
Beautiful! This looks so dang good.
Thanks Brenda!
You’ve convinced me. My husband won’t eat it, but I’m pinning anyway 🙂
Haha! Thank you and you can always make a beef or chicken version as well!
This look so good!! I love all the flavors in here! And that video pic of the cheese is awesome!
Thanks Cate!
Fried egg on top, yes! And sooo pretty with the red tomatoes and blue tortilla chips and green cilantro.
Ya for the egg! 🙂
Thanks Karen!
omg this looks incredible! I could eat mexican themed meals daily! I’m a huge fan of quinoa. I love the twist you put on this. And the cheese!!
Thanks so much, Mandy!
So wait…your brothers didn’t even try one bite!? That’s crazy. It looks so good!!! And anything with that much cheese is obviously delicious! Definitely want to try this – would be great for parties!!
Ha! Nope they did not!
Thanks Maria!
Love the cheese stretch. I am still trying to sell my husband on quinoa, I mean seriously, I don’t know what the big deal is, it’s so neutral. I think where the haters are concerned, it might be all in there mind ; ). I love how you added the crushed chips in here. Awesome recipe, gettin pinned for sure. : )
Thanks Crystal!
OMG. This is amaaaaaazing! So glad I found this recipe. Pretty pictures too!
Thank you so much!
Your brothers are stupid. That’s all there is to say. 🙂 Who wouldn’t eat something you made?!?!? This looks delish. I already know when and for whom I’m making this. Ok, so maybe they aren’t stupid (that was just the inner 8-year-old in me). It’s just frustrating because my husband was like that but I am ssllooowwwwlllyyyy maturing his taste buds. Thanks for the recipe and I totally volunteer to taste-test anything you make next time you’re in Mt. Hood country ha ha 🙂
Haha! They totally are!
Thanks Amber!!
Toootally swooning over that melted cheese! Too bad for your brothers, but more for the quinoa lovers, right? We just got a new bag of quinoa and now I know what to do with it. There was a bit of a rut when all we would do is boil it with chicken stock and serve it next to something. This looks like a far better way to eat it!
Oh yeah, this is way more fun that eating it plain!
Thanks Amy!
I am all about some tacos, all day, any day. These look fantastic and your photos are killer! Love that red surface you shot the photos on. Perfect for this taco bake! Plus I’m dying over just about every ingredient in this. Yum!
Thank you so much, Beth!
It’s a good thing I have all these ingredients already because I *need* this in my life. Immediately. Your brothers are funny – I used to ask my parents if meals had meat in them, but that was because they regularly tried to pass things off as meat that…weren’t. Like “chicken-less” nuggets. At least you’re not trying to fake your brothers out!
Oh trust me, I try…but is almost never, ever works. Ha!
Thanks!
That’s gotta be the most mouthwatering gif I’ve seen in months, haha! What a yummy dish full of comforting goodness. It looks SO flavorful and delicious, Tieghan!
Ha! Thank you so much, Georgia!! 🙂 Hope you are doing awesome!
The stretchy cheese is calling my name and I love the red board.
Thanks so much!