Quinoa Meal Prep Recipes will load up your meals with extra protein for days. Use it instead of rice for a totally different taste experience!
Quinoa, pronounced keen-wah, is a nutrient-packed seed that is a fantastic source of vegetarian, plant-based, protein. Although in terms of cooking, it's often treated like a grain, and it is sometimes called a "pseudograin" for that very reason. It can be used in a variety of ways and these 23 recipes are going to show you how!
And a little birdie recently told us that January 16 is National Quinoa Day, so let's celebrate this with some stellar quinoa meal prep recipes, shall we?
Why is Quinoa Good For You?
Originally cultivated in Peru, quinoa is not only a source of complete protein, which means it contains all nine amino acids our bodies cannot produce on their own, but is a powerhouse otherwise! Quinoa is also full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and is gluten-free. With all of these health benefits, quinoa is considered a superfood.
How to Cook Quinoa
Quinoa requires some rinsing beforehand which helps to remove some of the bitterness you might otherwise detect. It's a great alternative to rice of any kind because it cooks in about the same amount of time (15 minutes or so) and it adapts very easily to the flavors cooked with it. It's often used as a side instead of as the main feature of a meal; however, if your diet is vegan or vegetarian there are plenty of quinoa-based dishes that are suitable for main meals because there's so much protein in this ingredient.
After much searching and sampling, we have put together our top 23 recipes that incorporate quinoa!
Quinoa Meal Prep Recipes We Love
Many of the quinoa recipes here use quinoa in ways surprising and unsurprising. We've also included a fair number of vegetarian recipes here, too, because we know the importance of protein in a plant-based diet.
Vegetarian Chorizo and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Instead of rice, these peppers are stuffed with a combo of quinoa and spicy vegetarian chorizo. So good!
(Protein: 14 grams, Carbohydrates: 57 grams, Fat: 14 grams)
Cauliflower Steak with Quinoa & Tahini
Slicing cauliflower like a "steak" produces a satisfying meal, along with quinoa and tahini. So much protein and nutty flavor in this quinoa meal prep recipe!
(Protein: 16 grams, Carbohydrates: 48 grams, Fat: 13 grams)
Mexican Whole Grain Rice & Quinoa Casserole
Quinoa is a great add-in to any casserole dish. Skeptical? Try this one!
(Protein: 38 grams, Carbohydrates: 44 grams, Fat: 13 grams)
Red Pepper and Parmesan Quinoa Pasta
Ok, so this quinoa meal prep is a bit of a cheat: the pasta has quinoa in it! This dish is loaded with protein thanks, too, to the chicken in it. And broccoli pretty much makes everything better.
(Protein: 36 grams, Carbohydrates: 63 grams, Fat: 29 grams)
Thai Crunch Quinoa Grain Bowl
Crunchy veggies, cooked tempeh, and quinoa come together with a cilantro-basil dressing.
(Protein: 31 grams, Carbohydrates: 58 grams, Fat: 31 grams)
Baked Salmon with Blackberry Quinoa Salad
Blackberries in quinoa, you say? Why yes, we say. They add color, antioxidants, and a sweet-tart flavor that works great with salmon.
(Protein: 32 grams, Carbohydrates: 39 grams, Fat: 13 grams)
Quinoa Chickpea Taco Bowls
Hard to resist a taco bowl where the rice is swapped for quinoa and there are seasoned chickpeas to munch on.
(Protein: 12 grams; Carbohydrates: 53 grams, Fat: 9 grams)
Mediterranean Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
The stuffed baked potato just got an upgrade by using sweet potatoes and quinoa instead of regular Russets and, well, no quinoa!
(Protein: 13 grams, Carbohydrates: 72 grams, Fat: 8 grams)
Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Yes, are you sensing a trend here? Quinoa goes Mexican, stuffed in sweet potatoes!
(Protein: 10 grams, Carbohydrates: 73 grams, Fat 6 grams)
Almond Butter & Berries Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Quinoa kind of gets the dessert treatment here. Really! Almond butter! Berries!
(Protein: 13 grams, Carbohydrates: 69 grams, Fat: 15 grams)
Maple Roasted Kabocha Squash & Quinoa Salad
We love kabocha squash (it's similar to butternut) and it goes so well with maple syrup and quinoa.
(Protein: 5 grams, Carbohydrates: 49 grams, Fat: 8 grams)
Fruity Quinoa and Grilled Salmon
Salmon is a natural win for a quinoa meal prep and some fruit flavors keep the dish light. We like this one for lunch.
(Protein: 29 grams, Carbohydrates: 31 grams, Fat: 13 grams)
Chicken Quinoa Salad
This is a quick one to meal prep and yet another great one for lunch. Trust us!
(Protein: 64 grams, Carbohydrates: 32 grams, Fat: 5 grams)
Tuna Quinoa Salad in Endive Wraps
Boost up your tuna salad with quinoa, and serve it in these bitter greens as little scoops.
(Protein: 29 grams, Carbohydrates: 34 grams, Fat: 3 grams)
Garlic Shrimp Quinoa & Broccoli
Consider this like an upgraded Chinese takeout-it's way, way better than that.
(Protein: 38 grams, Carbohydrates: 64 grams, Fat: 10 grams)
Broccoli Lentil Quinoa Casserole
Lentils and quinoa are plant-based proteins, a match made in heaven. Great for lunch!
(Protein: 21 grams, Carbohydrates: 49 grams, Fat: 24 grams)
Baked Breakfast Quinoa & Spinach Bites
Quinoa for breakfast? Yes, please! Make ahead and reheat, and quinoa meal prep is done! Low carb, too!
(Protein: 6 grams, Carbohydrates: 6 grams, Fat: 5 grams)
Summer Quinoa Salad
For when you want a quinoa meal prep that you can eat at room temperature like a salad: This veggie-loaded dream is it.
(Protein: 8 grams, Carbohydrates: 23 grams, Fat 23 grams).
Seriously Good Quinoa Salad
A lot of veggies go into this salad, along with some dried blueberries (or maybe even fresh!) Don't skimp on the crunch factor!
(Protein: 9 grams, Carbohydrates: 33 grams, Fat: 14 grams)
Southwest Quinoa Salad
Quinoa and black beans make a powerhouse of a salad!
(Protein: 11 grams, Carbohydrates: 47 grams. Fat: 11 grams)
Lemony Chickpea Quinoa Salad
Lemon makes almost everything better, and we dig this salad with chickpeas and quinoa. Swap out white beans if you don't have chickpeas.
(Protein: 8 grams, Carbohydrates: 30 grams, Fat: 13 grams)
Moroccan Lentil Quinoa Salad
You'll dig these flavors-warm, sweet, and spicy-in this quinoa meal prep recipe.
(Protein: 11 grams, Carbohydrates: 42 grams, Fat: 8 grams)
Chickpea Quinoa Veggie Burger
Quinoa makes a great filler and a nutty source of protein in this chickpea veggie burger.
(Protein: 9 grams, Carbohydrates: 22 grams, Fat 16 grams)
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