Description
A flavorful and hearty Slow-Cooker Mexican Quinoa Casserole packed with protein-rich quinoa, black beans, chickpeas, vegetables, and a smoky chipotle kick. This easy, one-pot meal is perfect for a healthy and satisfying dinner with minimal prep and hands-off cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 2/3 cup reduced-sodium chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1/2 cup black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup red pepper (chopped)
- 1 cup Roma tomatoes (chopped)
- 1/2 cup onion (roughly chopped)
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sauce from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
For Garnish (Optional)
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Combine ingredients: Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray. Add the uncooked quinoa, frozen corn, chickpeas, black beans, chopped red pepper, Roma tomatoes, roughly chopped onion, cumin powder, minced garlic, salt, and chipotle adobo sauce. Stir everything together until evenly mixed.
- Cook: Pour in the reduced-sodium vegetable broth and stir well to combine. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on high heat for 3 to 4 hours. Check after 3 hours to see if the quinoa is tender and the casserole is cooked through; adjust cooking time if needed.
- Garnish and serve: Once the casserole is cooked, taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro on top as garnish before serving. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- You can substitute black beans or chickpeas with other beans if preferred.
- For extra spice, increase the amount of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- Make sure to rinse quinoa thoroughly before adding to remove its natural bitterness.
- Casserole can be made ahead and refrigerated; reheat before serving.
- Optional garnishes like avocado or sour cream can add creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 to 4 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: slow cooker quinoa casserole, Mexican quinoa casserole, slow cooker recipes, healthy quinoa casserole, vegetarian Mexican casserole
