Quinoa Taco Bake

If you’ve been following my blog, by now you have probably noticed that quinoa is a big part of our diet. This tiny seed is SO GOOD FOR YOU and is such a great replacement for grains like wheat and corn, both of which our daughter is allergic to. It has a bit of an earthy taste all on its own, but it very nicely absorbs the flavor of whatever you pair it with! Bonus – it is very filling and nutritious!

October 4 is National Taco Day, so there’s really no better day to share this awesome taco bake recipe with you! It’s an easy meal to prep ahead and bake later. Or to even use as a freezer meal. And I’m all about making things easy!

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INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 teaspoon taco seasoning (check out my homemade taco seasoning recipe)
• 1 small onion – diced
• 2 bell peppers – diced (I use the combination of one red and one orange pepper.)
• 3 cloves of garlic – minced
• 1 can tomatoes with green chilis (10oz)
• 1 can black beans (15oz) – rinsed and drained
• 2 cups Daiya vegan pepper jack cheese shreds

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium sized pot on the stove, combine the quinoa and water. Bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until liquid has evaporated (about 15 minutes). Uncover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
3. While the quinoa is simmering, place the olive oil, ground turkey, and taco seasoning in a large pan on the stove, on medium-high heat. Stir until all the meat is browned.
4. Drain the grease from the meat and return it to the pan.
5. Add in the tomatoes with green chilis, onion, garlic, bell peppers, and black beans. Stir until mixed thoroughly.
6. Spread the cooked quinoa evenly into the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan.
7. Top the quinoa with 1 cup of the vegan cheese.
8. Spoon the taco mixture into the pan on top of the cheese and spread evenly.
9. Top the dish with the remaining cheese.
10. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
11. Remove from the oven and serve with your favorite taco toppings!

This is a pretty healthy take on a taco bake, and I hope you try it out! I love to top mine with some vegan sour cream, avocado, and salsa! What are your favorite taco toppings!?

Tag @lactating_coconuts on Instagram with a photo of your Quinoa Taco Bake!

Check out some of my other taco-related posts: Quinoa Tortillas and Chicken Fajita Bake!