Loaded Spinach Quinoa Casserole with Ground Turkey
So easy. So good.
I’m kind of obsessed with this dish. Until tomorrow, when I make something else and THAT becomes my new obsession.
Speaking of obsessions, I know I’m not the only one who’s totally and completely obsessed with the song Uptown Funk, right?! It’s physically impossible for me not to break out into a hard snap, shoulder shake, and hip swivel the second I hear this song. I’m not saying it’s a pretty sight, but damn, that song makes me want to move!
I’m absolutely that ridiculous looking person in their car, gettin’ down right funky, windows down, volume up. My kids think I’m crazy, but I’m pretty sure they love it.
So this quinoa casserole? Awesome.
Packed with flavor, simple ingredients, and makes enough for leftovers, even in my house. It’s kind of one of those throw whatever you have left in the fridge type dishes. Which are by far my favorite, and somehow always the best.
Plus you get a full, well rounded meal all in one bowl. Top it off with a little more cheese.
Obviously.
It’ll be your next obsession too.
Loaded Spinach Quinoa Casserole with Ground Turkey
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
This Loaded Spinach Quinoa Casserole is packed with ground turkey, beans, spinach and more for an easy and delicious meal.
Ingredients
- 2 cups quinoa
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground turkey meat
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1–2 cups of your favorite tomato sauce
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- Juice from 2 lemons
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 5 cups spinach, or a mixture of spinach and kale
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9×13 inch baking dish and set aside. Cook quinoa with the chicken stock according to the package.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add turkey meat and onions. Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, dried thyme, and dried basil, Cook until the turkey is no longer pink, about 7-9 minutes. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add tomato sauce, turn heat to low and let simmer for about 10 minutes, Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon and stir then remove from heat.
- Pour the cooked quinoa into a large bowl. Add the black beans, 1/2 cup cheese, and the juice of 1 more lemon and stir to combine. Add the meat mixture to the quinoa, along with the spinach and stir until well combined.
- Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, top with the remaining cheese, and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
*You should add enough sauce to just coat the quinoa.
Don’t believe me? Just watch.
So delicious! I found that it needed a little more salt for my taste, but the combination of flavors and textures was great. I didn’t have shredded mozzarella on hand, so I used a combination of shredded cheddar, mozzarella balls, and parmesan. Definitely stick to mozzarella if you have it!
Thank you for leaving a review! Glad you enjoyed it
I made this, found this recipe while looking for a healthy turkey dish. The ingredients lined up with what I had in my kitchen. I did change the mozzarella with feta, because I wanted feta. I only did half of the quinoa because I didn’t want it to be overpowering (glad I did!). The spinach I used was frozen, and I first defrosted it and then squeezed out the excess water before mixing it in. I opted out of the powdered garlic and used more minced garlic instead. I would say next time I will add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes when I sauté the meat and onions. This dish was delicious. Even my pickiest eater liked this dinner. I told my kids this was a healthier “Spanish rice” . Thanks for a delicious dinner!!
Yum! This looks so good- can’t wait to try! My husband hates beans- any suggestions for a good substitute? Definitely putting this on the meal plan for next week!
You can leave them out!
This was easy and delicious! I left the spinach out and just topped a bed of fresh spinach with the mix and it was amazing! I think this would be a great filler for burritos or enchiladas or nachos. Defintely saving this recipe!! Thank you!!
Any suggested substitutions for the tomato sauce? Thank you!
What about a pesto?
Absolutely delicious! I made this recently and the family loved it. Such a great way to prepare quinoa. Thank you for a tasty recipe!
One of my favorites too! Glad you enjoyed it!
Do you think you can assemble this a day in advance and then just bake before dinner?
Totally!
I was very excited about this recipe but when I read it there seemed to be a lot of quinoa! I should have followed my gut feeling on this one. How do you fit it into a 9 x 13 pan? I just made it and love all the flavors but way too much quinoa. Did I do something wrong 2 cups of quinoa – 4 cups of broth?
I’ve never had a problem with the amount but you could certainly reduce the amount if you like!
Can you omit the cheese?
Yes! You might want to add a little more sauce to keep the moisture at that point.
This looks so great that I want to make it tonight! I need to make it vegetarian, too – ever tried it with tofu or have any other great veggie addition ideas?
I haven’t tried it with tofu but it should work fine with it! You could also sauce or roast up any additional veggies you like to add. Mushrooms are a great hearty option!
Just making this now…smells delicious! So glad I found your page. I have loved seeing what you’ve purchased at Trader Joe’s. I would have never seen those Whole Grain Crispbread crackers otherwise. They are a family favorite!
For the longest time i thought it was “Don’t believe me just rock” – I’m lame at hearing lyrics.
This casserole is so going in the save-for-later section. Love that it has quinoa and spinach = YUM.
♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
http://shoe-fiend.blogspot.co.nz/
Can you leave out the turkey?
Yes absolutely! You can also add extra veggies in it’s place if you want! I’ve done it many times!