• Home
  • About
    • New? Start Here
    • My Life
    • Press
    • Contact
    • LEGAL
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Big Daddy’s Dish
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • College Student Recipes
    • Desserts
      • Cobblers
      • Pound Cake Recipes Reviewed
    • Dressings & Sauces
    • Entree
      • Beef
      • Pasta
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Poultry
    • Encore
    • Healthy
    • Recipe Collections
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
    • side dishes
    • Soup
    • Snacks
  • Resources
  • Extras
    • Crafts/DIY
    • Fit & Fab
    • Housekeeping
    • Travel
    • Local Eats
    • View My Instagram
    • Videos
  • Shop
    • SHOP MY FAVORITES
    • PHOTOGRAPHY ESSENTIALS
    • Amazon Favorites
    • Kitchen
    • Home + Candles
    • Shop Beauty Favs
    • Shop Gift Ideas
  • Recipe Box
  • Stay up to date. Subscribe to receive blog updates in your email inbox.

Call Me PMc

Cooking. Creating. Sharing

QUINOA MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE

Nov.posted by Paula 1 Comment

Jump to Recipe

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe, it’s lightened up, protein-packed, and kids love it! This is a healthy and delicious alternative to the classic comfort food and kids love it!

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe, it's lightened up, protein-packed, and kids love it! This is a healthy and delicious alternative to the classic comfort food and kids love it! #sidedish #healthy #comfortfood #recipe #quinoa #cheese

When I first began hearing about quinoa, pronounced keen-wah, I became very interested because of it’s nutritional value. It’s commonly referred to as a grain but is actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard.

Here’s the kicker, it has all 9 amino acids, most vegetables/grains do not have all nine. Without going into a total dissertation on nutrition, plant-based foods are not complete proteins. Having all nine amino acids is highly important to vegetarians and vegans concerned about adequate protein intake.

Additionally, quinoa is rich in lysine (essential for tissue growth and repair), and magnesium (good for people with migraines), folate, and phosphorus, and riboflavin. It’s also high in fiber. It’s easy to see why it’s commonly referred to as the World’s Healthiest Food.

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe, it's lightened up, protein-packed, and kids love it! This is a healthy and delicious alternative to the classic comfort food and kids love it! #sidedish #healthy #comfortfood #recipe #quinoa #cheese

Before trying quinoa, I was highly skeptical. We all know that most foods that are super good for us taste terrible! To my surprise, it’s actually very good! It’s fluffy, nutty, and slightly crunchy, like undercooked pasta or grits, but in a good way. Like pasta, it takes on the flavor of whatever you put with it.

Now, putting a rich cheese sauce is NOT the most healthy way to eat this superfood. However, if you’re interested, it’s a good introduction to the world of quinoa!

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe, it's lightened up, protein-packed, and kids love it! This is a healthy and delicious alternative to the classic comfort food and kids love it! #sidedish #healthy #comfortfood #recipe #quinoa #cheese

HOW TO MAKE QUINOA MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE

It’s really simple to make this recipe. First, I cooked the quinoa according to the directions on the package. Next, I made a simple Cheese Sauce. Cheese Sauce starts with White Sauce, but it’s simple to make.

Finally, you stir the quinoa and sauce together, season and, basically, it’s ready.

You can add more cheese on top and bake it until that cheese melts. I skipped this step.

BECHAMEL SAUCE

I made a cheese sauce for my quinoa instead of just adding cheese and letting it melt.

A béchamel or white sauce is one of the classic French “mother sauces” that form the basis of much French cuisine. White sauce is perhaps the most commonly used mother sauce for home cooks.

To make a cheese sauce you start with the Mother sauce, Bechamel Sauce. Bechamel Sauce is also called White Sauce. Bechamel Sauce is made with butter, flour, and milk. For a cheese sauce, you simply stir in shredded cheese until it melts and makes a smooth sauce.

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe, it's lightened up, protein-packed, and kids love it! This is a healthy and delicious alternative to the classic comfort food and kids love it! #sidedish #healthy #comfortfood #recipe #quinoa #cheese

WHILE YOU’RE HERE, CHECK OUT THESE RECIPES

  1. Pomegranate Avocado and Pine Nut Roasted Broccoli Salad
  2. 20 Minute Stovetop Sun-Dried Tomato Broccoli Pesto Pasta 
  3. Panko Crusted Broccoli
  4. 9 Wholesome Meals under 600 Calories
  5. Keto Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe, it's lightened up, protein-packed, and kids love it! This is a healthy and delicious alternative to the classic comfort food and kids love it! #sidedish #healthy #comfortfood #recipe #quinoa #cheese

I updated this post from an earlier version. I made new photos and simplified the recipe instructions.

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe, it's lightened up, protein-packed, and kids love it! This is a healthy and delicious alternative to the classic comfort food and kids love it! #sidedish #healthy #comfortfood #recipe #quinoa #cheese

QUINOA MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE

Quinoa Mac and Cheese Recipe is a protein-packed, healthy side dish.
Author: Paula
5 from 2 votes
Print Rate

Want to save recipes? Create an account or login & then you can use the “Save Recipe” button when viewing a recipe to save it to your Recipe Box. You can access your saved recipes on any device and generate a shopping list for recipes in your collections.

Save To Your Recipe Box Go to your saved recipes
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons self-rising flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 pinch salt to taste
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

MAKE SAUCE

  • in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, warm the milk over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You just want it to be warm about 110°F.
  • In a separate heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until it has melted. Whisk the flour into the melted butter a little bit at a time, until it is fully incorporated into the butter, giving you a paste. This is called a roux. Heat the roux for another minute or so to cook the flour.
  • Add the warm milk to the roux very slowly while whisking. Whisk vigorously to break up any lumps. Reduce the heat to simmer and simmer until the sauce thickens.
  • Add salt and shredded cheddar. Stir until smooth.

QUINOA

  • Meanwhile, cook the quinoa according to package directions. When cooked, mix quinoa with cheese sauce, stirring until combined. Taste and adjust salt. Add pepper if you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 445mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 840IU | Calcium: 500mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Please take a moment to comment letting me know how you liked it & consider giving it a 5 star rating. I love hearing from you!
Do you have questions about the saving recipes to your Recipe Box?Visit Recipe Box FAQ!
Paula
« FOOLPROOF QUICK DINNER ROLLS
RUFFLES RICE KRISPIE TREATS »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your email address will not be published. Have you tried this recipe? Consider giving it 5 stars!




The Big Pound Cake Review

60 pound cake recipes

Featured Categories

  • Appetizers
  • Beverages
  • Breakfast
  • Desserts
  • Entrees
  • Side Dishes
  • College Student Recipes

Search specific recipes

Search specific recipes

Archives

White Chocolate CrockPot Candy | Call Me PMc

WHITE CHOCOLATE CROCKPOT CANDY

chocolate bars

BEST FUDGY COCOA BROWNIES

chocolate dessert

ONE BOWL BROWNIES 9×13

Dark Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Cheesecake

DARK CHOCOLATE BOURBON PECAN PIE CHEESECAKE

Favorites

Mexican beef dinner

QUESABIRRIA STACK {Cheese Birrias Taco Stack}

Beef Birria Stack | Call Me PMc

BEEF BIRRIA STACK

roasted meal

ROASTED LEMON THYME CHICKEN AND ROOT VEGETABLES

Creamy Tuscan Italian Sausage Pasta

CREAMY TUSCAN ITALIAN SAUSAGE PASTA

Keto Cheesy Balsamic Chicken

KETO CHEESY BALSAMIC CHICKEN

Wonton Chicken Tacos

APPLEBEE’S WONTON CHICKEN TACOS

Hi, I'm Paula. I'm a blogger, a baker, a runner, a writer, a recipe developer, & a cookie dough eater. I love creating great recipes & sharing them with you! You'll find healthy recipes, comfort food and my favorite, indulgent desserts!
read more
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • RSS

DISCLOSURE

Call Me PMc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases ad no cost to you. Thanks for supporting this small business.

Read my Privacy Policy.

COPYRIGHT

© 2012 – 2023 All recipes & images are original & the sole property of CallMePMc.com All Rights Reserved. All content is for your personal enjoyment & content herein is in no way to be used for commercial purposes. Other than linking to a page, do not copy or otherwise use images or original recipes without my written permission. Republishing posts in their entirety is prohibited. Use of this site automatically constitutes your agreement to these terms.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Stay up to date. Subscribe to receive blog updates in your email inbox

  • Copyright © 2023 Call Me PMc. Design & Development by Melissa Rose Design