Quinoa Taco Casserole

Name: Quinoa Taco Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 lb ground beef; 1 cup dry white quinoa, rinsed and drained*; 1 cup chicken or beef stock; 1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes; 1 tbsp chili power; 1 tsp cumin; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp oregano; 1 tsp sea salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 red bell pepper, chopped; 3 green onions (white and light greens only), chopped; 1/2 cup cooked corn (I use frozen); 1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed and drained; 3 cups kale, stemmed + chopped; 1 cup grated cheese (I like cheddar or pepperjack); 1/4 tsp chili flakes (optional)

October 5, 2021

Jump to Recipe

Quinoa Taco Casserole recipe for an easy and veggie-packed twist on a Mexican favourite. Dinner just got so much easier!

I grew up on casseroles but I have to be honest… I haven’t made many in the past few years! I don’t know if it was the mild California weather that never had me craving comfort food or what but I am back in business and allllll about the casserole… or should we say hot dish?!

Casseroles are super convenient, you can pack them full of protein, vegetables and healthy carbs and they’re a great way to use up everything in your kitchen. You can basically combine everything but the kitchen sink into a casserole and it will taste good. Not that I recommend that but you get the gist.

This quinoa and kale taco casserole is packed with nutritious ingredients and bold flavors. It’s so simple to make with barely any pre-prep and loaded with veggies. This is the perfect recipe to make in advance for a busy week ahead or to bring to a new mama or a family in need!

Here’s What You Need

Quinoa – I use white quinoa. You can use tricolor but it tends to require a longer cooking time.
Ground beef – You could also replace with ground chicken or turkey
Vegetables – red bell pepper, green onions, corn and kale.
Diced tomatoes
Canned black beans
Chicken or beef stock
Grated cheese – I prefer cheddar or pepperjack
Olive oil
Seasonings and spices – chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, chili flakes, sea salt and pepper.

How to Make Quinoa Taco Casserole

STEP 1: Brown ground beef in a large pan over medium heat with olive oil. Remove from the heat and set aside.

STEP 2: In a 9×13 casserole dish, add the dry quinoa and chicken stock. Stir to combine. This is the base layer of this layered casserole.

STEP 3: In a large bowl, combine the diced tomatoes and spices.

STEP 4: Top the quinoa mixture with half of the tomato mixture, the ground beef, bell pepper, green onions, corn, black beans and kale.

STEP 5: Top with the remaining half of diced tomatoes. Sprinkle cheese and chili flakes on top, if using.

STEP 6: Cover the casserole dish with a top or tin foil and bake at 350ºF for 45 minutes. Remove the cover after 45 minutes and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until all liquid has been absorbed.

How to Prep in Advance and Store

This recipe has a quick prep time but if you want to cut corners here’s what I would do:

Brown the ground beef
Chop the vegetables
Set ingredients aside until you’re ready to assemble and bake.

The beauty of casseroles is that they hold up really well after cooking and cooling. If you want to meal prep this or make in advance for a family in need, I recommend making the entire casserole and then letting it cool. Once cooled to room temperature, cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I haven’t tried freezing it but I assume it would freeze well! I recommend portioning the casserole out into airtight containers and storing in the freezer for up to 3 months.