Mini Mexican Quinoa Casseroles make a great dinner any night of the week. Mix everything up in individual mugs, bake or microwave, and dinner is ready. Meatless and gluten-free too!!
Casseroles are the easiest comfort food recipes. Quinoa is a healthy choice for a meat-free meal. Have you tried my quinoa casserole? A twist on the classic tuna noodle dish.
Easy one-pot Mexican quinoa is just what you need for busy weeknights. Quick and flavourful personal-sized casseroles packed with protein and a symphony of textures and spices.
If you love burrito bowls, you need to give this vegetarian burrito a try. Are you a lasagna lover? This meatless Mexican lasagna is easy to make and so delicious.
Everyone seems to be going in different directions. Off to the mall, back to work, kids Christmas concerts. Sometimes we can have dinner together, and sometimes not.
These tiny and tasty vegetarian casseroles are perfect for families with different schedules. They can be made ahead of time. Since they are individual servings, each person can reheat and eat. Dinner is ready when you are.
One-Pot Mexican Quinoa Ingredients
Easy to find ingredients that most people have in their pantry and freezer.
- Quinoa
- Water
- Salsa
- Frozen corn
- Black beans
- Cheese
- Spices (cumin, paprika, salt and pepper)
- Jalapenos (optional)
Preparing Mini Mexican Quinoa Casseroles
These can be made in the oven, or microwave. Full instructions are in the recipe card.
Rinse your quinoa and place it in the mug. Add water, black beans, corn kernels, salsa, and spices.
If you are baking these in the oven, cover with foil. Bake for about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
The microwave option is similar. I did reduce the amount of black beans and corn slightly to avoid spillover when cooking.
Top your little casserole with whatever you like. I sliced some fresh jalapeños along with some grated cheese.
Suggestions/Recipe Tips
- These can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Switch up the spice blend, and use any kind of cheese that you like.
- Use a large oversized mug, it makes the perfect individual casserole portion.
- Black beans can be swapped out for kidney beans or even chickpeas.
- Crushed-up corn chips are a great garnish.
- Need a side dish? Try these guacamole cups.
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Does Quinoa Taste Like Rice?
It has a similar taste to brown rice, slightly nutty, but the texture is much more delicate. Perfect for easy meatless dinner options, and budget-friendly too.
If you like easy quinoa recipes as much as we do, give these a try:
Easy Mexican Quinoa Mini Casseroles
Ingredients
For each Individual Casserole:
- ⅓ cup quinoa rinsed
- ⅔ cup water
- ½ cup salsa
- ½ cup frozen corn kernels ***use ⅓ cup for microwave cooking***
- ½ cup black beans rinsed *** use ⅓ cup for microwave cooking***
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons Grated cheese for garnish
- Sliced fresh jalapeños for garnish
Instructions
Oven Method:
- Preheat oven to 375º F.
- Spray the inside of your mug/bowl with cooking spray.
- Place the rinsed quinoa into the bowl/mug.
- Add the water, salsa, seasonings, beans and corn.
- Mix, and cover with foil.
- Bake in oven for 35-40 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes (leave the foil on).
- Remove foil, and give it a mix.
- Garnish with your favourite toppings.
Microwave Method:
- Place rinsed quinoa in bowl/mug.
- Add water, salsa, seasonings, corn and beans NOTE: I have reduced the amount of corn/beans slightly to avoid spillover during cooking.
- Stir, and cover with wax paper
- Cook on HIGH for 3 minutes NOTE: My microwave is 1000 watts, so you may need to adjust your settings.
- Remove from microwave, remove wax paper, stir, replace paper.
- Cook on 80% setting for 2 minutes.
- Remove from microwave, remove paper, stir, replace the paper.
- Cook on 80% for 3 minutes (watch for spill over at this point).
- Remove from microwave, and let rest for 5-6 minutes (liquid needs time to absorb).
- Remove paper and mix.
- Garnish with your favourite toppings.
swathi iyer
This is delicious I tried yesterday night, my kids who is picky also enjoyed it.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Glad you and your family enjoyed these tasty guacamole cups.
Leslie
I love that this recipe is packed with protein. I also appreciate your tip of adding crushed up corn chips for garnish…great idea!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome, and I hope you give this recipe a try soon. Happy Holidays!!
Melinda
What a fun way to serve dinner! These quinoa casseroles are tiny and tasty. The smoked paprika is a nice touch and adds great warmth and spice to the beans. I loved that I could assemble this ahead of time.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
So glad you enjoyed these mini quinoa casseroles with Mexican flare. We all need easy weeknight recipes for dinner.
Sara Welch
Enjoyed this for lunch today and it was a savory success! Easy, hearty and delicious; perfect for busy schedules, indeed!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, busy schedules make it difficult to plan meals. This recipe is perfect.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
This is a great idea. I really get tired of leftovers and eating the same thing over and over again. Hubby always wants a little something extra along with his meat, veggie and salad. I’m perfectly content with that, although I do like quinoa, especially when it’s seasoned Mexican style. Will be making this soon.
Homemade & Yummy
These are fun, and having leftover is great for another meal or two as well.
Natalie
Why have I never heard of a meal mug until now? What a great invention! These little casseroles look so yummy!
Homemade & Yummy
So easy and totally delicious.
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed
What a great idea, so fresh and good for you. I would love one of those meal mugs, hope they’re available in the UK soon.
Homemade & Yummy
They really are neat and handy.
Samantha | My Kitchen Love
Looks fantastic Gloria! I love the quinoa / black bean action. So yummy!
Homemade & Yummy
These are so easy and delicious.
Veena
I love this idea of meal mug Gloria, so simple and easy – can’t wait to try
Homemade & Yummy
They are easy and delicious. Perfect for these crazy busy days.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
This recipe looks incredible. Can’t wait to make it!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you enjoy it!
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons
These look delicious! I love these flavors!
Homemade & Yummy
Easy and delicious.
Julia (@Imagelicious)
I love how everything is cooked right in the mug, even quinoa – so easy! And flavours are delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes it makes for a really easy, stress free meal.
Sarah @ The Fit Cookie
I love the idea of meal mugs! It’s nice to make individual meal servings that are easy to re-heat quickly.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes these are so easy, delicious and very little clean up. It’s a win all the way around!!