Easy Mexican Quinoa Individual Mini 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.
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.
This post is kindly sponsored by CorningWare and the #MealMug campaign. All recipes, photos, and opinions are my own.
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.
Does this sound like your house this festive season? I wonder how we ever find time to eat, let alone make dinner. Need a quick and easy dinner option?
When CorningWare asked me to take part in the #MealMug campaign, I got really excited. Coming up with a quick and easy meal that you can make in the oven or microwave would be such fun. Everyone needs some extra time these days.
Can’t we all just eat together?
Nope, sometimes that is not possible. These Easy Mexican Quinoa Individual Mini 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.
Have you heard of Meal Mugs?
They are pretty awesome if you ask me. Durable, non-porous stoneware, that is oven, microwave, and freezer safe. They come with their own BPA free vented lid too (don’t put the lid in the oven). Of course dishwasher safe is a must in any busy house.
Meal Mugs make the perfect vessel for these casseroles. Everything is mixed up in the mugs. Baked in the oven or cooked in the microwave. Make enough to feed a family, or just one if that is all you need.
Quinoa is such a great protein to work with. These mini casseroles are meatless and gluten-free too. Seriously it doesn’t get easier than this.
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.
Microwave option is similar. I did reduced the amount of black beans and corn slightly to avoid spill over when cooking. Top with the vented lid and pop in the microwave. (Full directions in the recipe card below).
Ready to eat? Great. Top your little casserole with whatever you like. I sliced some fresh jalapeños along with some grated cheese. Add a bowl of corn chips, a beverage and ENJOY!!
Still have people on your Christmas list to buy for?
Meal Mugs would make an awesome Christmas gift. Can be used for whatever you put in a cup or bowl. Coffee, soup, oatmeal, cereal. Perfect for families and individuals alike. A great gift for those college/university students, or how about a practical/useful teacher gift!!
Purchase Meal Mugs in Canada at Amazon (#affiliate), Walmart, Loblaws, Home Outfitters, and London Drugs. World Kitchen ships to Canada as well.
Whether you are sitting down to enjoy dinner together, or if everybody is running in different directions, these Easy Mexican Quinoa Individual Mini Casseroles fit into everyone’s schedule. Eat when the casseroles are ready, or reheat when you are. ENJOY!!
If you like quinoa as much as we do, give Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers a try. Another great meatless dinner option.
Easy Mexican Quinoa Individual Mini Casseroles (Oven & Microwave)
Ingredients
For each Individual Casserole:
- ⅓ cup quinoa rinsed
- ⅔ cups water
- ½ cup salsa
- ½ cup frozen corn kernels ***use ⅓ cup for microwave cooking***
- ½ cup black beans *** use ⅓ cup for microwave cooking*** rinsed
- ½ teaspoons cumin
- ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Grated cheese of your choice for garnish
- Sliced fresh jalapeños for garnish
Instructions
Oven Method:
- Preheat oven to 375º F.
- Spray the inside of your Meal Mug with cooking spray.
- Place the rinsed quinoa into the Meal 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.
- ENJOY!!
Microwave Method:
- Place rinsed quinoa in Meal Mug.
- Add water, salsa, seasonings, corn and beans NOTE: I have reduced the amount of corn/beans slightly to avoid spill over during cooking.
- Stir, and place on the Meal Mug vented lid, with the vent OPEN.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 minutes NOTE: My microwave is 1000 watts, so you may need to adjust your settings.
- Remove from microwave, remove lid, stir, replace lid.
- Cook on 80% setting for 2 minutes.
- Remove from microwave, remove lid, stir, replace lid.
- Cook on 80% for 3 minutes (watch for spill over at this point).
- Remove from microwave, close the vent and let rest for 5-6 minutes (liquid needs time to absorb).
- Remove lid and mix.
- Garnish with your favourite toppings.
- ENJOY!!
Notes
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!!