Taco Quinoa Bake

TACO QUINOA BAKE

 

Need something that tastes like pasta but doesn't give you the bloat and all those carbs?

We tried this tonight and it was kid approved!  I called it pasta so they ate it.

You'll Need:

1 cup uncooked quinoa

1 pound lean ground turkey

1 onion

1 package of sliced mushrooms

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 red and 1 green pepper (optional)

Epicure Taco Seasoning (to taste)

Chili powder (to taste)

Hot sauce (to taste if desired)

1 can of plain tomato sauce

1 can diced tomatoes (watch the sodium, pick something with the lowest count)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.

• Pre heat oven to 350'F
• Spray 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
• Cook 1 cup of quinoa according to package directions   
• Cook 1 pound of lean ground turkey in a frying pan.  When that is cooked through, add onion, mushrooms, and garlic.  You could also add some red/green peppers in there too if you like those to bulk it up and add more veggies.
• Sauté over medium/high heat until mushrooms and onion is cooked through.
• Add tomato sauce and canned diced tomatoes to the turkey/mushroom mix.
• Add in any extra spices.  I used Epicure Taco seasoning.  I'm sure if my husband was making this he would add hot sauce.  You could add some chili powder in there too. Adjust to taste. 
• Remove from heat and add cooked quinoa to meat mixture.  Stir together and pour into 9/13 greased pan.  Grate some cheddar cheese overtop.
• Cover with aluminum foil and cook in oven for 20 minutes.
• Take out, remove foil and bake for additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbling and melted. 
• Cool for 5 min and serve.

My kids love parmesan on their "pasta" so we sprinkled some of that on top too. 

 Hey, whatever gets the good stuff in them right ?

 

See, kid approved :)
 

 

Let me know if you try this one and what you think of it.  If you add any other ingredients let me know!