Quinoa Mac and Cheese

My quinoa mac and cheese recipe has all the creamy goodness of the original, with the added health benefits of quinoa. It’s a great main course for a meatless meal or side dish of a kid-approved healthy dinner.

Healthy Quinoa Mac and Cheese 

With all of its wonderful health benefits, I wanted to use quinoa in a way my family would love, and what better recipe to start with than a mac and cheese-style dish!?

Not only is this dish full of creamy, cheesy flavor, but each 1-cup serving of quinoa is a complete protein, high in iron and fiber, and makes a great alternative to regular rice or pasta.

Ingredients

The ingredient measurements are in the printable recipe card below, but first, let’s see what you'll need to turn quinoa into a cozy mac and cheese:

• Carrots: add a golden yellow color and a dose of vitamin A. 
• Milk: regular or your favorite unflavored non-dairy alternative. 
• Dijon mustard: adds a kick of flavor. 
• Salt: brings out the other ingredients’ flavors. 
• Quinoa: our star ingredient for this recipe. 
• Shredded Cheddar: the cheese this mac & cheese calls for. 

How to Make Quinoa Mac and Cheese

This recipe is just as simple to make as the original, but you will need a blender or immersion blender to achieve the perfectly smooth sauce. 

1. Prep
   Preheat the oven to 375F and prepare the quinoa according to the package directions. 
2. Puree
   Peel and dice the carrots before steaming them on the stovetop for 15 minutes or until tender. Transfer the carrots to a blender with milk, mustard, and salt. Blend until smooth. 
3. Mix and bake
   Mix the cooked quinoa with the cheese and carrot mixture in a large bowl. Transfer to the baking dish and bake for 20 minutes until bubbly. 
4. Extra step
   Top with additional cheese and serve immediately. 

If you need more ways to give macaroni and cheese a healthy upgrade you can try my cauliflower “mac” and cheese or my roasted veggie macaroni and cheese. Both are huge hits with kids, and I often alternate through these three recipes to help boost the nutritional benefits of a dinner, while serving one of their favorite dishes.

What to Serve With It

All that’s left to discuss is balancing this dish into a full meal! I’ll sear a couple of chicken breasts for extra protein and serve it with an arugula side salad, steamed green beans, or my tasty Everyday Side Salad. 

You could also make this a meatless meal with lots of roasted veggies, but either way, you can rest assured that everyone will leave the table feeling full and satisfied.  

Quinoa Mac & Cheese

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

This quinoa mac and cheese recipe is a delicious gluten-free recipe the entire family will love! 

4.93 from 14 votes

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Ingredients

• 3 medium carrots, peeled, washed, and diced
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups cooked quinoa, about 1 ½ cups uncooked quinoa
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese + extra for topping, optional

Instructions

Prep:

• Preheat the oven to 375F and lightly coat the baking dish with cooking spray. 

Make the sauce:

• Steam the carrots in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes or until tender. 
• Place the cooked carrots, milk, Dijon mustard, and salt into a blender. Puree until smooth and creamy. Add a little more milk if needed (carrot size can vary), but the texture should be smooth, not liquid.

Bake:

• In a large bowl, mix the quinoa, cheese, and carrot puree until combined. Transfer into a medium baking dish.
• Bake for 20 minutes, until bubbly. If desired, top with additional shredded cheese and serve immediately.

Equipment

Meal Prep’d

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 752mg | Potassium: 443mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 5702IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 317mg | Iron: 2mg