Quinoa Taco Meat

Were you a picky eater as a kid?

I was (kind of). When it came to fruit I remember only liking canned pears (yeah, weird, I know).

Lunch was almost always a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and dinner was often cheese and shells. If my parents put creamed corn on the table, it was a guaranteed meltdown (hated the stuff).

Desserts on the other hand? So easy to please, so long as coconut flake, cherries, or raisins weren’t involved.

Another menu item I could always get behind? Tacos. My family loved crispy tacos with ground beef and lots of salsa. My favorite thing to do was mix in some corn to the filling – I know, classy move. You don’t have to tell me how refined my palate was at 6 years old.

These days, ground beef isn’t my go-to filling for tacos*. But sometimes the 6-year-old in me misses its crumbly texture and flavor.

I think you see where this is going. Quinoa makes an excellent substitution! It’s almost uncanny. Come see how.

*Note: you can learn about the origins of tacos here.

This recipe is simple, requiring just 9 ingredients and simple methods.

Prepare quinoa, season with spices and salsa, bake until crispy, devour. See? I told you it was easy.

I got the idea for this recipe when I made my Quinoa Stuffed Peppers for dinner one night and some of the quinoa spilled over in the pan and got all crispy and delicious while baking – I couldn’t get enough. That was my light bulb moment.

I hope you all LOVE this recipe! It’s:

Easy
Healthy
Extremely flavorful
Picky-eater-approved
Versatile
Satisfying
& So delicious

This is the perfect filling for all your Mexican night needs: Tacos, burrito bowls (find my 30-minute recipe in our Everyday Cooking Cookbook!), taco salads, nachos, enchiladas, tostadas (also in the cookbook) – you name it, it works!

If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a picture #minimalistbaker on Instagram so I can see! I love seeing what you come up with. Cheers, friends!

Quinoa Taco Meat

Amazingly flavorful taco “meat” made with quinoa, smoky seasonings, and salsa! Baked until hot and crispy. A healthy substitute for ground beef (just 9 ingredients)!

Author Minimalist Baker

Print SAVE SAVED

4.95 from 394 votes

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 6 (1/2-cup servings)

Course Entrée

Cuisine Gluten-Free, Mexican-Inspired, Vegan

Freezer Friendly 1 month

Does it keep? 4-5 Days

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

QUINOA

• 1 cup tri-color, white, or red quinoa
• 1 cup vegetable broth*
• 3/4 cup water

SEASONINGS

• 1/2 cup salsa (slightly chunky is best – I love Trader Joe’s brand)
• 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground chili powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp each sea salt and black pepper
• 1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil

Instructions

• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add rinsed quinoa and toast for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add vegetable broth and water and bring back to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce heat to low, cover with a secure lid, and cook for 15-25 minutes, or until liquid is completely absorbed. Fluff with a fork, then crack lid and let rest for 10 minutes off heat.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C).
• Add cooked quinoa to a large mixing bowl and add remaining ingredients (salsa, nutritional yeast, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and oil). Toss to combine. Then spread on a lightly greased (or parchment-lined) baking sheet.
• Bake for 20-35 minutes, stirring/tossing once at the halfway point to ensure even baking. The quinoa is done when it’s fragrant and golden brown. Be careful not to burn!
• This quinoa taco meat goes extremely well in crispy taco shells and soft taco shells, and I also think it would be perfect on nachos, taco salads, tostadas, and in enchiladas. Dream big!
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave, in a 350 degree F (176 C) oven, or in a skillet on the stovetop.

Video

Notes

*The vegetable broth infuses more flavor into the quinoa. But if you don’t have it, just sub water and adjust spices/salsa as needed.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.

Nutrition (1 of 6 servings)

Serving: 1 half-cup servings Calories: 147 Carbohydrates: 21.4 g Protein: 5.7 g Fat: 4.5 g Saturated Fat: 0.6 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 415 mg Fiber: 2.6 g Sugar: 0.8 g