Unhealthy Quinoa Mac and Cheese

4.7
(13)
11 Reviews
4 Photos

Take the health benefits of quinoa and override them with a ton of cheese. You won't regret it!

Submitted by Dezzie
Published on April 3, 2019
4
4
Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
55 mins
Additional Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 25 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
6 servings
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Ingredients

  • 5 slices bread, crusts removed and cubed

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 small onion, diced

  • 3 cloves garlic, diced

  • 2 cups quinoa

  • 2 cups chicken stock

  • 2 cups water

  • ¼ cup butter

  • ¼ cup flour

  • 2 cups skim milk

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

  • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 1 large tomato, cored and sliced

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

  2. Process cubed bread in a food processor to make bread crumbs. Set aside.

  3. Heat olive oil in a deep ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven. Add onion; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.

  4. Add quinoa, chicken stock, and water to the skillet. Bring to a simmer; cover and cook until quinoa is tender, about 10 minutes.

  5. Heat 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour; cook and stir to form a paste, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in skim milk. Season with salt and ground black pepper; simmer on low until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in Cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, a little at a time, until combined. Stir cheese sauce into quinoa mixture in the skillet.

  6. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a separate skillet over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; cook and stir until crumbs are toasted, about 2 minutes. Place tomato slices on top of quinoa; top with bread crumbs. Quinoa mixture will be soupy but will firm up during baking.

  7. Bake in the oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Cook's Note:

This would be really special with the addition of crabmeat or shrimp. Bacon would also be a delicious addition.

22 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

629 Calories
32g Fat
58g Carbs
27g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 629
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 17g 83%
Cholesterol 81mg 27%
Sodium 933mg 41%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 27g 55%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 568mg 44%
Iron 2mg 8%
Potassium 305mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.