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One Pot Mexican Quinoa


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One Pot Mexican Quinoa is loaded with flavor, protein, and just about the easiest dish you will ever make. Made with quinoa, bell peppers, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, green chiles and more. Makes for the perfect lunch or light dinner.

One Pot Mexican Quinoa

This One Pot Mexican Quinoa is bursting with flavors, rich in protein, while being so healthy and filing. It’s so easy to make and makes a great batch. Making it perfect for meal prep too. Make ahead for lunches or light dinners. This Mexican quinoa is made with quinoa, bell peppers, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, green chiles and more. It will quickly become your quick go-to meal and will become part of your rotation.

What you need to make One Pot Mexican Quinoa:

Ingredients:

  • Quinoa
  • Bell Peppers
  • Canned Black Beans
  • Canned Corn
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Green Chiles
  • Yellow Onion
  • Garlic
  • Chili Powder
  • Pink Sea Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Paprika
  • Cumin
  • Oregano
  • Lime Juice
  • Cilantro
  • Vegetable Broth

Equipment:

  • Large Pot with Lid

How to make One Pot Mexican Quinoa:

  • Step 1– Start by rinsing quinoa. Thinly dice onion and red bell pepper and mince garlic. Thinly chop cilantro .Place a large pot on stovetop on high heat. Drizzle avocado oil and bring to a heat. 
  • Step 2– Toss in onion and garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Toss in bell pepper and continue to sauté for another 3-4 minutes until bell pepper starts to soften. While aromatics are sautéing, sprinkle in spices and herbs; pink sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano.
  • Step 3– Toss in quinoa and mix in with aromatics, spices and herbs making sure it’s well coated. Toast quinoa for a couple of minutes then add in diced tomatoes and lime juice. Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil. 
  • Step 4– Once water starts to boil, add in black beans and corn. Bring heat to low and cover pan. Allow quinoa to simmer on low heat for 40 minutes. 
  • Step 5– Remove quinoa from heat and remove top from pot. Give quinoa a stir and use a fork to fluff quinoa. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions:

  1. Use a pot that is large enough- Quinoa will expand as it cooks so use a large pot so that it has enough room to simmer, cook through and you can easily stir.
  2. Be sure to rinse your quinoa- Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin. This gives quinoa a bitter and soapy taste. Rinsing it gets rid of this coating and will make your cooked quinoa taste much better.
  3. Substitute for vegetable broth- If you don’t need this recipe to be vegan or vegetarian friendly, you can use any other kind of broth like chicken or beef bone broth for added nutrition.

Meal Prepping it:

This is a meal that is absolutely perfect for meal prep. It requires minimal prepping and it’s quick and easy to make. It also make a big batch of Mexican Quinoa. Also, it can be served as is or as a side. So it’s great to make and pack up for ahead lunches or for quick dinners.

What to serve One Pot Mexican Quinoa with:

This One Pot Mexican Quinoa is so versatile. It can be served as is topped with some avocado slices, sour cream, more fresh cilantro, pickled red onions, or even some fresh guacamole. You can also serve it as a side with some of these other delicious recipes:

Did you like this One Pot Mexican Quinoa recipe? You may also like these other quinoa recipes:

One Pot Mexican Quinoa

One Pot Mexican Quinoa is loaded with flavor, protein, and just about the easiest dish you will ever make. Made with quinoa, bell peppers, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, green chiles and more. Makes for the perfect lunch or light dinner. 

Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican
Keyword One Pot Mexican Quinoa
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 277 kcal
Author Angelica Arias

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups quinoa
  • 15 oz canned black beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 15 oz canned corn (drained and rinsed)
  • 15 oz canned diced tomatoes
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 2 bell peppers
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1.5 tsp pink sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2-3 tbsp lime juice
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro (plus more for garnish)
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil

Instructions

  1. Start by rinsing quinoa. Thinly dice onion and red bell pepper and mince garlic. Thinly chop cilantro .Place a large pot on stovetop on high heat. Drizzle avocado oil and bring to a heat.

  2. Toss in onion and garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Toss in bell pepper and continue to sauté for another 3-4 minutes until bell pepper starts to soften. While aromatics are sautéing, sprinkle in spices and herbs; pink sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and oregano.

  3. Toss in quinoa and mix in with aromatics, spices and herbs making sure it's well coated. Toast quinoa for a couple of minutes then add in diced tomatoes and lime juice. Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil.

  4. Once water starts to boil, add in cilantro, black beans and corn. Bring heat to low and cover pan. Allow quinoa to simmer on low heat for 40 minutes.

  5. Remove quinoa from heat and remove top from pot. Give quinoa a stir and use a fork to fluff quinoa. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tips and Substitutions:

  1. Use a pot that is large enough- Quinoa will expand as it cooks so use a large pot so that it has enough room to simmer, cook through and you can easily stir.
  2. Be sure to rinse your quinoa- Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin. This gives quinoa a bitter and soapy taste. Rinsing it gets rid of this coating and will make your cooked quinoa taste much better.
  3. Substitute for vegetable broth- If you don’t need this recipe to be vegan or vegetarian friendly, you can use any other kind of broth like chicken or beef bone broth for added nutrition.

Nutrition Facts
One Pot Mexican Quinoa
Amount per Serving
Calories
277
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
4
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Sodium
 
850
mg
37
%
Potassium
 
685
mg
20
%
Carbohydrates
 
51
g
17
%
Fiber
 
9
g
38
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
11
g
22
%
Vitamin A
 
1667
IU
33
%
Vitamin C
 
48
mg
58
%
Calcium
 
71
mg
7
%
Iron
 
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used. 

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**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family. 


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