Mexican Quinoa
Mexican Quinoa swaps rice for fluffy, protein-packed quinoa simmered with tomatoes, green chiles, and a punchy taco seasoning for bold, savory heat. Onion, garlic, and jalapeño build aromatic depth, while fresh cilantro brightens every bite. It’s a vibrant, gluten-free side or light dinner that pairs well with tacos, grilled meats, or a simple salad.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Mexican Quinoa, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 13 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 44
- Heart Health
- 71
- Metabolic
- 44
- Digestive
- 39
- Inflammatory
- 35
- Performance
- 49
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir the quinoa and the onion in the hot oil until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and the jalapeño pepper to the quinoa mixture and cook until the garlic is fragrant and slightly softened, 1 to 2 more minutes.
- 2
Mix the undrained can of diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, the taco seasoning mix, and the chicken broth into the quinoa mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the cilantro.
- Calories 277.02 kcal Moderate 14%
- Protein 8.68 g Moderate 17%
- Carbohydrate 44.83 g 16%
- Total Fat 6.35 g Moderate 8%
- Saturated Fat 0.62 g Low Source 3%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 0.65 mg Low Source 0%
- Sodium 737.91 mg High 32%
- Dietary Fiber 6.38 g Good Source 23%
- Total Sugars 2.84 g --
- Added Sugars 0.97 g Low Source 2%
- Calcium 58.24 mg Low Source 4%
- Iron 3.07 mg Moderate 17%
- Potassium 268.87 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin A 78.59 mcg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin C 11.78 mg Moderate 13%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Mexican Quinoa is a Tex Mex dinner recipe made with 9 ingredients. It takes about 40 mins, serves 4, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Diced Tomatoes, Fresh Cilantro, Garlic, and Jalapeño Pepper. Each serving provides about 277.02 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.
Recipe Questions
- What is Mexican Quinoa?
- It is a Tex-Mex recipe made with 9 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Mexican Quinoa made of?
- The main ingredients are Diced Tomatoes, Fresh Cilantro, Garlic, Jalapeño Pepper, Olive Oil. The full list of 9 is above.
- What goes well with Mexican Quinoa?
- Explore these Tex-Mex side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Mexican Quinoa?
- About 40 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 277.02 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Mexican Quinoa easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 9 ingredients and 2 steps.
- Is Mexican Quinoa healthy?
- Mexican Quinoa has an easyChef Pro health score of 51/100. Per serving, it provides 277.02 calories and 8.68 g of protein, or 17% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 737.91 mg (32% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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