I discovered cheesy quinoa bites when my son was a toddler as a way to sneak more healthy foods into his diet, but I fell in love with them because they're delicious. To make them, combine healthy quinoa with rich, gooey cheese and other flavorful ingredients to make a crispy, crunchy, hand-holdable snack that is full of both flavor and nutrition. Even if you think you don’t like quinoa, the recipe below is bound to win you over.
I’ve made these snack bites with a million flavor combinations and just about every one of them has been a hit. This one is pretty basic with carrots, garlic and sharp cheddar cheese, but add on to jazz it up if you like. A sprinkle of cayenne or a switch to a stronger-flavored cheese such as gruyere or blue cheese, for instance, would be a welcome twist for more advanced palates.
Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites
24 bites
10 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
Cooking spray
2 cups precooked quinoa
2 large eggs
1 carrot, shredded
2 scallions, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and stir to mix well.
Spoon the quinoa mixture into the prepared muffin tin. Fill each well to the top, using about 1 heaping tablespoon for each.
Bake in the preheated oven for 18 minutes.
