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    One Pan Mexican Quinoa

    Published: May 3, 2019 · Modified: Jul 15, 2020 by Sina · This post may contain affiliate links · 108 Comments

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    One Pot Quinoa

    This one pan Mexican quinoa with black beans and corn is super easy to make, packed with protein, and so comforting! It’s the perfect dinner recipe for busy days! I love eating it with fresh parsley and avocado.

    One Pan Mexican Quinoa with Avocado and Lime Slices on Top on a White Wooden Counter

    This easy Mexican quinoa is incredibly healthy and I absolutely LOVE making it one busy weekdays. The recipe is super simple and ready in only 25 minutes! We make it all the time! 

    Ever since I’ve first tried quinoa, I absolutely loved it! I usually use it to make salads and sometimes we also eat it as a side dish. For a salad I mostly use tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, mint, and parsley.  

    And in the winter, I love making a quinoa soup with tomatoes and kale. It’s actually my mom’s recipe and it’s sooo good! 

    This One Pan Mexican Quinoa Is: 

    • vegan and gluten-free
    • super easy to make (25 minutes is all it takes!)
    • a great weeknight dinner for the whole family
    • packed with nutrients thanks to the quinoa and the black beans
    • super flavorful
    • healthy

    One Pan Mexican Quinoa – What You’ll Need

    You don’t need any unusual ingredients for this vegan one pan Mexican quinoa. Except for the bell peppers and the other fresh ingredients (parsley and lime), you might even have everything in your pantry waiting for you.

    uncooked quinoa, black beans, corn, orange and red bell pepper, and red onion slices in a black pot on a white wooden board

    You’ll need:

    • quinoa (big surprise here! Haha!)
    • black beans
    • frozen corn
    • 1 red onion
    • garlic
    • 2 bell peppers (I used an orange and a red one)
    • paprika powder
    • cumin
    • fresh lime juice
    • chopped parsley
    • vegetable broth
    • canned diced tomatoes
    • salt and pepper
    • red pepper flakes (optional)

    As always, you can find the full ingredient list and the recipe instructions in a separate recipe box underneath the text section. 

    One pan Mexican quinoa in a black pot with avocado and lime slices on top

    How To Make This One Pan Mexican Quinoa

     The recipe is super simple. You basically just sauté the onion and the garlic and then you add the rest of the ingredients and cook everything for 20 minutes.

    sautéed chopped red onion in a silver pot with a wooden spoon on a marble countertop

    STEP 1: Heat some oil in a large pot or pan and sauté the onion for 2-3 minutes or until it becomes translucent. Then add the garlic and the bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes. 

    sautéed red onion, garlic, and diced red and orange bell pepper in a pot with a wooden spoon on a marble countertop

    STEP 2: Add the rest of the ingredients except for the lime juice, the green onions, and the parsley.

    half cooked one Pan Mexican Quinoa in a pot with a wooden spoon on a marble countertop

    STEP 3: Cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes on medium heat. Stir once in a while to make sure your Mexican quinoa is not burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan.

    STEP 4: Then stir in the lime juice, the green onions, the parsley and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Serve with avocado on top.

    Recipe Notes: 

    • For an extra boost of vitamins and iron, I usually add lots of fresh parsley. I always buy a huge bunch and then I just use the leftovers for green smoothies in the morning. Add it just before serving so you don’t lose any vitamins. And don’t forget to add some avocado on top.
    •  Quinoa has so many health benefits and I love how easy it is to prepare. The one pan Mexican quinoa is also great as some kind of salad or quick lunch. So you can just take the leftovers to work the next day or save them for a picnic.
    • I usually cook my one pan Mexican quinoa between medium and high heat. As the temperature varies a bit, make sure to check once in a while that your quinoa is not burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan by stirring with a wooden spoon. If so, lower the heat. 
    • This recipe works best with a non-stick pot. 
    • Do you want to make this Mexican quinoa in your Instant Pot? No problem! I’ve also got an Instant Pot version. 
    • I’m not the biggest fan of fresh cilantro, so I used parsley instead. But feel free to use cilantro for an even more authentic version. 
    • Make sure to rinse your uncooked quinoa using a fine mesh strainer before adding it. This way you will get rid of all the bitter flavors. 

    Mexican Quinoa in a black pot with avocado and lime slices on top

    Do you want to make this Mexican quinoa a bit spicier? 

    Are you a fan of spicy food? Then add some chili powder or jalapeños to the Mexican quinoa. Or stir in some hot sauce before serving it. 

    Can I freeze the Mexican quinoa? 

    Yes, no problem! Quinoa freezes really well. So you could even double the recipe and freeze some for later to have an easy dinner ready when life gets busy. 

    More Quinoa Recipes You Might Like:

    • Vegan Burrito Bowl with Quinoa (Instant Pot) 
    • Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps with Quinoa
    • Quinoa Soup with Kale and Tomatoes 
    • Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers (Slow Cooker) 
    • 23 Healthy Vegan Quinoa Recipes 

    Also check out my 20 vegan meals for busy weeknights! 

    I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS!

    I hope you like this one pan Mexican quinoa as much as we do around here.

    If you give it a try, I’d love to know what you think about it. Just leave me a comment and a star rating below. Your comments really make my day!

    You like my recipes and want to see more? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest! 

    Sina

    One Pan Mexican Quinoa

    One Pan Mexican Quinoa

    This vegan one pot Mexican quinoa with black beans and corn is one of my favorite vegan weeknight dinners! It's super easy to make, incredibly healthy, and so delicious. Plus, it's packed with protein! Serve it with fresh parsley and avocado for an extra boost of nutrients.
    4.67 from 92 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 338kcal
    Author: Sina

    Ingredients

    • 1 small red onion, chopped
    • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
    • 2 bell peppers, chopped (I used an orange and a red one)
    • 1 cup quinoa, uncooked and pre-rinsed
    • 1 1/2 cup vegetable broth
    • 3 cups canned diced tomatoes
    • 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 2 cups frozen corn
    • 1 tablespoon paprika powder
    • 1/2 tablespoon cumin
    • juice of one lime
    • 2 green onions
    • 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
    • salt, to taste
    • black pepper, to taste
    • red pepper flakes
    • 1 avocado, to serve

    Instructions

    • Heat some oil in a large pot or pan and sauté the onion for 2-3 minutes or until it becomes translucent. Then add the garlic and the bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes on high heat.
    • Add the rest of the ingredients except for the lime juice, the green onions, and the parsley.
    • Cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes. As the temperature varies a bit, make sure to check once in a while that your quinoa is not burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan by stirring with a wooden spoon. If so, lower the heat. 
    • Then stir in the lime juice, the green onions, the parsley and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Serve with avocado on top.

    Notes

    • For an extra boost of vitamins and iron, I usually add lots of fresh parsley. I always buy a huge bunch and then I just use the leftovers for green smoothies in the morning. Add it just before serving so you don't lose any vitamins. And don't forget to add some avocado on top.
    •  Quinoa has so many health benefits and I love how easy it is to prepare. The one pan Mexican quinoa is also great as some kind of salad or quick lunch. So you can just take the leftovers to work the next day or save them for a picnic.
    • I usually cook my one pan Mexican quinoa between medium and high heat. As the temperature varies a bit, make sure to check once in a while that your quinoa is not burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan by stirring with a wooden spoon. If so, lower the heat. 
    • This recipe works best with a non-stick pot. 
    • Do you want to make this Mexican quinoa in your Instant Pot? No problem! I've also got an Instant Pot version. 
    • I'm not the biggest fan of fresh cilantro, so I used parsley instead. But feel free to use cilantro for an even more authentic version. 
    • Make sure to rinse your uncooked quinoa using a fine mesh strainer before adding it. This way you will get rid of all the bitter flavors. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 829mg | Potassium: 984mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 3600IU | Vitamin C: 233.5mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 3.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @_veganheaven_ or tag #veganheaven!
    Rate the recipe!If you like this recipe, please leave a good rating! This will help other readers.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Louis

      April 05, 2023 at 9:31 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is so good! I replaced the lime juice with cheddar daiya and the diced tomatoes with crushed and it came out incredible. I’ll definitely make it again. Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Michele Ver

      January 02, 2023 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious meal. My kids scoop it with tortilla chips.

      Reply
    3. Maïla

      October 26, 2022 at 2:24 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is amazing!! I normally modify every recipe that I make but this one, I made it « as is » and it was delicious. My husband and I, we both said that we could pay for this dish. We ate it with guacamole and tortillas.
      Yummy!

      Reply
    4. Deb

      October 11, 2022 at 2:15 am

      5 stars
      I just made this for dinner tonight! It is sooooo delish and flavorful. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I’m looking forward to having it for lunch tomorrow.😊

      Reply
    5. donna

      August 13, 2022 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      I am a lazy cook. This delicious and easy to make! Plenty of leftovers. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    6. DeniseJ

      March 10, 2022 at 6:29 am

      5 stars
      I made this recipe for dinner tonight and loved it. Lots of great flavors, just the right amount of spice. My husband really liked it too, plus there is plenty for leftovers since there is just the two of us in the house now. I will be making this one again. Great Recipe, Thanks

      Reply
    7. Patrick Libuda

      February 17, 2022 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      Nice recipe to have for a tasty meal for lunch at the office :)

      Reply
    8. Melissa C Harris

      January 14, 2022 at 7:10 pm

      5 stars
      very tasty. but the number of servings is off. I made enough for 2-3 servings, and got enough for 6

      Reply
    9. Trea

      January 12, 2022 at 12:35 pm

      5 stars
      Just cooked this tonight – super tasty! Mine didn’t look like the photo here but super filling and super tasty! I was looking for a recipe to make something vegan with quinoa that wasn’t just tabbouleh (I didn’t have the key ingredients for a tabbouleh) – and voila. The amounts in this easy recipe make for a sizeable batch – I’ll be getting quite a few meals out of tonight’s efforts :) I WILL be cooking this again! Thank-you :)

      Reply
    10. JN

      September 14, 2021 at 3:52 am

      5 stars
      This meal was absolutely fire! I love the simplicity of it as well as the fact that it can be modified according to your taste and/or mood. Thanks for this. The girlfriend also loved it a lot.

      Reply
    11. Deb

      November 18, 2020 at 10:45 am

      5 stars
      I made this for a work morning tea and had so many people ask for the recipe, It really is a quick easy dish to make and very tasty

      Reply
    12. Ivanova

      May 16, 2020 at 7:40 pm

      5 stars
      It is actually delicious. I have eaten it chilled from fridge and warm of course from microwave. It is completely good for lunch, dinner, or when I’m in rush and I haven’t eaten anything all day. It is refreshing and satisfying. Sometimes I add lots of kale and/or spinach after the onion, before the bell peppers. I like to see greens in my food. I have tried both separated paprika or chilli powder, and it tastes good; careful with the amount of chilli powder haha. As well different spices. I have cooked this meal several times since Summer 2019. No regrets, and I do recommend it a lot.

      Reply
    13. Annie

      May 14, 2020 at 2:22 am

      5 stars
      Delicious and simple! I cut the recipe in half for myself and it came out great!

      Reply
    14. Cheryl Mae

      May 13, 2020 at 5:56 am

      5 stars
      This was delicious. I added a few more spices, 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp. of oregano, 1/2 tsp. chili powder. I also served chopped cilantro on top and ate it in flour tortillas. Had plenty to share with my neighbor and leftovers for me and hubby.

      Reply
    15. Alex

      March 24, 2020 at 1:33 am

      5 stars
      I’ve made this numerous times and it is so amazingly tasty. SO GOOD!
      Note: Also very lean!

      Reply
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    Sina-Veganheaven

    Hi, I'm Sina and this is my recipe blog where I share heavenly simple and sinfully delicious vegan recipes.

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