Healthy & Delicious Quinoa Pizza Casserole: Your New Gluten-Free & Vegan-Friendly Favorite
If you’re a pizza lover seeking a healthier twist, look no further! This Quinoa Pizza Casserole is the ultimate solution, blending all the beloved flavors of classic pizza into a wholesome, satisfying dish. Topped generously with melted cheese (or your favorite vegan alternative) and customizable with an array of pizza toppings, it’s designed to delight everyone at the table. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and offers a fantastic vegan option, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary needs.
Why You’ll Love Baking This Quinoa Pizza Casserole
While you could technically assemble and serve this dish without baking, we highly recommend taking the extra step to pop it in the oven. Baking transforms humble quinoa into something truly magical. The edges achieve a delightful crispness, and the top layer turns golden and wonderfully crunchy, adding an irresistible texture that elevates the entire casserole. This baked finish ensures a depth of flavor and a textural contrast that you simply can’t achieve otherwise. Trust us, for the absolute best results, baking is key!
However, if oven time isn’t an option, or you’re looking for other quick quinoa ideas, this Middle Eastern Quinoa Salad offers a refreshing and filling alternative. But for that authentic, comforting pizza casserole experience, a little bake time is well worth it!
A Versatile Meal: Side Dish or Main Course?
This Quinoa Pizza Casserole is incredibly versatile. Officially, it might be categorized as a side dish, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself enjoying it as a hearty main course, just like I did for lunch the day I first made it! Its robust flavors and satisfying texture make it perfectly capable of holding its own as the star of your meal.
Making it a Complete Meal with Added Veggies
To truly turn this casserole into a full, nutritious meal, consider incorporating more of your favorite pizza vegetables directly into the mix. Imagine chopping up vibrant bell peppers, adding more finely diced onions, or stirring in some fresh spinach. Mushrooms, black olives, or even sundried tomatoes would also make excellent additions, boosting the nutrient content and making it even more satisfying. Mixing these ingredients in before baking ensures they cook down slightly and meld beautifully with the “pizza” sauce and quinoa.
Beyond vegetables, you can also easily bulk up this casserole. For those who enjoy meat, cooked ground turkey, Italian sausage, or pepperoni slices can be folded into the quinoa mixture. For plant-based protein, crumbled plant-based mince, chickpeas, or even kidney beans would work wonderfully. These additions not only enhance the flavor but also contribute to a more well-rounded and filling meal, making it a fantastic option for a weeknight dinner that everyone will enjoy.
Dietary Adaptations: Gluten-Free & Vegan Options for Everyone
One of the best features of this Quinoa Pizza Casserole is its adaptability. Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, making this a safe and delicious option for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease. And for our vegan and dairy-free friends, rest assured – you don’t have to miss out on any of the cheesy goodness!
Instead of traditional mozzarella, you can top your casserole with a generous sprinkle of nutritional yeast. This fantastic ingredient provides a savory, cheese-like flavor that many vegans adore. I personally used a non-fortified nutritional yeast free of synthetic additives, but any variety will impart that delightful umami note. Alternatively, if you prefer a more familiar melted texture, a good quality vegan mozzarella cheese will work wonders. The baking process helps these vegan toppings get wonderfully crispy and golden, just like their dairy counterparts, ensuring a satisfying experience for all.
And if you’re ever in the mood for something a bit more traditional but still hearty, consider trying a supreme pizza pasta, although it won’t be gluten-free or vegan without significant modifications. But for a healthy, inclusive, and incredibly tasty meal, this quinoa pizza casserole truly shines. The crispy top from baking, especially with nutritional yeast, is a personal favorite!
Perfect for Leftover Quinoa and Effortless Meal Prep
This Quinoa Pizza Casserole is an absolute lifesaver when you have leftover cooked quinoa on hand. The recipe calls for approximately 3 1/2 cups of cooked quinoa, making it an excellent way to transform those pre-cooked grains into a completely new and exciting meal. This not only helps reduce food waste but also drastically cuts down on preparation time, allowing you to get a delicious, healthy dinner on the table even faster.
Tips for Cooking Quinoa from Scratch
If you don’t have leftover quinoa, don’t worry! Cooking it from scratch is incredibly simple. For this recipe, you’ll need 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, which typically yields about 3 cups cooked. Here’s how to do it:
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold running water in a fine-mesh sieve. This step is crucial to remove saponins, which can give quinoa a bitter taste.
- Combine 1 cup of rinsed quinoa with 2 cups of water (or vegetable broth for added flavor) in a small pot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender and fluffy.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for another 5 minutes. This allows the quinoa to steam and become perfectly fluffy.
- Fluff with a fork before using in the casserole.
Having cooked quinoa ready makes this casserole a breeze, ideal for meal prepping ahead of a busy week. You can cook a large batch of quinoa on the weekend and use it for various recipes, including this delightful pizza casserole.
Customizing Your Quinoa Pizza Casserole
The beauty of a casserole, and particularly this Quinoa Pizza Casserole, lies in its flexibility. Think of it as a canvas for your culinary creativity! Here are some ideas to help you customize it to your heart’s content:
Topping Ideas:
- **Vegetables:** Beyond bell peppers and onions, consider adding sliced mushrooms, black olives, green olives, banana peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or even roasted eggplant pieces.
- **Proteins:** For meat-eaters, cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, mini pepperoni, shredded chicken, or even bacon bits can be stirred in. For plant-based protein, try plant-based pepperoni, crumbled veggie sausage, or even a handful of cooked lentils.
- **Cheeses/Alternatives:** Experiment with different cheeses like sharp cheddar, provolone, or a mix of Italian cheeses. For vegan options, various brands offer excellent plant-based shredded cheeses that melt beautifully.
- **Herbs:** Fresh basil, oregano, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little heat can be added after baking for a burst of fresh flavor.
Sauce Variations:
While tomato paste provides a rich, concentrated pizza flavor, you could also:
- Use a ready-made marinara or pizza sauce for a slightly different flavor profile. Just be mindful of the consistency and adjust water content if needed.
- Add a dash of balsamic vinegar to the tomato paste mixture for a tangy kick.
- Incorporate a spoonful of pesto for a unique, herbaceous twist.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite pizza combinations to make this casserole truly your own!
Other Delicious Quinoa and Pizza-Inspired Recipes to Explore
If this casserole has sparked your love for quinoa or pizza-inspired creations, there are plenty more recipes to try! For a fun, bite-sized option, you absolutely have to check out my Mini Pizza Quinoa Bites – they’re perfect for appetizers or lunchboxes.
Looking for something different with quinoa? Try this comforting Quinoa Stuffing Stuffed Squash, or warm up with a bowl of Vegetarian Quinoa Chili. This Mexican Quinoa Salad also looks absolutely delicious and offers a refreshing alternative.
And for those days when only actual pizza will do, don’t miss exploring a fathead dough recipe – it’s a popular low-carb option that tastes incredibly satisfying.
Quinoa Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa cooked in 2 cups water or about 3 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 6-oz can tomato paste
- 3-4 large cloves garlic finely minced, grated or pressed
- 1/2 small onion finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
- 1 teaspoon marjoram
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 3/4-1 teaspoon sea salt
- dash black pepper
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast optional
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese to top(optional)
Instructions
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Rinse quinoa well and combine with water in a small pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, cover and turn down to low and simmer for 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed, the quinoa is tender and completely cooked. Remove from the heat and leave covered in the pot for 5 minutes while assembling other ingredients.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 4 – 1 cup ramekins, 2 – 2 cup dishes or a larger casserole dish, depending on how you want to bake and serve this.
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In a small bowl, combine the tomato paste with the garlic and onion, water and olive oil. Mix well. Add all the seasonings including the nutritional yeast if using. Mix well again before adding the quinoa. Once the mixture is completely mixed, taste for seasonings and add more salt as needed. Then divide evenly among the dishes for baking, sprinkle with cheese if desired and place in the oven. I baked mine in two larger dishes, but this could easily be done in smaller ramekins for individual servings, or in one larger dish.
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Bake 30-35 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly or until the quinoa on top is golden and crispy. If desired, sprinkle with more nutritional yeast and fresh basil or parsley and serve.
Photos updated 3/2020. Here’s an old one: