BBQ Shrimp Quinoa Bowls

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BBQ Shrimp Bowls are a healthy dinner idea for tonight or any night! With sauteed shrimp slathered in your favorite barbecue sauce and fresh broccoli piled on top of creamy, cheesy quinoa, this easy gluten free recipe becomes a kid-friendly meal!

BBQ Shrimp Bowls with Cheesy Quinoa

Quinoa bowls are a simple and versatile dinner that comes together quickly for busy weeknights. BBQ shrimp and steamed broccoli served over cheesy quinoa are a delicious dinner the whole family will love!

There is nothing plain and boring about this BBQ shrimp bowl. Yet with kid-favorite flavors and ingredients, you know they will enjoy a healthy meal. And for your peace of mind, not only will you avoid dinnertime battles, it is also super simple and perfect for crazy weeknights. Even my kids and husband who, in the past, would turn up their noses at quinoa, enjoy second helpings.

What is a quinoa bowl?

A quinoa bowl is a meal with quinoa as the primary ingredient, and of course, the meal is served in a bowl. Bowl meals are popular because they are versatile, with the ingredients easily swapped for whatever you have on hand and/or using flavors your family enjoys.

And what you need for a weekday supper is something that is not only easy, but also versatile.

Take this recipe as a starting point and change it to your preferences. A few ideas to consider:

• Don’t like shrimp? Have it with grilled chicken, or, like we did the other night, some turkey kielbasa or other sausage.
• Vegetarian? Use tofu.
• Bored with plain steamed broccoli? Roast it. Nuke a freezer bag of it.
• All out of broccoli? Toss in some snap peas or another veggie. Or don’t. I won’t tell.

Are Quinoa Bowls Gluten Free?

Quinoa is a gluten free whole grain. Therefore, provided as long as you add other gluten free components to your quinoa bowl, you will have a gluten free meal. In this recipe, the quinoa is mixed with a cheesy mixture of Greek yogurt and cheddar, and to top it all you need is:

• Shrimp
• Barbecue sauce
• Broccoli

Just be sure to choose a sauce that isn’t made with any gluten-containing ingredients and you are good to go. You’ll find my recommended sauce just above the recipe.

How long does it take to make BBQ shrimp?

Making BBQ shrimp on a grill usually takes 10-12 minutes, plus time to preheat the grill. For this stove top BBQ shrimp recipe, everything cooks up easily, in less than 30 minutes!

1. Cook up the quinoa and stir in some Greek yogurt and cheese.
2. While the quinoa is cooking, steam or roast a few broccoli florets. Heck, nuke a frozen steamer bag if you want to.
3. Quickly saute a few shrimp in a pan on the stove top, then toss them in your favorite barbecue sauce.
4. Add everything to a bowl, and voila! You’ve got a fancy shmancy BBQ shrimp quinoa bowl dinner!

What is the best barbecue sauce to make BBQ Shrimp Bowls?

My favorite BBQ Sauce is Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce. It’s just a little sweet and just a little spicy, and has the most amazing flavor. Plus there is no High Fructose Corn Syrup, but it’s still available at a reasonable price compared to some other higher end brands that are also sweetened with brown sugar or molasses, but none of the fake stuff. Plus Stubb’s states right on tha label that it is gluten free. And trust me, they are not paying me to say this. It has been my go-to for years. And if you would like that same flavor profile, but a bit more sweet or heat, they have a Sticky Sweet variety, as well as a Spicy version.

More shrimp recipes

• Chili Lime Shrimp has six ingredients, is made in one skillet, and takes ten minutes
• Homestyle Shrimp Bowls with Mashed Potatoes, corn, and just a little kick.
• Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls are simple and fresh.
• Summer Fruit Grilled Shrimp Salad with a perfect light meal for a hot day.
• Bang Bang Shrimp would be delicious served over cauliflower rice!
• Shrimp Creole would be awesome with leftover quinoa from the quinoa bowls!
• Apple Butter Bacon Wrapped Shrimp is out of this world delicious!

4.4 from 5 votes

BBQ Shrimp Quinoa Bowl

Quinoa bowls are a simple and versatile but satisfying dinner that comes together quickly for busy weeknights. Sauteed shrimp tossed in BBQ sauce is added to a bowl with quinoa and steamed broccoli. Healthy and kid friendly.

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Total: 25 mins

Servings: 4

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Ingredients

For the Cheesy Quinoa:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 2 cup chicken or vegetable broth or stock
• salt & pepper
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup (about 2 oz) shredded cheddar cheese (I use Cabot 50% Light Sharp Cheddar) – sometimes I use up to 1 c (about 4 oz. depending on how cheesy I want it)

For the Shrimp and Broccoli:

• 1 1/2 lbs shrimp peeled and deveined
• Olive oil spray or nonstick cooking spray or 1 tsp oil
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce plus additional for serving, if desired
• 1 lb broccoli cooked as desired (steamed, roasted, etc.)

Instructions

For the Cheesy Quinoa:

• Combine quinoa, broth, a pinch of salt and pepper, and dry mustard in a pot, and cook according to package directions, about 15 minutes.
• When quinoa is fully cooked, stir in Greek yogurt and cheese.

For the Shrimp and Broccoli:

• While the quinoa is cooking, prepare broccoli as desired, and heat a pan over medium heat.
• Coat with olive oil spray or nonstick cooking spray (or 1 tsp oil).
• Add the shrimp to the pan, and cook about 2 minutes per side, or until shrimp is pink and nearly cooked through.
• Pour the barbecue sauce over the shrimp and toss to coat. Cook for another minute or two, until shrimp is cooked through.

For the Bowls:

• Divide quinoa between four bowls.
• Top with broccoli and shrimp, and additional barbecue sauce, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

BBQ Shrimp Quinoa Bowl

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 519 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 4g20%

Cholesterol 448mg149%

Sodium 1815mg76%

Potassium 915mg26%

Carbohydrates 47g16%

Fiber 6g24%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 53g106%

Vitamin A 905IU18%

Vitamin C 108.3mg131%

Calcium 464mg46%

Iron 6.9mg38%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Keywords: bbq shrimp, healthy dinner recipes, quinoa bowl

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