Cheddar Cheese Quinoa

A Kid-Approved Quinoa Side Dish!

I’ll be honest, it can be a struggle to get my kids to eat quinoa. But I do have one trick up my sleeve…

Cheese. Lots of cheese. Yes, cheddar cheese is the key to convincing my kids to eat quinoa. Sometimes it’s Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites, but other times I want a creamy side dish that can be a stand-in for the usual mac and cheese. And that’s where this quinoa side dish comes in. Here’s why we make it a staple on our menu…

• So quick and easy. You only need five ingredients besides salt and pepper, and there are really only two main steps – cooking quinoa and stirring in the cheese!
• Feel-good ingredients. And yes, that short list of ingredients is all simple items that pack a protein punch. Plus, quinoa is a great gluten free grain alternative!
• Changes things up. When you’d normally serve mac and cheese or mashed potatoes, try this cheesy quinoa instead. It works well with everything from Gluten Free KFC Popcorn Chicken to Slow Cooker Kielbasa.

What You’ll Need

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this easy quinoa side dish! In fact, you probably already have them in your kitchen. Here’s a brief rundown. The full quantities and detailed instructions are in the recipe card further down in the post.

• Uncooked quinoa. Rinse it well and drain it thoroughly.
• Chicken or vegetable broth. Broth adds extra flavor, but you can also use water. Just be sure to add a little extra salt and pepper if you do that.
• Salt and pepper. To taste.
• Dry mustard. Bumps up the flavor of the cheddar cheese.
• Greek yogurt. Makes it creamy.
• Cheddar cheese. I prefer to use sharp or extra sharp, but use your favorite.

How to Make Cheesy Quinoa

This quibnoa side dish couldn’t be more simple. Pretty much all you do is cook the quinoa and mix everything together. Let’s take a quick look before getting to the full instructions in the recipe card.

• Cook the quinoa. Add quinoa to a pot with the broth, salt, pepper, and dry mustard. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer as per package instructions, about 15 minutes.

• Stir it all together. When quinoa is fully cooked, stir in Greek yogurt and cheese. Season to taste with more salt and pepper, if needed.

Quick Tips

When a recipe only has two main steps, you’d expect it to be pretty straightforward, and it is! But there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Rinse your quinoa. Place your uncooked quinoa in a strainer and run water over it until the liquid draining off is no longer cloudy to remove the saponin, a natural coating that protects it from pests, but can taste quite bitter. Give it a good shake to remove excess moisture.
• Use another method. Check out my post about How to Cook Quinoa to see how to prepare it not only on the stove, but also in the microwave, slow cooker, Instant Pot, or rice cooker. Just replace the water with the broth and add the seasonings.
• Don’t forget the flavor. I really do think this recipe tastes best when you use broth and add that dry mustard. However, in a pinch you can use water and omit the dry mustard. Just check the seasoning and add some extra salt and pepper if it seems a little bland.
• Swap or adjust the cheese. I’ve made this with half the amount of cheese, and it is still super yummy, but with a less intense cheddar flavor more moist texture. So it’s all your preference. You can also try it with Pepper Jack, Horseradish Cheddar, or even Parmesan with a different flavor profile.
• Store leftovers. Extra quinoa can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days. You can reheat it on the stove or in the microwave, but add a splash of water ot milk to make it creamy again.

Make it a Meal

Pretty much any main dish you’d serve with macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes would pair well with this cheesy quinoa side dish. Here are some of my favorite serving suggestions:

• BBQ Shrimp Quinoa Bowls are my favorite way to eat cheesy quinoa.
• Glazed Buffalo Chicken Tenders have a smoky kick that tastes delicious with cheddar cheese.
• Apple Cider BBQ Turkey Meatballs spooned on top would be a hit with the kids.
• Worcestershire Sauce Cast Iron Cube Steaks are so fast and easy that you can cook them while the quinoa simmers.
• Perfect Air Fryer Salmon from Noble Pig paired with this cheddar cheese quinoa makes a super good dinner.

More Easy Quinoa Recipes

• Spinach Artichoke Quinoa Bites.
• Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Breakfast Bars
• Roasted Asparagus and Mushroom Quinoa Pilaf
• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Casserole