Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites
Cheesy veggie quinoa bites make delicious, healthy after school snacks or simple gluten free appetizers. Easy to make and the recipe can be customized to whatever you have on hand in the fridge! It’s hard to find quinoa recipes for kids, at least my kids, but these quinoa bites are the perfect healthy snack or side dish recipe with plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and protein. My kids couldn’t keep their fingers off of this easy muffin tin recipe.
MY LATEST VIDEOSHow to Make Cheesy Quinoa Bites with Vegetables
Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites were born from two hungry little boys and me staring into the fridge at containers of leftovers. Now, my boys aren’t fans of just eating quinoa straight up. I have to be a quinoa ninja, so in this case, I went with two surefire bets – adding cheese and making it into finger food. Of course, I also had to add the leftover vegetables I had in the fridge too. And it was a total success! I had to stop them from polishing off the whole batch just so I could grab some photos. Heck, I had to stop myself too!
This post was written several years ago, but it all still holds true, except my big guys is now in second grade and the little one will be off to Kindergarten in the fall. I thank everyone close to me – my friends and family – and those whom I have never met before that read my blog, make my recipes, and allow me to keep doing a job a love, building a business of my own, while being able to have the flexibility to be there for my family. Thank you all!
2015 is a year of change here at Cupcakes & Kale Chips. Honestly, I keep wondering if my readers notice and care, but, you know, I’ve gotta do what I’ve gotta do. I started this blog as a hobby, but I discovered a passion and a world of opportunities. To keep it going, it costs money. So I started taking some paying gigs to offset the costs. Then I realized that this could actually become a real job, and while I am blessed that I don’t have to work, I’ve gotten to the point where I need something else to give me a true feeling of personal satisfaction, and I want to help ensure the security of my family should, God forbid, something awful happen.
People like what I do – readers make my recipes! I get asked to contribute to sites, and speak at conferences, giving me a sense of fulfillment. As a former straight A student (no lie, I think the only B’s I ever got were in gym and handwriting) who then went on to a successful career with a big pharma company, after several years away from having these types of tangible measures of success, this is important to me, and makes me a better person, a happier person. And, therefore, a better, happier mom.
Plus, The Bug is off to Kindergarten in the fall. The little dude wakes up every morning asking to go to school, but I’m still working from home. So, I don’t have to drop them off at 7am and then not see them again until 6pm, which is what would have happened if I had never left my former career to be a stay-at-home mom. For me, this is the best of all possible worlds.
They go to school between 8:30 and 9, then I pick them up after nap and snack, around 3pm to 4pm. Sometimes we come home, sometimes we are off to karate, or meeting Daddy for dinner, or getting haircuts, or whatever. They’re happy, I’m happy, and we enjoy our mornings and evenings together. Tonight we had a crazy newspaper snowball fight – it was awesome!
And as I always say, all moms and parents have to make the choices that are the best for themselves and their families.
So yes, you are seeing some more sponsored posts. You are seeing affiliate links and you’ll probably start seeing shopping lists. If you click on those to head over to Amazon and then, while you’re there, you happen to buy anything, not just the product I linked to, I’ll make a little commission. It doesn’t cost you anything, don’t worry! As I make these changes, I hope you’ll continue to support me and follow along.
Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites are the ultimate reflection of what I do here on Cupcakes & Kale Chips.
Whether I am making a recipe for a client, finally writing down something I’ve made over and over again like Worcestershire Sauce Cast Iron Cube Steaks, putting a creative twist on a classic like the Shepherd’s Pie Loaded Baked Potatoes everyone loves, or, like this recipe, randomly throwing something together and realizing that I NEED to share the recipe with all of you, my recipes reflect how I cook for my family.
And as I said, this was literally invented because I had leftovers in the fridge, along with my usual giant stash of Cabot cheese. So I make it with a mixture of broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower for the photos. In the video you’ll see peas and carrots. You can even get a little more fancy and make Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Quinoa Bites. It’s totally your choice, so use whatever you have on hand, or whatever you are trying to sneak past your kids. I won’t tell. It’ll be our little secret!
If your kids are like mine, they’ll want to dip those Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites…
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Another cheesy way to get the kids to eat their veggies is this Slow-Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup from Wine and Glue. Or how about some Cauliflower Pizza Crust from Princess Pinky Girl? And another sneaky quinoa finger food are these Quinoa Buffalo Bites from Wonky Wonderful.
Here’s the recipe for the cheesy veggie quinoa bites.
A couple of things you may need to make this recipe:
Cheesy Veggie Quinoa Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa , cooled
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese , shredded (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup vegetables , chopped and cooked {steamed, roasted, etc}
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray or oil.
- Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the cups of the mini muffin tin, and press down to pack it in firmly.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- If you do not finish them, store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Enjoy!
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Nora says
November 2, 2018 at 6:26 pmThese are super tasty! I used vegan cheese (about 1/2 cup) and nutritional yeast to make these dairy free, and it seemed to work great. But man, even in a non-stick muffin pan sprayed with non-stick spray, these were stubborn to get out of the pan. I think I’ll try a tiny cookie scoop on a baking sheet next time.
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
November 5, 2018 at 4:45 amThanks for your feedback, Nora. I’m sorry you had trouble with them sticking to the pan, though. Hopefully they’ll come out well for you baking them on a cookie sheet instead. If you do make them that way, a sheet of parchment paper should help prevent them from sticking.
Tiffany says
October 23, 2018 at 4:16 pmHow do you store these? Airtight container in refrigerator?
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
October 24, 2018 at 5:42 pmYou’re absolutely right, Tiffany. They also freeze well.
Annie says
September 16, 2018 at 11:21 pmThese are delicious! Do you need to refrigerate them? And if putting in a lunch, would they get soggy if I reheated them and put in a Thermos?
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
September 17, 2018 at 4:13 amI’m happy to hear that you like the quinoa bites recipe, Annie. Yes, they should be refrigerated. I can’t answer your question about how they would hold up in a thermos, as I’ve never tried it. I can tell you that they’ll reheat better in an oven than they will in a microwave. Hope that helps!
Stephanue says
August 13, 2018 at 3:14 pmThanks for the recipe! My family loved these😁
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
August 15, 2018 at 11:20 pmI’m SO happy to hear that the quinoa bites were a hit with your family, Stephanie. Thank you for your comment and for rating the recipe!
Tiare van der Meer says
January 27, 2019 at 6:17 amHi I’m just enquiring if their are any egg free bited
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
January 27, 2019 at 8:54 pmI don’t have any quinoa bites made without egg. It does help bind them together.
Dr. Cowan's Garden says
August 8, 2018 at 7:11 amThanks for the delicious recipe, Brianne. You are right these cheesy veggie quinoa bites make delicious, healthy afternoon snacks and breakfast.
Carmen says
April 20, 2018 at 10:52 pmAdding smoke cheddar and ham is amazing!
Flora says
April 10, 2018 at 10:14 pmHow long would you bake them in a regular size muffin tin and how far up would you fill them? Thanks!
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
April 11, 2018 at 11:39 amFlora, I would fill the muffin tins 3/4 full and try adding 3-4 minutes of bake time. After that, poke one of the muffins with a toothpick to see if the batter is cooked or not. Please let me know how they turn out!
Dee T says
February 5, 2018 at 11:08 amI am gluten, sugar, corn and soy free so this recipe really called my name! I made a batch on Saturday, today is Monday and they are half gone. I will change up the next time I make them though. I think the artichoke made them bitter. I will put another veggie instead, maybe red pepper and I will add another egg too as I feel they didn’t stay together quite enough for me. All in all a great idea to add the quinoa. Thanks so much for the idea! And I will be checking out many of your other recipes as well.
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
February 6, 2018 at 3:47 pmThank you for your comment, Dee. I’m sorry that the muffins weren’t as wonderful as you would have liked them to be, but it sounds like you’ve got great ideas for switching things up the next time you make them!
Dale Cupo says
May 29, 2017 at 3:21 pmLove this recipe..have used it many times now. They pack for work lunches and reheat in the microwave. I usually make a batch for the week of grab and go breakfast, lunch or snacks and even make as an appetizer( i try to make them more bite size.)
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
May 31, 2017 at 10:23 pmI’m so happy to hear that you enjoy the quinoa bites recipe, Dale!
Marcy says
April 30, 2017 at 10:13 amWe love these! I added some crumbled bacon to one batch for my husband. I love them in their healthier bacon free form!
Thank you!!!
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
May 1, 2017 at 2:05 pmI’m glad you enjoyed the quinoa bites, Marcy, but your addition of bacon to them sounds delicious!
Michelle says
April 19, 2017 at 11:15 amhow do these turn out if made and then frozen?
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
April 19, 2017 at 12:09 pmMichelle, if you cool the quinoa bites completely before freezing them and make sure to wrap them very well with plastic wrap and an outer layer of aluminum foil or inside of a freezer bag, I think they would reheat well.
Stephanie says
January 31, 2017 at 4:26 pmThese are delicious, my toddlers loved them! Almost tastes like Mac & cheese which is a win with my kiddos!
Brianne Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
February 1, 2017 at 9:18 amI’m so glad that your kiddos love the quinoa bites, Stephanie!
Gina says
April 28, 2016 at 8:57 amFirst of all, these were amazing, thank you! Three questions: 1) how would these do if you froze them? 2) any advice to stop them from sticking to muffin tin? 3) have you ever tried this not in muffin tins? Just in maybe a 9×13 foil tray?
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
April 30, 2016 at 9:28 pmOh great, so glad you enjoyed them! I haven’t frozen them, but I think they would freeze well. Plenty of cooking spray. I have one muffin pan that never sticks, and one that, no matter what I make, always sticks. I haven’t tried in a tray. You wouldn’t get the crispy edges, but one idea is to use a little scoop and put little “tots” on a cookie sheet. I’ll have to try that!
Lael Mills says
September 13, 2016 at 5:13 pmThey freeze really well! I froze and doled them out through the month.
Lorry says
April 10, 2016 at 8:27 pmMy granddaughter has an egg allergy. Any ideas on substitutions?
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
April 12, 2016 at 11:43 amThere are a number of egg substitute products (I think one is called Ener-G), and some people use ground flax seed mixed with water. Not sure how it would work with this recipe. I think trying that or even omitting it might be fine. It’ll taste good, they may just be a little softer and more fragile.
Janine says
March 8, 2016 at 11:50 amWould these freeze well?
TRACY says
February 10, 2016 at 3:07 pmi cant wait to try these! what a wonderful, simple, idea. Just wish i had the nutritional info.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
February 10, 2016 at 3:35 pmI don’t post calorie counts because it can vary greatly by the brand of product you use, fat free versus full fat, etc. But a lot of people like the SparkPeople calorie calculator where you can input all of the ingredients you are using. https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-calculator.asp
TRACY says
February 10, 2016 at 4:00 pmThank you so much!
Amy says
September 26, 2015 at 9:53 pmMy 9 month old LOVES these! It’s a great way to mix things up and travel so easily to daycare. Thank you for sharing!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
October 8, 2015 at 10:04 amOh yay! Love helping mamas find healthy things for their little ones!
Izzy @ She Likes Food says
February 26, 2015 at 2:27 pmHaha, I feel like some of the best dishes ever come from throwing a bunch of leftovers together! For some reason I never think to combine quinoa and cheese together but I’m loving these cheesy quinoa bites!! This is such a great idea!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
February 28, 2015 at 10:10 pmOooh, I love cheese and quinoa!
Regan @ Cabot Creamery says
February 26, 2015 at 8:53 amI can relate to so much of what you say about not having to work, but “needing” to work personally. You’re not alone 🙂
And love this ninja attack on making quinoa kid friendly!!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
February 26, 2015 at 10:04 amThanks Regan. I’m still battling the guilt, so it helps to hear other people say that! Thanks!