Black Bean Quinoa Casserole with corn, cheese, and layers upon layers of fresh Mexican flavors. This vegetarian dinner is so easy to assemble and makes great leftovers that even carnivores will fight for!
You might also like this Mexican casserole.
Delicious Quinoa Casserole
A hybrid of modern Mexican and Thai cuisines, this black bean quinoa casserole has layers upon layers of flavours that scream “fresh”. Black beans are one of my favorite additions to all kinds of Mexican-inspired dishes including quinoa and black bean salad, black bean salsa, and mango black bean salad! I recently even made black bean nachos!
Combining sauteed vegetables, black beans, cooked quinoa, coconut milk, cheese, cilantro and onion creates delicious black bean casserole that really stands out from any traditional casseroles you are used to. And it’s healthy too!
As all the ingredients are already cooked, you just need to put the assembled casserole in the oven for everything to “marry” each other for 30 minutes. Quinoa makes for a delicious addition to casseroles and one-pot dishes too, like this one-pot quinoa and chicken or ground turkey quinoa casserole.
It tastes even better the next day and is great to freeze and make ahead.
Ingredients for Black Bean Quinoa Casserole
- White or tri-color quinoa: A staple in most healthy pantries. Quinoa is great for using in casseroles because unlike brown rice it is ready in 10 minutes and offers 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per 1 cup of cooked quinoa.
- Regular or low-fat canned coconut milk: Instead of canned soup, we use canned coconut milk to make casserole saucy. Milk from a carton will not work.
- Black beans, corn, bell pepper: A bulk of flavorful frozen, canned and fresh veggies and legumes for protein and fiber. Here is detailed tutorial how to cook dried beans from scratch.
- Fresh herbs and jalapeno: Lots of cilantro, green onion, and spicy pepper add flavor with little calories.
- Cheese: Gooey melted cheddar, Tex Mex or Colby cheese is a must for this black bean casserole.
How to Make Black Bean Casserole
There is detailed recipe card below.
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350 F degrees and spray 8×11 baking dish with oil.
- Cook quinoa as per package instructions: Or cook 1 1/2 cup of dry quinoa with 3 cups of water for 12 minutes on low heat after boiling. Don’t forget to fluff with a fork. Follow my step by step how to cook quinoa on stove instructions for troubleshooting or use Instant Pot quinoa. If you have leftover cooked quinoa you can use about 4 cups.
- Saute veggies and beans with spices: First cook garlic. Then corn, bell peppers, jalapenos and cumin. DO not stir often to allow veggies to roast becoming more flavorful.
- Combine: In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa, black beans, herbs, half the cheese, coconut milk and salt. Mix, flatten in baking dish and sprinkle with other half cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes uncovered: This is when magic happens and flavors “marry each other”.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and 1/4 cup green onions.
Variations and Serving
- Use mixed beans: Instead of black beans, use equal amount of white beans, mixed beans or even chickpeas.
- Substitute for coconut milk: A can of low sodium or no salt added tomato sauce, passata or crushed tomatoes. Casserole will lose its Thai flavor but will stay along the Mexican line. Or use salsa but then reduce salt significantly.
- Other veggies: Feel free to use mushrooms instead of bell pepper. They are very flavorful once sauteed.
- Add protein: If you would like to add meat, add shredded chicken cooked in Instant Pot or pre-browned ground turkey, beef or chicken.
- Do I have to thaw frozen corn? No. Just add it to the skillet and it will defrost quickly.
- Make it vegan and dairy free: Use vegan cheese. Otherwise, all ingredients are plant-based in this quinoa casserole. Woohoo!
- Make burritos: Place about 1 cup of the bean casserole in the center of a flour tortilla, wrap and enjoy!
- Make vegetarian tacos: Serve as filling for tacos with some salsa, sour cream, and avocado or guacamole!
- Side dish: For easy chicken tostadas!
How to Store, Make Ahead and Reheat
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container or in baking dish covered with wrap for up to 3 days. Or freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Use leftovers to make veggie quesadillas!
Freeze uncooked: Assemble, tightly wrap with plastic and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as per instructions + 15 minutes.
Make Ahead: Assemble, cover and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Bake as per instructions.
More Healthy Casseroles and Black Bean Recipes
- Spinach artichoke quinoa casserole
- Healthy Mexican casserole
- Chicken zucchini casserole
- Healthy black bean burgers
- Instant Pot black bean soup
You might also enjoy browsing through this list of 30 quinoa recipes!
Black Bean Quinoa Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups quinoa dry
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 1/2 cups corn canned or frozen
- 3 large bell peppers chopped
- 1/2 medium jalapeño pepper seeded and minced
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 15 oz can of black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 cup cilantro finely chopped and divided
- 1/2 cup green onions finely chopped and divided
- 2 cups Tex Mex cheese shredded and divided
- 3/4 cup canned coconut milk light or regular
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cook quinoa as per package instructions and set aside. Or cook 1 1/2 cups of dry quinoa with 3 cups of water for 12 minutes on low heat after boiling. Don't forget to fluff with a fork. See a step by step how to cook quinoa on stove or follow Instant Pot quinoa instructions. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
- Preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
- Add corn, bell peppers, jalapenos and cumin. Stir and sauté undisturbed for 3 minutes, stir again and sauté for another 3 minutes.
- Transfer to a large mixing bowl along with cooked quinoa, black beans, 3/4 cup cilantro, 1/4 cup green onions, 1 1/2 cups cheese, coconut milk and salt.
- Mix well, transfer to 8 x 11 baking dish, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and 1/4 cup green onions. Serve warm.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container or in baking dish covered with wrap for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months.
- Freeze uncooked: Assemble, tightly wrap with plastic and then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as per instructions + 15 minutes.
- Make Ahead: Assemble, cover and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Bake as per instructions.
- White or tri-color quinoa: If you have leftover cooked quinoa, you can use about 4-5 cups and skip cooking fresh.
- Substitute for coconut milk: A can of low sodium or no salt added tomato sauce, passata or crushed tomatoes. Casserole will lose its Thai flavor but will stay along the Mexican line. Or use salsa but then reduce salt significantly.
- Use mixed beans: Instead of black beans, use equal amount of white beans, mixed beans or even chickpeas.
- Other veggies: Feel free to use mushrooms instead of bell pepper.
- Add protein: If you would like to add meat, add Instant Pot shredded chicken breast or pre-browned ground turkey, beef or chicken.
- Do I have to thaw frozen corn? No. Just add it to the skillet and it will defrost quickly.
I’m always looking for new recipes to spice up our meatless mondays so I can’t wait to give this a try! Will have to split the recipe up in two 9×9 pans as my 1.5 YO is allergic to dairy and my husband has an aversion to cheese (he’s weird). 🙂 Thanks!!
Your husband is weird lol. Splitting works and I hope everyone enjoys. Especially appreciate your effort.
Just made this last night and it turned out great! Topped it with a little spicy salsa and am going to have the leftovers tonight for dinner. I am going to link to this tasty clean dinner on my blog! Thanks!!
You are welcome.:) Toppings possibilities are really endless and thanks for re-sharing.
I found this recipe this morning while browsing freezer-friendly casseroles, since I’ve just moved and need to both stock up my freezer and stick to uncomplicated/fast recipes that won’t be too much hassle. You just convinced a whole bunch of Austrians (and they can be hard to convince) that Tex-mex can be healthy AND tasty. Seriously, congrats 😉 – A grateful Spaniard in Austria
Haha, you are funny, Sara. Are Austrians like Germans, and like English?:) You are so welcome. I’ve been to Austria many many years ago and have the fondest memories of it. Gorgeous!!!
They do have a particular aversion to anything that might be spicy and meat free – then again, I work in IT, at a particular company where most guys’ diet seems to exclusively consist on pizza, schnitzel and sausages and “chinese” (namely spring rolls and dumplings) takeaways if and only if the mood strikes 😛 So trust me, this was a HUGE achievement. Also, I’ve been trying some of your recipes in the past days and your zucchini enchilada quiche has become a favourite! 😉 Again, thanks a lot for your ideas, I will most definitely spread the word! <3
Awe, thank you! I do know exactly what you are talking about. Some guys are just meat and potatoes…period.
Made this for dinner tonight. It was delicious. I added some mojo rotisserie chicken I bought from the Publix deli. In addition to the cilantro garnish, I added a few slices of avocado and a spritz of lime. This will be a regular at my place! Also, when cooking the quinoa with 4 mins to spare…is it supposed to be watery like that? I cooked it an extra min or so because I thought that was strange. I’ve never made quinoa before.
A bit of extra water is find for this casserole. You bake it afterwards anyways and any extra water will be absorbed with other flavours. Glad buoy liked it!:)
Tried this tonight for diner and really liked it. Thanks for sharing 🙂 Mentioned this recipe in my blog as well 🙂 http://realfoodontherock.weebly.com/1/post/2014/03/day-66.html
Okay, this looks SO good! Pinning to make immediately.
Hi! This recipe looks great. I however am dairy free. If I leave out the cheese will this dramatically change it? I havent tried dairy free cheese because I’m not a big cheese fan anyway and I don’t know how it will taste. Any suggestions?
You can skip the cheese but casserole will be more crumbly and not stay together as well. Taste should be tasty anyways.:) Maybe add more green onion or herbs or red pepper flakes for bolder taste.
I need a recipe to cook for a group of people, and this sounds great. I was wondering if you have ever tried adding chicken to the recipe or if you think it would work?
Absolutely. Up to a few cups of cooked diced/shredded chicken.
Hi Olena! Just discovered your site last week and we had this added to our menu plan for this week. It was great! I forgot about my quinoa and cooked it through so next time I’ll keep a closer eye! I’m from Winnipeg and from Poland originally. I read your cabbage rolls post and I AGREE!!! The first time I had cabbage rolls here after people RAVING about cabbage rolls (which happens as soon as you tell them where you’re from!) I immediately said, these are NOT cabbage rolls! They were the size of spring rolls and YUP – full of rice!! 🙂 Can’t wait to try yours!
Heeeey. Nice to meet you! How long you lived in Canada now? Well, it’s like you and me making butter chicken. I’m sure it will taste good but won’t be real Indian food. It’s on my menu btw LOL. Enjoy and let me know how they turn out.
It looks so good, but would have to come up with some alternatives to coconut oil and milk…any suggestions? Extremely allergic to coconut. Thanks!
Use olive/grapeseed/avocado (really any) oil instead of coconut oil, and tomato sauce instead of coconut milk.