I love quinoa casserole because it is quick. If you are trying to eat less meat this spinach artichoke casserole recipe along with black bean quinoa casserole is for you. It is hearty, filling and full of flavours. I used an entire box of pre-washed baby spinach. I truly love the convenience of washed organic greens. Spinach shrinks a lot, so don’t be scared by the amount this recipe calls for.
And please don’t judge my pot. It is my favourite Lagostina pot which outside goes bonanza in a dishwasher. And who can give up a dishwasher?!
Enjoy this delicious spinach artichoke quinoa casserole as much as we did! You might also like my quinoa chicken pot pie and ground turkey quinoa casserole.
How to Make Spinach Artichoke Quinoa Casserole
- Cook quinoa as per package instructions and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and spray 9″ x 13″ baking dish with cooking spray.
- Preheat large non-stick skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add onion and garlic, saute until translucent, stirring occasionally.
- In a small bowl, whisk milk with cornstarch and add to the skillet along with artichoke hearts, spinach, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, quinoa (fluff with a fork a bit before adding), 1/2 tsp salt and pepper. Stir until cheese is melted.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, level and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Serve hot.
Spinach Artichoke Quinoa Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups quinoa uncooked
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 4 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 cups any milk I used unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 cups artichoke hearts coarsely chopped*
- 11 oz package 4 large handfuls spinach
- 1/2 cup 1 oz Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 3/4 cup 3 oz white cheddar (mozzarella) cheese, shredded & divided
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- Cooking spray I use Misto
Instructions
- Cook quinoa as per package instructions and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and spray 9" x 13" baking dish with cooking spray.
- Preheat large non-stick skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to coat. Add onion and garlic, saute until translucent, stirring occasionally.
- In a small bowl, whisk milk with cornstarch and add to the skillet along with artichoke hearts, spinach, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, quinoa (fluff with a fork a bit before adding), 1/2 tsp salt and pepper. Stir until cheese is melted.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, level and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
- *If using frozen, thaw and drain. If using marinated, rinse and drain.
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
- Freeze: 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.
Nutrition
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I keep thinking I’m gonna hit an ok recipe..
But absolutely not! Olena you’re a genius! All recipes I’ve tried so far, more than 25!, were DELICIOUS, including this one, and made it my ‘Preferred Recipes List’!!! ?♥️
Thanks so much Marie! You made my day 🙂
You deserve it hands down!
Since I’ve come across your site, we’ve been eating EASY DELICIOUS meals, deserts, breakfasts, all picky husband approved! These is a miracle ???
Just tried making it! Was it supposed to be soupy in the pan before the oven?
Saucy for sure.
Great recipe. Healthy and easy to make. My hubby and I really enjoyed it.
I’m so happy to read this! Thanks for your positive feedback, Natalia!
Thanks for the recipe. It was delicious and a keeper. I made a few changes to add extra veggies. I added 2 julienned carrots and a head of broccoli just after adding the onions. I also added nutmeg and paprika per another reviewer’s suggestion to bump up the flavor. Very tasty!
Great additions of veggies Karla! Glad you enjoyed it!
Will try anything containing artichokes, this didn’t disappoint. I haven’t used quinoa in years ( it used to be super bitter, had to be soaked, rinsed, soaked etc, it’s obviously processed differently now) but have really enjoyed your quinoa casseroles including this one. Fresh spinach is best but in a pinch I’ve used thawed frozen. I stir the parm into the casserole and sprinkle all the cheddar on top, just my preference.
We really liked this! Neither of us are vegetarian but try to eat several meatless meals a week. This one is a keeper! Tasty and nutritious. We ate it twice as is and on the third night added sauteed shrimp which only added to the deliciousness.
Will make again!
Yay! Glad you enjoyed this recipe so much. The addition of shrimp would be so yummy!
This was easy and very good! Will share this recipe over and over.
Thanks for the positive feedback!
This is an awesome recipe! Great crowd pleaser!
Awe thanks so much Lisa!
Can I substitute flour for cornstarch?
Yes just double the amount please.
I am new to cooking with artichoke hearts unless they are canned/jarred. Am I supposed to use raw artichokes? Please advise how to prepare the artichoke hearts. Thank you!
Canned or jarred.
The whole family loved this including the 2 year old grandson. So easy to put together and so delicious. I am adding chicken next time and making a one dish meal.
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the recipe! Chicken sounds wonderful!
This was a great recipe. In fact, I made it twice in one week! Took to a family with a medical emergency. Easy for them to heat and eat. Next time I will probably add some red pepper flakes or paprika (or both) for a little kick.
Happy to hear you enjoyed my quinoa casserole that much. Hope your family is doing OK and well wishes!
Could this be made with cauliflower rice?
Yes. If you saute it first for a few minutes to get rid of extra moisture. And then I would bake maybe for 15 mins.
Nice flavor but the spinach – quinoa ratio is off. I’d use probably four times the amount of spinach.
My family really loved this recipe. We substituted cooked millet for the quinoa, and organic cream cheese and feta cheese for the cheeses. We are trying to minimize or at least reduce lectins in our diet.
Hi, I have a question about the cheese. It says white cheddar (mozzarella) which are two different cheeses. Which is best with this recipe mozzarella or white cheddar? Thanks can’t wait to try this!
White Cheddar. I just like to give options in case people don’t have smth on hand.
Got it, thanks for the quick reply.
I am not a cook at all. This recipe is EASY, delicious and healthy. My favorite combination. My whole family loves this.
This dish was delicious!! And I have leftovers, which is always my goal. The only changes I did was put in extra cheese, and I used half mozzarella and pepper jack. Next time I will try the white cheddar. I also threw in some white beans, it will probably be just fine without them. Thank you so very much for your recipes, it would be wonderful if you published a recipe book, I know I would be first in line to purchase it. ?
Yay! One day I will do a cookbook for sure! Getting there. Thanks so much for your support!
Can this be made without the quinoa?
Having it as a side dish for Christmas day
No, that wouldn’t work.
I wonder how this would work with Sam’s Club’s spinach artichoke dip?
I don’t think it would because it’s a whole different story and recipe.
Im still trying to introduce quinoa to my hubby, could i replace the quinoa with rice?
Yes, use cooked rice (cook as per package instructions) and then skip cornstarch in the sauce because rice is starchy.
I think it would be bland but I modify everything with cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, so it was great! If you need more places to buy organic try vitacost.com
I made this for dinner and it was so delicious! I am rather new to eating artichoke hearts and it’s still hit and miss for me when I put it in a dish..this was a total hit 🙂 My husband and teenage son were also extremely happy with this meal and huge bonus..there is leftovers so I get a night off this week..lol Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!
You are welcome, Sonya!
It was a bit runny. I don’t usually add salt and pepper even when the recipe calls for them, but this one needed it.
I want to try this it looks delicious! However we have a dairy intolerance in the family and not a fan of feta, is it ok to exclude the cheese? Would any changes need to be made for that?
Hi Lauren. Cheese adds a lot of flavour and helps casserole stay together. There is no feta in this recipe but rather Parmesan and cheddar. You could try nutritional yeast instead which is available pretty much in any grocery store. Without any cheese casserole would be very bland.
Hello,
I just made this tonight and followed the recipe from my phone. The recipe states to stir until cheese melts but the picture looks like you cooked the mixture longer (long enough for the spinage to wilt). Mine went in the oven with out the spinage being all the way cooked. Probably a novice cooking error on my part but I thought you should know just in case you wanted to mention it in the recipe. Thanks! Hope mine turns out ok
Hi Jennifer. I know what you mean. It doesn’t matter that is why I didn’t state that. Spinach will wilt no matter what during baking in the oven. It is quite a delicate green that gets wilted pretty instantly.
This was delicious! My daughter has a cow’s milk allergy, so I substituted the cheese for goat’s milk gouda………my meat and potatoes boyfriend had seconds 🙂 Thanks so much for the recipe and for your wonderful blog!
You are very welcome.:)
I think I’m going to make this Saturday before I leave for Mexico! 🙂 My daughter will appreciate a casserole for her to nibble on. I’ll have to make it without the cheese though. I’ll let you know how it turns.
Heeeey.:) Try adding nutritional yeast or a bit of your almond ricotta if you have any?! Ah, Mexico…Have fun! I am not jealous at all. It is gonna be dreamy!
Hi Olena, thsnkyou for posting this recipe! Looks great, I will try it in a few days. I just wanted to say I love that you are responding to all these comments! Not everyone doest that and it’s great to get a reply if you have a question. Great job!
Hi Julia. You are welcome. I know what you mean. I myself left many comments on blogs which were unanswered which always blew my mind. A blogger is posting new recipes so obviously she/he can see my comment. Why not reply? I never understood and swore I won’t be like that. That is simply rude.
Could this be made several hours ahead and refrigerated before baking….maybe adding the cheese topping right before baking?
Totally. No, add it all at once. It will be fine.
Made this tonight for dinner. It was delicious! I used white cheddar and I felt it had a lot more flavor that mozz cheese would.
Yes, I agree about the cheese. Glad you enjoyed it!
Made this tonight and the husband and I loved it!! My boys on the other hand, not so much. They tried it but didn’t eat much. I used red quinoa and my boys like the white one. Next time I will use white. This is a big dish so next time I will have to cut the recipe in half, or freeze half of it. Definetly a keeper!
Hi Julieann. Yes, there is a difference in taste for kids. I don’t care but kids do, I know. Yep, it is big. That is how we eat, it is horrible. Mind you if both your boys ate it, you would have less leftovers. I have a 9 year old that eats like his dad. It is horrible LOL.
I haven’t eaten a lot of quinoa in my diet, let alone cook it. This recipe is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing because I’m always looking for good healthy recipes. Btw, I got my artichokes in water at whole foods. This is definitely staying in rotation!
Awesome! Yeah, whole foods is a long way from me. I never go there. I am used to rinsing Costco artichokes in oil under water now.
I’ve made this several times and I really love it! I do add some extra veggies — mushrooms, which I don’t think change the flavor, and red bell peppers, which adds some nice color. And I use feta cheese. Very tasty!
Awesome.
This is a great recipe. Make it often.
Glad you are enjoying. We love this casserole too.
Hi Denise. Would be great idea for your family to clean up their tastebuds by giving up processed foods. You will see the difference in health and taste. All the best!
Trader Joe’s has canned artichokes in water which are great… http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/483
Yes. True if you have Trader Joe’s.:)
I always find artichokes in water at Walmart and Winco. Your pot shows character! SOS pads for ‘sparkle plenty’ (depending on the material/coating of the post).
…”of the pot” not “of the post”…Ha, ha! I am excited to try this recipe! I will be using Tillamook Sharp White Cheddar.
Let me know how you like the recipe from my pot, Laurene.:)
Fantastic recipe as usual! Thank you
Welcome and thank you, Elizabeth!:)
This recipe is wonderful, and I love that it can be made in steps (get the quinoa cooked, come back to the dish to finish later, etc). I agree that cheddar would be the way to go, cheese-wise. The only addition I made was some cut up cooked chicken and perhaps a bit of extra spinach. This is going to make it in the regular rotation. Thank you again for a wonderful recipe!
When it comes to casseroles I use any cheese I have on hand.:) Considering I buy only organic it is always either, feta, mozzarella or cheddar. I don’t even know what gruyere tastes like.:)
I believe Gruyere cheese is an expensive version of Swiss cheese.
Maybe, I have never tried Gruyere, love Swiss. I wonder if it has more smokey flavour…I should just try it one day.
This dish is AMAZING! I make it all the time and it has become a go-to recipe! I must admit that I add a lot more cheese….but that’s just my cheese-loving preference…and I do add chicken 🙂 just a fun twist! Makes great left overs! Almost like a healthy Mac ‘n Cheese!
That works, whatever works. Protein and cheese would fit into most dinner meals.:)
Thanks for saying that! I was going to try this this weekend and was thinking I wanted to add some chicken! Did you just add cubes of pre-cooked chicken?
Yes, cubed or shredded pre-cooked chicken would be best.:)
Any chance you could use frozen spinach instead? i have some in my freezer so I’d rather use that. Maybe just thaw it out first?
Yes, for sure.
This was so delicious! The whole family ate and enjoyed it…which is a bonus when you have fussy toddlers and preschoolers! Thanks
Wow, awesome! I would never think kids would not mind artichokes and spinach…
Just delicious!! Everyone loved it so now I am scouring your blog for more recipes!!! Thanks!
Tried this last night! SUUUUUPER tasty 🙂
I use to cook some of my vegetables gratin with couscous semolina and they are generally great but to use quinoa appeals me as your casserole is probably less smooth thanks to quinoa. I’ll try this !
Yes, couscous will make casserole more mushy. Plus I can’t seem to find organic whole wheat couscous so I avoid it although I love the taste!
Thanks for the reminder. Haven’t had a quinoa casserole in ages. It looks delicious!
I made this for dinner, it was delicious. However, because of dairy intolerance I changed the cheese to feta. We also thought it could use more spinach. But great dish.
The recipe calls for white cheddar OR mozzarella cheese? Which is better?
I prefer cheddar for more flavour.
Soooo good! I added bullion to quinoa water and a dash of sherry to the sauce..amazing!
This looks fantastic! I love spinach+artichoke and what a great idea to combine them into a casserole.
I’ve never had a quinoa and cheese casserole before – this is such a BRILLIANT dinner idea!