Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (2024)

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Ready for a simple, make-ahead breakfast that’s great for on-the-go? These Easy Quinoa Egg Bites are just the ticket to fuel you for the morning.

Love eggs? Got extras that need using? Be sure to check out our recipes for what to make with eggs.

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Over the last year or so, I’ve done something I never thought could happen. Lose over 20 pounds.

I know, right?

Amazing.

After years of trying a number of different fad diets, battling thyroid disease, and exercising until I was blue in the face, turns out the answer was in my kitchen.

Increasing my vegetable intake, drinking more water, and toning down my carbs late at night have all helped me get back to where I was prior to my thyroid freaking out. (It was hyper so the meds slowed everything down and I ended up gaining more weight than I ever had in my life.)

One of the strategies I used to keep to my nutrition system was to make sure that I had a hearty, protein-filled breakfast every morning. I alternated betweenGreek Yogurt With Muesli,Skillet-Poached Eggs, and these Easy Quinoa Egg Bites.

Get Meal Plan 7This recipe is featured in Good Cheap Eats Meal Plan 7. Get the free 3-day meal plan, all the budget-friendly recipes, tips for what to do with leftovers, and the customizable printable grocery list.

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites

These miniature egg casseroles feature quinoa, eggs, veggies, and cheese. They are a delicious for meal prep and a great way to use up little bits of odds and ends you’ve got in the fridge.

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (3)

What is Quinoa?

I first heard about quinoa in 2003, long before it was cool. I lived in a rural California community. While we didn’t have a Starbucks, I did have a circle of friends who ground their own wheat and prepared “qwi-noah”.

We didn’t know it was pronounced, keen-wah. What can I say?

I didn’t like it for a long time, but over the last decade and half, quinoa has grown on me.

In case you didn’t know, quinoa is a pseudo-cereal that’s got a fair amount of protein in it. It was considered the “mother grain” by the Incas and is still an important food in South American cooking. Containing all eight essential amino acids, it’s considered a super-food/complete protein.

Besides that illustrious back story, it’s tasty in egg dishes, soups, salads, and chilies as well as a hearty side dish.

After you’ve made these Quinoa Egg Bites, be sure to make these yummy things:

  • Quinoa Chili with Three Chiles
  • Quinoa Salad to Make You Swoon
  • Quinoa Vegetable Salad
  • Easy Chicken Quinoa Bowl
  • Quinoa Pilaf

For best results, buy quinoa that’s been pre-rinsed. Rinsing is required to remove bitterness from the grain. Buying it pre-washed, saves you the hassle.

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (4)

Can you use different fillings in this recipe?

Yes! Besides being amazingly addictive, this recipe’s versatility game is strong. Feel free to mix up the cheese, vegetables, and onions with whatever you have on hand.

Consider these flavor combinations:

  • ham, swiss, and kale
  • feta, spinach, and tomato
  • bacon, goat cheese, and bell pepper

Can you freeze quinoa egg bites?

Yes! I love to make a big batch of these and stash them away in the freezer. Prepare the recipe and allow the bites to cool completely. Wrap, label, and chill in the refrigerator until very cold before storing in the freezer.

To serve: reheat in the microwave or allow to thaw in the refrigerator to eat cold or at room temperature.

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (5)

How to Make Quinoa Egg Bites

This is a super simple recipe that allows you to use up leftover cooked quinoa as well as whatever veggies, meat, and cheese you have on hand.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350.
  2. Assemble your ingredients so you don’t forget anything. Cook, slice, or shred whatever needs prepping.
  3. Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper
  4. Add the mix-ins. Stir well to combine.
  5. Scoop the mixture into mini muffin pans. If you use USA pans, you won’t need to spray the pan. If using other baking dishes, be sure to grease it well.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove to a rack or platter and serve.

How can I make this recipe economically?

This recipe isn’t expensive to make, even from scratch. However, there are things that you can do to make your sweet treat even better.

  • Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale.When you see a good price on quinoa, stock up and stash for later.
  • Use up leftovers. This is a great recipe for using up whatever you have left from dinner: obviously quinoa, but also shredded or crumbled cheeses, chopped onion, and cooked veggies and meat.

How Imake this recipe easily:

This recipe really couldn’t be easier than it is, but having the right kitchen tools can really make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. Over time, I’ve honed my collection so that they are perfect for my needs.

Here are the tools that I use for this recipe:

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (6)

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (7)If you prepare this recipe, be sure to share a picture on social media and hashtag it #GOODCHEAPEATS. I can't wait to see what you cook up!

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (8)

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites

Ready for a simple, make-ahead breakfast that's great for on-the-go? These Easy Quinoa Egg Bites are just the ticket to fuel you for the morning.

4.87 from 22 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 24

Calories: 38kcal

Author: Jessica Fisher

Ingredients

  • 4 egg
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • ¾ cup cooked quinoa
  • 1 head broccoli cut into small florets, 1 ¼ cup
  • 4 oz cheddar cheese (shredded) (1 cup)
  • 1 green onion chopped

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350. If using a muffin pan that needs greasing, spray it with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Assemble your ingredients so you don't forget anything. Cook, slice, or shred whatever needs prepping.

  • Beat the eggs in a large mixing bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the mix-ins. Stir well to combine.

  • Scoop the mixture into mini muffin pans. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove to a rack or platter and serve.

Notes

To freeze: allow the bites to cool completely. Wrap, label, and chill in the refrigerator until very cold before storing in the freezer.

To serve: reheat in the microwave or allow to thaw in the refrigerator to eat cold or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 121IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (9)
Easy Quinoa Egg Bites - Good Cheap Eats Budget Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why are my egg bites soggy? ›

Why are my egg bites soggy? If your egg bites are wet, they are either undercooked, no cornstarch was added, or you may have included too many vegetables. Consider sauteeing veggie add-ins beforehand in order to release excess moisture.

What can I add to quinoa to make it taste good? ›

Serving suggestions: I love to stir a drizzle of olive oil and clove of garlic into warm quinoa for extra flavor. Other options include chopped fresh spinach or arugula, or massaged kale. Fresh herbs and/or dried spices are nice, as well as grated or crumbled cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pitted and sliced olives, etc.

What's the best way to eat quinoa? ›

Once you've made a batch of quinoa, you have endless options for using it. Make it the base of your next grain bowl, toss it into a salad, or stuff it into squash or sweet potatoes. It's also at home in soups & wraps, and it pairs nicely with sweet flavors as well as savory.

Do you season quinoa before or after cooking? ›

Spices: I've talked about this before when I shared must-have spices for flavorful cooking, but spices are one of the easiest ways to add flavor to your dish. Think about what flavor profile you're going for and then just add a few dashes of those spices directly into the pot with the quinoa as it cooks!

Why do you put cornstarch on egg bites? ›

Cornstarch: It binds the proteins together and absorbs the excess moisture from the veggies. Cornstarch also helps keep the custard in the egg bites from curdling and ensures you end up with a silky smooth texture! Kosher salt: You'll want to play around with the amount of kosher salt depending on the mix-ins you add.

How do I get my egg bites not to stick? ›

Use a nonstick muffin tin.

These egg bites love to stick to the pan, so make sure your muffin tin is nonstick. If you don't have a nonstick pan, a good alternative is a silicone mold. It'll allow you to easily to pop out the egg bites!

What happens if you don't soak quinoa? ›

Do you need to soak quinoa before cooking it? In short, no, you don't need to soak quinoa. However, doing so is said to remove phytic acid, which may make it easier for people to digest quinoa. If you just want to remove the bitter flavor from quinoa, rinse it under cold water for about a minute.

What liquid to cook quinoa in? ›

The basic ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid. You can use water (season it with a bit of kosher salt), or you can use any kind of broth (we like to use low-sodium broths and add any extra salt to the finished dish as needed). You can also add a bit of dry white wine to the liquid for another layer of flavor.

What's better rice or quinoa? ›

Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

How does quinoa burn belly fat? ›

How Quinoa Helps In Weight Loss? Rich dietary fibre and protein increase metabolism, and that makes quinoa good for weight loss. Cooked Quinoa contains five grams of dietary fibre per cup. Eating high fibre foods is often the missing piece when a person is trying to shed weight.

Is it OK to eat quinoa everyday? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

What does quinoa do to your gut? ›

Studies suggest quinoa may improve gut health by enhancing the diversity of beneficial gut bacteria and reducing the inflammatory symptoms of conditions like colitis. Acting as a prebiotic, quinoa supplies the fuel for beneficial gut bacteria, allowing them to thrive.

What can I mix with quinoa? ›

13 Ways To Add More Flavor To Quinoa
  1. Cook it in broth instead of water. ...
  2. Dress it with a vinaigrette. ...
  3. Mix cooked quinoa with caramelized onions. ...
  4. Infuse it with dried fruit and fruit scraps. ...
  5. Add oil and salt to cooked quinoa. ...
  6. Toast uncooked quinoa. ...
  7. Don't skimp on the garlic. ...
  8. Season your water with spices.
Jul 21, 2023

What to eat with quinoa? ›

Quinoa's got the carbs covered, so you'll likely want to add some additional protein (eggs, lentils, beans, tofu, chicken), a fat (olive oil, nuts, butter, cheese), and, ideally, some kind of fruit or vegetable (broccoli, berries, squash, spinach).

How do you activate quinoa? ›

Activate the quinoa by soaking overnight in cold water. The next day, drain and rinse the quinoa through a fine sieve (the grains are so small that they will wash through a coarse one).

Why won't my eggs get fluffy? ›

Any yolk (or other fat, oil, or grease) that makes its way into the whites will keep the whites from whipping up as big and fluffy as possible. When separating more than a few eggs, consider using the three-bowl method: one bowl to crack the egg into, one to put the whites in, and one to put the yolks in.

Why is my egg salad wet? ›

What Makes Egg Salad Watery? Every ingredient that goes into egg salad has water in it. Salt and sugar in the dressing draw the water out of the ingredients as they sit, and they make your egg salad watery regardless of whether it's in the fridge or in a sandwich.

How do you know if you overbeat eggs? ›

Over-beating

It's possible to take it too far. After the stiff peak stage, egg whites will start to look grainy and dull. They will eventually collapse back on themselves. Whipped cream will also get grainy and will start to separate into fat and liquid.

What do overbeat eggs look like? ›

Overbeaten. The earliest signs of overbeating are little granules on the side of the bowl (as noted in this photo) and decreased volume. After that, the whole mixture looks dry and curdled. If it's really overbeaten, the structure of the egg whites will break and liquid will weep out.

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