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This easy, cheesy Veggie Fajita Quinoa Casserole is ready in just 45 minutes! And the leftovers are even MORE delicious the next day. Vegetarians and carnivores love this easy veggie casserole recipe!
Fajita Casserole
Hi and happy January! We’re barely a week into this new year and I’m already finding myself craving comfort food… HARD. So I have to ask… am I alone on this?
I know I should be preaching smoothies and salad, but I have to level with you, when it’s 10 degrees and hailing, cheese and carbs are the only thing saving my sanity. #hardcoldtruth
Today’s recipe is inspired by my wildly popular One-Pan Veggie Fajita Pasta. I took all those wonderful fajita flavors and turned it into this creamy, dreamy casserole. Each bite is wonderfully cheesy, loaded with fresh veggies, packed with protein, and naturally gluten free.
I sprinkled a little avocado, tomato, and cilantro on top for extra pizzazz. So, are you hungry yet?
Alright, so let the veggie fajita quinoa casserole chit chat begin! And don’t worry, nothing too fancy here. For this recipe you’ll need quinoa, olive oil, a slew of spices, red onion, bell peppers, crushed tomatoes, white beans, cilantro, shredded Colby-Jack cheese, avocado, and tomato.
↑ SO many fresh ingredients = SO MUCH FLAVOR.
I like to chop my peppers and onion into quarters before thinly slicing them so they’re nice and bite sized. But really… you can chop yours any way you’d like!
You’ll cook the onions and peppers in a fiery red sauce before combing all of the ingredients in a large bowl. It’s really simple and really delicious!
Let me tell you a few reasons why I’m SO crazy over this veggie fajita quinoa casserole:
- It’s extremely versatile! Serve it with a side salad, or a piece of steak, or scoop it into warm flour tortilla. Any way you serve it, you’re bound to fall in love.
- The leftovers are AMAZING. And they taste even better the next day. Packed lunch never tasted so good!
- There are so many ways to get creative! Seriously… what’s your favorite cheese? Use it instead of the Colby-Jack. Love black beans? Use them in place of the white beans. Looking for a heartier spin? Add grilled chicken or shrimp! The options are endless.
This recipe is already a favorite in our home… hope it becomes one in yours too! ♥
If you try this easy veggie casserole recipe, let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #bakerbynature on instagram! Seeing your kitchen creations makes my day.
Veggie Fajita Quinoa Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed chipotle chili flakes (add a little more if you like heat)
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
- 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
- 1 medium red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- (1) 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup canned white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1 and 1/2 cups Colby-Jack cheese, shredded
- Diced avocado, tomato, cilantro, and red onion, diced, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Lightly grease a 2 quart baking dish; set aside.
- In a large saucepan add 2 cups water and cook quinoa according to package instructions. Once fully cooked, transfer it to a large bowl and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium high heat. Stir in crushed chipotle chili flakes, chili powder, dried oregano, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Add in the red, orange, and yellow peppers and red onion, stir to combine and cook, stirring frequently, for 8 minutes. Add in the crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the white beans and remove from heat.
- Into the large bowl holding the quinoa add the pepper mixture, cilantro, and half of the cheese; stir well to combine.
- Spread the quinoa mixture into the prepared baking dish and evenly top with the remaining cheese. Place the pan into the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden, bubbly, and melted.
- Serve at once, garnished with avocado, tomato, cilantro, and red onion, if desired.
This was amazing! Made it with black beans but everything else the same. My toddler ate 3 servings. Thank you!
Wow you made this fast! So happy it was a hit, Candice 🙂
Great photos! My casseroles never look this good. Gotta try this over the weekend, although I might add some shrimp like you recommended.
Thank you, Gina! I bet it will be delicious with shrimp.
Very silly question, but I’m not exactly a great chef, how do you add shrimp?
On this do you drain the tomatoes?
Bo.
Hi Bo. No, I put the whole can of crushed tomatoes into the pan with the peppers, herbs, etc.
Wow…this looks absolutely delicious!
http://www.unnatisilks.com/
Thank you, Unnati!
It looks yummy. I would love to try this at home.
Thank you, Jessica! It makes a great weeknight meal – and the leftovers are delicious!
Just made this and everyone is raving! Delish! Thanks so much!
That is awesome, Shannon! So happy it was a hit 🙂
I bought the ingredients to make this for dinner next week! Do you think it could be assembled 1-2 days before to save time?
Can this be made as a freezer meal? Would you assemble, freeze, then cook at the same temperature?
Hi Jenny. That’s a great question. To be honest, I don’t see this freezing well, but I’ve never tried, so I can’t say for sure one way or the other. If you do try freezing it, I would say increase the bake time by at least 10 minutes (it may need up to 25 extra minutes), since it will take longer baking from a frozen form. I’d love to hear your results 🙂
This was absolutely delicious. I used Romano beans and a little bit of Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce. I will definitely be making this again. I had to use a 4 quart baking dish though as it would not all fit in a 2 quart.
Do you know the nutritional information on this recipe?
I’m counting calories!
Just made this tonight and it was SO good!
We put ours in whole wheat tortillas and they were super delicious!
Tried it with kidney beans and it turned out amazing! Thank you!
Yum yum yum! Made this tonight I don’t love spicy foods so I just nixed any spices I didn’t want, cooked, added sour cream and served with tortilla scoop chips! This will be a new staple in my home!
This looks great! I’m going to get ingredients tomorrow and make it on weds. What kind of white beans do you recommend?
I accidentally diced the peppers and the onion is they ok!!!
That should be fine, Katie 🙂
Loved it! My 17 and 18-year-old boys loved it as well. We are making it tonight but per my boys and husband, I am adding corn and black olives before I cook it and pico on top after:)
This was awesome…next time I will add bkack beabs instead of white and add kale. I did top it with half cherry tomatoes,cubed avocado and sliced Jalopenia peppers then drizzled lime juice over it.
Looks delicious!!! I’m doing my best to start eating healthier and this looks like something that is pretty clean, yet flavorful. Can’t wait to try!!!
We don’t like quinoa. Do you think this would work with brown rice?
I haven’t tried it myself, but a few readers have and have reported good results 🙂
This was sooo good! I’m allergic to quinoa so I substituted cauliflower rice and my kids and I just loved it! Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
I made this today and it was so good. I added broccoli and still tasted really good. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
This was awesome! I substituted fire roasted tomatoes and used leftover fajita veggies. It was super fast and easy! Thanks!
This dish is amazing. I have made it 3 times within the last few months and making it again tomorrow!
I was a little skeptical, but this was so yummy! I might add more heat next time as I found it quite mild. And I definitely recommend adding the avocado/tomato/red onion/cilantro on top. The avocado in particular takes the meal to the next level. Given the times were in, I have dubbed this my Quinoarantine Casserole. (You’re welcome.)
In love with this recipe! My husband said that I was beating a Mexican restaurant with this dish haha! Thanks for sharing this!
What high praise! Thank you!!!
I added corn and used fire roasted tomatoes to mine! So delicious! Will definitely be a new staple! Thank you!
This was delicious, even though I forgot the tomatoes and beans! Even my meat loving husband enjoyed, especially because I added chicken to his. I made mine with dairy free cheese that actually melts and added chick peas. I combined all ingredients once done and separated into two small casserole dishes to bake.
Silly question… Is the one cup quinoa one cupped cooked, or one cup prior to cooking?
This looks amazing,and can’t wait to try!
Not silly! One cup prior to cooking!
You mentioned “serve at once” at the end of your recipe. Is this not an ideal dish to prepare before going to a pot luck dinner? In other words, a meal that will be consumed an hour or two after it’s prepared?
If shrimp is added, at what point would you add them? Prepare them with the vegetables?
As usual, Ashley created another delicious dish! My boys are in the picky stage of things so my husband and I both enjoyed seconds. It was nice to try a meatless meal and to have something where I could come home from a long day of work and it didn’t take me a huge amount of time to prep or cook! *I also like that it’s on the healthier side of things as well. Thank you again! I can’t wait until your cookbook arrives in my mail! 🙂
I made this for the first time last night. Since it’s just my husband and I, I often worry when I make something with so many portions. There was no need to worry. My hard to please husband made the following comments “this is perfect the way it is”, “ please make this again”, and “yes this is company worthy”. I used soy cheese to keep it vegan and chick peas but will try it with black beans. I topped it with avocado, green onions and sour cream. The quinoa gave the texture of ground beef. I am looking forward to the leftovers today.
Great gluten free and vegetarian meal! Not too heavy and lots of flavor.