This easy pesto asparagus quinoa recipe is one of our favorite dinners and takes hardly any work on your part, which is pretty much awesome.
This may not be a St. Patrick’s Day recipe, but it does have green in it! And, I hear you all loud and clear, everyone wants a yummy, secretly healthier but totally easy casserole lately. Casseroles have been going bonkers on my site and I’m actually a little glad because we made this yumminess a few nights ago and it might just be our new favorite dinner. Like, out of all of them. I mean, maybe not all of them because we still loooove this teriyaki chicken casserole, but this easy pesto asparagus quinoa recipe is dang easy, dang delicious and the dang kids ate it without a single disappointed look.
Actually, our oldest is so good about eating whatever we offer, but the little one has decided to go back to being picky. I want to bang my head against the wall. It’s annoying. I know, some of you out there could probably care less, but I seriously had no idea just how lame dinnertime could be with a picky eater.
Have I mentioned that I was a really picky eater and totally deserve this by the way? And you’d be right in guessing that I’ve called my mom and apologized multiple times. The thing is, she’s not horribly picky.
There are certain things she will eat and love that other kids don’t like, spinach, actually any lettuce, pork, rice, etc. But then there are also totally normal things she doesn’t want, pasta, potatoes, cheese (unless it’s on a pepperoni pizza and I kid you not, she wont eat cheese pizza) and yogurt. I mean, seriously kid.
We are still sticking to our rules about picky eating but she is definitely pulling out all of her own tricks like bawling, and running to cry on the stairs. It’s super fun. I just looooooooove not enjoying food. Love. It. If you can’t tell, I’m being sarcastic. Stinking picky eaters. I can’t wait until she has her own picky eater. It’s karma, yo. I certainly deserved it. 😉
What Is Quinoa?
Quinoa is a flowering plant with edible seeds.
Quinoa is gluten-free, high in protein and one of the few plant foods that contain all nine essential amino acids.
It is also high in fiber, magnesium, B vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E and various beneficial antioxidants.
Quinoa is often used as an alternative to rice.
Is Asparagus a Weed?
Asparagus is a perennial flowering plant.
Its young shoots are used as a spring vegetable.
It is often found growing wild along ditch banks.
Is Asparagus Good For You?
Asparagus is loaded with nutrients.
It is a good source of fiber, folate, vitamins A, C, E and K.
It also contains a mineral that helps control blood sugar.
Easy Pesto Asparagus Quinoa
Easy Pesto Asparagus Quinoa Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 Cups Vegetable Broth
- 1 Cup [Pesto]
- 1 1/2 cups Grape tomatoes
- 2 cups Asparagus trimmed and chopped into 1-2" pieces
- Olive Oil
- Sea Salt
- Mozzarella Cheese Shredded, about 1 cup
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa with the vegetable broth according to package directions (so use broth instead of water).
- Fluff and set aside.
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the tomatoes and asparagus on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and sea salt.
- Roast for 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your veggies.
- Remove from the oven and toss with the quinoa and pesto.
- Sprinkle the top with cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is browning and melted.
Notes
Nutrition
Hello, Has anyone frozen this dish? How does it turn out? How do you re-heat?
It’s a little tricky to freeze because of the cheese and asparagus. 🙁
I’m not sure I would tote this as healthy! I calculated the calories and if you were to divide it into 4 the calories are 600 per serving. That’s A LOT of calories, especially if you have anything else with it. Cut the pesto by 1/4, do not use oil, cut the cheese by at least half then maybe you can call it healthy. Pesto, oils, and cheeses are really caloric dense! A little goes a long way.
Help! I started making this and have the quinoa on the stove and the veggies in the oven, but turns out the pesto I thought I had is all gone! What can I substitute?
Hi Rebecca, I’m so sorry I was unable to get online yesterday and missed this. You really can use so many things like just sun dried tomatoes and their olive oil, seasoning and olive oil, you can make a cream sauce with just butter, flour, milk and seasoning of choice, the possibilities are endless! Just think of the quinoa like pasta and you can do anything, even just plain old butter. 🙂
Thinking of adding shredded chicken to this dish. Has anyone tried that?
We do and love it!
How do you make your pesto?
HI Patty! This is our favorite recipe, http://www.ohsweetbasil.com/2013/09/classic-pesto-recipe-and-how-to-store-pesto.html
Great recipe!!! Yes to cooking asparagus much less than 45 minutes…10 works for me- going lighter on the cheese eases up some calories & still leaves it tasting great!!
Roasting those veggies for 45 minutes is way too long. I roasted mine for 20 minutes and actually that was too long. I usually roast mine for about 5 minutes. The dish is good, but I can’t imagine that it would be if you burned the vegetables.
Hi Linda,
At what temperature do you roast? Mine aren’t ever cooked at 5 minutes, but I’m always happy to keep trying new ways. 🙂
Is 45 minutes too long to roast the asparagus? It usually only takes about five minutes to roast them. Are they supposed to be overcooked
?
well, mine are a tad chunky so maybe the skinny ones could be half the time.
This looks absolutely amazing, it would be the perfect dish to use up any left over vegetables in the bottom of your fridge at the end of the week too. I hope your little one gets out of the picky eating phase soon!
Your post made me laugh. I remember those days. It does get better! Your casserole looks so cheesy and comforting! Thanks for sharing it with us.
This looks so good and that ooey gooey cheese is calling my name!!!
I stinking love that cheese! Glad you are with me!
What a great combination, great dish!
Thank you Cheri!
What a fantastic, comforting dinner!
Thanks Girl!
Sounds wonderful! I love all that melty cheese on top.
Thanks Norma!!
Love this! My kids are pretty good eaters, though my oldest is starting to ignore meat anytime I put it on his plate! oh boy. This sounds fantastic! Adding it to my menu plan for the next few weeks! YUM!
Why do they do that?! And meat is my favorite part!
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Yum….this looks so easy, healthy and totally delicious!
Thanks Kelli! Trying to keep it as yummy as your recipes!
This sounds so dreamy!!
Oh wow this quinoa recipe is amazing. I can’t wait to try it out.