This is one of those healthy recipes that is so ridiculously easy to prepare and delicious rolled into one. This Vegetable Parmesan Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, healthy, quick and easy.
This is what I like to call perfection in a slow cooker.
Do you love cooking with your slow cooker as much as I do? It just makes life so much easier, especially with these busy kids!
Because who doesn't love prepping for a meal in the morning and then coming home later to dinner all done? I have three busy kids who I am running around after school and most nights. Enter my slow cooker and my night is simplified!
Many of my recipes are vegetarian or some even vegan. That's mainly because many of you ask for lower calorie dishes (especially in January!) and I figured one easy way to cut calories to cut back on the meat.
Side note: I am not a huge meat eater. I do enjoy chicken and turkey though.
That means I am not a vegetarian, I totally get that and I never claimed to be one. But man, I get some really weird comments and emails sometimes.
One woman sent me a very long email explaining what a true vegetarian is and how dare I call myself one...
I realize that many of my readers are vegetarian or vegan, some might be trying to cut back on eating meat and others might be curious in trying new, meatless recipes. Whatever the reason is, I am happy you are here.
If you are looking for some other healthy dishes, try this Zucchini Ravioli, Eggplant Parmesan, Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup, Alfredo Spaghetti Squash and Easy Baked Ziti. Al of these would be even more tasty with some Spiked Apple Cider!
Why You Should Make This vegetable Parmesan Quinoa
All of the different textures in this dish blend together perfectly in this Vegetable Parmesan Quinoa. I also love that I used the slow cooker.
I need to use my slow cooker more. The first time I made this Vegetable Parmesan Quinoa I was shocked at how easy it is to cook quinoa in the slow cooker!
Also, go ahead and use whatever vegetables you'd like in this dish. Just be careful of the cooking time.
I've used sweet potatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, carrots...you name it!
The only exception would be a leafy green vegetable like spinach, kale, collard greens etc. I wouldn't add those until the last 20 minutes or so until they get slightly wilted, but are still brightly-colored green. This way no nutrients are lost in the cooking!
Recipe Tips
On those REALLY busy nights, I just might buy a bag of pre-cut broccoli and pre-chopped sun dried tomatoes. Whatever makes my life easier on those nights, I am taking advantage.
You can easily add some cooked shredded chicken or even some cooked chicken or turkey sausage to this dish. On busy weeknights, I just shred a rotisserie chicken and add it the already cooked quinoa.
One thing to know, there is enough protein without the meat. Sometimes you just need a little more. But yes, you can get all of your protein eating a plant-based diet.
You just have to be more prepared, that's all. But before you message me and complain, it absolutely can be done. You just have to do it the right way, that's all.
But before you ask me, I choose not to eat red meat or pork not for health reasons. I cook meat for my family all the time. It's all about texture for me. Even the more perfectly cooked steak or pork chop doesn't do it for me. And that's ok.
I am just a super picky eater. I think that's why I work with a lot of children. They relate to me because I totally get it.
I have come so far though since I was a picky little kid. I am still picky, just WAY healthier. But still picky nonetheless.
This recipe is a perfectly well-balanced, healthy, vegetarian dish. The quinoa and beans add enough protein to help keep you full and each serving has a generous helping of vegetables. And vitamins. And nutrients. You get my point.
Oh and it's pretty amazing. Man I love sun dried tomatoes...
Make your life easier and chop the vegetables the night before (if you didn't surge on the pre-chopped veggies!). This way, it will take you minutes to put everything in the slow cooker and dinner will be ready a few hours later. This is my kind of dinner!
Go ahead and sprinkle some extra Parmesan cheese on top. I always do. I actually love the big chunks of freshly shaved Parmesan!
Related Recipes
Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore from Creme de la Creme
Eggplant Parmesan from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Tomato Kale Quinoa Soup from Damn Delicious
Healthy Mexican Casserole from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
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Vegetable Parmesan Quinoa in the Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 cups quinoa rinsed and drained
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 small white beans rinsed and drained
- 1-2 cups broccoli florets chopped
- ½ cup sun dried tomatoes chopped (not in oil)
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large zucchini sliced
- 1 cup mushrooms wiped clean and sliced
- ½ teaspoon salt optional
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and fresh black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a 4 o 5 quart slow cooker, place quinoa and broth and top with remaining ingredients.
- Place on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6 hours.
- Fluff with a fork, top with Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper if desired. Serve immediately.
Marie
I know this post is from a while ago, but I was wondering about using a 3-quart slow cooker for this recipe. If I cut the ingredients in half, does it change the cooking time?? This is my first time using a crockpot. It looks really delicious and my boyfriend is a vegetarian so I plan on making this soon!
lauren.kelly
Hi Marie! It should be the same amount of time. I hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by!
Bill
Lauren,
Love the recipes. With that being said, do you know about how many cups 672 grams is? Our food scale broke and are in the process of getting a new one. Thanks for any help you can give.
lauren.kelly
Hi Bill! I am confused, what do you have that is 672 grams?
Bill
Lauren,
Sorry about that. The serving size says 672 grams.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 642 g
Amount Per Serving
I was just wondering if you knew approximately how many cups that would be?
Thanks again, love the meal.
Bill
Bill
Whoops....642grams. :-#
Crabby
This looks yummy, thanks for the recipe. And I'm pretty impressed with how nice your responses are to some of these know-it-all's.
lauren.kelly
🙂 Thank you! I hope you like it!!
Regina
Are leftovers tasty on reheat?
lauren.kelly
Absolutely Regina!
Wanda Lopez
Love slow cooker meals. I was looking for a good quinoa recipe. Thanks for sharing this recipe, looks delicious.
lauren.kelly
Thanks so much Wanda!
Vicky @ Avocado Pesto
Never knew you could make quinoa with other veggies in the slow cooker! Amazed that the consistency looks perfect after hours of cooking! Also not a huge meat eater so all for vegan and vegetarian meals : )
lauren.kelly
I'm not either and this is one of my favorites Vicky!
Christy Jordan
This looks amazing!
lauren.kelly
Thank you Christy!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
I love quinoa dishes! This one looks tasty!
Renee
Wow some people are just nasty like Tammy.. I mean this woman Lauren posted a pretty damn tasty recipe on here for others to enjoy and you want to correct her on what a vegetarian is... that's ridiculous... Plus if she eats chicken and not red meat than technically she is a 'POLLO VEGETARIAN' maybe you should look up your facts before you start cutting on people Tammy... didn't your mother teach you if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all???
Most importantly.. thank you for sharing this Lauren! Many websites charge for nutritious recipes like this one and then don't share the nutrition info. I can't wait to make this dish with all the parmesan cheese and pollo included! Have an awesome weekend!
lauren.kelly
Thanks so much Renee. I am my own type of picky eater, I never classify myself as anything BUT I just may start calling myself a POLLO VEGETARIAN! 😉 I really appreciate your support and I hope you like the recipe!
Amanda
This looks great, but FYI, Parmesan cheese is not vegetarian. This type of cheese is not suitable for vegetarians as it contains rennet, which is an enzyme found inside cow stomach. Vegetarians should choose a different type of cheese to substitute.
lauren.kelly
Yes Amanda, this is very true! Thanks for stopping by!
Tammy Dignan
This can be a wonderful dish, Quinoa is so healthy! And I love making things in the crock pot because it is easier.
It cannot be called a vegetarian dish if you put in chicken stock, however, it woud be vegetarian if you used the vegetarian stock.
I would also leave out the cheese and it would be a vegan dish!
Adding kale would be an excellent idea, everything is better with kale. 🙂
I did read your quote, "Side note: I am not a meat eater. I eat chicken on occasion."
If you eat chicken, you eat meat. Chicken is meat. Vegetarians eat no animals and fish and chickens are animals. Vegans do not eat or use any animals products, such as meat, dairy, eggs, leather, wool, etc.
lauren
Hi Tammy! I love quinoa so much too, it's so versatile. You are correct, this would not be considered vegetarian with chicken stock. I just gave chicken stock as an option for those who may not have vegetable stock (and who aren't vegetarians). And yes, I updated my quote to read "I am not a huge meat eater". I am not vegetarian, I do eat chicken on occasion. I also don't really label myself anything, I don't eat much cheese, no red meat or pork, no seafood…I am just a picky eater 🙂 Thank you for stopping by, I hope you like it!!
Maggie
This looks delicious! I'm just wondering how large a serving is, and what the nutrition facts are for each serving. Have you calculated that? Thank you! 🙂
lauren
Hi Maggie! I just added the nutrition information on the bottom of the page. I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Maggie
Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate it! 🙂
Lauren
Have you tried it without cheese? Would you make any substitutions or just leave the cheese out?
Wendy
Could you add kale or spinach to this? Thanks
lauren
Absolutely Wendy! I would stir in the raw spinach or kale at the end. Just keep stirring it in until it wilts. Thanks!
Lin
Your cooking times don't make sense. Both high and low calls for the same hours?
lauren
OOOPS! Thank you so much for catching that Lin, I revised it 🙂