Baked Cheddar Quinoa Bites (Printable)

Golden cheddar and quinoa bites with veggies, baked to a crispy finish for tasty snacking.

# Components:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled

→ Dairy

02 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
03 - 2 large eggs

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

04 - ½ cup finely chopped baby spinach
05 - ¼ cup finely diced red bell pepper
06 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
07 - 1 clove garlic, minced

→ Pantry & Seasonings

08 - 2 tablespoons gluten-free breadcrumbs
09 - ½ teaspoon salt
10 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
12 - ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a mini muffin tin or line with paper liners.
02 - In a large bowl, mix quinoa, cheddar, eggs, spinach, red bell pepper, green onions, and garlic until evenly incorporated.
03 - Stir in breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, oregano, and smoked paprika until fully combined.
04 - Spoon mixture into muffin tin cups, gently pressing to compact evenly.
05 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and set.
06 - Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like cheesy comfort food but pack enough protein to actually keep you full between meals.
  • You can make a batch on Sunday and have grab and go snacks that dont require reheating or guilt.
  • Theyre so simple that even on a chaotic weeknight, you can have them in the oven in under ten minutes.
02 -
  • If your quinoa is even slightly warm when you add the eggs, youll end up with scrambled egg bits instead of a smooth batter.
  • Pressing the mixture firmly into the cups is the difference between bites that hold together and ones that crumble into sad little piles.
  • Greasing the tin is non negotiable, I learned this the hard way when I had to chisel out half the batch with a butter knife.
03 -
  • Use a small cookie scoop to fill the muffin cups evenly, it saves time and makes them look bakery perfect.
  • If you dont have a mini muffin tin, you can bake these in a regular muffin tin for about 30 minutes, just know theyll be thicker and less crispy.
  • Add a sprinkle of extra cheese on top before baking for a golden, bubbly crust that makes them look even more irresistible.
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