A couple weeks ago I shared my Homemade Taco Seasoning, and today I’m sharing one of my favorite recipe using that seasoning: Tacos with black beans and quinoa!
I live with five hungry boys, and this recipe was born from a desire to cook a healthy dinner that wasn’t massively expensive. We buy organic, grassfed beef from a local farmer, and while it’s fantastic and I love it, it’s definitely not cheap. I also try to limit the amount of meat we consume, and have found that adding beans to a recipe is an easy, inexpensive way to bulk it up. On a whim I decided to mix some quinoa in as well, and I really loved how it turned out. The quinoa does a great job of mimicking the ground beef, so I’m able to get a much larger portion without adding a second pound of beef, and I honestly don’t think my kids even have a clue there’s quinoa in it.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup (dry) quinoa, cooked per instruction on package
- 2 15oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1.5 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (or 2 packets store bought seasoning)
- Water
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet and drain excess fat.
- Add cooked quinoa, black beans and taco seasoning.
- Add water (I add 1/2 cup to 1 cup. It doesn’t have to be exact), set heat to med-high and and cook for just a few minutes, stirring frequently. Decrease heat to med-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 20 minutes or up to 45 minutes. The longer you let it hang out the more the flavors come together.
- Add more water a little at a time as needed if it becomes too thick.
- I sometimes add a small diced onion when browning the meat.
- You can use two store bought taco seasoning packets in place of the homemade seasoning.
My kids like to eat this wrapped in soft taco shells, but I usually just eat it in a bowl topped with onion, tomato and avocado. Enjoy!
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Amy this looks so yummy! And healthy! My boys love black beans so I’m sure this will be a hit with them too 🙂 I’ve never cooked with quinoa but may have to give it a try… Especially now that my boys are eating as much as me!
Thank you Sydney! If you’ve never used quinoa, this is a good dish to start with. It has a pretty neutral flavor, and really just takes on the flavor of the taco meat/seasonings. My kids don’t even notice it’s in there 🙂
This looks like a great dinner. I have only tried quinoa once a long time ago and I didn’t like it but I think I would in this. Pinning to try.
Thanks so much AmieJo!! I think the quinoa really just tastes like taco meat in this recipe. If you try it I really hope you like it!!
Another winning recipe! Can’t wait to give this a try when I’m back on my feet 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!! Hope your surgery went well!! Thinking about you lady!!
I am going to try this Amy!! It looks soo delicious! I’ve tried quinoa twice now and don’t care for it but I WANT to like it because of its health benefits!! I love anything wrapped in a shell so I’m sure I’ll love this!
Thanks Kendra!! I really don’t think you can taste the quinoa in this, but I happen to like it so my taste buds might be different. If you try it, you could start with 1/2 the quinoa the recipe calls for and see what you think. My 13 yr old who had previously professed a serious dislike for quinoa inhaled this 🙂
I love this! Looks so yummers!
I’ve never tried quinoa but might just have to give it try with this taco recipe! Thanks for sharing it with us at the Teach Me Tuesday Linky Party:)
Thanks Adrian!!
I love black beans! Thanks for linking up. I’ve pinned your recipe to the Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesday pinterest board. We hope you’ll join us again for tomorrow’s party.
This looks so good! I am supposed to be eating Quino and more beans, this is a great idea. The next time my girlfriends and I get together for scrapbooking I am going to make this because we always do pot luck.