Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa With Sun Dried Tomatoes

ByCarrie Ypma
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Whether you’re keen on quinoa or trying it for the first time, this recipe for Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes is one you’ll love.

If you’re looking for a food with super powers, I’ve found your answer! This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes is packed with goodness to enhance your nutritional intake. 

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes

How to Make Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Nowadays a quick search on the internet for “quinoa recipes” will give you millions of results. Nevertheless, it’s always fun to experiment with this super grain. I enjoy combining it with different vegetables, sauces and flavors to see what new tasty concoctions result. I recently made a big batch of quinoa in my rice cooker, then added onion, garlic, parmesan and spices. I threw in some sun dried tomatoes to create a new delicious recipe you can enjoy as your main course or as a side dish — Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes!

What you need:

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Kitchen Tools Needed:

Ingredients Needed:

Here’s what you’ll need from the store. The exact amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

My friend, Liz, introduced me to quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) for the first time a few years ago. I could hardly believe when she told me how many health benefits there are in such a tiny little grain. In the Forbes article, 7 Benefits of Quinoa: The Supergrain of the Future, Julie Wilcox shares how quinoa includes all nine essential amino acids, is high in protein and contains almost twice as much fiber as other grains. She also mentions quinoa has iron, lysine, magnesium and anti-oxidants. If you haven’t tried quinoa yet, you really ought to add this nutrient rich grain into your diet. 

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes - Kenarry.com
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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Whether you're keen on quinoa or trying it for the first time, this recipe for Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes is one you'll love.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: garlic parmesan quinoa, quinoa
Servings: 8
Calories: 249kcal
Author: Carrie Ypma

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked quinoa
  • 3/4 cup of grated parmesan
  • 1 Medium Onion chopped
  • 3.5 oz packet of sun dried tomatoes cut into julienne strips approximately 1 cup
  • 3 teaspoons Minced Garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon Flour
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 1 1/2 cups of milk

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
  • Add onion and garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onion starts to turn clear.
  • Stir in flour.
  • Slowly add milk and parmesan.
  • Lower the heat and stir continuously until the sauce starts to thicken.
  • Mix in salt, pepper and italian seasoning.
  • Add the pre-cooked quinoa and stir until it’s well coated. Heat thoroughly for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Last add the sun dried tomatoes and continue to cook for a few more minutes.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

To make 4 cups of cooked quinoa in a rice cooker, use 1 1/3 cups of rinsed uncooked quinoa and 2 2/3 cups of water.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 371mg | Potassium: 687mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 198mg | Iron: 3mg
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Serving Suggestions for Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes has enough protein and essential nutrients it can be enjoyed as your main course. You could add slow cooker shredded chicken for a protein packed dinner. We served it as a side dish with dill tilapia. (Sprinkle the tilapia with salt, pepper, garlic and dill. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.) You could also serve it alongside grilled steak or chicken and your favorite steamed vegetable or salad.

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes - Kenarry.com

What are your favorite ways to enjoy quinoa? Please comment below and include links to the recipes. We’re always looking for new quinoa ideas.

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What’s Next?

While you’re here, be sure to check out these other delicious side dish recipes on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry® –

Originally published March 2014. Updated May 2020.

Carrie is the chief writer, crafter and creator here at Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®. She's an optimist by nature and enjoys sharing recipes, trying new craft ideas, planning for parties and events as well as organizing and decorating. She and her husband, Kent live in Michigan. She also loves to hide away in a castle under the stairs reading to her two young boys and help guests plan vacations at Sunshine Villa at Glenbrook Resort, their short term vacation rental home in Orlando near Walt Disney World.

Whether you’re cooking, crafting or creating for your family, follow Carrie on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get inspiring ideas for your home. For home organization tips and ideas, check out her other website, Clutter Keeper or follow her on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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37 Comments

  1. I’m not generally a big fan of sun-dried tomatoes, but this sounds really good balanced against the Parmesan. Like you, I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate quinoa, etc. 🙂 [#TastyTuesdays]

    Reply

    1. Thanks for stopping by, Chris! My husband isn’t a big fan of sun dried tomatoes either. You could cut the quantity in half or omit them altogether. If you still wanted a little color, I bet red pepper or grape tomatoes cut in half would be a delicious replacement. You could sauté red pepper when you do the onion. If you’re using grape tomatoes, I’d add them at the very end. Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. G’day! Looks very healthy indeed!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Viewed as part of Lamberts Lately Create It Thursday #48 Party

    Reply

  4. I’ve just discovered quinoa recently, and have only been making into salads. I like the approach here, to make as a warm side, and adding parmesan and garlic sounds great. Will give this one a try. (#bestoftheweekendparty)

    Reply

  7. This looks so good! My fiancé always makes a face when I suggest quinoa, but I think he’d be willing to try this.

    Reply

    1. Great! Meal planning for company can be challenging as it is. Glad this recipe can help make it easier for you the next time your brother comes to visit.

      Reply

  9. This looks fabulous!!
    The only thing about quinoa is that we (westerners)are eating so much that we are pulling it away from the food supply of the people who have eaten it for centuries and they are going without. I need to look into this more….but it really gave me pause when I first heard about it.

    Thanks for sharing at Project Inspired!!!

    Reply

  10. This is great. I like that this is more of a sauce than just a seasoning you add while the quinoa is cooking. I have plenty of quinoa in my pantry but tend to forget about it most of the time. I need to start adding it to the meal rotation again and try your version soon. Thanks for sharing this with us at the Let’s Get Real Friday Link Party. It’s always great to have you link up with us.

    Reply

    1. Nicky, you can actually make a big batch of quinoa at the same time and save it in the refrigerator to use for a few different recipes over the course of a week. That’s what I did. I made it early in the week for Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers. Then I created this Creamy Garlic and Parmesan Quinoa using the extra quinoa. It worked great!

      Reply

  11. Hi Carrie! I’m stopping in from Let’s Get Real today. I was excited to see a creamy quinoa recipe. That is something new for me. I find quinoa very filling so this certainly could be either a main dish or side. Garlic and parmesan…………..how can you go wrong? I grate my own parmesan and it is so good that I look for lots of things to put it on. This certainly will be a new favorite.

    Reply

  12. We made this last night, it was so easy with the rice cooker! I added julienned spinach to give our plates some green. Delicious.

    Reply

    1. What a great idea to add spinach, Liz. Did you add it when you put in the sun dried tomatoes? Or did you steam it with the quinoa when you made it in the rice cooker. Either way, glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  13. This recipe got my attention. I love garlic. I love parmesan. I love quinoa. And I love sun dried tomatoes. What a great combination. I will have to try this soon! Thanks for sharing at Saturday Dishes.

    Reply
  14. Pingback: Mexican & Tex-Mex Recipes at Saturday Dishes - Coffee With Us 3

  15. Wow! This looks like it is packed with flavor! Yummy. I’d love for you to share this at my Creative Ways Link Party this week. It goes live on Wednesday at 8pm central. Hope to see you there!
    Blessings,
    Nici

    Reply

  17. It looks delicious! It’s just like a Quinoa Risotto! Love it! 🙂 Found you at the FoodieFridays link party!

    Reply

    1. Hi Giovanna, I’ve never made risotto. Do you have any great recipes you’d recommend? So glad you found us at FoodieFridays and took time to come visit. Thanks!

      Reply

      1. No worries, happy to have found you! I have a go to basic Risotto recipe.. I’ll write a post and send you the link for it 🙂

        Reply

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