Tonight we’re revamping an old recipe from 2010 for this month’s 31 Days of Skillet Dinners series. It’s p.a.c.k.e.d. full of protein and will fill up the bottomless pits that show up at your dinner table every night. Beef + beans + quinoa = protein-town!
(My older 2 boys must be going through growth spurts…because boy can they eat! It’s a good thing that I know how to cook on a budget because when they are teenagers…….)
We all loved this one, including my bean averse oldest. He politely moved them to the side, while Cuatro shoveled the beans on his plate right into his mouth. It sure would be easier if all the kids would just eat all the food. (We can dream, right!) Overall, we all loved this one!
Alrighty…another photo rundown for you. Hope this helps you ‘see’ how this comes together so quickly and easily!
Brown the beef.
With some onion and garlic.
Add in the tomatoes, undrained. They will sizzle, as you can see.
Add the green chilies.
And the black beans. I like to rinse mine, but you don’t have to.
Mix it all up.
Add the quinoa.
And some water.
Or broth. Beef or chicken. Whatever you have on hand. I know you have water on hand, so just use that!
Stir to submerge the quinoa.
Stir in that flavor.
Smoky, spicy flavor.
Cover. Simmer.
Stir it once, but do it quickly. You don’t want too much liquid to escape.
Fluff and serve with some shredded cheese on top. Cotija cheese would also be good. So would some sour cream. Anything creamy to help balance the powerful flavors and protein.
Buen provecho!
Tex Mex Beef & Quinoa Skillet
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 15 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed (Or learn how to cook your own beans here.)
- 4 oz. can chopped chilies
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 1/2 cup water or broth
- 1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded Jack or cheddar cheese
- Fresh veggies, as side dish
Directions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion. Drain and return to the skillet.
- Rinse quinoa in sieve/colander.
- Add tomatoes, black beans, green chilies, quinoa, water and spices to ground beef mixture. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender.
- Prepare fresh veggies.
- Serve Tex Mex Beef & Quinoa Skillet with a little shredded cheese on each serving and a side of veggies.
See all of the 31 Days of Skillet Dinner Recipes here!
Monna says
My family hates quinoa. I’m assuming rice could be a good substitute.
Katharine Zasa says
This one skillet meal was a great big hit for our family of five tonight. Thank you so much.
Sarah says
I really enjoyed this meal. My eight year old son LOVED it! My husband would prefer I don’t make it again… He never had quinoa before and didn’t care for it. I am determined to keep making things with quinoa now and again until he gets used to it! i loved how quick and easy it was! Thank you!
Sarah says
Oh, and until this dish, my son said he did not like black beans….after this dish , he now loves them!