All the fresh flavors of a Caprese salad meet the comfort of a warm casserole in this Caprese Quinoa Bake. Tender quinoa, juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil, and gooey mozzarella come together in one oven-baked dish inspired by the classic Italian combination of tomato, cheese, and fresh herbs. It’s a colorful, satisfying option for a meatless dinner, an easy lunch, or a side dish to serve alongside grilled chicken.
Quinoa makes a hearty base for this recipe, offering a light, slightly nutty flavor that pairs naturally with sweet tomatoes and creamy cheese. Rinsing quinoa before cooking helps remove its natural bitter coating, so don’t skip that quick step if your quinoa hasn’t already been rinsed. Once cooked, the quinoa is combined with the other ingredients and transferred to a baking dish, where the flavors meld and the cheese melts into a golden, bubbling topping.
Fresh tomatoes bring moisture and brightness, while basil adds the unmistakable aroma that makes Caprese-inspired dishes so appealing. Mozzarella provides the creamy, stretchy texture, and a little olive oil helps bring everything together. For the best flavor, use ripe tomatoes and fresh basil when they’re available. Add the basil toward the end of preparation or reserve some for garnish to preserve its fresh herbal character.
A medium baking dish is a useful kitchen essential for this recipe, allowing the quinoa mixture to heat evenly and the mozzarella to melt across the top. Let the bake rest for a few minutes after it comes out of the oven so it can settle before serving. This makes it easier to scoop and helps keep each portion together.
Serve Caprese Quinoa Bake with a crisp green salad, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread for a complete meal. It also works well as a make-ahead lunch, since leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated for another serving. If you love the fresh combination of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil but want something more substantial than a salad, this warm quinoa bake is a simple, flavorful way to enjoy those familiar ingredients in a new form.
Serve this with some crusty French Bread, Cheesy Garlic Bread or homemade Ciabatta Bread. Add in a garden fresh salad and what a perfect meal. Check out these Tasty Quinoa Recipes to perfectly cook quinoa for every occasion. Healthy supergrains never tasted so good.
Print
Caprese Quinoa Bake
- Total Time: :25
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 cup of your favorite pasta sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella, divided
- 1/2–1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 large bunch fresh basil, cut into ribbons
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat tomato sauce and tomato paste over low heat in a large saucepan. Once warm, stir in heavy cream, parmesan, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and stir in the quinoa. Fold in half of the mozzarella and half of the tomatoes, then chop 6 fresh basil leaves and add them in too. Once combined, spray a baking dish with non-stick spray and pour the entire quinoa mixture into the dish. Top with fresh mozzarella rounds or shredded mozzarella and the remaining tomatoes.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes and then turn the broiler on and broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil ribbons. Allow to sit 5-10 minutes and then serve.
- Prep Time: :10
- Cook Time: :15
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Oven