More Quinoa! Red Quinoa with Butternut Squash, Dried Cranberries, Pumpkin Seeds, & Bacon

I had you at bacon, huh?

You must try this dish, even if the thought of quinoa and butternut squash sound questionable. If you eat this, you will be way more open minded about the two yummy foods.

This quinoa dish is a variation of a dish that I made on Thanksgiving, and it was a hit.

Leftovers the next day, right out of the fridge, were fabulous. Wow.

Red Quinoa with Butternut Squash, Dried Cranberries,  Pumpkin Seeds & Bacon

1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, and cubed (Target sells it already cubed FYI)

1 large red onion, sliced lengthwise into half moons

5 garlic cloves, skins on

1-inch piece ginger, peeled and finely chopped

3 tablespoons olive oil

coarse sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 cup red quinoa, rinsed in water

2 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup hulled pumpkin seeds

crumbled bacon, about 3 slices

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine butternut squash, onion, garlic, and ginger on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast until squash is tender, about 20 minutes.

Press garlic from skins. Mash with a knife or fork until a paste forms. Yum.

Meanwhile, combine quinoa with 2 cups broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until tender and most of water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.


Transfer quinoa to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, 2/3 of the crumbled bacon and mashed garlic. Carefully fold in roasted vegetables. Top with the rest of the bacon.

Quinoa for Breakast!

Welcome to my newest love, quinoa. A year ago I was very intimidated by the little seed. I barely knew how to pronounce it, let alone make it. I didn't even know what to make it with!

A year and several recipes later (and simply following the package directions), I am now smitten. Because of it's health benefits (check this link out to read how very good for you this amino acid rich this protein is), I will forever replace rice with quinoa. See, your possibilities just jumped!

Although I am a huge fan of savory dishes (I will hook you up with some savory quinoa dishes soon), I was wanting a filling and hearty breakfast the other morning. Usually this means bacon and eggs, but it was 30 degrees out and I wanted something more.


Enters quinoa. I threw this together (as I often do), but I know that you can make this your own with whatever you have around in the pantry.

You are going to love my measurements here, but I think you will get the idea.

Breakfast Quinoa

Quinoa cooked per package directions (check box for serving size)

a splash of milk (I used no fat milk, but vanilla almond milk would be yum)

a drizzle of agave nectar (or honey)

Dried cranberries

Nuts (I used a mixture from a trail mix I had on hand)

a dash of cinnamon

Now for you quinoa newbies, go try it!

Quinoa novices? I want to know how you eat your quinoa for breakfast!