These quinoa breakfast bowls are served with warm caramelized butternut squash, cinnamon quinoa and a dollop of yogurt. They’re SO delicious!
With the weather dipping into the negatives last week, I was craving warm and cozy breakfast bowls. By now you know of my obsession with eating quinoa for breakfast, so I decided to whip up a big batch of quinoa that I could enjoy for breakfast all week long.
And since I’m a sweets-for-breakfast kind of girl, I also wanted to cook up some fruit to serve with my quinoa. Only trouble? I didn’t have any fruit!
My solution…butternut squash. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it, but holy moly this quinoa breakfast bowl is INCREDIBLE!
Where to Buy Sprouted Grains
I'm one of those people that really enjoys grocery shopping, but the stores I shop at locally – Whole Foods and Fairway – aren't cheap. Especially for specialty ingredients like sprouted grains, superfood powders, flours, etc. That's where I turn to the internet.
One of my favorite places to shop for groceries online is Thrive Market. You have probably heard me talk about them before on my YouTube channel and on the blog, but it's because they have a huge variety to choose from and really great prices.
I've recently fallen in love with their Thrive Market branded products. Not only are these items even more cost-effective, but they also have some really unique products to choose from. For example, their line of sprouted grains and sprouted flours. Everything from sprouted quinoa, to popcorn and all sorts of sprouted flours.
And their prices are amazing! At least 25 – 50% below retail. **New members get an extra 25% off your first purchase by clicking here: https://thrivemarket.com/alyssarimmer**
How to Caramelize Butternut Squash
Before we dive into the quinoa breakfast bowls, we really need to talk about the star of the show…
caramelized butternut squash!
I know butternut squash might not feel like a classic breakfast ingredient, especially when it's sweet, but it's simply amazing. Butternut squash is one of the sweeter vegetables and pairs really well with warm spices like cinnamon.
We've caramelized other fruit on the blog before – like bananas and apples – so I used a similar method to that. Gave the squash a quick steam so it's nice and soft when you bite into them, and then we saute them with coconut oil and maple syrup. As the squash cooks, the sugar in the syrup starts to caramelize and it results in an insanely delicious treat.
I think this butternut squash is going to make even squash lovers become converts!
Quinoa Breakfast Bowls: What's Included
Now that you know what we're working with for the sweet factor, let's talk about what else is in our quinoa breakfast bowls!
To start, we're using the Thrive Market sprouted quinoa and I gotta say, I absolutely love it. It's nutty, it's fluffy and it's really fabulous mixed with some cinnamon.
Since I do love sweet breakfasts, we’re keeping things on the sweeter side while focusing on flavor. I like to combine cooked quinoa with some warm fruit and something tangy—it creates a nice balance of sweetness, texture, and flavor.
For these quinoa breakfast bowls, we’re cooking the quinoa with almond milk and cinnamon, which makes it creamy and nicely flavored. Then we’re adding some coconut yogurt and, of course, caramelized butternut squash!
A Perfectly Balanced Breakfast
Since this breakfast leans on the sweeter side, I like to think about how the different ingredients work together. Combining quinoa, squash, yogurt, and coconut oil creates a mix of flavors and textures that keeps things interesting.
For this bowl, we’ve got a few key components:
- Quinoa and squash add a soft, hearty base
- Yogurt brings a creamy, tangy contrast
- Coconut oil adds richness
Overall, this breakfast is flavorful and comforting. It might be a little unconventional, but once you try it, it’s a fun way to enjoy butternut squash in the morning.
I hope you give it a try! When you do, make sure to share with us on social so we can see your pictures 🙂
VIDEO: Caramelized Butternut Squash Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
More Quinoa Breakfast Bowls to Try:
- Strawberry & Peach Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
- Savory Pesto Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
- Quinoa Power Breakfast Bowls
- Mexican Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
Caramelized Butternut Squash & Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
Ingredients
for the quinoa:
- 1/2 cup Thrive Market Organic Sprouted Quinoa
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
for the butternut squash:
- 1 cup cubed butternut squash
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
for serving:
- 1/2 cup yogurt of choice (I like coconut)
- Coconut flakes
- Hemp seeds
Instructions
- Make the quinoa: add the quinoa, almond milk, and cinnamon into a small saucepan. Bring to a bowl, cover and reduce to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove lid, fluff with a fork and set aside.
- Make the squash: add the squash and 2 tablespoons of water into a skillet. Heat the water until it's steaming, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and add the coconut oil, syrup and cinnamon. Cook for another 5 minutes or so until the butternut squash is starting to caramelize.
- To serve: divide the quinoa evenly between two bowls. Top with 1/4 cup of yogurt and half of the butternut squash. Sprinkle with coconut flakes and hemp seeds and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
