One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa with Spinach + Chickpeas
This easy Mediterranean Quinoa recipe is made in just one pot and is packed with flavor! It's great for leftovers and is a perfect recipe to add into your weekly meal prep rotation too!
There's nothing worse than sitting down after a long day to a wonderful meal you just cooked, only to realize that your work isn't done yet. DISHES.
Honestly, one of least favorite tasks in the world. Luckily I have this great guy named Matt who lets me cook up a storm and then cleans up after me. I think we all need a Matt.
But even Matt gets tired and doesn't feel like cleaning up my tornado of dinner dishes every night. He'll begrudgingly wash while complaining under his breath that I'm a messy cook. Fair enough. Which is why when we whip up meals that only require one pot, like this mediterranean quinoa, Matt's a happy camper.
This one-pot meal has it all. Healthy fats, dark leafy greens, filling fiber, plant-based protein and TONS of great flavor.
It starts by simply sautéing some garlic, shallots and red pepper flakes in a teeny bit of olive oil. Then you add in your spices, some white quinoa, some olives and some chopped sun dried tomatoes and then you just leave the whole thing to cook for about 20 minutes. When its' done, the quinoa will be fluffy, the pot will be fragrant and you'll just stir in your spinach and chickpeas.
AND DONE.
Not only is this dish colorful and vibrant, it's one of those “salads” that gets better with age. That sounds strange, but I actually found that the longer this sat and marinated, the more pronounced the flavor.
Here's what we did:
I tested the recipe at home during the day. Tasted it a few times as I was plating it for pictures, but put the rest of it away to save for dinner that night. I put it in one of my glass food storage containers (I have these), then pulled it out for dinner and served it cold over some greens and shredded cabbage. It was delish! The olives make it a little briny, while the tomatoes give it some sweetness and the red pepper flakes just a touch of heat. It's balanced in both flavor and texture too.
Not to mention, it's the perfect meal to make when you really don't feel like doing the dishes 😉
More One-Pot Meals
- One-Pot Lentils + Quinoa with Spinach
- One-Pot Root Vegetable + Lentil Quinoa Stew
- One-Pot Italian Quinoa with Tomatoes & Basil
- One Pot Moroccan Lentils + Quinoa
- One Pot Spring Pesto Pasta with Peas & Asparagus
One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa with Spinach + Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 small shallot minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1 cup sliced green olives
- 1/2 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup water or more broth
- 1 cup spinach chopped
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas
- Salt + pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, shallots and pepper flakes and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add thyme and dill and cook for another 30 seconds or so.
- To the saucepan, add quinoa, olives and sun dried tomatoes. Stir continuously for 15 - 30 seconds. Add liquids, bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to simmer for 20 - 25 minutes until liquid has been absorbed.
- Remove lid and stir in spinach and chickpeas. Let sit for a few minutes to allow spinach time to wilt. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition
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This is one of my favorite bowls! I’m making it now, I love it so much! Thanks!
so glad you are loving it!!
This is a really good, easy salad/side dish. I used Kalamata olives instead of green olives and I would add more spinach. Yum!!
I love your additions! Thanks for the review!
This is so delicious! I added mushrooms and zucchini and when I serve it, I sprinkle a little bit of feta. I’ve made this multiple times now and it’s always a hit. Also, I just started weight watchers and after calculating the nutrition facts, it’s a 9 point meal! The feta added 3 extra points so that’s totally optional. Overall, this is one of my favorite one pot dishes!
Love the additions! One of my favorites too 🙂
Delicious meal! I used it for my meal prep and doubled it for myself and my boyfriend. I used Chicken stock instead, because that’s all I had at home. Made it more salty didn’t need to add additional salt. Still delicious. Only addition was Smoked Spanish Paprika. Really tasty addition if you like Paprika. Thanks for sharing!
Yum, yum!! So glad you liked it 🙂
Would this freeze well? Trying to prep and freeze meals as I am 36 weeks pregnant.
Thanks
I think it would! I haven’t personally tested, but I’ve frozen quinoa before and it’s been fine 🙂 also, CONGRATS!!
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I have made this twice now. I absolutely love it. This second time I am attempting in my instant pot fingers crossed it turns out just as great! Thank you for this amazing recipe.
YAY! Def keep me posted on the IP!
You say the prep time is five minutes, so please post a video of you in your kitchen with nothing for the meal out yet. Then have the meal cooking with all ingredients in 5 minutes with no edits to the video. I’m betting my life savings you can’t do it. And no cheating – no pre-pealed garlic or shallots. Everything still in the fridge or cupboard when you start – including cutting board, knives, and pot. Start from scratch like anyone else prepping this meal.
Thanks for the feedback!
I actually used couscous because I read it wrong. Turned out great. Love this. Very flavorful. Using couscous cooks faster though which was nice.
YUM! So glad you enjoyed it and love the couscous!
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I used a can of fire roasted diced tomatoes instead of sun dried tomatoes, swapped kale for spinach and Kalimantan olives for green olives. I also didn’t have shallot on hand so I used red onion and I added 1/2 a red bell pepper. I also cooked everything in my crockpot. Yay, awesome!
Yay! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂 Loving all the changes you made!! xo
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[…] one-pot Mediterranean quinoa with spinach and chickpeas (garlic, 1 shallot, 1c quinoa, 1c green olives sliced, 1/2c sun dried tomatoes, 1c vegetable broth, 1c spinach, 15oz chickpeas, spices) […]
Tried it last night and it was delicious ! Perfect after a long day at work: easy and quick to put together. I even took the leftovers in my bento for lunch at work, and it was still delicious cold !
Thank you for this recipe Alyssa 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it, Camille! xx
Hi Alyssa. Can quinoa be substituted for something else? I know that’s the main ingredient but my husband can’t have quinoa. Thanks!
I think you could make this with rice! It would also be yummy with pasta 🙂
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This looks incredible! Even better news–olives are actually growing on me! I wouldn’t eat them on their own, but in a quinoa medley like this, they would taste amazing!
Hope you enjoy it!
I made this tonight and it’s delicious. Didn’t have any chickpeas on hand, so I used black beans. My family doesn’t like olives, so I I left them out. I added capers to offset the loss of saltiness from omitting the olives. Perfection!
YUMMMY! Love the idea of the black beans 🙂
Glad I found this – made it tonight and is delicious. Used kalamata and green olives as well as smoked dried tomatoes – gave it an earthiness that I really enjoyed! Can’t wait to try it tomorrow cold like you mentioned you did the next day. Thanks!
Amazing! Sounds like great substitutions and I’m thrilled you enjoyed it!
Made it tonight for dinner with chicken thighs. So fast and so good.
Oh yum sounds amazing!!
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What’s the serving size? Thanks!
I usually serve about 1.5 cups 🙂
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This recipe is dynamite! I made it this evening and was blown away by the vibrant flavors and simple preparation. It was easy, fast, and very healthy- it will be on my regular meal prep rotation. I used black olives instead of green, which worked well. I’ll serve it with sides of steamed red potatoes and fresh cucumbers. Great job, and thanks for sharing this recipe!
AMAZING!!! So happy you enjoyed it, Ashley! Love the addition of black olives, I bet that had a great flavor 🙂 xox
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I added cucumber and avocado and did not use spinach – yummy!
Sounds LOVELY! <3
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Alyssa, I happen to have a lot of leftover cooked quinoa and was wondering if it could somehow work to use it instead of uncooked. Would I add any liquid to it or omit the liquid altogether? Absolutely loved this recipe and wanted to double it for lunches. Just as tasty and it is healthy!! love love