The Dude Diet: Cheeseburger Quinoa Bake (The #DudeDietBook is OUT!)
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HAPPY FUCKING DD DAY, MY FAVORITE INTERNET PEOPLE!!!
I’m allowed to abuse caps, expletives, and punctuation today, right?!!!
I can’t believe my book baby is finally out in the wild!! It feels crazy! It is crazy?
Not gonna lie, my brain is pretty mushy right now. I had planned to write something super profound about The Dude Diet in this post, but that’s clearly not going to happen. There’s been a lot of travel, long days, and excitement recently, and given that I haven’t been doing my best sleeping, I’m 100% a hot mess of emotions today. I couldn’t articulate my feelings on being a published author if I tried, so I won’t. Instead, I’m just going to say one quick thing before we talk about my favorite Dude Diet recipes and Cheeseburger Quinoa Bake, and that is…
Thank you.
Of all the emotions I’m experiencing at the moment, gratitude is hands down the strongest, and if you’re reading this post, I’m grateful to/for you in some way, shape, or form. To the Domesticate ME! regulars, thank you for supporting your crazy blog lady throughout the book process. To my DD recipe testers, thank you for being such awesome guinea pigs and devoting your time and resources to help ensure the dankness of The Dude Diet‘s recipes. To all that contributed to the book (there are far too many of you to name), thank you for your creativity, patience, and willingness to believe in The Dude Diet philosophy. To my friends (both real and virtual) and family, thank you for your wisdom, support, and the badass grassroots PR. And last but not least, to Logan (reading this on the subway in 3 months), you’re famous!! Thank you for being the greatest brand ambassador and roommate of all time. I love EVERYONE!
Moving on!
Since many of you may have gotten your books today (AHHHH!!!), I wanted to spill my top picks for those seeking recommendations re: what to cook first. They are…
Ultimate Breakfast Quesadilla (page 38)
Magic Faux-tisserie Chicken (page 103)
Trashed Up Turkey Burgers (page 99)
Chopped Chicken Club Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing (page 187)
Shrimp Pad Thai (page 209)
Pineapple Refresher (page 291)
Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Maple-Cream Cheese Frosting (page 298)
For those interested in the Dude’s faves, his include…
Dude Diet Lasagna (page 92)
Killer Cuban Sandwiches (page 89)
Buffalo Chicken Fingers with Yogurt Ranch (page 108)
Steak Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Goat Cheese (page 181)
Penne with Spinach Pesto (page 260)
Sausage and Peppers Skillet (page 267)
Pumpkin-Banana Bread (page 301)
And for the peeps who don’t have the book (yet?), I thought it would be fitting to share my #1 favorite recipe, which is this Cheeseburger Quinoa Bake. I know a quinoa bake is sort of predictable from yours truly, but quinoa bakes are the best, and cheeseburgers are the best, and this also happens to be Logan’s ride-or-die book recipe too, so…WHATEVA. I hope you love it as much as we do.
(FYI, one tester said the flavors in this bake were like a McDonald’s cheeseburger but better. I consider this extremely high praise.)
In case you’re curious, this bake reheats like a dream, so those cooking for 1 or 2 should be pumped for leftovers. The gluten-free crowd can omit the panko, and red meat haters should feel free to sub ground chicken or 93% lean ground turkey for beef. And should you happen to make this bake on a No-Calorie Sunday, you may wish to add some crispy bacon into the filling or sprinkle some on top. Just throwing that out there…
More updates to come soon on where you can find me on the internets and TV, in print, and in real life over the coming weeks, plus lots of surprises and giveaways! In the meantime, hashtag #dudedietbook on social media to show me your books and creations so I can see, and like, and repost, and shower you with thanks and compliments!!!
WHOOOOOOOP.
Cheeseburger Quinoa Bake: (Serves 4-6)
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1½ cups low-sodium beef broth (Low-sodium chicken broth or water will also work.)
1/3 cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons sesame seeds (optional)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika, divided
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound 90% lean ground beef
1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
¾ teaspoon coarse black pepper
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
1¼ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
For serving: (optional)
1 cup chopped hearts of romaine or iceberg lettuce
½ cup finely chopped bread-and-butter pickles
Preparing your Cheeseburger Quinoa Bake:
-Combine the quinoa and beef broth in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer, cover the saucepan with a lid, and cook for 14 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Let the quinoa rest, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
-Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
-In a small bowl, combine the Panko, sesame seeds and ½ teaspoon of the smoked paprika. Set aside.
-Heat the olive oil in a large, 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the onion and garlic, and cook for 4-5 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent.
-Add the beef, salt, pepper, and remaining ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika to the skillet. Cook for about 7 minutes, stirring and breaking up the meat into small pieces with a spatula, until no longer pink.
-Stir in the tomato paste, mustard and Worcestershire and cook for 3 more minutes, then stir in the diced tomatoes.
-Turn off the heat and fold in the cooked quinoa and ½ cup of the cheese. Smooth the top of the filling with a spatula. Add the remaining cheese in an even layer and sprinkle with the panko mix.
-Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese has melted and the topping is lightly browned.
-Let your kickass quinoa bake rest for 10 minutes. (Trust me, it will be scary hot.) Serve topped with chopped lettuce and pickles.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed and drained
- 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth Low-sodium chicken broth or water will also work.
- 1/3 cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds optional
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika divided
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 14.5- ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1¼ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese divided
- For serving: optional
- 1 cup chopped hearts of romaine or iceberg lettuce
- ½ cup finely chopped bread-and-butter pickles
Instructions
- Combine the quinoa and beef broth in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer, cover the saucepan with a lid, and cook for 14 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Let the quinoa rest, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
- Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
- In a small bowl, combine the Panko, sesame seeds and ½ teaspoon of the smoked paprika. Set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large, 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the onion and garlic, and cook for 4-5 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the beef, salt, pepper, and remaining ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika to the skillet. Cook for about 7 minutes, stirring and breaking up the meat into small pieces with a spatula, until no longer pink. Stir in the tomato paste, mustard and Worcestershire and cook for 3 more minutes, then stir in the diced tomatoes.
- Turn off the heat and fold in the cooked quinoa and ½ cup of the cheese. Smooth the top of the filling with a spatula. Add the remaining cheese in an even layer and sprinkle with the panko mix. Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese has melted and the topping is lightly browned.
- Let your kickass quinoa bake rest for 10 minutes. (Trust me, it will be scary hot.) Serve topped with chopped lettuce and pickles.
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I have made this recipe for a few years now and it has never disappointed. It also makes for a bomb dish to drop off to new parents. It stands out as different, yet is the MOST comforting. Love love love!
Huge hit, always! Dare I say better than a real cheeseburger?
After I explained to my husband quinoa would not kill him there wasn’t a bite left of this extremely tasty dish!
Serena has a knack for making guilty pleasures healthy pleasures. Also, all of her quinoa bakes still taste phenomenal reheated the next day!
Hands down, one of our most frequently made dinners! Adults and kids both love it! And easy enough that my 13-year-old can make it himself.
Serena’s recipes are the bomb!! Her quinoa bakes are my go to when I want something quick and easy but still insanely delicious. I make this one on repeat!
I make this for all my friends who just had babies, family who have been quarantined, or “just because” for grandparents and it is always a hit. It’s delicious, easy to make, freezes well, and you don’t have a food hangover like you typically might with your typical casserole-type dish.
Love this! Simple, delicious, and healthy!
Popped my quinoa bake cherry with this one! So good. Converted my brother and fiancé too! A big crowd pleaser
I made this tonight with impossible “meat”. So delicious!
YAY! I’m so thrilled it was a hit!
If I don’t have an oven-proof skillet, could I do the stovetop prep in a standard skillet, transfer the filling to a glass baking dish, then add toppings etc. and bake? What size dish would you recommend?
A 9×13 baking dish will work great!
I tried this in the Instant Pot! It worked beautifully. Sauteed onions, added burger until browned. Then simply stirred in the rest and set on “bean soup” mode. I omitted cheese and breadcrumbs on top. Great time saver and wonderful for meal prep!
Do you have the nutritional information for the Cheeseburger Quinoa Bake?
I’ve been making this recipe almost weekly for the past 2 years. I wanted to add a comment for the benefit of anyone who is finding this in 2019 and beyond since this has become a staple in my house. It is very forgiving with substitutions whether it’s the type of meat, cheese, mustard, seasonings, you name it. Just tonight I made it with some leftover chicken thighs and Italian sausage. Half of my family isn’t too jazzed about quinoa but this recipe never fails to please everyone. It’s a hit at potluck dinners, it even works well in muffin cups for single-serve hors d’oeuvres (although the type of cheese can make the cups a bit greasy), I really could go on about how great this recipe is and how it’s impossible to fuck it up. Legit, if you’re reading this, you MUST give it a try.
THIS IS POSSIBLY MY FAVORITE BLOG COMMENT EVER!! So thrilled that this bake has become such a staple and that you’ve put so many different spins on it. (Muffin cups–genius!!!) xox
First time ever eating quinoa. Know what? This recipe isn’t half bad. Thanks!
Got this book for my birthday. I love it. I can cook but this book helped me choose more wisely in lower fat ingredients. Thank you so much. I’m down 30 lbs thanks to you
The DD was on my Christmas list this year. At 38, I’ve been ordered on a low sodium and low saturated fat diet after suffering a stroke the week of Thanksgiving. I LOVE this recipe. It is a staple for us now. I love making a double batch on the weekend and having the leftovers as my work-day lunches. The enchiladas, breakfast and steak quesadillas, and overnight oats appear on our family’s weekly menu. Thank you so much for publishing this cookbook!
John- I’m so sorry to hear of your stroke, but I’m glad that you’re on the mend and that so many of The DD’s recipes are compatible with your new diet. This one is my personal favorite, so I’m particularly thrilled that it’s such a regular in your rotation!! Fingers crossed for many more DD wins!
I took the plunge and dove into the world of quinoa bakes over the weekend. Somehow, your DD magic transforms a gnarly good-for-you grain into something seriously comfort-food-binge-worthy. The fragrance of leftovers heating in the office microwave alighted several coworkers seeking its source.
Fan-friggin-tastic, ma’am.
Nachos are my guilty pleasure, so I’ll be trying the cover recipe next. Such a relief to eat real – and real good – food without hearing your BMI tick upward with every bite. Many thanks to your fee-ahn-say and his (nowhere-to-be-seen) man boobs for inspiring your DD artistry.
This comment is POETRY, dammit. Could not be more thrilled that you are now a quinoa bake convert, and Logan happily accepts your muse compliments!! I can only hope there will be many more quinoa bakes and DD successes in your future. Virtual chest bump.
I made this for dinner tonight and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how delicious it was. Anxiously waiting for lunch time tomorrow to heat up some of the leftovers. I personally love spicy food so next time I make it I might add some cayenne pepper for a little heat. Next up from the book? Apple Pie Overnight Oats in the fridge ready to get devoured for breakfast. Cannot wait to keep trying more recipes from the book!
So pumped to hear this quinoa bake was a hit! (And I’m with you on the heat–definitely get some cayenne or red pepper flakes involved next time.) Fingers crossed for more epic book successes!!
i will be dedicating a week to dude diet cookbook!!!!
YESSS!!! I can’t wait to see what you make!! Thank you so much for the support, girl! xoxo
congratulations! i love your blog! your posts make me actually lol at work (which clearly alerts people i’m not working – whoops!)
HAHAH love to hear that!! Thank you so much, Carver!
What I took away from this post was THERE ARE OVER 300 PAGES in your book!!! Beyond pumped right now. And I haven’t had a Big Mac in about 10 years thanks to fear of McDonalds mystery ingredients, but I’m a closet lover of that strange flavor and very excited to give this healthy bake a try. <3
Whoooop! I know, the book is a FATTY. I hope you love it! Thank you again for being one of my bestest testers! xoxox
This was the recipe I tested! I’ve made this SO many times since you sent it to me, it is hands down one of my favorites! So excited for you!
YESSSSS. Thank you so much, Mary!!! So grateful for your testing skillz and blog/book support! xoxo
I don’t love quinoa, but just about any whole grain would work I imagine. My roommate would love this. Congratulations. And when are you guys getting married?!!!
Yes, I think this would be awesome with brown rice!! We haven’t set a date yet, but we’re thinking next September/early October in Santa Barbara (which is where I’m from)!!
Nice. I went to UCSB a million years ago… Still miss that town.
First of all, CONGRATS! Secondly, Amazon tells me my book will arrive Thursday, which means next week’s meal plan is going to be so dude diet! Lastly, I’ve made this cheeseburger quinoa bake at least 20 times since “testing” it… SOOOO GOOD. Thank you for your awesome recipes and the hard work you put into the book!!
WOOOHOO!!! Can’t wait for you to hold it in your hands!! And thank you again for being one of my most dedicated testers–you’re the best!! xoxo
I was so excited to get mine today! I opened it at random and spotted the English muffin French toast recipe, and I just so happen to have some whole wheat English muffins hanging out in the freezer! Also, was literally thinking this afternoon that I want to make a pumpkin banana bread…we buy purée fruit pouches for my eight month old that are pumpkin banana and I realized I’ve never baked anything with that combo.
Whoooop!!! I am so, SO pumped for The Dude Diet to get some action in your kitchen. The French Toast would be an excellent way to kick off DD cookings. Godspeed. And thank you for being an OG blog supporter–hope you love da book! xoxo