Slow Cooker Quinoa and Vegetables

Budget Eats: How low can you go? Can you make a meal for less than $3 per serving? Whatever your budget, show us your healthy entree recipe to help keep food spending in check in 2017.

A couple years back, I wrote a post about how I spend $50/month for food. It’s probably still my most popular post. :O

In recent months and especially while I was back home, I haven’t been adhering to the $50/month thing because I wanted to be able to enjoy life with my friends/family and there were quite a number of people that I needed to treat to meals, but I’m still trying to keep pretty tight controls on my budget because student loans are calling (sigh).

My slow cooker is currently my best friend (as is my rice cooker) and as luck would have it, you can actually make this using either one!

I’m coming up on my last week of my ICU rotation, and I’ve been having this pretty much every day for lunch because I’m pretty pressed for time. (As it stands, I still have another 11 weeks to go of my whole “work 6 days a week for 12 hours a day” stint.)

Needless to say, I didn’t have much time to go grocery shopping or to cook (aside from my one day off per week), but I’ve been managing to survive because I had the foresight to make 100 dumplings not too long ago and also because Costco is a beautiful place. (Can you tell I’m overjoyed to be living again in a state that has one?)

For this recipe, you’ll mainly need:

  • Kirkland Signature Organic Quinoa 4.5 lb – $9.99
  • Kirkland Organic Normandy Vegetables 5.5 lb – $8.99

If you want to further cheap it out, brown rice is cheaper than quinoa. I just chose quinoa because it has more protein. :P

Slow Cooker Quinoa and Vegetables

slow cooker quinoa and vegetables

Slow Cooker Quinoa and Vegetables

From at

http://www.fairyburger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/slowcookerquinoaveggies.jpg
Prep: Yield: 6Total:

You'll Need...

  • 2 cups quinoa
  • 4 cups water (with 2-3 chicken or mushroom bouillon cubes)*
  • 2 cups frozen vegetables
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • your choice of sauces/spices/herbs

Directions

  1. Rinse quinoa and add to crockpot. Stir in water + bouillon cubes, veggies, garlic and spices/herbs.
  2. Cover and cook on high for 2-4 hours or on low for 4-6 hours.
  3. Top with your choice of sauce if desired.

Additional Notes

*You can also use chicken or vegetable broth!

What I love about this recipe is that it’s super super easy with almost no prep time and it’s also very versatile (aka perfect as a “kitchen cleanse” type of recipe).

I added in an egg that I fried up with a bit of maple balsamic vinegar (pictured), but you can also add in a can of beans or chicken if you want some other type of protein in here!

You can top it off with whatever sauce you want, or eat it plain. Thus far, I’ve tried it with sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, and sriracha, and all the versions have turned out well.

slow cooker quinoa and vegetables


  • How much do you spend each month on groceries?
  • What’s one of your favorite budget-friendly recipes?

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24 comments

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  1. Once again great minds think alike! I love my slow cooker…or as I like to call it…my “unsupervised” meals ;)
    Autumn @AutumnPTW.com recently posted…Rosemary Chicken and Roasted Winter VegetablesMy Profile

    1. hahaha, I’m definitely a fan of unsupervised meals! ;P

  2. Chicken and veggie crockpot meals are SO easy, and they are so cost effective. I love how you made this so easy. :) This would be perfect for any busy day.
    Emily recently posted…Apple Cinnamon Maca Stuffed French ToastMy Profile

    1. Agreed! :D I’m going to have to make more for this week! I’m out of prepared lunches again! :P

  3. It’s slow cooker season, so these recipes are perfect for the colder weather. 3 bucks per serving!!! Whoop Whoop I’m always looking for cheap easy meals.
    Mary recently posted…Crayon Art Tutorial for #craftyfridaysMy Profile

    1. Same here! My wallet definitely appreciates it! :P

  4. You had me at slow cooker. This is exactly my kind of meal– easy, filling, yummy, and cheap! ;)
    Courtney recently posted…Cheesy Broccoli Egg BakeMy Profile

    1. Thanks! That’s my favorite kind of meal to make too! :D

  5. I spend…a lot on groceries. Food is the only thing I feel “okay” about spending money on (and I always buy the cheapest I can find!

    1. Since finally getting a salary, I’ve definitely been allowing myself to splurge a tad more when it comes to groceries–it’s my favorite type of shopping! ;P

  6. I really need to start finding simple, easy meals and ones that don’t cost too much are great. Plus, I need a lot of protein because apparently I’m not getting enough. Sigh. Thanks for sharing!

    -Lauren
    ShootingStarsMag recently posted…The Ugly Teapot by Fred HolmesMy Profile

    1. I hope this recipe helps, and there are a ton of other healthy/easy/budget-friendly recipe ideas in this month’s linkup! :D!

  7. I’ve really fallen in love my slow cooker, I can’t believe it took me this long to come to appreciate it! This looks like a great way to put it to use. And that egg on top is a perfect finishing touch! Your schedule sounds brutal, hang in there, it will get easier :)
    Sonali- The Foodie Physician recently posted…Chicken with Creamy Paprika SauceMy Profile

    1. haha, I think someone at my church mentioned how wonderful it was when I was in med school, so I found one on sale and here we are! It’s wonderful! <3

      It definitely has been draining, but I have 11 more weeks of this schedule of sorts and then I get to go on vacation! :]!

  8. It might be cheap – but this looks soooo good!

    We love anything with quinoa and I tend to be really money savvy when buying groceries. The only things I ever buy that aren’t on sale are fruits and vegetables – but even then I try to always shop seasonally so the produce I buy is at a really great price.
    Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Easy Vegan Pikelets (Gluten Free)My Profile

    1. Thanks, Kristy! :D Shopping seasonally definitely helps! I tend to raid the discounted fruit section for fruits that I can just eat that day or the next too! :P

  9. This looks so yummy! Love quinoa and finding new ways to make it.

    1. Thanks, Jenny! I love finding new ways to experiment with quinoa too! :D

  10. My husband just accepted a new job and as we were deciding if we wanted to make the move, the first thing I looked up was to see if there was a Costco nearby! I didn’t realize how much I used my Costco membership until I’ve been without a Costco for the past 9 months!

    1. hehehe, it definitely makes life easier! :P Where I was for med school, the closest one was in the next state over and a 2.5 hour drive away. Now there’s one 15 minutes away and let’s just say that grocery shopping has gotten a whole lot easier!

  11. I need to figure out how to use the slow cooker at my house! my mom just got an insta pot. Do you have one?
    Sana recently posted…8 Week Weight Watchers UpdateMy Profile

    1. The insta pot is one of the only kitchen contraptions I don’t own, but I’ve heard really good things about it! :O

  12. Wow! Talk about easy! Love this recipe – so simple and healthy. I’ll be making this soon.

    1. Thanks! Simple/easy/healthy recipes make my world go round! :P Hope you like it!

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