Recipe Favorite: Turkey & Quinoa Taco Bake

Mexican food is a huge hit in our house and especially when it is something that I can use for meal prepping for the week.  This amazing recipe has been passed around the coaching community (it was not created by me) and is beloved by 21 Day Fix participants (and even nonparticipants because my husband LOVES this dish).  You will use a 9"x13" dish and the serving size is a quarter of the pan!  We aren't big veggie eaters so I sometimes add extra green containers adding more jalapeno or bell peppers.

Turkey & Quinoa Taco Bake
Makes 4 servings
21 Day Fix Plan = 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 blue, 1 red

Yellow Container
1 cup uncooked Quinoa 

Red Container
20oz package 93% Lean Ground Turkey 

Green Container
Tomato Sauce (low Sodium) 2 cups
Chopped Red or yellow or green peppers*
Chopped onion & Jalapeno* 

Blue Container
Shredded Cheddar (4 Blue containers worth) 

Free Ingredients
Juice of 1 lime
Garlic 3 cloves minced
Chili Powder 2 Tbsp
Cumin 2 Tsp
Onion Powder 1 Tsp
Chopped Cilantro 1/3 cup
Hot Sauce to taste (optional, but we like to add it)

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9X13 baking dish with cooking spray (I use coconut oil spray) & set aside.
2. Rinse your Quinoa and follow the cooking instructions on the package.  If you buy in bulk, here are some basic instructions: add it to 2 cups water in a saucepan & bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn heat to low & simmer for about 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat & fluff with a fork. Cover quinoa & set aside.
3. Spray frying pan with non-stick cooking spray or add some EVOO (if needed or skip if the pan is nonstick). Add onion, garlic & jalapeno & sauté over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the ground turkey, breaking it up as it browns. Cook for about 5 minutes & add the peppers. Cook for 3-4 minutes more, or until meat is no longer pink.
4. Add the juice of 1 lime, cumin, chili powder & cilantro. Stir to combine. Adjust seasonings to taste.
5. Remove from heat & add the quinoa to the meat & veggie mixture. Pour in the tomato sauce & hot sauce (if using or you can add it as a condiment later) & stir. Add 1 blue container of shredded Cheddar Cheese.
6. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 3 (blue) containers of Cheddar. Cover with foil & bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil & bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted & edges are bubbling. Remove from oven & let cool for 10 minutes.

*These veggies should total 2 Green containers when mixed together.