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These easy Shrimp Quinoa Bowls will soon become your favorite healthy dinner recipe – and they’re ready in less than 30 minutes! Full of zesty chili lime flavor and piled high with succulent shrimp and fresh summer vegetables, they’re a simple and satisfying summer meal.
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Friends, this shrimp quinoa bowl might be one of my favorite recipes of all time! That’s a bold statement, right? But these healthy quinoa bowls seriously have everything one could want in a meal—plenty of lean, protein-packed seafood, tons of fresh, seasonal vegetables, bold and satisfying seasoning, and very little prep time.
Are you convinced yet?!
Shrimp and Quinoa Bowls for Summer
Summertime is all about light, healthy, and satisfying recipes… that are also easy! That’s exactly why these shrimp bowls are the perfect option. A bed of quick-cooking quinoa adds satiety (and even more protein) while keeping it gluten-free.
The quick-prep shrimp I use comes frozen and already seasoned to perfection, so all I have to do is prepare it as directed.
And the vegetables! You just can’t go wrong with fresh ingredients. So, when your garden, farmers market, or grocery stores are bursting with zucchini and other summer produce, stock up to make these easy shrimp and vegetable quinoa bowls! It makes weeknight dinners EASY, and the leftovers taste equally good cold for lunch the next day (if you have anything to save at the end of your meal).
What is Quinoa?
Quinoa is a nutrient-packed whole grain that’s easily one of the healthiest foods you can work into your diet. Like rice and wheat, it can be ground into flour and used in other cooking and baking recipes, but it’s also gluten-free, making it ideal for those on a special diet.
Quinoa also has loads of health benefits – it’s packed with protein, fiber, and vitamins that are good for digestion, lowering the risk of diabetes, and a heart-healthy diet.
It’s easy to prepare – simply cook one cup of quinoa with two cups of water or broth – and perfect in a variety of recipes, from healthy bowls like this shrimp and veggie bowl, to a low-carb substitute for rice and pasta.
Ingredients for Marinated Shrimp Quinoa Bowls
You only need a few simple ingredients for the base of this healthy meal – the rest is up to you! These shrimp quinoa bowls are perfect for busy nights. They’re light, healthy, and packed with flavor! Below is an overview of the ingredients I used to make shrimp and veggie bowls. Be sure to check out the printable recipe card for the complete ingredient list and directions.
- Quinoa: you only need one cup of quinoa for this recipe – if you want to increase the serving size, it can easily be doubled.
- Broth or Water: you can use vegetable broth, chicken broth, or water to cook the quinoa.
- Garlic: minced garlic (along with salt and black pepper) is the perfect way to season the quinoa as it cooks.
- Shrimp: I use SeaPack shrimp for an easy, go-to protein, but you can use your favorite marinated shrimp recipe.
- Vegetables: this bowl is packed with summer veggies, including zucchini, summer squash, bell peppers, corn, and creamy avocado.
- Lime Juice: adds the perfect tangy, citrusy zing to the bowls.
Marinated Shrimp for Healthy Shrimp Quinoa Bowls
Let’s talk shrimp. There are plenty of different options for preparing the shrimp for these quinoa bowls. Here are a few marinated shrimp recipes you can use:
- Grilled Marinated Honey Lime Shrimp
- Honey Mustard Grilled Shrimp
- Mexican Shrimp
- Savory Garlic and Rosemary Shrimp
- Honey Garlic or Honey Sesame Shrimp
- Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp
- New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
To save prep time and cooking time, you can always go with store-bought marinated shrimp as well! You choose the option that suits your taste, budget, time, and schedule.
Should I use fresh or frozen shrimp for shrimp and quinoa bowls?
You can use either frozen or fresh shrimp for this recipe. I prefer medium or large shrimp, and I always buy peeled and deveined shrimp to save time. If making your own marinated shrimp, you’ll want the shrimp to be thawed before cooking. All of the recipes linked above include cooking directions for the shrimp. Summertime is the perfect opportunity to grill flavorful, juicy shrimp!
How to Make Healthy Shrimp and Quinoa Bowls
Your taste buds will thank you for this healthy and delicious meal! You can easily meal-prep these shrimp and quinoa bowls ahead of time for days’ worth of lunches or as a healthy dinner option the whole family will love! Top with seasonal vegetables and your favorite dressing for the perfect dinner.
- Prepare the quinoa on the stovetop.
- Cook the shrimp according to the package or recipe directions.
- Sauté the vegetables in a large skillet over medium-high heat with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings.
- Assemble a shrimp quinoa bowl, starting with the quinoa, then shrimp, veggies, and any additional toppings.
How to Cook Quinoa
Cooking quinoa is similar to (and as easy as) cooking a batch of rice! The proper ratio is one cup of quinoa to two cups of cooking liquid. You can use water or broth for extra flavor! Additionally, like rice, you can season the quinoa with salt, pepper, butter, or other seasonings while it cooks.
Bring the quinoa and liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium/medium-low, cover the pot, and cook until all the liquid is absorbed. Like rice, fluff it up once it’s done cooking and let it sit for 5 minutes before preparing the bowls.
Leftover quinoa is equally delicious cold as it is warm. You can make a cold quinoa salad or meal prep portions of this shrimp and veggies bowl to eat throughout the week.
Shrimp and Quinoa Bowl Vegetable and Topping Suggestions
Now that you know how to make this healthy shrimp recipe, what vegetables and toppings should you use?! It all depends on the flavors you’re going for! Here are some suggestions:
- Asian-inspired flavors like Honey Garlic or Honey Sesame pair well with vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, and green beans. Top with a sweet teriyaki sauce, a drizzle of soy sauce, or your favorite chili sauce.
- Citrusy flavors like lemon and lime pair well with summer vegetables like squash, zucchini, green onions, or red onion. Top with a creamy dressing, such as a green goddess dressing or creamy avocado dressing.
- For Mexican flavor, use juicy cherry tomatoes, avocado, red bell pepper, and black beans. Top with sour cream or pico de gallo.
- If you like dressing and want your quinoa bowl to have more flavor, top it with a homemade vinaigrette! Try a lemon vinaigrette, Dijon vinaigrette, or a citrus vinaigrette.
- Fresh parsley and cilantro make the perfect garnish. They’re bright, flavorful, and complement the freshness of the vegetables.
More Tasty Shrimp Recipes to Try
Shrimp and Quinoa Bowl
Ingredients
For the Quinoa:
- 2 cups vegetable broth chicken broth, or water
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed and drained
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
For The Toppings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 12 oz. marinated and cooked shrimp
- 1 medium zucchini chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 yellow summer squash chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 avocado diced
- Extra lime juice for garnish
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Quinoa:
- In a large pot, bring broth (or water) and quinoa to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat, keep the pot covered, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in garlic, lime juice, salt and pepper (to taste).2 cups vegetable broth, 1 cup quinoa, 1 clove garlic, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, Salt and pepper
- While the quinoa is cooking, prepare shrimp according to recipe (or package) instructions.12 oz. marinated and cooked shrimp
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté zucchini, squash, bell pepper, and corn for 3-4 minutes, or until the veggies are just crisp-tender (but not mushy). Season with salt and pepper, to taste.2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 medium zucchini, 1 yellow summer squash, 1 red bell pepper, 1 cup corn kernels
To assemble bowls:
- Fill individual bowls with prepared quinoa. Top with shrimp and veggies. Garnish with diced avocado. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the bowls, garnish with cilantro (if desired), and serve.1 avocado, Extra lime juice, Fresh cilantro
Notes
- Grilled Marinated Honey Lime Shrimp
- Honey Mustard Grilled Shrimp
- Mexican Shrimp
- Savory Garlic and Rosemary Shrimp
- Honey Garlic or Honey Sesame Shrimp
- Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp
- New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
- Asian-inspired flavors like Honey Garlic or Honey Sesame pair well with vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, and green beans. Top with a sweet teriyaki sauce, a drizzle of soy sauce, or your favorite chili sauce.
- Citrusy flavors like lemon and lime pair well with summer vegetables like squash, zucchini, green onions, or red onion. Top with a creamy dressing, such as a green goddess dressing or creamy avocado dressing.
- For Mexican flavor, use juicy cherry tomatoes, avocado, red bell pepper, and black beans. Top with sour cream or pico de gallo.
- If you like dressing and want your quinoa bowl to have more flavor, top it with a homemade vinaigrette! Try a lemon vinaigrette,Dijon vinaigrette, or a citrus vinaigrette.
- Fresh parsley and cilantro make the perfect garnish. They’re bright, flavorful, and complement the freshness of the vegetables.
I can see why this would be your favorite recipe, Blair! It looks delicious! I absolutely love quinoa bowls, and I especially love that this takes less than 30 minutes to make. Sounds so fresh and flavorful for the summer!
Thanks, Gayle! It’s so good, and it doesn’t get much easier!
Shrimp + all the veggies + avocado have my heart in the summer! This bowl looks so good! Like you said, it’s got everything we need:)
Exactly, Bethany! Thanks so much!
I can never say no to shrimp! I’ve never seen these. Will have to check them out!
Definitely check them out, Megan! Low cal and gluten free! You’ll love them!
Do you recommend eating these cold or warmed up? Just thinking as I’ve prepared 10 of them for my fiancĂ© and I’s lunches all week..
Hi, Ashton! I’m so glad that you’re giving them a try! 🙂
I like to eat them cold!
Mmm those marinated shrimp sound incredible!
Thanks, Emily!
It is delicious!
I just made it for dinner.
I used the marinated shrimp recipe from your blog.
I added vegetable broth to the quinoa and sautéed home grown vegetables with coconut oil I had on hand.
And added lime, cilantro (& scallions) at the end.
Fantastic !
Thank you!
Wonderful! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, Hailey. Thanks for taking the time to leave me a note! 🙂