Cheesy Quinoa Pizza Bites

Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free or Vegan Versions

Two of my favorite foods - pizza & quinoa - come together in this surprisingly delicious appetizer to fulfill that pizza craving in a healthier way! Slightly crunchy on the outside but moist and cheesy on the inside..tastes like you just bit into a slice of margarita pizza! Well, close enough anyway..:) 

And so much better for you than a slice of pizza...you can have 4 of these for only 148 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 19.5 carbs! Since quinoa is a grain high in protein, you also get 6.9 grams per serving in these, which will keep you feeling fuller longer. 

These snacks come together in a flash with pre-cooked quinoa, ricotta cheese and fresh veggies like basil, tomatoes, and red onion. Warm up some pizza sauce on the side for dipping and you have an irresistible (and very cute) appetizer. You may want to plan ahead and double this recipe because these quinoa bites will be gone in a flash! 

Cheesy Quinoa Pizza Bites (Naturally Vegetarian and Gluten free)
Cheesy Quinoa Pizza Bites (Gluten Free Dairy Free)
Cheesy Quinoa Pizza Bites (Gluten Free and Vegan)

If you are making our gluten free- dairy free or vegan recipe, you will also need Jen's recipe for Homemade Creamy Vegan Ricotta. You will not need the whole batch for this recipe, but it makes for a delicious snack on crackers or chips or smeared inside a wrap with veggies and clean proteins. 

p.s. - Our vegan ricotta recipe does contain soy, so if you are also soy free, you can modify the vegan recipe to include 2-3 tablespoons brown rice flour instead of the cheese or vegan ricotta and increase your veggies by another 1/4 cup total. You may also need to add a dash of xanthan gum to hold everything together:)

Happy Eating!
~Billie

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