Whole grain recipes might be easy to come by, but EASY whole grain recipes? That’s a different story.
The trick to cooking healthy whole grain recipes is to simplify where you can. For some reason, a lot of people want to complicate recipes just because they’re healthy.
Ultimately, it’s about choosing the flavors you love and pairing them with the textures that make a difference.
So, if you’re looking for whole grain recipe ideas, check out these awesome (and easy) recipes with whole grains that we put together.
(Oh, and P.S. just because they’re whole grain, doesn’t mean they need to be whole wheat grain recipes.)
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Healthy Whole Grain Recipes: Kasha Salad
Never heard of kasha before? You’re missing out. This whole grain is related to buckwheat, but it’s gluten-free! If cooked correctly, it has a texture that is al dente, but not crunchy. This makes it perfect for a nice salad. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the best whole grain recipe ideas we may have ever come up with.
Kasha Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 c cooked kasha
- ¼ c feta cheese crumbled
- ¼ c diced cucumbers
- ¼ c diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp diced black olives
- Juice of one lemon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp greek seasoning blend
- 1 tbsp green onions chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together kasha, feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, and greek seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over the salad, and toss thoroughly.
- Top with green onions.
Healthy Whole Grain Recipes: Shrimp & Quinoa
When it comes to eating whole grains, people often forget about quinoa, but some of the best whole grain recipes out there are made with quinoa. When cooked correctly, quinoa is very much like a tiny noodle. The best part? It’s gluten free!
Shrimp & Quinoa Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 c quinoa cooked
- 1 lb raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp old bay seasoning
- 8 oz white button mushrooms chopped
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 c chopped onion
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet.
- Add onions. Saute until translucent.
- Add mushrooms and garlic, and saute for two minutes.
- In a medium mixing bowl, toss shrimp with old bay seasoning.
- Add seasoned shrimp to the skillet, and cook until pink (about two minutes per side).
- Add cooked quinoa to the skillet and toss until all ingredients are incorporated.
Healthy Whole Grain Recipes: Whole Wheat Chicken Pesto
If you’re not watching your gluten intake, a great product to keep you on track with your weight loss journey is whole wheat pasta. While it has a slightly different texture than other pastas, it is an excellent source of whole grains.
As a matter of fact, there are tons of great whole grain recipe ideas that include whole-wheat pasta. Check out this one that we made.
Whole Wheat Chicken Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cubed
- ¼ c basil pesto
- 1 lb whole wheat penne pasta cooked
- 1 tbsp garlic
- 6 oz cherry tomatoes halved
- 3 tbsp parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add chicken breast and garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- When chicken breast is cooked through, add basil pesto.
- Toss with penne pasta.
- When ingredients are incorporated, fold in cherry tomatoes and top with parmesan.
Easy Whole Grain Recipes
If you’re looking to add more whole grain recipes to your menu, the first thing you really have to do is check out some of the awesome whole grains that are available to you. And remember, many of these whole grains don’t contain gluten, so it’s win-win for those trying to reduce or limit their gluten intake.
