Hidden Veggie Loaded Nachos Casserole

This hidden veggie loaded nachos casserole is full of your favorite nacho ingredients but it’s also loaded with veggies! Nachos for dinner that are healthy and delicious! It’s a winner! 

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CampbellSavings #CollectiveBias

How fast has this summer gone by??!? Really it August in just a few days? Are there really back to school supplies in the stores??

Well it has flown! Yesterday the teenager registered for college classes, and yesterday this year’s science homeschool curriculum arrived… school is looming!!

When school starts I kick up my meal planning, knowing what’s for dinner helps us navigate through even the busiest of days and once school starts we all know it gets super busy!

One thing I always look for in a meal is something quick, easy, delicious, and healthy!

This hidden veggie loaded nachos casserole is one of those things… it’s a meal that you make and everyone gets excited about, I mean, its nachos for dinner after all!

 

One of the great things about these nachos is that they’re loaded with veggie goodness!! Your family will be eating vegetables and not even know it (**insert evil laugh here**)

The secret here is two fabulous products, the first is Pace Salsa, made with hand-picked veggies and loaded with southwest flavor it does a great job of adding tomatoes, onions and peppers and a ton of flavor!

I picked up my Pace salsa at my local Walmart while I was shopping for all the other ingredients for this recipe… and all the other 7 million things on my grocery list!

 

Do you want to know the second “secret” ingredient??

Well here’s the recipe for this hidden veggie loaded nachos casserole!!

2- Cups Cooked Quinoa

1- Jar Pace Salsa (I used mild but any variety will do if you like a little more heat!)

1- pkg Taco Seasoning (whatever brand is your favorite!)

1- Cup V8 Vegetable Juice ***secret veggie ingredient***

4- Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1- Bag Round Tortilla Chips

Assorted taco toppings- lettuce, tomato, black olives, sour cream, guacamole, more salsa

 

This is so super simple… like I said, a perfect, family pleasing meal for a busy school night. You can even cook your quinoa ahead of time so you’re ready to throw it all together in about 15 minutes!

Follow the package instructions for your quinoa and get it cooked. (you can also use ground beef or turkey if you must…. but trust me the quinoa is just as delicious and so much healthier!) Now pour your V8 and taco seasoning in the pan (or in a bowl if you’ve pre-cooked your quinoa) and give everything a nice stir until it’s well incorporated.

Get your oven pre-heating to 350. Now line a 13×9 inch pan with foil or spray it well with non stick spray. Lay 1/2 your chips across the bottom.  Spread 1/2 of your quinoa mixture across the top of the chips. Now pour 1/2 of your jar of Pace Salsa across the quinoa mixture. These don’t have to be exact measurements just eyeball it!

Now layer 2 cups of your shredded cheddar across the top of the salsa. Now you repeat the layers with the other 1/2 of everything… chips, quinoa, salsa, cheese.

Once everything is layered on pop it in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is all nice an melty!

When it’s ready you can scoop out a piece and top it off with any and all of your favorite taco toppings!

 

 

Now might a suggest the perfect beverage to accompany this dinner (for mommy not the kids!) ?? Check out V8 + Energy! It is a perfect fruity drink that is also another way to get more fruit and veggies into your diet! It has a great little energy boost from green tea to help power you through dinner clean up and bedtime with out that terrible jittery feeling and crash later!

 

You can also pick it up while shopping at Walmart! How easy is that??  I bought the Blueberry Pomegranate variety. But it’s also available in Peach Mango, Orange Pineapple, Black Cherry, Diet Strawberry Lemonade and Diet Cranberry Raspberry.

 

But wait there’s more!!  How about a coupon??

Right now there are coupons available for both Pace Salsa and V8+Energy– just click and print and off to the store you go! While you’re there  you can print off coupons for other great products like Prego Pasta Sauce, and Campbell’s Soup… all sure to save you time this busy back to school season!!

 

What is your favorite busy weeknight dinner?? I’d love some suggestions to add to my menu!