These No-Bake Quinoa Protein Bites are the perfect snack! It takes no time at all to throw together the ingredients and roll them into balls. Once they’re frozen, they are ready to eat! Super healthy and full of taste, these protein bites are perfect for that quick burst of energy you need in your day! And they are ridiculously tasty!
You have no idea how excited I am to post this recipe! There’s 2 reasons why I’m so excited…one is because these Quinoa Protein Bites taste so amazing…oh my goodness I could eat 15 of these little balls in one sitting! The other reason I’m excited to post this recipe is because it’s my first food video! Ya’ll…I still can’t believe I did it! You’ve all seen the cute little food videos on YouTube and on other social media channels so you know what I’m talking about here. For the past year, I’ve wanted to make my own food videos to my own recipes but I was terrified to do it! It takes a lot to really nail food photography and I feel my photography is pretty much there…but that took about a year to accomplish. Introducing one more thing into my already busy life really stressed me out. How in the world was I going to make food videos happen?!?
I did a lot of reading of articles and reaching out to other food bloggers to ask about their experience with food video. I even priced it out to see how much some of my food blogger friends would charge me for them to do my food videos. I was seriously stressing out about it because I’ve wanted to add food videos so badly to my site!
About a month ago, I finally said to myself, “You know what….you’re going to learn how to do food videos. So just go do it.” I mean…outside of food blogging, I’m an analyst so that’s kinda what I do. People pay me to figure stuff out for computer software and I do it everyday…so why am I freaking out about learning how to make food videos?
So I took a leap of faith and I did what I do best (outside of cooking)…I started researching. I reached out to my cousin who is a film editor and told her what I was trying to do and told her I had no idea where to start. She was kind enough to write me out detailed scenes for this Quinoa Protein Bites recipe video…SCENES I tell you! I would have never thought to pre-write my scenes before filming! Thank God for her expertise! So thankful…let me tell you. So there…I had step one covered…
The rest just kinda fell into my lap. Tyler, who is a really good friend of mine and who created this Brussels Sprout Salad , showed me a new independent film he and his team has been working on and it just hit me….Tyler knows how to do videos! After talking to him, he uses the same software to edit his films that my cousin recommended I use. So I approach Tyler and said, “If I promise to make you a really yummy recipe of his choice, would he consider helping me learn how to not only film the recipe but also edit it?” Because he’s such a fantastic friend, he said yes. .Here it is ya’ll…take a look and tell me what you think!!!
Is my first food video perfect, no. But I’m super proud of how this food video turned out! I can tell you that filming was the hardest part. You wouldn’t think simple things like hand placement and moving a bowl from one spot to another would be so difficult, but it really is. As for the editing…I was scared to death of using Adobe Premiere at first. I didn’t want to do it. I ask Tyler if I could pay him to edit all my future videos and he kept telling me, “Amanda, it’s easy and I promise you will get it on the first try.” I didn’t believe him. But, in true Tyler fashion, he was right and I was wrong. So yippee to my first food video and a super yippee to Tyler and my cousin who took the time to help me! Ok…now onto this ridiculously easy and fantastic tasting recipe.
Do you guys remember me talking about my friend Lindsay in some of my previous posts? I have several friends who send me recipes to try and every single one of the recipes Lindsay sends over is fantastic! She sent me the Feta and Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Meatloaf recipe, the Turkey Tots (I need to make those again here soon) and the Italian Marinara with Meatballs recipe. So Lindsay knows good food! Lindsay and I are both on a kick to eat clean so she sent me over this recipe for the Quinoa Protein Bites and I fell in love with them. I’ve altered her recipe slightly. Because I’m all about eating food with protein, I’ve added in a scoop of vanilla protein powder and let me tell you these little bites are so good and quite addicting! My 7 year old who is the pickiest eater in the world loves these bites! I’m on my 7th batch in 4 weeks. He asks me to make these for him all the time and I do because they are healthy. YES! You heard me…healthy!
These Quinoa Protein Bites have 10 ingredients: cooked quinoa, oats, maple syrup, ground flax seed, peanut butter, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, salt and mini chocolate chips. So when my son asks if he can grab a couple out of the freezer, I always say yes because these are naturally gluten free, he’s getting nutrition in every bite and he’s getting some protein! Oh…and the best part about these is that they are no-bake! You cook your quinoa and throw the other ingredients into a bowl, roll them into balls and freeze!
My mom used to make those no-bake chocolate oatmeal peanut butter cookies when I was a kid. Do you remember those? Well, these Quinoa Protein Bites taste exactly like those cookies! And with that being said ya’ll…go get started making these! They taste like cookies, but they are healthy! I can’t stop raving about each little bite! Just like I say at the end of my video, Happy Eats!
Looking For More Easy Snacks?
No-Bake Quinoa Protein Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked
- 1 cup oats, gluten free, raw, not cooked
- 1/4 cup maple syrup, light or dark
- 2 Tablespoons ground flax seed
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- powdered sugar, optional
Instructions
- Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cook the quinoa according to package instructions.
- Once the quinoa is cooked, combine all ingredients in a bowl, stir until well incorporated.
- Using your hands, roll the mixture into small balls. You can make them into 1 inch or 2 inch balls.
- Put the balls on the lined baking sheet and put into the freezer for 6 hours.
- Once they've frozen, transfer them into a freezer safe ziplock bag and store in the freezer.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Pin these Quinoa Protein Bites to your favorite SNACK board on Pinterest!
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Ok so I love quinoa. I have never used it this way. We have the grandkids for 2 days a week this summer. Today we made granola bars. Next week I think these should be next in line. Printing the recipe off right now.
Your kids are going to love these! My son has me make these for him all the time!! At least a batch a week! Amazingly yummy snack!! And healthy!
Love your first video! I just started video this year and felt EXACTLY how you felt…now I find myself always wanting to do it!
These protein bites look AMAZING!
Awe – thanks!!! These make for the best little snacks!!
These look GREAT! I love protein bites because I never eat enough protein during the day. I’m going to try making these with almond butter… NOM
Enjoy and let me know how you like them!!
Since it’s over 100 here today, you had my attention with the words “no bake.” These really look amazing. What also looks amazing is your video. I still haven’t taken that plunge, but I thank you for the tip that I will need “scenes” for any recipe videos that I make once I get over being so scared. You really did a great job. Congratulations!
Awe – thanks! These are so perfect for a cool HEALTHY treat in the summertime!
These look delicious!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe. Nice job on the video as well:)
Thanks!! I hope you enjoy!
I’m always making protein bites so I need to add in some quinoa with these. Great idea!
Yep – quinoa has protein too so add it in and get that extra benefit!!
I could go for a quick burst of energy from these bites right now! Not to mention, they just looks so tasty! I’ll take one or two or three please!
That’s typically the amount I pop in my mouth for a snack!!
These look like an awesome option for a protein packed snack! I love how easy they are to put together and have on hand for a healthy treat!
These are a healthy little quick treat! I typically pop 2-3 into my mouth!
These look great! I just happen to have all the ingredients so they are going on my “must make” list to try ASAP! Great work with the video – you’ve inspired me to get back work on shooting my first one!
So cool! Glad I inspired you!!
Oh, I know what you mean about the video – I haven’t brought myself up to it yet! But yes – scenes, storyboards, the whole nine yards – they’re the recipe. (I don’t know videos. I do know theatre. They’re the script…) Best to go in knowing what you’re going to do. Oh, and -[ protein bites… LOL yes, a good snack is so valuable!
Thanks! yeah – it takes a bit to get used to!! I’m glad you liked it though!!