How to Cook Quinoa + Best Quinoa Recipes
Find out how to cook perfect fluffy quinoa. Plus get the best quinoa recipes from breakfast, to salad, to main dishes.
I’ve been asked a few times recently about cooking perfect fluffy quinoa. Several friends mentioned that their quinoa often turns out too mushy, and others had questions about the most delicious ways to use quinoa. Some just said they plain didn’t like it and wondered if there is a way to make it “taste good.” I get it – quinoa can be a little “blah” but it can be a really tasty, filling, nutritious ingredient too.
So I put together this comprehensive post all about quinoa: how to cook quinoa, tips and tricks, and my favorite quinoa recipes! You can think of this as the cousin to my How to Cook Lentils + the Best Lentil Recipes and How to Cook Chickpeas + Best Chickpea Recipes posts! Be sure to pin this post to Pinterest, as I plan to add more quinoa recipes as I make them!
What is Quinoa
While most people think of quinoa as a grain, it’s actually a seed. Quinoa plants are really cool looking: tall and skinny, in a variety of colors, covered in edible greens and seeds. If you have a green thumb (I don’t) you can even grow quinoa plants at home. And while those new to this ancient seed may feel like it’s a new vegan hippie ingredient, it’s actually been used for thousands of years. Quinoa is a complete plant-based protein that’s a delicious, hearty, and nutritious addition to many recipes from salads, to soups and stews, to breakfast bowls. It’s a great alternative to rice, cous cous, and other small grains.
Types of Quinoa:
- White: I personally use white quinoa most of the time as it has a mild flavor and soft texture that works well in salads.
- Red: I find red quinoa to have a nuttier flavor and chewier texture than white. It works well for heartier recipes like veggie burgers, but some people love it in breakfast porridge and salads too.
- Tricolor: A mix of white, red, and black quinoa.
Where to Buy Quinoa
You can find quinoa in most grocery stores (at least in the US) these days in the rice and grain aisle. Trader Joe’s carries both white and tricolor quinoa in bags. My recommendation is to go plastic-free and get your quinoa in the bulk bins at a grocery store like Whole Foods or Sprouts. It’s usually less expensive and better for the environment. Just ask if you can bring your own jars.
How to Cook Quinoa on the Stovetop
Stovetop is probably the most common way to cook quinoa, so I’ll focus on that method here. Keep reading for microwave, Instant Pot, and rice cooker instructions.
Step 1: Rinse and drain the quinoa unless using a pre-rinsed quinoa such as Ancient Harvest. Notice how much water is still left on the drained quinoa – this will affect how much water you want to add to the pan. A ratio of 1:2 (quinoa to water) is standard. If your quinoa is still wet from rinsing, you can reduce the water to about 1 3/4 cup per cup of quinoa.
Step 2: Add quinoa and water or vegetable broth to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
Step 3: Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover the pot. Cook for about 10-15 minutes, undisturbed, until the water is absorbed. A glass lid is helpful here.
You’ll know the quinoa is done when it’s translucent, soft, and the white germ is visible.
Step 4: Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork.
How to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker
You can cook quinoa in a rice cooker the same way you would cook rice. Simply add 1 part quinoa and 2 parts water to the rice cooker and give it a stir. Cook as usual.
How to Cook Quinoa in the Microwave
Add 1 cup of quinoa and 1 3/4 cup water to a microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave for 4 minutes. Stir and continue microwaving for 2 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
How to Cook Quinoa in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
I cook quinoa in the Instant Pot 90% of the time. For me it’s the easiest and most fool-proof. Please see How to Cook Quinoa in the Instant Pot.
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Quinoa
- For more flavor cook in vegetable broth instead of water.
- To avoid mushy quinoa, use 1 3/4 cups water to 1 cup quinoa, rather than the often called for 2:1 ratio. If there is too much water at the end, simmer on low uncovered.
- Add flavor by seasoning with a tiny amount of extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt, or your favorite vinaigrette.
How to Use Quinoa
- Add to salads
- Simmer with soups
- A bed for Buddha Bowls
- Soak up Chickpea Curry
- As an oat alternative in porridge
- Stuffed in tomatoes, peppers, or squash
- In place of rice
- Bake in a Casserole
- Cook with warm broth while stirring to make quinoa risotto
Common Questions
Is Quinoa Gluten Free?
Yes! Quinoa is a great alternative to pasta, farro, and other gluten-filled grains. You can even find quinoa flour for baking. However, quinoa can be cross-contaminated during processing, so it’s always a good idea to check packaging if you’re sensitive.
How much does quinoa expand?
One cup of dry quinoa will equal about 3 cups of cooked quinoa.
How many calories are in one cup of cooked quinoa?
According to VeryWellFit, one cup of quinoa has 222 calories. Though quinoa isn’t high in calories if high calorie ingredients like oil are added, that number will quickly rise.
How long does cooked quinoa last?
Cooked quinoa tends to dry out pretty quickly. To store it for later, let quinoa cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate or freeze.
Cooked quinoa lasts:
- Up to 2 hours at room temperature
- 3-5 days in the refrigerator
- 1-2 months in the freezer
Our best vegetarian quinoa recipes, from breakfast to salad to main dishes! Beautiful vegan quinoa salad with delicious summer ingredients. This salad is perfect for bringing to parties or enjoying at home for a light lunch or dinner. Warm and comforting superfood porridge made with quinoa, oats, and blueberry sauce. Fajita vegetable quinoa bowls make an easy and nutritious dinner. These easy burrito bowls feature peppers, corn, black beans, lettuce, guacamole, and more. A hearty high-protein plant-based salad with chopped spinach, chickpeas, quinoa, cucumber, red onion, and pomegranate arils. I love adding avocado to this salad for a deliciously filling lunch. I know it’s the holiday season and that means I should be posting lots of sweets and treats right now, but lately I’ve been craving big […] Roasted acorn squash filled with mushroom quinoa is a hearty vegetarian and vegan autumn dinner perfect for Thanksgiving or any day. This easy slow cooker veggie chili is loaded with healthy ingredients like beans, quinoa, and butternut squash. It's vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free! Roasted winter vegetables come together to create a nourishing and easy dinner. An easy vegetarian bean, quinoa, and sweet potato chili made in the Instant Pot pressure cooker. Wholesome enchiladas filled with quinoa, black beans, and sweet potatoes are an easy and tasty vegetarian dinner. A hearty quinoa salad with baby kale, grapes, pepitas, and feta cheese. This is an excellent salad to make ahead and bring to work for lunch. Delicious, hearty, and nourishing tabbouleh salad with quinoa and chickpeas. This delicious quinoa enchilada bake is an easy, comforting vegetarian dinner recipe the whole family will love. Quinoa Recipes
Quinoa Salad with Avocado, Beans, Corn, and Peaches
Quinoa Breakfast Porridge with Blueberry Sauce
Fajita Quinoa Bowls
Chickpea Quinoa Salad
Mushroom Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash
Slow Cooker Vegan Chili with Quinoa and Butternut Squash
Sheet Pan Buddha Bowls with Tahini Sauce
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
Quinoa, Black Bean, and Sweet Potato Enchiladas
Quinoa Salad with Grapes
Tabouli (tabbouleh) with Quinoa and Chickpeas
Quinoa Enchilada Bake with Black Beans and Butternut Squash
How to Cook Quinoa
Find out how to cook quinoa on the stovetop or rice cooker with this simple recipe for perfect fluffy quinoa.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 1 3/4 cups water or vegetable broth
- Sea salt to taste (optional)
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Place the quinoa and water or broth into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cover the saucepan and cook until the water has absorbed and the quinoa is cooked, about 10-15 minutes. The quinoa is cooked when soft and the germ is visible.
- Fluff the quinoa with a fork.
Notes
Quinoa to Water Ratio: 1:2 is standard, but after rinsing I find using 1 1/2-1 3/4 cup water per cup of quinoa helps avoid soggy quinoa.
How Long Does Quinoa Last: Store cooked quinoa in an airtight container in the refrigerator 3-5 days or up to 2 months in the freezer.
How to Cook Quinoa in Rice Cooker: Cook quinoa in the rice cooker just like you would cook rice, with a 1:2 ratio or a little less water if quinoa is wet from rinsing.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 222Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 5gProtein: 8g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your favorite calculator.
