25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (2024)

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These are the best 30 Easy Quinoa Recipes for healthy whole-grain breakfasts, dinner, snacks, and desserts!

One of my favorite things about quinoa is how easy it is to prepare (see here for my guide on how to make perfect stovetop quinoa every time).

It's also an incredibly versatile grain. From sweet to savory, you can enjoy quinoa in dozens of delicious ways. It works at breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.

The 25 quinoa recipes on this list include my quickest and easiest. From one-pan meal prep recipes to 30-minute dinners, you'll find unique and healthy gluten-free, vegan and meat-based recipes featuring my favorite grain.

If you're short on time or just love a simple recipe, here are our 25 best recipes for quinoa that are fast, easy, and delicious.

30 Best Fast and Easy Quinoa Recipes

Best Quinoa Breakfast Recipes

  • Healthy Carrot Cake Smoothie is bright and vibrant with a healthy dose of vitamin C and protein. The best part? It tastes like dessert for breakfast!
  • Quinoa Breakfast Tacos with Kale + Butternut Squash. This recipe unites the nutrition powerhouses quinoa and kale in this savory breakfast that's as fast to make as it is to eat!
  • Healthy Chocolate Quinoa Breakfast Bowl is a decadent and inviting morning meal. Chocolate adds antioxidants, while quinoa brings ts the protein to keep you full all morning.
  • Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bake is a warming and hearty baked breakfast with fall flavors.

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (6)

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (7)

Best Easy Quinoa Soup Recipes

  • Coconut milk adds just the right amount of body and creaminess to this dairy-free soup. This bowl is so full of umami flavors it's hard to believe how fast and easy it is to make!
  • Slow Cooker Coconut Quinoa Curry. This one might take a little longer than the super-fast recipes on the list. But thanks to a slow cooker, it couldn't be easier to make this hands-off quinoa curry soup.
  • Spring Vegetable Quinoa Minestrone. Crisp springtime vegetables add freshness, color, and nutrition to this light and healthy vegetable quinoa soup recipe.
  • 30-Minute Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Chowder. That's right: just half an hour to make an insanely creamy and flavor-packed roasted garlic cauliflower chowder perfect for a chilly night.

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (8)

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (9)

Best Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes

  • Green Bean & Almond Quinoa Salad. Snappy green beans meet nutty almonds and quinoa in this wintertime salad that brings the fresh flavors you're craving.
  • Summer Squash + Zucchini Quinoa Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts. Celebrate fresh produce with this summery salad. Toasted pine nuts add a touch of buttery flavor and crunchy texture to this fast and easy grain salad.
  • Asian Quinoa Power Salad. Reinvent your typical quinoa bowl with this crunchy, colorful, and just-spicy-enough power salad. Cooked quinoa absorbs the zippy flavors from the Asian dressing for a totally addicting result.
  • Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Feta has bright, refreshing summer flavors with creamy feta cheese.

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (10)

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (11)

Best Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes with Quinoa

  • Quinoa isn't just for grain bowls! Make a crisp, flavorful pizza for dinner topped with your favorite summer produce.
  • 10 Minute Vegetable Quinoa “Fried Rice”. This quinoa dinner recipe couldn't be faster to make or more satisfying. Use any of your favorite quick-cooking veggies to amp up the color and flavors.
  • Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. Fill tender sweet potatoes with the Mexican flavors for a filling and fast vegetarian weeknight dinner.
  • Cilantro Lime Black Bean Quinoa Tacos. Vegetarian tacos get an upgrade from black beans, whole grains, and a zesty cilantro-lime dressing.
  • Vegan Lentil + Quinoa Meatloaf. You might not believe that this hearty meatloaf is 100% vegetarian. Lentils and quinoa unite to make a meaty, savory loaf that also freezes beautifully.
  • 5-Ingredient Quinoa Mac and Cheese. Yup, just 5 simple ingredients to make this noodle-free mac and cheese. Not only is it healthier than your typical cheesy casserole, but it's also a whole lot easier.
  • Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. Another favorite way to turn a sweet potato into a satisfying dinner or lunch with a creamy homemade dressing.
  • Curry Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowls. This classic quinoa bowl recipe has earthy flavors from roasted root vegetables and chickpeas, plus fresh crunch from kale.

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (12)

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (13)

Easy Snack Recipes with Quinoa

  • No-Bake Peanut Butter Power Bars. You'll be so glad you made a batch of these no-bake protein bars for the week. Enjoy the rich, creamy flavor of peanut butter in a packable, healthy homemade snack.
  • . Dunkable buffalo bites get a healthy makeover from quinoa and a fast plant-based ranch dip.
  • Mini Quinoa Pizza Bites with Hummus + Crispy Chickpeas. Throw back to your childhood favorite bagel bites with these healthy mini pizzas with creamy hummus and crunchy chickpeas.
  • Crunchy Toasted Coconut Butter Quinoa Bites. Coconut butter is the key to crunchy, nutty quinoa bites perfect to power you through the afternoon slump.
  • Superfood Chocolate Quinoa Bars are a crunchy sweet snack packed with nutrition that satisfies your sweet tooth.

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (14)

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (15)

Easy Quinoa Dessert Recipes

  • Whether you dig into this quinoa chia pudding for breakfast or dessert, it's guaranteed to satisfy your sweet craving.
  • Fudgy Salted Quinoa Brownies. These brownies are insanely fudgy and chocolaty with a secret boost of protein from cooked quinoa.
  • Turtle Cookie Quinoa Energy Bites. These packable, nutty bites are super easy to make and offer the energy boost you're looking for without a sugar rush.
  • Healthy “Reese's” Quinoa Crispy Treats are a fun and nutty homemade treat for Halloween.
  • Apple Upside Down Cake (Gluten-Free) has jammy apples and a nutty almond and quinoa flour crust.

If you make any of these easy quinoa recipes, let me know what you think with a comment below!

25 Super Easy Quinoa Recipes | Simply Quinoa (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to quinoa to make it tastier? ›

Serving suggestions: I love to stir a drizzle of olive oil and clove of garlic into warm quinoa for extra flavor. Other options include chopped fresh spinach or arugula, or massaged kale. Fresh herbs and/or dried spices are nice, as well as grated or crumbled cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pitted and sliced olives, etc.

What is the ratio of quinoa to water? ›

The basic ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid. You can use water (season it with a bit of kosher salt), or you can use any kind of broth (we like to use low-sodium broths and add any extra salt to the finished dish as needed). You can also add a bit of dry white wine to the liquid for another layer of flavor.

What is the healthiest way to eat quinoa? ›

Toss it in salads.

Quinoa is a complete source of protein and makes a great addition to a healthy salad. The combination of fiber, protein and healthy fats can turn a light side salad into a robust entrée.

What happens if you don't rinse quinoa? ›

It wasn't a huge difference in texture, but definitely noticeable. Rinsing quinoa definitely starts to hydrate the seeds. Flavor – In terms of flavor, the unrinsed quinoa definitely had a nuttier, earthier flavor, but I didn't find it bitter at all. The rinsed quinoa was definitely milder and the flavors more muted.

Why should you soak quinoa before cooking? ›

*Soaking grains helps to remove some of the naturally occurring phytic acid in the grain, which helps improve digestibility and speed cook time. To soak: Rinse quinoa thoroughly then add to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (2 cups water, 1 cup quinoa).

Why do I feel better after eating quinoa? ›

Quinoa is a nutritious choice for people looking for plant-based protein sources—it's a complete protein, containing all nine of the essential amino acids. Plus, its dietary fiber may help improve your digestion. Likewise, its fiber and protein content can help make you feel more satiated than other grains.

Why is my quinoa so bitter after cooking? ›

If your quinoa still tastes bitter, there is likely still some saponin left on the quinoa. A small amount of saponin will produce enough bitterness to affect a whole bag.

What is best to eat with quinoa? ›

Quinoa's got the carbs covered, so you'll likely want to add some additional protein (eggs, lentils, beans, tofu, chicken), a fat (olive oil, nuts, butter, cheese), and, ideally, some kind of fruit or vegetable (broccoli, berries, squash, spinach).

What is the golden ratio for quinoa? ›

The golden ratio is one cup of quinoa to one and three-quarter cups of water. Using these proportions can save you from a pot of mushy, overcooked, gummy quinoa. Before cooking, you should rinse the grains to remove their saponins, or bitter-tasting compounds, and also toast them in a skillet to develop their flavor.

Why did my quinoa come out mushy? ›

One Part Quinoa to Two Parts Water

It all comes down to texture. Add too little water and your grains may burn on the bottom of the pot before they cook through. Add too much water and you'll end up with soggy, overcooked, and mushy grains.

How much does 1 cup of quinoa make? ›

Now that your quinoa is rinsed or toasted, it's time to cook it. For 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, you'll want to use 2 cups of water—this will yield 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the temperature to medium-low and pop the lid on securely.

Does quinoa burn belly fat? ›

It is very healthy due to its plant chemical contents that cause the secretion of appetite-suppressing hormones that curb your appetite. 25. Quinoa: High in protein, quinoa keeps you full with its high levels of plant-based proteins. It decreases your appetite and promotes belly fat decrease.

Is quinoa a carb or protein? ›

Quinoa is considered a carbohydrate because it contains many carbs per serving. Although it contains some protein, the macronutrient distribution is closer to what you find in other grains and starches.

Is quinoa actually healthier than rice? ›

Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice. Unlike rice, quinoa fibers help to lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. Unlike rice, quinoa reduces your blood fat levels after a meal called triglycerides. Quinoa has a higher amount of all essential amino acids.

How do you keep quinoa from getting mushy? ›

The ratio I've had success with every single time is 1 cup quinoa to 1 3/4 cups water. Many boxes call for a 1:2 ratio, which I've found is more likely to result in an overcooked, gummy pot of quinoa.

How do you cook quinoa so it's not bitter? ›

And one final note before you cook: Quinoa is coated in naturally occurring insecticides called saponins. They can give the grain a bitter taste and make it difficult to digest, so make sure to rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer before putting it on the stove. Once you've rinsed it, you're ready to cook!

How do you soak quinoa to get the bitterness out of it? ›

Soak or rinse the quinoa first.

Soaking quinoa in water may help to lower its phytic acid content, and at the same time, it may also help to remove the saponin found in its natural coating. (This can give quinoa a bitter taste.)

Should you stir quinoa while cooking? ›

Stay vigilant: Stir the grains constantly to avoid burning, watching for that perfect golden moment, around 6 to 8 minutes. Water is this grain's go-to companion, but other liquids–think low-sodium chicken, mushroom or vegetable broth–add flavor. Just keep the ratio 2 cups liquid to 1 cup quinoa.

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