These quinoa recipes make it easy to incorporate this ancient grain into delicious meals! Try quinoa salad, chili, tacos and more.

Easy quinoa recipes

Quinoa (KEEN-wah) is one of the world’s most perfect foods (according to some!), due to its high nutritional content. It’s actually a seed, not a grain, which makes it naturally gluten free. Quinoa is high in protein, calcium, Vitamin B, and iron. Fun fact: apparently the Incas thought it was sacred, because eating it regularly appeared to provide a long, healthy life.

How to incorporate this superfood in your everyday? Here are all the top easy quinoa recipes to do so, from quinoa salad to chili, tacos, grain bowls and more. All these quinoa meals and dishes have become family favorites and we hope they will in yours too!

And now…our top easy quinoa recipes!

How to cook quinoa

There are a few ways to cook quinoa. Over the years, Alex and I have messed up quinoa numerous times: cooking it too fast so it’s hard and crunchy, or overcooking it so it’s mushy. I will say, how to cook quinoa is not a simple matter! We have two methods we like to use to cook quinoa:

  1. Perfect Quinoa on the Stovetop This is our master recipe for cooking quinoa on the stovetop and the correct quinoa to water ratio. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes, and it requires a little baby sitting to make sure the liquid is cooking out evenly, but it’s mostly hands off.
  2. Instant Pot Quinoa (Pressure Cooker) If you have a pressure cooker, you can use it to make quinoa! It takes about 16 minutes and is almost totally hands off! This is the method we’ve started to use more often, since we have an Instant Pot. Get it: 6 Quart Instant Pot

Quinoa nutrition

Last up: is quinoa healthy? Yes, this superfood is loaded with nutritional benefits! Here’s a breakdown (data source: Quinoa Nutrition):

  • Quinoa is a plant-based protein powerhouse. 1 cup quinoa has 8 grams protein or about 16% of your daily value.
  • It’s loaded with fiber. 1 cup quinoa has 5 grams fiber, or about 20% your daily need.
  • Quinoa is a good source of antioxidants and minerals. It provides more magnesium, iron, and zinc than many common grains.

How does quinoa stack up against rice? See Quinoa vs Rice: Which is Better?

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How to season quinoa

15 Easy Quinoa Recipes


  • Author: Sonja
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Here’s a basic quinoa recipe that’s seasoned so it tastes irresistible! This recipe will convince even quinoa haters take another bite.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup dry quinoa (or 3 cups cooked and skip Step 1 and 2)*
  • 1 tablespoon butter (olive oil or coconut oil for vegan)
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Optional: ¼ cup finely chopped fresh herbs, like chives, basil, dill, oregano, thyme, cilantro, or Italian parsley, ¼ cup feta cheese crumbles

Instructions

  1. Rinse the quinoa using a fine mesh strainer, then drain completely. Place quinoa in a saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer where the water is just bubbling for about 15 to 17 minutes, until the water has been completely absorbed. Check by pulling back the quinoa with a fork to see if water remains.
  2. Turn off the heat and let sit with the lid on to steam for 5 minutes, then fluff the quinoa with a fork.
  3. Stir in the butter, dried oregano, garlic powder, and kosher salt. If using fresh herbs, stir in the herbs (and feta cheese, if using). Taste and add additional salt if necessary.

Notes

*Other seasoning options: Mix the quinoa with ¼ cup basil pesto, or stir in 2 teaspoons Italian seasoningherbes de Provence, or Greek seasoning.

  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Quinoa recipes, Quinoa, Easy quinoa recipes

Looking for more easy quinoa recipes?

Outside of these featured quinoa meals, here are a few more quinoa dishes that we love:

Last updated: September 2020

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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