41 Best Quinoa Recipes (Healthy + Versatile)
It’s no secret that we love quinoa! It’s a versatile, healthy, and tasty ingredient that we can’t get enough of. If you are new to quinoa or looking for inspirational quinoa recipes, you’ve landed at the right place with 40+ healthy and easy-to-make quinoa recipes!
WHY WE LOVE QUINOA!
Quinoa, often referred to as a “superfood,” is a highly nutritious, gluten-free seed that has been gaining popularity worldwide for its impressive health benefits and culinary versatility.
This ancient grain, native to the Andean region of South America, has been a staple in the diets of the indigenous people for thousands of years.
Pronounced “keen-wah,” it is actually a seed from the Chenopodium quinoa plant, closely related to beets, spinach, and amaranth.
Quinoa is unique because it is one of the few plant-based sources of complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids our bodies need.
It is also rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals such as magnesium, iron, and zinc. Plus, quinoa is a low-glycemic index food, making it an excellent choice for those monitoring their blood sugar levels.
The mild, nutty flavor of quinoa, combined with its fluffy texture, makes it an ideal alternative to rice or couscous in a variety of dishes. It can be easily incorporated into breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes, as well as side dishes and desserts.
Now let’s explore 40+ delicious and healthy quinoa recipes that showcase the incredible versatility of this wonder grain!
🌾 41 BEST QUINOA RECIPES
We have compiled our favorite quinoa recipes from the archives that range from soups, chili, burgers, salads, and more! Each recipe includes full nutrition information in the recipe card, and most include tips and substitution ideas!
CRUNCHY THAI QUINOA SALAD
Crunchy Thai Quinoa Salad is a fan-favorite for good reason. It features a rainbow mix of crisp and crunchy veggies tossed with a creamy almond dressing for a healthy vegan lunch, dinner, or meal prep!
SMOKY BLACK BEAN BURGERS
Simple and delicious, these smoky black bean burgers are 100% vegan and can be made in the oven, on the stovetop, or grilled to perfection!
BLACK BEAN + QUINOA BURRITOS (VEGAN FREEZER BURRITOS)
Vegan freezer burritos with black beans and quinoa are the BEST! Loaded with veggies and protein-packed, they are an easy freezer-friendly meal, so you can eat some now and save some for later.
APPLE QUINOA SALAD + TAHINI MAPLE DRESSING
This Apple Quinoa Salad + Tahini Maple Dressing is a delicious and healthy salad that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is packed with nutrients and fiber, and it is also gluten-free and vegan!
WINTER SALAD + CITRUS GINGER DRESSING
This winter salad is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy the flavors of the season. The citrus and ginger dressing is light and refreshing, and it pairs perfectly with the hearty greens and fruit!
VEGAN QUINOA SALAD (HEALTHY + EASY)
Easy Vegan Quinoa Salad features colorful veggies, protein-rich edamame, and a zesty garlic-lemon dressing. It’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or make-ahead meals!
KALE & QUINOA SALAD
A quick and easy Kale and Quinoa Salad that’s healthy and delicious! It’s ready in about 30 minutes and perfect for a light lunch, dinner, or make-ahead meal.
COWBOY CAVIAR QUINOA SALAD
Come one, come all – gather around this healthy quinoa cowboy caviar and feast. We love this healthy and veggie-packed salad for gatherings or meal prep!
SWEET POTATO & QUINOA CHILI
Full of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, this easy Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili is thick, hearty, and always a good thing!
CAJUN QUINOA CAKES + LEMON DILL REMOULADE
Cajun Quinoa Cakes are a delicious vegan twist on crab cakes with an amazing creamy sriracha rémoulade!
CURRIED CAULIFLOWER SALAD
Sweetness, a bit of tang, and curry flavors all come together with the roasted cauliflower and quinoa to make a great Curried Cauliflower Salad sensation!
BLACKENED TOFU WITH SAUTEED KALE & QUINOA
Blackened Tofu with Sauteed Kale & Quinoa is a delicious and healthy meal that is perfect for a busy weeknight. This recipe is packed with nutrients and fiber, and it’s also gluten-free and vegan. It’s also great for meal prep, so you can have healthy meals on hand all week long!
STUFFED DELICATA SQUASH + QUINOA, CRANBERRY & PISTACHIO
Flavorful and nutritious stuffed delicata squash is a healthy way to celebrate the fall season! Winter squash is a colorful centerpiece for the holiday table too!
SMOKY LENTIL & QUINOA SOUP
Nutrient-dense and filling, this delicious smoky lentil & quinoa soup is always a winner! Includes stovetop and slow cooker methods.
LEMON QUINOA & CHICKPEA SALAD
Quinoa, chickpeas and diced carrots, bell peppers, cucumber, scallions, parsley, and a big squeeze of lemon make this a light, well-balanced, healthy side or main dish!
QUINOA & WHITE BEAN VEGGIE BURGER
This Quinoa & White Bean Veggie Burger is a healthy and delicious option for a vegetarian or vegan burger. It is made with quinoa, white beans, and a variety of vegetables, making it a nutrient-rich meal!
EASY VEGETABLE CHILI (SLOW COOKER OR STOVETOP)
Easy vegetable chili is customizable, easy to make using a slow cooker or stovetop, and it’s also oil-free and delicious as can be!
CHIMICHURRI NOURISH BOWL
Fresh & zesty chimichurri sauce is a perfect accompaniment to all your nourishing veggie bowls with healthy quinoa and avocado!
ROASTED NOURISH BOWLS
Roasted Nourish Bowls are a delicious and healthy way to get your daily dose of vegetables. This recipe is packed with nutrients and fiber, and it’s also gluten-free and vegan. This bowl is well-rounded and perfect for a quick and easy lunch or dinner!
SPICY QUINOA LENTIL WRAPS + TAHINI SAUCE
These Trader Joe’s inspired spicy lentil wraps with tahini sauce are easy to make, can be made gluten-free by using warmed corn tortillas, and are great for meal prep!
KALE + BLACK BEAN BURRITO BOWL
Packed with heart-smart goodness, this black bean burrito bowl with kale, quinoa, and chipotle dressing is filled with simple ingredients and delicious flavors!
THAI LETTUCE WRAPS (HEALTHY + VEGAN)
These easy Thai Lettuce Wraps with ‘meatballs’ featuring chickpeas and quinoa are a perfectly healthy and delicious vegan lunch or dinner! And it wouldn’t be complete without peanut sauce!
GRILLED PEACH, CORN & ZUCCHINI QUINOA SALAD + LEMON-BASIL VINAIGRETTE
If you’ve never grilled peaches before, this is a perfect recipe to get you started. Get out your grill and give it a go. I know you’re going to love this!
SOUTHWEST QUINOA SALAD
This Southwestern-inspired salad is packed with flavor and nutrients. The quinoa, black beans, and corn provide protein and fiber, while the tomatoes add sweetness and color. This salad is perfect for a light lunch or a healthy side dish!
CUBAN BLACK BEAN + MANGO BOWL
Cuban Black Bean + Mango Bowl is a nutritious and delicious mix of protein-rich Cuban black beans, heart-healthy quinoa, and fresh mango salsa! Instant pot, slow cooker, and stovetop methods.
SESAME QUINOA + TOFU
This sesame quinoa and tofu recipe is a delicious and healthy meal that is perfect for a busy weeknight. It’s packed with nutrients and fiber, and it’s also gluten-free and vegan!
QUINOA CHILI VERDE
Green is good! This vegan Quinoa Chili Verde is filled with tomatillos, poblanos, and mildly spiced, and a nice change from the usual chili routine!
KALE, QUINOA & WHITE BEAN SOUP
This Kale, Quinoa & White Bean Soup is a hearty and satisfying meal that is perfect for a cold winter day. Packed with nutrients and fiber, this soup is also delicious and flavorful and sure to please everyone at the table!
TEX-MEX QUINOA VEGETABLE SOUP
Get your crockpot, Instant Pot, or stovetop ready. This hearty quinoa vegetable soup is oil-free and so simple to make, plus it’s delicious as can be!
VEGETABLE QUINOA SOUP
Bursting with vegetables and flavor, this vegetable quinoa soup recipe is another great vegan soup for the crockpot, Instant Pot, or stovetop!
STRAWBERRY, APPLE + QUINOA SPINACH SALAD
This colorful salad is deliciously light and healthy! It’s packed with goodness and tossed with a simple balsamic dressing. We love making it for an easy lunch, light dinner, or meal prep.
CHERRY PISTACHIO QUINOA SALAD
Plump juicy cherries, richly flavored pistachios, and refreshing mint tossed with heart-healthy quinoa and a light apple cider vinegar dressing. Simple and flavorful!
AUTUMN ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH QUINOA SALAD
Autumn quinoa salad with roasted butternut squash, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and baby kale tossed with an orange-cinnamon dressing is simple, healthy, and delicious!
QUINOA TABBOULEH
A healthy Quinoa Tabbouleh recipe with hemp hearts comes together, creating pleasure for all your senses – visually, texturally, and flavor-wise!
QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS (VEGAN + EASY)
Colorful and easy to make, these Tex-Mex Quinoa Stuffed Peppers are so easy to make. They are a delicious option for lunch, dinner, and meal prep!
QUINOA SALAD WITH ORANGE, CRANBERRY & MINT
Full of classic flavors, this easy quinoa salad makes for a great side dish, lunch, or dinner. Perfect for parties and picnics too. Feel free to add as many clementines and cranberries as you like!
STUFFED ACORN SQUASH WITH QUINOA
Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash with cranberry, chickpeas, and pecan is full of flavor and texture and ready in about 40 minutes! Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
INSTANT POT QUINOA
Perfect quinoa every time! Learn how to make quinoa quickly and easily, right in your pressure cooker, with this failproof Instant Pot Quinoa recipe. It’s totally no-fuss and frees up space on the stove!
QUINOA FRIED ‘RICE’
Healthy Quinoa Fried Rice with vegetables is another wonderful use of quinoa replacing traditional rice! Great alone or with crispy baked tofu.
QUINOA SPANISH RICE
Spanish Quinoa Rice is a quick, easy, and healthy alternative to traditional Spanish rice! It’s grain-free, vegan, and a perfect side to all your favorite Mexican dishes! Includes stovetop and Instant Pot methods.
GREEK QUINOA SALAD
This classic Greek salad gets a quinoa makeover in this healthy and delicious recipe. The quinoa and chickpeas add a boost of protein and fiber, while olives provide a salty and briny flavor. This salad is perfect for a light lunch or a healthy side dish!
BERRY SPINACH QUINOA SALAD
Get fresh with this colorful and healthy Berry Spinach Quinoa Salad with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries all tossed with a lip-smacking citrus dressing. It’s packed with nutrition and tastes as good as it looks!
💁♀️ PRO QUINOA TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Here are some handy tips and hacks for cooking with quinoa. This gluten-free, protein-packed grain is a favorite in my kitchen, and it’s just so versatile. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
Rinse and drain: Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin that can taste bitter. Give your quinoa a thorough rinse in a fine mesh strainer under cold water to remove any saponins and ensure a delicious, mild flavor.
Toast it up: For an extra layer of nutty flavor, toast your quinoa in a dry skillet or pot over medium heat for a few minutes before cooking. Stir it frequently until it starts to smell fragrant and takes on a slightly golden color.
Get the ratio right: The standard quinoa-to-water ratio is 1:2, but I find that using just a little less water (about 1¾ cups water per cup of quinoa) results in fluffier, more tender quinoa. Give it a try and see what you think!
Season while cooking: Add a pinch of salt and your favorite spices or aromatics (like garlic, onion, or a bay leaf) to the cooking water. This will infuse the quinoa with flavor as it cooks, making it even more delicious.
Let it steam: Once your quinoa has absorbed all the water, remove it from the heat and let it sit, covered, for about 5 minutes. This allows the quinoa to steam and get perfectly fluffy. Then, fluff it with a fork before serving.
Quinoa for breakfast: Don’t just think of quinoa as a savory side dish. Cook it in milk or a non-dairy alternative with a little cinnamon, vanilla, and your favorite sweetener for a hearty, warm breakfast bowl. Top it with fresh fruit, nuts, or a dollop of yogurt to make it your own.
Salad booster: Cooked quinoa is a fantastic addition to salads, giving them extra texture and a nutritional boost. Toss it with your favorite greens, veggies, and a zesty dressing for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
Make-ahead magic: Cook a big batch of quinoa at the beginning of the week, then store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Having it on hand makes it easy to whip up quick meals like stir-fries, stuffed peppers, or grain bowls.
I hope these quinoa tips and hacks inspire you to get creative in the kitchen and explore the many ways you can use this fantastic grain. Enjoy experimenting, and happy cooking!
MORE ROUNDUPS!
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- 30 Vegan Dinner Recipes (Satisfying + Flavorful)
- See all recipe roundups on TSV!
For more recipes using specific ingredients, be sure to check out the ingredient index page for more delicious recipes!