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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!

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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!

top down view of crunchy thai quinoa salad in a bowl with serving spoon.

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!

head on view of smoky black bean burgers.

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!

top down view of black bean and quinoa freezer burrito sliced in half.

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.

top down view of apple quinoa salad in a serving bowl.

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!

top down view of winter salad with dressing in a bowl and items surrounding.

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!

top down view of vegan quinoa salad in a bowl with spoon.

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!

top down view of kale and quinoa salad in serving bowl with spoon.

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.

top down view of cowboy caviar quinoa salad in a bowl with items surrounding.

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!

head on view of quinoa chili in a bowl with spoon.

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!

top down view of quinoa cakes on a platter with items surrounding.

CAJUN QUINOA CAKES + LEMON DILL REMOULADE

Cajun Quinoa Cakes are a delicious vegan twist on crab cakes with an amazing creamy sriracha rémoulade!

top down view of curried cauliflower salad in a bowl.

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!

top down view of blackened tofu, kale and quinoa on a black plate with fork.

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!

top down view of stuffed delicata squash stuffed with quinoa mix.

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!

top down view of smoky lentil and quinoa soup in a bowl with spoon.

SMOKY LENTIL & QUINOA SOUP

Nutrient-dense and filling, this delicious smoky lentil & quinoa soup is always a winner! Includes stovetop and slow cooker methods.

top down view of lemon quinoa and chickpea salad in a white bowl.

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!

head on view of white bean and quinoa veggie burger on a plate.

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!

top down view of vegetable chili in a bowl with items surrounding.

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!

top down view of a black bowl with roasted veggies, quinoa, and chimichurri.

CHIMICHURRI NOURISH BOWL

Fresh & zesty chimichurri sauce is a perfect accompaniment to all your nourishing veggie bowls with healthy quinoa and avocado!

top down view of roasted nourish bowl with quinoa.

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!

top down view of quinoa lentil wraps cut in half and held.

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!

top down view of kale and black bean burrito bowl with quinoa.

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!

top down view of thai lettuce wraps on a plate with items surrounding.

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!

top down view of quinoa salad with grilled peach, corn, and zucchini in a serving bowl.

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!

top down view of healthy southwest quinoa salad.

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!

top down view of plated cuban black bean and mango bowl with quinoa with items surrounding.

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.

top down view of bowl filled with sesame quinoa and tofu.

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!

side angle view of verde quinoa chili in a bowl.

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!

top down view of bowl full of kale, quinoa and white bean soup with spoon.

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!

top down view of tex-mex quinoa veggie soup in a bowl.

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!

top down view of vegetable quinoa soup in a bowl with items surrounding.

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!

up close view of strawberry, apple, and quinoa spinach salad.

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.

top down view of cherry pistachio quinoa salad on a platter.

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!

top down view of roasted butternut squash quinoa salad in a bowl.

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!

top down view of quinoa tabbouleh in a serving bowl with serving spoons.

QUINOA TABBOULEH

A healthy Quinoa Tabbouleh recipe with hemp hearts comes together, creating pleasure for all your senses – visually, texturally, and flavor-wise!

top down view of quinoa stuffed peppers in a roasting pan.

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!

top down view of quinoa salad with orange, cranberry and mint in a large serving bowl.

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!

top down view of stuffed acorn squash on a baking sheet.

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.

head on view of freshly made instant pot quinoa.

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!

top down view of a bowl of quinoa fried 'rice'.

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.

side angle view of quinoa spanish rice in a bowl.

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.

side angle view of greek quinoa salad in a bowl with spoon.

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!

side angle view of berry spinach quinoa salad with dressing being poured on top of it.

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!

For more recipes using specific ingredients, be sure to check out the ingredient index page for more delicious recipes!

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