23 Quinoa Recipes to Bring Whole Grains to Every Meal (2024)

Quinoa Pilaf

If rice pilaf is a go-to side dish for you, try swapping it with this fiber-rich quinoa recipe. This easy healthy side is packed with fresh veggies including mushrooms, onions, kale or spinach, and zucchini. Serve with cooked chicken breast for a quick and healthy meal.

Quinoa-Nectarine Gazpacho with Crispy Spiced Tortilla Strips

A chilled soup like this one is perfect for warm days when you don't feel like heating up the kitchen while cooking. Enjoy fresh flavors in this gazpacho containing added protein and fiber from quinoa and a juicy boost from ripe summer fruit. This quinoa dish will be a great addition to your summer menu.

Buy It: Organic Quinoa, 30-ounce ($9, Target)

Honey-Soaked Quinoa Salad with Cherries and Cashews

This nutrient-packed quinoa recipe picks up hints of ginger, lime, garlic, and sweet cherries. The homemade honey vinaigrette is so good, you might even want to make extra to keep on hand for all your salads. When cooking quinoa, make sure to rinse it first through a fine-mesh sieve. Quinoa contains a natural coating called saponin, which can often give a soapy or bitter taste.

Pizza Margherita Quinoa Casserole

Who needs crust? All the pizza fans in the house will adore this healthier take on pizza. Here our Test Kitchen made an incredible one-pot meal that starts by cooking the quinoa on the stove. From there, the casserole gets topped with cheese and baked until it's bubbly and delicious.

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Mediterranean Quinoa Fried Rice

This easy quinoa recipe takes our favorite stir-fry method for making fried rice and applies it to quinoa with amazing Mediterranean flavors. Four veggies and nutritious quinoa fuel you with all the healthy things. Kalamata olives and tangy feta add bold flavors and a feeling of indulgence to the dish.

Black-Eyed Pea & Quinoa Salad

Those tiny legumes often enjoyed for luck at the start of a new year are an excellent choice for adding fiber and vitamin A to your meal. Whip up this quinoa salad recipe and store it up to 24 hours before enjoying. Once it's time to eat, gently stir in some avocado for a creamy bite.

Quinoa & Chicken Tabbouleh Bowls

Ready for a stick-to-your-ribs quinoa recipe? Dive into this colorful quinoa bowl studded with fresh veggies and chopped herbs. Oh, and it's a slow-cooker recipe so all you'll have to do is dump in the chicken, liquid, and quinoa. When it's finished, just shred the chicken; add the fresh cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, and green onions, and then chill it until you are ready to eat

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Mixed Berry Breakfast Quinoa

Looking for a hearty, healthy breakfast idea? How about one that fuels you with 7 g protein and 6 g fiber?! A satisfying alternative to oatmeal, this breakfast bowl utilizes very ripe bananas—making it a great option to keep in mind when you are looking to use up bananas that are on their way out.

Broccoli and Tempeh Quinoa Salad

For anyone trying to eat more plant-based these days, this is the protein-packed vegan recipe for you. In just 45 minutes, you'll have four hearty servings of a one-bowl meal that contains a whopping 25 grams of plant-based protein. The tempeh (fermented soybean cake) is the "meat" stand-in here and it gets deliciously crisp and flavorful in a skillet with garlic and peanuts.

Buy It: Cuisinart 10-Inch Nonstick Skillet ($30, Target)

Quinoa-Pumpkin Seed Granola

Yep, quinoa can be turned into a crunchy treat, too. (You can even pop it like popcorn!) Pumpkin seeds, almonds, and oats come together in this tasty quinoa granola. It's a delicious, protein-packed snack all on its own, or try it with sliced fruit and milk or yogurt as a satisfying breakfast option.

Lunch Time Quinoa Salad

Trying to eat better? Swap your takeout lunches for this quick, healthy salad that is simple to customize and packs easily into pint-size jars. The recipe calls for store-bought pesto, but you can also make your own pesto and power it up with jalapeno peppers (if you like things a little spicy) or citrus if you want a brighter flavor.

Cherry-Quinoa Salad

Savory and sweet with a bit of crunch, this nutty, cherry-studded salad is perfect for summer picnics, barbecues, or simple dinners. It also looks especially pretty when served atop a bed of sugar snap peas or cucumber ribbons. If cherries are out of season, just thaw, rinse, and chop some frozen cherries to enjoy this tasty side dish year-round.

Zucchini Cupcakes with Greek Yogurt Frosting

It's not often the words "healthy" and "cupcakes" are used in the same sentence. So what's the secret? Quinoa, applesauce, and zucchini bring a healthy twist to these tasty cupcakes. If you're more of a chocolate fan, take a browse through our roundup of healthy chocolate recipes.

Kale-Quinoa Bowls with Miso Dressing and Tuna

If you're looking for a fresh dinner idea, try this amazing quinoa bowl recipe. Giving tuna a quick sear on the grill will add a delicious flavor to your meal. And as weird as it sounds, it's important to give the kale a good massage to allow it to get nice and tender for eating.

Pressure Cooker Peaches and Cream Breakfast Quinoa

The best part about cooking quinoa in your pressure cooker is that it cooks super fast. With only one minute under pressure, you'll have perfectly cooked quinoa for breakfast. The quick-cooking grain gets an oatmeal-like treatment here with fresh or frozen peaches, vanilla, and a touch of cream. It's lick-the-bowl-clean good.

Quinoa with Roasted Beets and Thyme Vinaigrette

Roasted beets and garlic combine with fluffy cooked quinoa and a sprinkling of fresh thyme to create a unique and hearty side dish that you'll want to pin or keep in your recipe box. A bit of crumbled feta or ricotta salata will add a nice tangy finish, but you can substitute 1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives to keep it vegan. If you're new to cooking with beets, use our Test Kitchen's tips for roasting them to perfection.

Greek Quinoa and Avocado Salad

With four stars and more than 100 reviews, this might be one of our best quinoa recipes ever. Fresh vegetables, creamy avocados, and savory feta cheese team up with quinoa for a quick quinoa recipe that can work for a vegetarian main dish or side. Brush avocado slices with additional lemon juice to prevent browning.

Quinoa Toss with Chickpeas and Herbs

Corn, beets, and fresh herbs take center stage in this easy quinoa recipe. The brightly flavored lemon dressing makes it light and refreshing. The chickpeas add a nice boost of plant-based protein. If it's summer and you've got fresh corn on the cob, put those golden kernels to good use here. Of course, you can easily use frozen corn when fresh is out of season.

Mexican Spatchco*ck Chicken with Quinoa Salad

Spatchco*cking chicken is a process that involves removing the backbone of the chicken, making an impressive display for your main course. Here a unique pepper-and-orange marinade gives this spiced spatchco*ck chicken its bold flavor. Pair with a tropical mango- and black bean-studded quinoa salad for a complete (and totally delicious!) Mexican-inspired meal.

Chipotle Quinoa with Kale, Beans, and Chicken

Simple cooked quinoa gets a jolt of smoky heat from chipotle pepper and a fresh burst from cilantro. A fresh kale and bean salad and adobo-rubbed chicken round out this healthy quinoa recipe. Top with a dollop of sour cream to give it a smooth, tangy bite (and to tame the heat a bit).

Peanut Butter and Fruit Quinoa

Start your day with a protein-packed bowl of PB&J! You can use any spreadable fruit that you have on hand, though strawberry and raspberry preserves compliment the nutty quinoa especially well. Stir in some chopped banana and top with sliced apple and peanuts for a hearty meal that will keep you going all morning long.

Quinoa and Butternut Bowl

If you want an easy quinoa recipe that's loaded with bright flavor, look no further. Put your fresh-from-the-garden parsley, chives, and butternut squash to good use in this delicious quinoa bowl that makes a satisfying breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Bonus points if you top it with a poached egg and some fresh, peppery radish sprouts.

Lemon Shrimp with Spinach Quinoa

Spoilers: This spinach quinoa dish is about to become your favorite summer side dish. The assembly couldn't be simpler and when paired with sauteed shrimp in a lemony sauce, it's a light, healthy meal that is sure to impress.