Instant Pot Quinoa is the fastest hands-off side dish with only 4 ingredients! Whip up this ancient grain in no time flat with a little vegetable broth, oil, and salt.
INSTANT POT QUINOA RECIPE
I love quinoa, but I don't love cooking it. This Instant Pot Quinoa recipe lets me wander the kitchen while my beloved kitchen appliance does all the work! I prefer white quinoa, but you can also use red quinoa or black quinoa in this recipe.
You only need four ingredients for this quinoa recipe — quinoa, oil, salt, and water — so it's a great last-minute side dish. Dress it up or serve it plain!
I love to make vegetarian burrito bowls with this quinoa recipe and my just-as-fast Instant Pot Black Beans that don't need a second of soaking!
INGREDIENTS IN INSTANT POT QUINOA
Quinoa: This ancient grain has become super popular — and for good reason! It's gluten free, packed with protein, and one of the few plant foods that contain enough of all 9 essential amino acids! Make sure you wash it before you start cooking.
Vegetable broth: You can use water instead, but vegetable broth gives this quick side dish a super rich flavor!
Salt: Simple table salt helps bring out the natural flavors of the quinoa
Oil: You need the added oil for this Instant Pot quinoa recipe to reduce sticking and foaming as it cooks. Any neutral oil you prefer is fine here.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you!
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT QUINOA
- First, rinse the quinoa in a mesh strainer and remove any unwanted bits.
- Then, add the drained quinoa and water (or vegetable broth!) to the Instant Pot.
- Next, add the salt.
- Then, add the oil.
- Now, stir everything together and close the Instant Pot.
- Finally, set the vent knob to seal and let the pressure cooker do the work! Cook the quinoa on high pressure for 1 minute. Then, when the timer goes off, let it naturally release for about 12 minutes before quickly releasing the rest. Fluff with a fork and serve!
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH INSTANT POT QUINOA
I like to leave the stove off when I'm using my Instant Pot. Thankfully, my air fryer helps me achieve that dream!
These Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms are super tender and ready in just 20 minutes.
Squash is a staple in my house, and these Air Fryer Zucchini Boats can be made with almost anything for a low-carb dinner.
HOW LONG DOES QUINOA LAST?
Quinoa is a GREAT pantry staple because it can last years, literally, before you should toss it.
Red, white, and black quinoa all last up to 3 years from the production date. Most packages have a best by date instead of an expiration date, so don't toss it just because the best by date has passed!
Unless there are obvious signs of spoilage, such as mold, quinoa will only taste less and less fresh as it ages.
HOW LONG DOES COOKED QUINOA LAST?
I make so many meal prep dishes with quinoa because it lasts so long in the refrigerator!
Cooked quinoa lasts about a week in the fridge.
You can also whip up large batches and freeze them for up to a year. This quinoa recipe is so fast you'd be better off making a fresh batch of Instant Pot Quinoa since frozen quinoa loses its texture over time.
CAN YOU COOK QUINOA IN A RICE COOKER?
You can totally make quinoa in a rice cooker, too! I got a rice cooker a few years ago as a gift and thought I'd never use it. Boy, was I wrong!
It makes perfectly fluffy rice every time without checking the stove every few minutes.
To make quinoa in a rice cooker, you want 2 cups of water for every cup of quinoa. Set the cooker to a white rice setting if you have it, or just rice if you don't. Let it cool a few minutes before serving.
MORE YUMMY INSTANT POT RECIPES
The Instant Pot is my favorite kitchen appliance. It can do SO much!
I'm always making soup in my pressure cooker, and this Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup is a fall soup staple.
Skip the packaged stuff and make this Instant Pot Ramen JUST as fast! Plus, you know what's in this ramen recipe.
This Instant Pot Taco Soup is one of my favorites because it's super versatile. I bet you have most of these things in your pantry now!
Looking for more lightning fast side dishes? These Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes are perfect for eating whole, mashing, casseroles, or adding to other dishes!
I love these vegetarian Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers for a great weeknight dinner or easy party food.
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Instant Pot Quinoa
Equipment
- Mesh strainer
- Instant Pot
- Wooden spoon
Instructions
- Start by rinsing the quinoa. Remove any unwanted pieces, and strain out the water.
- Add quinoa to the Instant Pot.
- Add water or vegetable broth.
- Add salt and oil. Stir to combine.
- Lock the Instant Pot and set knob to seal. Press manual, then select high pressure. Set timer for 1 minute.
- Once timer goes off, let Instant Pot naturally release for 12 minutes. Carefully quick release remaining pressure.
- Fluff quinoa with a fork before serving.
Notes
- This recipe is easily tripled.
I used this method to do my meal prep for the week. It was awesome not using the stove for quinoa! I had so much room to do everything else.
So glad you found it helpful in the kitchen!
Can one cook the quinoa in the ninja foodie
Hello, I am not sure, I don't have a ninja and haven't tried it. If you try, please come back and let me know if it worked 🙂
Made this for dinner and it was great. So easy!