Instant Pot Quinoa

Learn how to cook fluffy quinoa hands-free with this foolproof Instant Pot quinoa recipe. With the right ratio of quinoa and water combined with the magic of a an electric pressure cooker, you'll have perfect quinoa ready after just 1 minute of pressure cooking. Use it in place of rice in your favorite dinner recipes!

When it comes to meal planning on a budget, knowing how to cook pantry staples like quinoa is essential. Buying whole grains in pre-cooked or instant form is convenient, but comes with a much higher price tag! For example, 1 cup of quinoa cooked from scratch costs about $0.50 per cup. Instant quinoa, on the other hand, costs almost $3 per cup – a 600% markup! 

If you're looking to save as much on groceries as possible, cooking your side dishes from scratch is the way to go. And with an Instant Pot, you can do it effortlessly, with perfect results every single time.

If you're interested in more ways to use your Instant Pot to save on groceries, download my free ebook: 7 Ways an Instant Pot Will Save You Money.

Just 2 Ingredients Needed

• Dry quinoa: This recipe works with any type of quinoa—white quinoa, red quinoa, black quinoa, or a tricolor quinoa. Buying quinoa in bulk from places like Costco or other discount grocery store will make this more expensive grain as cheap as possible. Then, store it properly, and it will keep fresh for months.
• Cooking liquid: Cooking quinoa in water keeps it simple and easy to use in sweeter recipes like Creamy Quinoa Porridge, but using vegetable broth can yield a richer, more flavorful quinoa.

How to Make Instant Pot Quinoa

1. Rinse the quinoa: Start by rinsing 2 cups of quinoa under cold water using a fine-mesh strainer. This removes the saponin, a natural coating that can give quinoa a bitter taste.
2. Add ingredients to Instant Pot: Combine the rinsed quinoa and 3 cups of water in the Instant Pot. Stir to mix well.

3. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure: Secure the lid and set the valve to the “sealing” position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 1 minute. (Note: the actual cooking time is closer to 15-20 minutes. If you are using an 8 qt Instant Pot, it will be closer to 20 minutes. But with the hands-off method, it goes by very quickly!). 
4. Natural pressure release: Allow a natural release for 10 minutes. After that, switch the valve to “venting” to quick release any remaining pressure.
5. Serve: Remove the lid and fluff the quinoa lightly with a fork. Enjoy while warm, or let cool before storing for meal prep. 

Serving Suggestions

This easy instant pot quinoa is incredibly versatile and can be used in many dishes. It's a great alternative to Brown Rice or White Rice, and is naturally higher in protein thanks to the essential amino acids that make it a complete protein!

I like to make a big batch on Sundays and add to recipes as a healthy side dish throughout the week.

Here are some recipe ideas to get you started:

• Salads: Add quinoa to your favorite salads to make them more filling and packed with protein. I love this Southwest Quinoa Salad and this Rainbow Quinoa Salad.
• Grain bowls: Use quinoa as a base for quinoa bowls, mixing it with roasted vegetables, proteins like chicken or tofu, and a tasty dressing.
• Breakfast: Make a nutritious quinoa breakfast porridge with fresh berries, nuts, chia seeds, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
• Side Dish: Serve quinoa as a simple side dish with your favorite budget-friendly protein.
• Stuffed Vegetables: Use quinoa as a filling for quinoa stuffed peppers, tomatoes, or stuffed zucchinis.

You can also use it to make veggie burgers, chili, soups, and even desserts. like Quinoa Banana Bread!