The secret to perfectly cooked, irresistibly fluffy quinoa? The Instant Pot! This trusty appliance comes through for us again, turning out this versatile and nutritious grain in a few easy steps and under 20 minutes. No messy simmering or complicated techniques required! Let me show you how to make the best Instant Pot Quinoa!
The Instant Pot does it again, making healthy home cooking simple and painless! Light, fluffy, and nutty (a.k.a. perfectly cooked) quinoa can be yours in just a few easy, anyone-can-do-it steps. The pressure cooker takes care of the rest!
When Instant Pots first came out, I’ll admit I was a little suspicious. Counter space is precious, so I only wanted to invest if it was really worth it. But if I had tried this Instant Pot Quinoa recipe back then, I would have raced to the store.
With the amount of quinoa Baby J and I eat on a regular basis, making it in the Instant Pot is a total no-brainer. The easy, hands-off prep means I can whip it up even on the busiest of nights—just give the quinoa a quick toast in a spritz of oil, add the liquids, lock on the lid, and this superstar appliance does the rest.
The result? The dreamiest, lightest, and fluffiest quinoa—perfect for meal prep and a tasty addition to recipes like bowls, salads, and more.
Ingredients
Quinoa: An ancient seed packed with plant-based protein and micronutrients (source). Although technically a seed, it cooks and behaves much like common grains such as rice. Once cooked, it has a neutral, lightly nutty flavor and a fluffy texture. You will need one cup of quinoa in any color (white, red, black, or mixed) for this quinoa Instant Pot recipe.
Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Just a quick spritz keeps the quinoa from sticking.
Water or Vegetable Broth: For a cleaner flavor, use filtered water. For more savory depth, opt for store-bought or homemade vegetable stock or broth.
How to Cook Quinoa in the Instant Pot
When it comes to cooking quinoa in the Instant Pot, simple and quick is the name of the game:
- Preheat. Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté setting on high.
- Toast Quinoa. When hot, quickly spray the bottom of the pot with cooking spray. Add the quinoa and use a wooden spoon to spread it evenly. The quinoa will start making popping noises as it toasts. Once it starts popping, stir continuously for about 1 minute. Cancel the Sauté setting.
- Add Liquid. Stir in the water or broth.
- Pressure Cook. Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on High for 1 minute.
- De-Pressurize. When the cooking cycle finishes, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes. Then, carefully release the remaining pressure and remove the lid.
- Fluff. Immediately fluff the quinoa with a fork. Enjoy as a side or in recipes.
Jenné’s Recipe Tips
- Oil the bottom of the pot: If you’ve ever made quinoa in the Instant Pot only to have half of it stuck to the bottom, you’ll appreciate this tip I learned from Platings + Pairings. A quick spritz of non-stick cooking spray (or a light brush of oil) keeps the quinoa from sticking.
- Toast: This deepens the quinoa’s natural nuttiness, giving it a flavor similar to rice pilaf. For a more classic quinoa taste, omit the toasting step—but still be sure to oil the pot to prevent sticking.
- Fluff immediately: The secret to avoiding sticky or gluey quinoa! As soon as you remove the lid, fluff it gently with a fork or rice paddle.
- Rinse if desired: If you’ve ever made quinoa on the stove, you may have rinsed it to remove the bitter, soapy flavor. Although you can still rinse it if preferred, toasting the quinoa eliminates the need. If foregoing the toasting, I recommend rinsing the quinoa, but it’s a matter of personal preference.
Recipe Variations
This lightly nutty, neutral-flavored grain is the perfect canvas for almost any flavor combo:
- Use Oil or Butter: Enhance the richness by toasting the quinoa in 1 tablespoon of olive oil or vegan butter.
- Add Seasonings: Brighten the flavor by adding a pinch or two of salt with the water or broth, or match it to your meal by toasting the quinoa with dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, or dried Italian seasoning.
- Make Homemade Stock: Put food scraps to good use by simmering them into stock. It’s easy, more nutritious, and incredibly flavorful!
- Stir in Flavor Boosters: After cooking, add vinegar (balsamic, white wine, red wine, or apple cider), nutritional yeast, soy sauce, chile oil, and/or sriracha to customize the flavor profile.
Serving Suggestions
Now that we have lovely, fluffy quinoa, it’s time to put it to use! Enjoy it as a versatile side dish, or swap it in as a higher plant-protein stand-in for rice with Tofu Stir-Fry, Buddha Bowls, Enchiladas, Tempeh Tacos, and more.
You can also try it in my Hearty Zucchini Burgers, Baby Kale Salad, and Balanced Maple Mustard Tempeh Bowl recipes.
Storage Directions
- Refrigerating: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Once cooled to room temperature, transfer the quinoa to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator or microwave on low heat until thawed.
- Reheating: Warm the quinoa in the microwave on gentle heat or in a saucepan over medium-low heat with a splash of broth to keep the quinoa from sticking.
Frequently Asked Questions
The toasting step removes the need to rinse, but you can still do so if preferred. If you skip toasting, rinsing helps eliminate quinoa’s naturally bitter, soapy flavor—although you can skip it if preferred.
When it comes to mushy quinoa, the most common culprits are too much liquid and not fluffing it right away. For the best results, use 1 1/2 cups of water or broth to 1 cup of quinoa and gently fluff it with a fork or rice paddle as soon as you remove the lid.
To prevent sticking, lightly oil the Instant Pot before adding the quinoa.
Absolutely! Simply multiply the ingredients as needed and follow the recipe directions as written. The cook time stays the same—the Instant Pot will naturally adjust the time it takes to come to pressure.
For the best quinoa, cook it on high pressure for 1 minute. Release the pressure naturally for 5 minutes before carefully releasing the rest.
More Instant Pot Essentials Recipes
Prevent your screen from going dark
Turn the Instant Pot to the Sauté setting on high.
When hot, quickly spray the bottom of the pot with cooking spray. Add the quinoa and use a wooden spoon to spread it evenly. The quinoa will start making popping noises as it toasts. Once it starts popping, stir continuously for about 1 minute. Cancel the Sauté setting.
Add the water or broth.
Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on High for 1 minute.
When the cooking cycle finishes, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes. Then, carefully release the remaining pressure and remove the lid.
Fluff the quinoa immediately with a fork and serve as a side dish or in your favorite recipes.
- Refrigerating: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Once cooled to room temperature, transfer the quinoa to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator or microwave on low heat until thawed.
- Reheating: Warm the quinoa in the microwave on gentle heat or in a saucepan over medium-low heat with a splash of broth to keep the quinoa from sticking.
- Oil the bottom of the pot: If you’ve ever made quinoa in the Instant Pot only to have half of it stuck to the bottom, you’ll appreciate this tip I learned from Platings + Pairings. A quick spritz of non-stick cooking spray (or a light brush of oil) keeps the quinoa from sticking.
- Toast: This deepens the quinoa’s natural nuttiness, giving it a flavor similar to rice pilaf. For a more classic quinoa taste, omit the toasting step—but still be sure to oil the pot to prevent sticking.
- Fluff immediately: The secret to avoiding sticky or gluey quinoa! As soon as you remove the lid, fluff it gently with a fork or rice paddle.
- Rinse if desired: If you’ve ever made quinoa on the stove, you may have rinsed it to remove the bitter, soapy flavor. Although you can still rinse it if preferred, toasting the quinoa eliminates the need. If foregoing the toasting, I recommend rinsing the quinoa, but it’s a matter of personal preference.
Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg