Instant Pot Quinoa

Learn how easy it is to cook Instant Pot Quinoa that is fluffy, light, tender, and doesn’t clump together.  In this quick 1-minute method, water is the only ingredient you’ll need to make this healthy, vegan, and gluten-free pseudo-grain to serve as a side dish, in a salad, or make into a full meal!

Want other easy Instant Pot recipes?  You might also enjoy this Instant Pot Basmati Rice or this Instant Pot Mexican Rice.

Instant Pot Quinoa

Did you know it is SO easy to cook quinoa in the Instant Pot?

You can literally pop all of your ingredients into the pressure cooker, set it and forget it!

Before you know it you’ll have soft, fluffy, and tender quinoa that is perfectly cooked.

And it’s ready in a fraction of the time when compared to a rice cooker or stovetop method!

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is a pseudo-grain, or pseudo-cereal, that is technically a seed that is prepared like a grain.

It is full of dietary fiber, protein, B vitamins, and minerals.

Quinoa is pronounced KEEHN-WHAH and is a member of the amaranth family of herbaceous plants.

It comes in a variety of colors and flavors from red, white, black, or even tri-color quinoa.

You can serve it in place of rice in these Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers, mix it with vegetables in a Mexican Quinoa Salad, form it into Black Bean Quinoa Burgers, or make a full meal out of it in this Sausage & Sweet Potato Quinoa.

How to Cook

This 1-minute method is a quick, easy, and foolproof way to cook quinoa in the Instant Pot.

1. Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold water for 1 minute, or until liquid almost runs clear.

2. Add quinoa, water or broth, butter or oil, and salt to a 6-quart Instant Pot.

3. Cover Instant Pot with the lid and move the pressure release valve to sealed.

4. Set the timer for 1 minute on high pressure. (It will take the pressure cooker about 5-10 minutes to fully pressurize.)

5. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes once the timer goes off.

6. Move the pressure release handle to the venting position to let any remaining steam escape.  Open the lid once the float valve goes down. 

7. Fluff up the quinoa using a fork and serve immediately.

Ingredients

Making quinoa in the Instant Pot couldn’t be any easier.  You literally only NEED 2 ingredients, and there are two more ingredients that are completely optional.

• Quinoa – There are quite a few varieties of quinoa that you can cook, from white, red, or black or even tri-color quinoa.  They all cook at very similar rates and will come out super fluffy and tender when cooked in the Instant Pot!
• Water – Yup.  Just regular old water is the liquid used in this recipe.
  • You can also get a little fancy ad try adding vegetable or chicken broth.  (Just make sure you adjust how much salt you add accordingly!)
• Butter – This is not traditional, but I tend to add butter or oil to EVERY single type of grain I cook.  Not only does it add a bit of flavor, but it also helps to keep the individual grains separated while cooking.
  • If you are dairy-free or vegan, feel free to use a vegan buttery stick or olive oil instead.
• Salt – You won’t need much to season.  I prefer my quinoa on the saltier side and use about 1/2 teaspoon per cup of dried quinoa that is being cooked.  This is optional and can be left out if you are making another recipe using the quinoa later.

Types of Quinoa

There are over 100 varieties of quinoa with white, black, red, and tri-color being the most readily available at your grocery store.  two most common types of quinoa that can be found at your grocery store are white and tri-color quinoa.

White quinoa is the most commonly found at stores.  It is slightly less bitter and has a milder taste making it a good option when mixing it into dishes with bolder flavors.

Black and red quinoa are a bit chewier and have a nuttier flavor.  They’re a great option when making salads where you want the quinoa to hold its shape.

And if you can’t make up your mind, tri-color quinoa is a blend of white, black, and red quinoa that has the best of all worlds!

Rinsing Quinoa

Much like preparing rice, you will definitely want to rinse your quinoa before cooking.

The process of rinsing quinoa helps to remove an outer layer made of saponins.  This external coating is what protects the quinoa while growing from predators but also makes it quite bitter to eat if left intact.

While most store bought quinoa has already been pre-rinsed before packaging, it never hurts to give it a second washing.

The best way to rinse quinoa is to put it in a fine mesh strainer and place under cold, running water for 1-2 minutes.  Drain thoroughly before cooking.

What Type of Instant Pot?

This recipe was created with a 6-quart Instant Pot.

If you have an 8-quart Instant Pot you can still follow this recipe as written without needing to alter the time or ingredient measurements.

Water vs. Broth

Depending on what you will be using your quinoa for, you can choose to either cook it in water or broth.

Water will impart essentially no flavor to the quinoa and is best to use when adding this grain to a more flavor-packed dish.

If the quinoa is going to be more of the star of the show, using vegetable or chicken broth can really give it a lot of flavor.

Broth is typically full of added sodium, so make sure you adjust the amount of salt you add accordingly.

FAQs

How much cooked quinoa does 1 cup of dry make?

One cup of dry quinoa will yield 3 cups of cooked.

Is Quinoa Gluten-Free?

Since quinoa is not part of the wheat family it is 100% gluten-free and safe for Celiacs to eat.

If purchasing a quinoa dish at a restaurant or in a packaged item, you will want to double check that the other ingredients added in are also free of gluten.

What is the quinoa to water ratio?

When cooking quinoa in the Instant Pot you will want to use a 2:3 ratio of quinoa to water.

Since not much liquid gets evaporated off while pressure cooking quinoa, you can use slightly less liquid than you typically would if cooking on the stovetop or rice cooker.

Cook’s Tip: Make sure you adjust the amount of liquid you use if you are unable to completely drain your quinoa after rinsing.

Storing

Cooked quinoa will store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

You can also freeze quinoa in a freezer safe container for up to 4-6 months.

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Instant Pot Quinoa | Quick, Easy, Fluffy

Learn how easy it is to cook Instant Pot Quinoa that is fluffy, light, tender, and doesn’t clump together.  In this quick 1-minute method, water is the only ingredient you’ll need to make this healthy, vegan, and gluten-free pseudo-grain to serve as a side dish, in a salad, or make into full meal!

Course Dinner, lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword how to cook quinoa, instant pot quinoa

Prep Time 4 minutes

Cook Time 16 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 126 kcal

Author London

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa tri-color or white
• 1 ½½ cups water or broth
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
• ¼ - ½ tsp. salt to taste

Instructions

1. Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold water for 1 minute, or until liquid almost runs clear.
2. Add quinoa, water or broth, butter or oil, and salt to a 6-quart Instant Pot.
3. Cover Instant Pot with the lid and move the pressure release valve to sealed.
4. Set the timer for 1 minute on high pressure. (It will take the pressure cooker about 5-10 minutes to fully pressurize.)
5. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes once the timer goes off.
6. Move the pressure release handle to the venting position to let any remaining steam escape. Open the lid once the float valve goes down.
7. Fluff up the quinoa using a fork and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

• Recipe yields 3 cups cooked quinoa per 1 cup dry.
• One serving is roughly ½ cup cooked quinoa.

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Quinoa | Quick, Easy, Fluffy

Amount Per Serving

Calories 126 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 84mg4%

Potassium 160mg5%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 2g8%

Protein 4g8%

Calcium 15mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.