How to Cook Perfect Quinoa & 10 Quinoa Recipes
Learn all about quinoa—my secrets to cooking perfectly fluffy quinoa (no more mush!), 10 fantastic quinoa recipes, quinoa nutrition facts, and where to buy.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on September 5, 2024
I like to consider myself a quinoa expert. I have cooked a lot of it for my cookbook. Small amounts, or lots at once, with spices and greens, or without—I’ve done it all. The standard quinoa cooking method started failing me early on. My quinoa was mushy and overdone, every time, and it was driving me nuts.
I tried using slightly less water than usual, which has been recommended elsewhere. It helped a little sometimes, but other times, I had to add more and more water while the quinoa was cooking. Then, the dry quinoa soaked up way too much of the dressing I added later.
At some point, I wondered, why do all the quinoa recipes suggest covering the quinoa while cooking? My quinoa was all overcooked and mushy, so covering it seemed like the last thing I should do.
Bingo! Here’s the trick for perfectly fluffy quinoa: Use twice as much water as quinoa, as usual, then cook uncovered until the quinoa has absorbed all the water. The cooking time will vary based on quantity.
Once the water is all absorbed, remove the pot from heat, cover it and let the quinoa steam for 5 minutes. That’s when the quinoa pops open into fluffy quinoa perfection, and that is how to cook quinoa properly.
I’ve gotten quite a few questions from you guys about how to avoid mushy quinoa, so I just had to share. I typed up the full recipe and instructions for you below.
Scroll down for the full recipe, plus a short video showing my technique and 10 of my favorite quinoa recipes. For even more quinoa inspiration, you can view all of my quinoa recipes here.
Watch How to Make Perfectly Fluffy Quinoa
Perfect Quinoa
Learn how to cook perfect quinoa, every time. I’ve tried all the other quinoa cooking methods and this one works best. It’s easy to cook fluffy quinoa when you know the right way to do it!
Ingredients
- 1 part uncooked quinoa (e.g. 1 cup quinoa—any color will do—you will end up with three times as much cooked quinoa)
- 2 parts water (e.g. 2 cups water)
- Salt, to taste (around ¼ teaspoon salt per cup of dry quinoa)
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa: Pour the quinoa into a fine mesh colander and rinse under running water for at least 30 seconds. Drain well. This step removes any bitterness on the outside of the quinoa (caused by naturally occurring saponins).
- Combine the rinsed quinoa and water in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease the heat a bit to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the quinoa has absorbed all of the water, about 10 to 20 minutes (small amounts of quinoa will be ready closer to 10 minutes; larger amounts between 15 to 20). Reduce heat as time goes on to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Remove the pot from heat, cover, and let the quinoa steam for 5 minutes. This step gives the quinoa time to pop open into little curlicues, so it’s nice and fluffy. Remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Season with salt, to taste, unless you’re proceeding with another recipe as written.
Notes
Serving suggestions: I love to stir a drizzle of olive oil and clove of garlic into warm quinoa for extra flavor. Other options include chopped fresh spinach or arugula, or massaged kale. Fresh herbs and/or dried spices are nice, as well as grated or crumbled cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pitted and sliced olives, etc.
Storage suggestions: Leftover quinoa keeps well, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days. Make sure it has cooled to room temperature before covering and chilling.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Wait, what is quinoa?
In case you haven’t encountered quinoa yet, it is a pseudocereal that grows near the Andes in South America. By pseudocereal, I mean that it is grain-like, but it’s technically not a grass like wheat. Quinoa is pronounced KEEN-wah, although my dad likes to tease me by calling it queh-NO-ah.
Quinoa is very nutritious—it’s full of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals, including manganese, magnesium and folate. Quinoa’s health benefits are really too long to list here, but the key point is that quinoa is remarkably dense in nutrients, and worth including in your diet.
You can buy quinoa in most grocery stores these days, usually in the health section or near the rice. You can also buy quinoa online at Amazon (affiliate link).
10 Favorite Quinoa Recipes
1) Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach and Quinoa Salad
“I have made this salad twice in a week it is that good – easy and delicious!” – Terri
2) Broccoli, Cheddar & Quinoa Gratin
“This was so good! I’ve been trying to find one dish recipes that can also feed baby and this was perfect! I was almost too lazy to make the breadcrumbs but I’m so glad I did because it was simple and and so worth it! I also used a bit of cauliflower because I had it and it was good in there too. I think I’m going to make this again and bring it to Easter! It’s a perfect healthier version of a classic!” – Stephanie
3) Quinoa Black Bean Tacos with Creamy Avocado Sauce
“This is one of my favorite dishes ever! Followed the instructions (first time ever was not inspired to change anything) and enjoyed a yummy dinner with my partner, twice now. He loved it as well! Thanks for sharing and good luck! :)” – Dessi
4) Colorful Beet Salad with Carrot, Quinoa & Spinach
“THE best salad ever! My husband and I absolutely love it! I’m sharing with my family and friends!” – Jacqueline
5) Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale
“I just found this recipe via pinterest! I made the soup yesterday and I absolutely love it!! Never thought of quinoa in soup but this makes so much sense! I am always looking for ways to add protein without adding meat so this is great and my whole family loves it! (I’m a college student by the way, not a mom, in case you couldn’t tell. lol) This soup is great for all ages!!” – Maya
6) Southwestern Kale Power Salad with Sweet Potato, Quinoa & Avocado Sauce
“We made this for dinner 2 hours ago and can’t stop talking about it! OMG! It was so delicious and full of flavor and it was easy to make. My kids loved it, too. We already can’t wait to make it again :) thank you so much!” – Tiffany
7) Favorite Quinoa Salad
“Delicious recipe, Kate. I’ve been crazing something light and refreshing and this quinoa salad hit the spot. This is definitely one of the best quinoa salads I’ve made. Your recipes never disappoint. Thank you!” – Allison
8) Crunchy Thai Peanut & Quinoa Salad
“Made this for dinner tonight when a friend came over. Even my four-year-old loved it! He is not always into raw veggies, but upon the first bite, exclaimed, “I like this! Yeah, I love it!” and had a second helping. We did leave the cilantro on the side for him. Will be making this again very soon.” – Lea
9) Quinoa Broccoli Slaw with Honey-Mustard Dressing
“Three of us polished off this recipe in one sitting. It was wonderful! Tangy, sweet and crunchy, thanks to the almonds. It was also so easy to make. Thank you!” – Leah
10) Cinnamon Toast Breakfast Quinoa
“Made this for breakfast this morning, and it’s amazing! It’s definitely going to be in my regular rotation.” – Carly
More resources you might appreciate: 23 make-ahead breakfast recipes, 16 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You can shop my essential kitchen equipment here. Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for a steady stream of recipe inspiration!
Before dinner, my kids both whining about having quinoa for dinner b/c they said they don’t like it. After trying it, my son was going on and on how delicious it was, asked for more and said he loved it! Even said he loved the texture and asked what I added to it! (He’s 10) Thanks for the easy recipe! :). I did keep checking the water by tilting the pot to see if any water was remaining, then let it sit per your recipe. Oh, I also added some olive oil, chopped sundried tomatoes (the kind that comes in oil) and freshly ground pepper.
I’m so glad it was a hit, Linda! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Sounds delicious!
This was magic! It totally worked. The first time Ive had non sticky quinoa. Thanks!
Thanks for tasty looking recipes to try! A comment about rinsing the quinoa before cooking, to remove the bitter coating. I never rinse my quinoa, and never notice a bitter taste. Have you ever tried cooking without rising? I recommend trying it, because if it tastes fine, then it saves water! I wonder if the way quinoa is grown/processed these days prevents the need for rinsing. Best wishes.
This recipe works amazingly! I forgot to put a lid on and it still worked out!
Thank you for this it is perfect timing. I’ve been wanting to try this and your method sounds so easy. BTW I have OCD also. :)
Cooked it with chicken broth, your recommendation was on the spot. Thanks
This method worked perfectly and was so much less stressful – no worrying what was happening under the lid! Will be trying many of your quinoa recipes now too.
Superb is the only word I can say
I’ve always turned my nose up at quinoa options; it always seemed hard and grainy to me. But I recently got put on an extreme diet, and can’t eat rice, potatoes, or any gluten. So quinoa it is. I used your method and it turned out perfect! and it was awesome! Nutty, not crunchy and hard but soft and edible. I added a squeeze of lime, cilantro, and green onion along with salt. I’m a new quinoa fan!! Thank you!
I’m glad it worked so well or you, Sandra! I appreciate your review.
Hi, Kate
I did the exact recipe, and it came out perfect! Thank you for your post and your 10 favorite quinoa recipes ♥
Wonderful to hear, Gisele! Thank you for your review.
You are right! This technique works brilliantly! This is the fluffiest quinoa I’ve ever made. Thanks so much :)
MIRACULOUS! Thank you – I don’t know why I didn’t think to cook it uncovered before! I rarely made quinoa because I could never get it right – thanks so much for the tip. I’ve subscribed to your blog and look forward to checking out your veg recipes!
I made this twice and followed the instructions to the letter each time. Both times I ended up with undercooked, crunchy quinoa. I love C + K and most of the recipes I’ve tried have been amazing, but this one was a bust for me.
Hi Kelly, I’m sorry to hear that! Are you getting it to a simmer and is your pot large enough to give it room to cook?
I read the top with general guidance about how to cook quinoa properly, but then when I got into the recipes, it contradicts what the guidance suggests (covered vs uncovered.) Fill me in, does the process differ for some recipes for some reason?
Hi! Some recipes can differ from recipe to recipe based on developer. This is what I have found works best through my number of times making quioa. I hope that helps clarify it!
I tried your Perfect Quinoa cooking method and sure enough – it was by far, the best quinoa I’ve ever made as well as the easiest. Kudos and thanks for the wonderful tip!
Excellent recipe to make quinoa. It always turns out great. I see some people get mush but like others say, wait until the water is fully absorbed even if the idea is scary and might burn it, but keep trying with a fork to make sure there’s no water left. Thanks!
Absolutely the best quinoa cooking technique. The result was the most perfect, light and fluffy quinoa ever!
This recipe is perfect! I have never liked quinoa before because it always seemed to have weird texture. But, cooked this way, it was fluffy & tasty!
I started cooking as I read and don’t know if I stir the mixture while it is boiling/simmering!
I love this! Finally my quinoa is perfect. BTW, your dad is right, that is the way to pronounce quinoa. I’m from Argentina, we grow quinoa here… I know that is the right pronounciation, so congrats to your Dad for getting it right!
Hello Kate!
I too have suffered from the fate of mushy quinoa and cannot wait to try your method. I have high hopes that your method will end this terrible scourge!
One question: What is the best method to determine if all the water has been absorbed before removing it from the heat to steam? My usual method is to tilt the pot to see if an water runs out. Is this what you recommend? I can think of no other way of determined if there is no unabsorbed water left collecting at the bottom. I suspect what you mean is all the water is considered absorbed when the water level falls below the surface of the quinoa, but you tell me! Thanks very much!
Hi! I hope you love it. I fluff it with a fork to see if there is any water at the base of the pot. Watch the video with the post, if that helps!
Thank you I your foolproof recommendations for perfect quinoa; I always use your instructions now!
I followed your steps, it worked! I’m eating a steak we speak, thank you sooo much. I had always struggled with the cooking. Perfect!!!!
Thank you, kuk!
Hi
I made quinoa for the very first time using your recipe. It turned out perfect! Thanks so much!
I costume quinoa khichery for dinner but I wS as anxious to know different type of quinoa.Now I saw other methods of consumption.Thanks
You’re welcome! I’m glad you love it.
Comes out perfect every time! Thanks for posting these instructions!
How much water to how much quinoa? With rice it’s two cups of water for every cup of rice. What’s the rule for quinoa?
Hi Mark! It’s all in the recipe. :)
Thank you. I did the basic, and stirred in some onions and cheddar after the steam. Scrumptious!
You’re welcome! I’m delighted it worked well for you, Tom.
This recipe worked well for me! Added frozen peas, corn, and carrots to it after the steaming step for some veggies.
Perfect recipe for yummy quinoa. I am SUPER PSYCHED to try the other recipes you listed here, too! I’m sure I’ll love them and will keep you posted! Thanks!
Thank you, Cathleen!
This was a fail proof way to cook quinoa, It’s great!!
Thank you
Thank you, Cyndi! I’m happy it worked for you.
I think it matters what brand quinoa you use for cooking. Can you please tell me which brand did you use kate?
Hi! I have used a variety and try to buy organic when I can, not brand specific for me.
I made it for the first time and added blueberries, finely sliced apples and cinnamon. It turned out great! Thank you!
Rashid
Wonderful! Thank you for your review.
Wow! Thank you for this . I saw your method and saw the comments below and came up with a hybrid method . I brought the pot to a boil and cooked for a few minutes only , then turned it off and left it to rest and it absorbed the rest of the water , was light and fluffy and was not mushy at all .
Thank you for helping me on my Quinoa Journey . and your recipes are lovely !
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful.
I’ve made the southwest kale power salad with sweet potato, avocado, and quinoa today. Omg Yum!! Its crazy good! I also made the favorite quinoa salad recipe several times and ate it like every day for 3 weeks.
I have a feeling you will love my latest rendition of your perfect quinoa in a new recipe I call Greek Style Salad with Quinoa and Avocado. I posted it on my FB page with a photo, linking the quinoa recipe to you here. It was so good!
Finally, perfect quinoa ! Thank you very much Kate for your precise method
That’s great you liked this method, Helene. Thank you for your review!
Perfect recipe proportions. I like to toast my quinoa after rinsing over Med heat with olive oil for 5 mins before adding broth. Came out nice and fluffy. Perfect for my breakfast quinoa bowls!
I love it! A great way to start your morning. Thank you for your review, Micha.
Worked like a charm! Will be using your method from now on. Thank you!
Have you ever tried the instant pot?
Hi Jen, I can’t say I love the results in an instant pot, sorry!
Hi, I will try your recipe today. Wish me luck!;)
Thanks for sharing this method of cooking.
The results were perfect.
Also tried it substituting the water with carrot juice. Turned out well. I’ll turn it into a salad with chickpeas, herbs, and some veggies.
This is some great advice to cook quinoa perfectly! Another tip would be sure to use pre-washed quinoa – which removes the bitter saponin naturally found on quinoa. Pereg Natural Foods works great for me.
They also make some flavored mixes that are so easy to have a quick delicious meal.
Hi Kate and Cookie, of course! I’ve never cooked quinoa though I have eaten it twice, once pretty bland and once totally delicious. The price has also made me think twice about buying it but, considering the power-punch of nutrients and energy-friendly cooking method, I’ve added it to my list for tomorrow. I shall let you have my feedback.
I’m now going to browse through your recipes…
Thank you for the great instructions on cooking quinoa. I cooked a light and fluffy pot last night it was perfect thank you .
I am now excited to start on your quinoa recipes awesome.
You’re welcome, Rosie! I’m happy you enjoyed it.
thank you for sharing . it worked
It worked! I have not made quinoa in so long and your recipe worked perfect!!! I also made chicken in the instant pot with some salsa and poured that over the top of the quinoa ….it was delicious :)
Great recipe…. For quinoa PORRIDGE! 1.5 water volume is more than enough. This recipe ruined a large batch of quinoa.
I tried this recipe for the very first time today and the quinoa turned out perfectly fluffy as described. It also tastes very good. I’m all for it going forward. Great recipe, great product, great taste. I’m really looking forward to trying out more recipes. Thanks a bunch. I LOVE IT.
Followed your instructions for cooking quinoa turned out perfect. I added fresh garlic and olive oil, will be making it again. Thank you.