Cooking quinoa in Instant Pot is an efficient way to prepare this protein-packed “ancient grain” to use in all your hot or cold dishes.

This recipe makes quinoa that’s light and tender and ready in less than 5 minutes! Use it as a side dish, or filler ingredient for tacos, wraps, or salads.

Using broth or water, quinoa and a bit of salt, this 3 ingredient recipe is extra quick to make in the Instant Pot.

plated Instant Pot Quinoa

Easy Instant Pot Quinoa

  • Technically classified as a seed, quinoa is cooked in much the same way as other grains and is a popular ingredient used in various dishes.
  • It’s affordable, accessible, and has a mild, nutty flavor that goes with anything!
  • Quinoa is a superfood substitution for rice, beans, and pasta. It’s a nutrient-rich grain that contains protein, fiber, and a variety of essential vitamins and minerals, that are preserved when cooked in the Instant Pot.
broth , salt and quinoa to make Instant Pot Quinoa with labels

Ingredients and Variations

Quinoa: Varieties of quinoa aren’t price-driven so feel free to use white, red, or black quinoa in your recipes, but avoid cooking rice and quinoa together in this recipe.

Broth: Broth or water is needed to cook the quinoa. Any variety of broth works and feel free to add any seasonings you might like that complement your recipes. For example, if it’s Taco Night, cook quinoa with taco seasoning and use it as a high protein, vegetarian switch for taco meat.

How to Cook Quinoa in the Instant Pot

  1. Add quinoa, broth, and salt to the Instant Pot as described in the recipe below.
  2. Cook on high pressure for 1 minute and allow a natural release for 15 minutes. Fluff quinoa with a fork and serve.

Pro Tip!

Always rinse quinoa before cooking to remove the bitter coating called ‘saponin.’ This ensures your quinoa will have a fresh, neutral flavor. If your colander is too big for quinoa, use a fine sieve, or swirl it around in a bowl with clean, fresh water a few times to remove the coating.

cooked Instant Pot Quinoa in the pot

Ways to Use Quinoa

Quinoa is so easy to make, you’ll find yourself adding scoops of this powerful protein in everything from omelets to soups!

Mild-flavored quinoa can be made into a hot breakfast cereal by stirring in some milk, brown sugar or honey, dried fruit, and nuts.

Quinoa is the base star of this colorful and crunchy thai quinoa salad that is a perfect make-ahead meal for school and workdays, and this kale quinoa salad can also be tucked into a pita pocket or scooped into a wrap for a healthy, portable lunch or snack!

Switch out the beef and make a hearty bowl of vegetarian crockpot chili, or sub out the lentils for quinoa in sloppy joes. For a taste of Mexico, use quinoa as the main protein along with black beans in this popular taco quinoa bowl. Or use this recipe to make a pilaf and serve it with creamy mushroom pork chops.

top view of Instant Pot Quinoa in a bowl

Storing Leftover Quinoa

  • Store leftover Instant pot quinoa in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about 5-7 days.
  • Quinoa freezes nicely! Simply scoop it into freezer bags and store it for up to a year.

More Side Dishes

plated Instant Pot Quinoa
5 from 1 vote↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Instant Pot Quinoa

Cooking quinoa in Instant Pot is super easy for a protein rich dish that pairs with just about any main meal.
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Pressure and Release Time 22 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 cups
Author Candace Hollas

Equipment

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Add quinoa to the Instant Pot insert. Add broth and salt and stir to combine.
  • Close Instant Pot and set for 1 minute on high pressure.
  • Allow Instant Pot to natural release for 15 minutes, then manually release.
  • Fluff quinoa with a fork before serving.

Notes

  • You can use any type of quinoa you prefer. This recipe is not suitable for rice and quinoa mixtures.
  • Swap out the vegetable broth for any broth, or water.
  • This is great for a base recipe when making any kind of quinoa. Add spices, protein, etc. to make it a full meal, or just use it as a side.
  • Leftover Instant pot quinoa will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about 5-7 days.
5 from 1 vote↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 241 | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1095mg | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 281IU | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!

Follow us on Pinterest

REPIN this Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe

close up of Instant Pot Quinoa with a title
plated Instant Pot Quinoa with writing
bowls of Instant Pot Quinoa with garnish and a title
bowl of Instant Pot Quinoa with instant pot in the back and writing
bowl of Instant Pot Quinoa with a title
bowls of Instant Pot Quinoa with a title

Categories:

, ,

Recipes you'll love

About the author

I am a wife, mother of two, and professional accountant. I love fantastic food, and it is so often the center of our lives, from everyday dinner, to family gatherings, and special evenings at fabulous restaurants. I have always loved cooking and baking, with my mom and grandma, and now, with my daughter and son. I love trying new recipes while enjoying my favorites too. I’m so happy to share them with you.
See more posts by Candace

latest & greatest

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating