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    Home » Side Dishes

    Instant Pot Quinoa

    Lindsay Moe

    12 shares

    Did you know you can make quinoa in the instant pot or pressure cooker? Learn how to make instant pot quinoa that comes out fluffy and delicious in just minutes.

    instant pot cooked quinoa in a bowl next to a red cloth napkin
    Jump to Recipe

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

    People always wonder what kinds of vegetarian and vegan foods they can make in their instant pot. And while there are lots of great recipes out there, my favorite thing to make in my instant pot is the basics!

    Quinoa is something I eat pretty often, and I was so excited to find out I could make it in the instant pot. If you don’t own a pressure cooker, no worries, you can still learn how to cook quinoa on the stovetop!

    Instant pot quinoa ingredients

    • Quinoa
    • Water
    uncooked qunioa on a wooden spoon

    How to make instant pot quinoa

    1. Combine quinoa and water in the instant pot and arrange in an even layer.
    2. Seal the lid and valve and pressure cook for 3 minutes on high pressure. It will take 5-10 minutes for the instant pot to come up to pressure.
    3. Once it has finished cooking, do a natural release of the pressure for 10 minutes. 
    4. Turn the valve to release any remaining pressure. Once the valve has dropped, you can open the lid.
    5. Fluff with a fork and enjoy as a side dish or use in salads, casseroles, and more.

    Top tips and questions

    What is quinoa?

    Quinoa is a seed that is often categorized as a grain, even though technically it is not. It is high in protein, fiber, and other nutrients that make it a great addition to any diet, but especially a plant based diet.

    Quinoa is easy to cook and makes a great side dish or addition to bowls, soups, and casseroles. When properly cooked it should be fluffy with an appearance of a “halo” around the seed, which is the germ of the seed separating from the kernel.

    Is quinoa gluten-free?

    Yes, quinoa is naturally gluten-free and vegan. 

    Can I make other colors of quinoa in the instant pot?

    Yes, you can use any color quinoa such as red, black, or tri-color, to make quinoa in your instant pot. The directions remain the same.

    a fine mesh sieve with uncooked quinoa

    Do I need to rinse quinoa?

    Yes, I recommend rinsing your quinoa before cooking. This will help remove some of the bitter taste that people sometimes complain about. 

    Add your quinoa to a fine mesh sieve and rinse under cold, running water for at least 2 minutes or until the water runs clear.

    How do I cook quinoa on the stovetop?

    You can read my post about how to cook quinoa to learn all the details about cooking it on the stovetop, but I’ll run you through the basics. 

    First, rinse your quinoa in a fine mesh sieve under running water for at least 2 minutes. Heat a little olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat, then add the quinoa and cook until it begins to dry out and jump around.

    a pot of cooked quinoa with a fork in it

    Add almost twice as much water or stock as you have quinoa, bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat, and simmer until all the water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let rest, covered, for 5-10 minutes before fluffing with a fork and enjoying.

    How long is quinoa good for?

    Cooked quinoa will last 3-5 days covered in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Uncooked quinoa will keep for months in an airtight container on a dark shelf or in the freezer.

    instant pot cooked quinoa in a bowl

    What kind of instant pot should I buy?

    I have the Instant Pot Duo 6 quart. I like it because it can do a lot of different things. However, this recipe should work with any pressure cooker, even if it isn’t an Instant Pot.

    How to do a pressure cooker natural release

    This recipes requires a natural release of pressure after cooking. This is very easy to do. After the quinoa has finished cooking, allow the pressure cooker to remain closed until the pressure naturally releases, about 10 minutes.

    At that point, you can turn the valve to release any remaining pressure and open the lid. Make sure the pressure valve has dropped before opening the lid of your instant pot.

    Is this a 3 minute recipe?

    Instant pot recipes can sometimes be a little misleading on how quickly they’re prepared. While the quinoa only takes 3 minutes to cook in the instant pot, it may take 5 minutes for more to come to pressure, and you need to allow 10 minutes for the natural release at the end.

    All in all, this recipes takes about 20 minutes from start to finish, which is about the same as making it on the stovetop, so plan accordingly.

    close up of lemon tahini dressing on a vegan salad

    Ways to use quinoa

    • Rainbow Quinoa Salad
    • Slow Cooker Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
    • Warm Kale and Quinoa Salad
    • Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
    • Vegan Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Tofu
    • Italian Quinoa Casserole
    • Crispy Quinoa Bake
    • Vegetarian Quinoa White Chili
    • Vegetarian Autumn Grain Bowl

    More instant pot recipes

    • Instant Pot Wild Rice
    • Instant Pot Apple Butter
    • Instant Pot Breakfast Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
    • Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
    instant pot cooked quinoa in a bowl

    If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

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    instant pot cooked quinoa in a bowl next to a red cloth napkin

    Instant Pot Quinoa

    Learn how to make quinoa in the instant pot. Only 2 ingredients and ready in about 20 minutes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 minutes
    Pressure build and release: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 104kcal
    Author: Lindsay Moe

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
    • 1 ½ cups water

    Instructions

    • Combine quinoa and water in the instant pot and arrange in an even layer.
    • Seal the lid and valve and pressure cook for 3 minutes on high pressure. It will take 5-10 minutes for the instant pot to come up to pressure.
    • Once it has finished cooking, do a natural release of the pressure for 10 minutes.
    • Turn the valve to release any remaining pressure. Once the valve has dropped, you can open the lid
    • Fluff with a fork and enjoy as a side dish or use in salads, casseroles, and more.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 160mg | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

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    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

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