Have you wondered how to cook quinoa? Here are directions for 3 different methods of cooking quinoa: stovetop, slow cooker, and pressure cooker.
Quinoa is not only delicious and healthy, it is fast and easy to prepare, making it a great substitute for rice and other grains in recipes. Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, so I also enjoy using it in place of pasta in some recipes.
Quinoa comes in a variety of colors and though the flavor of each variety is slightly different the ease of preparation is the same for all of them.
How to Cook Quinoa
While the methods for cooking quinoa vary, the ratio of dried quinoa to liquid remain the same: 1 part quinoa to 2 parts liquid in all of the recipes except for the Instant Pot Quinoa recipe. You can cook the quinoa in water or your favorite broth.
How to Cook Quinoa on the Stove Top
Ingredients:
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
Directions:
- Add the water and quinoa to a medium pot with a lid.
- Cook the quinoa over a medium-high flame until it reaches a boil.
- Place a lid on the pot, lower the flame and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed.
Printable Stovetop Quinoa Recipe
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- Add the water and quinoa to a medium pot with a lid.
- Cook the quinoa over a medium-high flame until it reaches a boil.
- Place a lid on the pot, lower the flame and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed.
- Add the water and quinoa to a medium pot with a lid.
- Cook the quinoa over a medium-high flame until it reaches a boil.
- Place a lid on the pot, lower the flame and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed.
If you look closely at the picture above, you can see little ridicules. That is the germ and it will be present when the qunioa is done cooking. You want the germ to be al dente and the seed to be light and slightly crunchy.
How to Cook Quinoa in a Slow Cooker
Ingredients:
- 2 cups quinoa
- 4 cups water
Directions:
- Add the quinoa and water to a slow cooker.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and then cook for 5 – 6 hours on low or 3 – 4 high on low or until the germ separates from the seed.
Printable Slow Cooker Quinoa Recipe
- 2 cups quinoa
- 4 cups water
- Add the quinoa and water to a slow cooker.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and then cook for 5 - 6 hours on low or 3 - 4 hours on high or until the germ separates from the seed.
How to Cook Quinoa in a Pressure Cooker
Ingredients:
- 2 cups quinoa
- 4 cups water
Directions:
- Place the quinoa and water in the pressure cooker.
- Seal the lid, close the pressure release valve and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed.
- Use the quick release method to release the steam.
Printable Pressure Cooker Quinoa Recipe
- 2 cups quinoa
- 4 cups water
- Place the quinoa and water in the pressure cooker.
- Seal the lid, close the pressure release valve and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed.
- Use the quick release method to release the steam.
How to Cook Quinoa in an Electric Pressure Cooker
How to Cook Quinoa in an Instant Pot
You can use the Instant Pot as a pressure cooker, but it holds in more steam than a pressure cooker, so we need to reduce the liquid.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups quinoa
- 3 1/2 cups water
Directions:
- Place the quinoa and water in the Instant Pot.
- Seal the lid, close the pressure release valve and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed.
- Use the quick release method to release the steam.
Printable Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe
- 2 cups quinoa
- 3½ cups water
- Place the quinoa and water in the Instant Pot.
- Seal the lid, close the pressure release valve. Select high pressure. Set the time for 6 minutes. Push start.
- Use the quick release method to release the steam.
If you like cooking with quinoa you will love the Quinoa Lunch Bowl recipes and the Quinoa Salad recipes in my cookbook Prep-Ahead Breakfasts and Lunches.
More Quinoa Recipes
Quinoa’s crunchy texture and mildly nutty flavor makes it a wonderful addition to many different recipes. Here are a few of our favorites:
Asian Chicken Salad with Quinoa
Have you cooked with quinoa? How do you use it in recipes?
This was originally published on April 24, 2012. It was updated May 1, 2018, to include the cooking video.
Victoria says
I love quinoa, and it’s so easy to cook! My favorite is recipe is to make it into a greek salad with cucumber, tomatoes, onions, and feta!
Swathi says
I read somewhere, we need to soak, wash and roast before cooking quinoa. I have some in my hand, now to try them.
Alea says
You don’t have to soak, wash or roast packaged quinoa.
Judy@Savoring Today says
I didn’t like quinoa at first because of the crunchiness, so now I cook it longer and like it quite a bit now. 🙂
Alea says
I will have to try cooking it longer to see how it changes the texture. Thanks for the idea!
mub says
I like making quinoa in the rice cooker, it works really well =)
I think this is my very favorite recipe with it: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/11290/roasted-tomato-halloumi-and-quinoa-salad
I usually add in a cucumber and it works really well with sun dried tomatoes instead of fresh ones too.
Alea says
I have heard that you can make quinoa in a rice cooker, but have never tried it. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Jackie @ Crest Cottage says
Mmm! I love me some quinoa! I even got my parents hooked. I always make way too much and have it for lunch. Sometimes I just mix in my husband’s hummus and some balsamic vinegar and call it a day!
Alea says
That sounds delicious Jackie!