Easy Instant Pot Quinoa is so good for you! Let the Instant Pot take the hassle out of cooking it with Perfect, fluffy and flavorful results every time!
Quinoa is a superfood that is easy to incorporate into everyday meals but cooking it can be a pain! The Instant pot removes the need for soaking and long, intensive cooking times.
Cooking quinoa in chicken or vegetable broth infuses the quinoa with flavor and our quick cooling method allows you to quickly and easily store the quinoa for use later or transform it into delicious healthy soups, casseroles and salads right away.
What is Quinoa?
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) has been around for years but has only recently started being seen as a healthy addition to the American diet. Quinoa is a whole grain that is higher in protein than any other grain and has been cultivated by native peoples in the Andes Mountains of South America for over 5,000 years.
Why is Quinoa good for you?
Web MD says that “unlike most plant-based foods, quinoa is a complete protein, which means it contains all of the essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of the proteins that make up your muscles, bones, skin, and blood. The nine classified as “essential” must be obtained from food daily — your body cannot produce or store them — and quinoa provides all nine.”
Quinoa is high in fiber, rich in antioxidants and is also a good source of:
- Folate
- Iron
- Thiamine
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Zinc
How to make Easy Instant Pot Quinoa
The Instant Pot is by far my favorite way to cook Quinoa. The finished product is fluffy and ready for whatever you want to do with it. There’s no watching the pot or stirring while cooking because the Instant Pot does the work. So easy!
Place raw quinoa in a fine mesh colander and rinse for at least 30 seconds. Rinsing the quinoa will remove the saponin, the natural bitter coating that quinoa has.
Add the quinoa and chicken broth to the bowl of the Instant Pot. If you prefer, you can use water*, vegetable broth, or even beef broth in place of the chicken broth.
*If using water, add 1/8 tsp of salt to the instant pot.
Stir well to coat the grains in the broth. Place the cover securely on the Instant pot.
Set the timer to pressure cook on high for 3 minutes. The Instant pot can take up to 5-10 minutes to come to full pressure before the cooking begins.
After the cooking time has completed, let the pressure naturally release for about 10 minutes. Open the valve and make sure all of the steam has escaped before carefully removing the lid.
Use a fork to fluff and separate the quinoa in the bowl of the Instant pot. Serve immediately if desired.
If storing for a later use or using in a quinoa salad, generously spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and spread the fluffed quinoa out in an even layer.
Place the baking sheet into the freezer for 10 minutes to fully cool before using. Once cooled, fluff again with a fork.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Use in any salad or meal prep that calls for quinoa. Enjoy!
Other Easy Side Dishes you may Like
Oven Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts -tender crisp, wrapped in a simple mixture of Balsamic vinegar and garlic. Slow roasted and delicious!
Simple Sauteed Zucchini with Lemon – Italian seasoning, a hint of garlic and a burst of fresh lemon surround crisp tender bites of zucchini. A great healthy side dish!
Creamy Cucumber Salad – Refreshing and delicious bites of cucumber with onion and dill in a light and creamy dressing. A perfect potluck side!
Oven Roasted Cauliflower – Tossed in an easy tangy marinade and then roasted to sweet perfection using high heat. Keto friendly and delicious!
Garlicky Potato Stacks – Flavorful individual little stacks of thinly sliced potatoes coated with garlic and thyme and baked in a muffin tin!
Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts with Bacon – Bacon, garlic and Parmesan wrap tender crisp Brussels sprouts in layers of flavor.
Easy Instant Pot Quinoa
Equipment
- 1 Pressure Cooker any brand
Ingredients
- 1 cup Quinoa
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Place raw quinoa in a fine mesh colander and rinse for at least 30 seconds.
- Add quinoa and chicken broth to the bowl of the Instant Pot and stir well to coat the grains in the broth. Place the cover securely on the Instant pot.
- Set the timer to pressure cook on high for 3 minutes. The Instant pot can take up to 5-10 minutes to come to full pressure before the cooking begins.
- After the cooking time has completed, let the pressure naturally release for about 10 minutes. Open the valve and make sure all of the steam has escaped before carefully removing the lid.
- Use a fork to fluff and separate the quinoa in the bowl of the Instant pot. Serve immediately if desired.
- If storing for a later use or using in a quinoa salad, generously spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and spread the fluffed quinoa out in an even layer.
- Place the baking sheet into the freezer for 10 minutes to fully cool before using. Once cooled, fluff again with a fork.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Use in any salad or meal prep that calls for quinoa. Enjoy!
Nutrition *
* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
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