Learn how to cook perfect Instant Pot quinoa! With my quick, hands-off method, this nutritious grain comes out fluffy and flavorful every time.
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I’m a convert: this Instant Pot quinoa recipe is my new favorite method for cooking quinoa. It’s quick, it’s reliable, and – most importantly – it’s hands-off. I love that I can add the quinoa to the Instant Pot, get it cooking, and move on to something else. Whether I check on it in 20 minutes or in an hour, I’ll end up with a pot of fluffy, perfectly cooked grains.
Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe Ingredients
To be clear, if you love cooking quinoa on the stove, there’s no reason you shouldn’t keep doing it. My stovetop quinoa recipe and this Instant Pot recipe yield pretty much the same results. The quinoa is fluffy, flavorful, and tender. Like I said above, the big advantage of the Instant Pot method is that it’s so hands-off. You don’t even have to turn off the stove! If this sort of set-it-and-forget-it flexibility appeals to you, then this recipe is worth a try.
Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Quinoa, of course! Any color will work here. Use white quinoa, black quinoa, red, or a mix.
- Water – You’ll need slightly less water to cook 1 cup of quinoa in the Instant Pot than you would on the stove, as less evaporation occurs in a pressure cooker. I use 1 1/2 cups instead of 1 3/4.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Cook Quinoa in the Instant Pot
Start by rinsing the grains. Place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer, and rinse it under cool running water. Quinoa is coated in saponins, or naturally occurring insecticides, which can make it taste bitter. Rinsing it before cooking improves its flavor and makes it easier to digest.
Then, add the rinsed quinoa to the Instant Pot. Pour in the water, and stir to combine.
Next, cook. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, and Pressure Cook on High for 1 minute. (No, that’s not a mistake!) The time that it takes the Instant Pot to build and release pressure will allow the quinoa to cook completely.
Allow the pressure to release naturally. When the float valve drops, about 10 to 15 minutes after the cooking cycle is completed, remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. You can also leave the Instant Pot on the Keep Warm setting and wait to fluff the grains until you’re ready to serve.
That’s it!
How to Use Instant Pot Quinoa
The simplest way to serve this Instant Pot quinoa is as a side dish. Toss it with a drizzle of olive oil, pinches of salt and pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice, and pair it with any cooked protein you like. It’s a great base for a grain bowl, too. Try using it in this veggie power bowl, this vegan burrito bowl, or this roasted veggie grain bowl. Or sub it in for the rice in any of these 15 rice bowl recipes!
You can also use it in any recipe that calls for cooked quinoa. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (perfect for meal prep!)
- Spring Quinoa with Asparagus, Peas & Pickled Onion
- Vegan Seven Layer Dip
- Quinoa Burger
- Greek-ish Stuffed Sweet Potato
- Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
What are your favorite quinoa recipes? Let me know in the comments!
More Favorite Pressure Cooker Recipes
If you love this recipe, try making one of these dishes in the Instant Pot next:
Instant Pot Quinoa
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 1½ cups water
Instructions
- Combine the rinsed quinoa and water in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Secure the lid and Pressure cook on High for 1 minute. (Yep, just 1 minute! The time it takes the Instant Pot to build and release pressure will allow the quinoa to cook completely.)
- Allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. This will take 10-15 minutes. When the float valve drops, remove the lid.
- Fluff with a fork and enjoy. See the blog post above for quinoa recipe ideas.
2 questions:
Do I need to reduce the water to double the recipe?
Can I keep it warm using the keep warm function?
Hi Ann, I think the same ratio of water would work well. The keep warm function should be fine too!
This is so quick and easy! Thank you!
I’m so glad it worked well for you!
So quick and easy! Thank you!
Great easy way to cook quinoa. Came out nice and fluffy!
I love recipes that are this easy. I did add a little salt to the pot before cooking it. This is how I will make quinoa from now on.
I’m so glad you loved this one, Jeff!
Wow! I just made this and it turned out amazing! I used half water and half chicken broth. Thanks!
I’m so glad you loved it, Annette!
Amazing! I don’t often leave recipe reviews but this totally surpassed my expectations! So simple but it’s my favourite way to cook quinoa now! I did not think instant pot quinoa would turn out great but it was perfect!
I’m so glad you loved it!
1 minute!? Total BS. Quinoa was still raw. And yes I let it vent naturally I’m
Hi Matt, sorry you had disappointing results! We find that 1 minute works well. Did it come fully to pressure?
I thought surely quinoa won’t cook right in an instant pot… and yet it was probably the most success I’ve ever had with quinoa, haha. Thank you! I have used several of your recipes and always have great results.
Hi Kristen, I’m so glad you were happy with the results!
Wow! I’ve never had quinoa come out so fluffy,and so effortlessly! Thank you.
I’m glad your quinoa came out perfectly!
Would using a 3 quart instant pot just use one cup of water or still the 1 and a half cups?
Hi Trent, the same measurements listed will work in a 3-quart instant pot.
I can’t believe this worked! I followed another comment and doubled the recipe and waited 20 minutes. Best quinoa I ever made!
I’m so glad it worked out well!
Go to instructions! Use it every time
PERFECT! OMG. I never liked quinoa until I made it this way!
I doubled amounts to 2 cups rinsed quinoa and 3 cups water, kept the 1 min instant pot time and then turned it off and let it sit for 20 min.
LIGHT AND FLUFFY PERFECTION! YUM! Thank you!!
I’m so glad your quinoa was perfect!
I just made this and it came out perfect without any sticking to the bottom of the pot. I followed suggestions in the comments and turned the pot off as soon as the one minute cooking time was up. Next time I make this, I will use chicken broth instead of water, as I have done before for cooking on the stove-top.
Perfect!
Recipe was great! My only issue is that there is always a good bit of quinoa stuck to the bottom of the pot. I was wondering if you had any suggestions about how to prevent this.
I used the pot-in-pot method last night. Worked great!
I don’t know if you’ve tried this, but I hint cancel (or off, depending on the model?) while it releases. In the past, I’ve left it on, and it can get dry and stick to the bottom. I hope that helps!
Thanks for the hint. I turned mine off for the natural release, and it was perfect and did not stick!
Your recipes sound like you know what you are doing. Have you experimented with the Pot in Pot method using the Instant Pot? This works great for rice in smaller quantities (< 2 cup cooked). and is our go-to for cooking rice. Our only change when using PIP is to add 2 minutes to the 10 minute NR for Basmati rice, which has a 6 minute pressure cook.
If I want to make more, would I just add 1 minutes per cup?
HI Theresa, you can make a double batch but follow the same instrucions.
Worked perfectly!!
Perfection! Thank you!