Banana Nut Quinoa Porridge: Start your day with a protein-packed, calcium rich bowl of warm quinoa cereal and know that your morning will be fueled with nutrients you need to stay sharp, focused, and to start your day right!
I am on a bit of a breakfast kick to start this year–just check out my Easy Breakfast Recipes, to see my full collection of healthy breakfast recipes and you can tell I put a huge emphasis on eating a healthy, high protein breakfast.
I feel like if I can tackle eating a nutritious breakfast everyday my days go better and I eat healthier all day long–after all breakfast is ESSENTIAL in a healthy diet.
About a year ago, I was attending a conference with a bunch of food bloggers and a nutritionist shared with us that it is ideal to get 25-30 grams of protein each morning and the average American gets only 13 grams*. We were all a bunch of healthy foodies sitting around that table but this news still stunned the majority of us–25 grams of protein in the morning sounds like quite the task!
For myself, I was used to getting in that much protein in the morning. Without it, my blood sugar is unstable all day and I am grumpy, moody, and STARVING. I turn into a regular old beast!!
But it did get me thinking about easy recipes that would help others achieve their morning protein goals. And recipes that don’t rely on a scoop of protein powder–they are pricey and often overly processed with added sugars to boot.
I love my Peanut Butter Cup Power Smoothie and Homemade Egg McMuffin for high protein, healthy breakfast recipes. But I have found another high protein winner here with my latest–quinoa porridge.
Banana Nut Quinoa Porridge
Porridge makes me think of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears and this is one porridge people may be tempted to break into your house to steal a nibble.
Warm quinoa breakfast cereal is swimming in a sweet, creamy broth flavored with bananas and vanilla. Crunchy walnuts and chia seeds add various textural components along with added fiber and healthy fats that help sustain energy longer.
And if that doesn’t convince you to give quinoa for breakfast a try–each serving contains a whooping 18 grams of protein!!! When paired with an 8 ounce glass of milk, your breakfast is at 26 grams of protein!!!
What makes Breakfast Quinoa so good for you?
- Each serving of quinoa has 8 grams of plant-based protein.
- Naturally gluten-free.
- Bananas are full of potassium and naturally sweet, so you can skip the added sugars most breakfast cereals have.
- When cooked in milk, breakfast porridge is high in calcium.
- By topping the porridge with chia seeds, you add Omega 3s and a hefty dose of fiber (not to mention some nice contrast in texture.)
In fact, I think it should be the new poster child for the breakfast of Champions. Move over cold cereal for this hearty Quinoa Breakfast Porridge–All you 80’s kids know what I am referring to 😉Â
So while you may think that porridge sounds boring, mushy, or old-fashioned–Banana Nut Quinoa Porridge is none of the above.
It is filled with texture, flavor, and made with trendy new superfoods!
Notes about Banana Breakfast Quinoa:
- Make this quinoa porridge vegan by using almond, coconut, or soy milk and omitting the egg.
- The egg is added to this breakfast porridge recipe to naturally boost protein and to give the porridge a custardy texture. This recipe works without the egg.
- Omit walnuts for Banana Quinoa Porridge, making this safe for those with nut allergies.
- It is not necessary to blend the bananas into the milk. You can simply slice the bananas and let them fall apart into the quinoa as the porridge cooks. I personally prefer to blend the bananas for a creamy quinoa oatmeal that is equally sweet in every bite.
Quinoa Breakfast Recipe
Banana Nut Quinoa Porridge
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried quinoa
- 4 cups milk divided
- 3 ripe bananas divided
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- dash of salt
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Drizzle of honey or maple syrup optional
Instructions
- For best results, soak quinoa in 1 cup water overnight. This step is not necessary, but helps create a softer, more porridge like consistency.
- Blend together 2 cups milk, egg, vanilla, salt with 2 ripe bananas. Pour into large saucepan and stir in quinoa. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15-20 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed, stirring every few minutes. Stir in the chia seeds.
- To serve: Dish out quinoa porridge into 4 bowls, add 1/2 cup milk to each bowl, 1/4 of the remaining banana sliced, and a tablespoon of the chopped walnuts. If you like things sweet, feel free to drizzle each bowl with a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. I find the bananas make this dish sweet enough for me...
Kristen Chidsey
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I just made this this morning without the nuts. It’s amazing. It’s just the perfect amount of sweet and gives you so much energy. For sure going to make this a breakfast staple. Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
I am so glad you enjoyed Alyssa! This breakfast does keep us full all day!
Dear Kristen, what a wonderful start to the day…looks deliciously wholesome and satisfying. xoxo, Catherine
Thanks Catherine!
I mix peanut butter protein powder in my oatmeal in the morning
Yum!!!
Wow that is hard to get 30 grams. I usually have a english muffin egg sandwich and hour or so later a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries. Will def try yours.
It can be hard, but is sounds like you are on the right track for sure with your egg muffin and oatmeal 🙂
I love to go for the milk, peanut butter, and oatmeal or quinoa for protein! And I love quinoa for breakfast! It’s so good!
YUM!!! Love all those options!
I love sweet quinoa for breakfast. This porridge looks delicious, and so much healthy protein!
Greek Yogurt, Banana’s Peanut butter, eggs.
All fabulous options!!
Will be a welcome change from my daily oatmeal! Thanks for sharing this recipe! Can’t wait to try it.
You bet! I hope you love it!
I will be having more porridge, I especially want to try your recipe 🙂
I hope you do Emma–it is so, so tasty!
This is great looking porridge. Love those ingredients. So healthy.
Hope you give it a try Mark!
That is so interesting about protein in the morning. I had no idea! What conference was it?
It was actually at ALDI–a registered dietician was speaking to us about ALDI’s protein types and then I just read it again in several health articles.
Loved the recipe. It is so healthy and nutritious. Making it soon.
Enjoy it 🙂
Quinoa is my favorite seed to use as a grain. Non GMO and packed with protein. I usually make oatmeal in the morning but I’m going to give this a go. Looks amazing.
You will love these!!
That is one serious amount of protein! I am on a high protein diet and this is perfect.
This the PERFECT breakfast for you Michelle 🙂
What an awesome alternative to oats. I love the taste and texture of quinoa and this is a great way to use it!!
Gloria, if you love the texture of quinoa–this is totally the breakfast for you! I hope you give it a try.
Wow- that is a lot of protein! So glad to see a good way to eat it with this porridge! Love that banana nut!
This is a great way to get in the protein for sure!
Oh yumm! I love this whole bowl, what a great hearty start to the day!
Cathy
Thanks Cathy!
That sounds like a great breakfast! I love that it is gluten free too!
Yes, it is a great gluten free option.
I eat oatmeal for breakfast every morning and always add cooked quinoa and teff that I prepare at the start of the week. I always make it with milk and add some kind of nut, usually walnuts or pecans. My favorite combination lately has been pears, pecans, dates, cinnamon, nutmeg, a bit of maple syrup and a drizzle of honey.
Jeffrey, that sounds fabulous. I love adding dates to oatmeal as well.
Woah never knew you should be getting 25 grams of protein in the morning! Highly doubt I’m getting anywhere even near that. Definitely need to start working on that. Love the idea of a quinoa porridge, I’m normally not an oatmeal person but just recently started making hot oatmeal bowls with all sorts of mix ins and its starting to grow on me!
25 grams is a lot! I hope you give this a try–it will help you reach those goals and I bet you will love it!
I usually start my day with oats that have nuts mixed and almond milk to get a good dose of protein, but I’m going to have to give this porridge a try! It looks so good!
Thanks Jessica! I hope you love it!
You, sister, have packed the protein into this yummy breakfast bowl. I am truly amazed. I’m just discovering the wonderful benefits of quinoa and it sounds perfect for a healthy and delicious breakfast!
Allie, if you are looking for protein–this is the breakfast for you! Enjoy!
I get most of my proteins from greek yogurt and eggs in the morning! 🙂
Eva, I love using Greek yogurt to get protein!
I love quinoa but have yet to make it at breakfast, this sounds delicious, I will have to give it a try!
If you love quinoa, this is a must try!
A great recipe to start your morning with. Tasty.
Thanks Faye!
I love that this does not include oatmeal. I have a problem with oatmeal and I crave it. This will be the perfect substitute! Great recipe!
Yes Denise, this will be the perfect solution for you!
I love a nice warm breakfast everyday. I am going to try your recipe. Pinned!
I hope you enjoy!
We have quinoa for breakfast sometimes too and I agree it’s great. Your version here looks delicious! Definitely pinned to try.
I hope you love this version!
Great anytime of day!
Yes, in fact, I think I may have it for lunch today.
I don’t always pay a lot of attention and actually track my protein, but I am starting to focus more on tracking my pre- and post-workout protein so I’ve been having a smoothie with banana, water and one scoop of protein powder that has 25grams protein. Between that and my breakfast, I am hitting my 30 grams no problem!
I don’t think you have to track your protein as long as you know that you are hitting close to the needed amount 🙂 I always say to caluculate out a few recipes and then you can have a vague idea each day of what you are getting. That way you aren’t always tracking protein.
Quinoa for breakfast is a must!
Just this morning I had my favorite mix of quinoa flakes, super oat mix and of course topped with a glob of pb!
That sounds fabulous Rebecca!!
I try to make oatmeal or some form of porridge at least once a week. I like this recipe because it is different than what I usually make so I will definitely have to try it soon!
I hope you give it a try and love it!