Instant Pot Quinoa is the EASIEST way to cook fluffy, tender quinoa. This simple method for making quinoa is ready in minutes. A fool-proof method for cooking quinoa in your pressure cooker every time!
I get excited about things that make my life easier. The Instant Pot happens to be one of those things.
From making dried beans in less than an hour to cooking frozen chicken breasts to defrosting ground beef perfectly, I adore the fact that the Instant Pot makes cooking from scratch SO much easier.
Take quinoa for example. In about 20 minutes of total time, I have PERFECTLY cooked fluffy quinoa. Every single time. And yes, that is counting the time it takes for the pressure to build and release!
How To Make Instant Pot Quinoa
Step One: Rinse Quinoa
Why rinse quinoa? Rinsing removes quinoa’s natural coating which can make it taste bitter. Even though most quinoa is pre-rinsed I still find that quinoa tastes better and is much fluffier, if you rinse the quinoa before cooking.
Step Two: Cook Quinoa
Cooking quinoa in the pressure cooker requires a 1:1 ratio. Meaning, you use the same ratio of quinoa to liquid. So for 1 cup quinoa, you would use 1 cup liquid.
- Place rinsed quinoa in the instant pot.
- Add in liquid.
- Add a dash of salt–this helps to season the quinoa.
- Put the lid on instant pot and be sure to turn vent knob to “seal.”
- Cook on High Pressure for 1 minute.
Step Three: Let Pressure Release
As with anything starchy, like rice or beans, pressure needs to be released naturally. This should be done in less than 10 minutes.
Freezing Quinoa
This is a perfect recipe to make extra of and use for meals throughout the week or freeze for future use.
- Prepare quinoa as recipe directs.
- Allow to cool completely.
- Freeze in 1-2 cup portions in freezer-safe bags or containers.
- Defrost in fridge overnight to use in salads, burgers, or as a side dish.
A few Notes on Instant Pot Quinoa
- You can use water, Chicken Stock, vegetable stock, or beef broth as the cooking liquid in this quinoa recipe. If you use salted broth, you can omit the added salt.
- Regardless of how much quinoa you make, the cook time remains the same. However, time to reach pressure or for pressure to release may take longer.
- You can use any variety of quinoa and the process will remain the same.
How to Use Instant Pot Quinoa
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Veggie Packed Quinoa Burgers
- Mozzarella and Tomato Quinoa Bake
- Quinoa Spinach Salad
- Mexican Quinoa Salad
Instant Pot Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed
- 1 cup cooking liquid water or stock
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt omit if using stock
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer for 2 minutes.
- Place rinsed quinoa, liquid, and salt into inner pan of pressure cooker.
- Seal the pressure cooker, being sure that the vent knob is turned to seal.
- Cook on HIGH pressure for 1 minute.
- Allow pressure to release naturally and then fluff with a spoon or fork.Â
- Serve as desired.
Nutrition
My quinoa in the instapot is always soggy? I do 1 to 1 water to quinoa let it release naturally? Tried 1 to 1 1/2 quinoa to water 🤔
Hi Lee! I am sorry you are having issues. A few tips may help. First, be sure to drain your quinoa well after rinsing. Then use 1:1 measurement and cook for 1 minute. Do a quick release after 10 minutes to see if that helps. Then fluff with a fork–stirring with a spoon will break down the quinoa and potentially make it mushy. Hope that helps!
This is the best recipe for quinoa I’ve ever used, be it stove top or instant pot. I have an 8 quart pot and put water to the two cup mark, inserted the trivet and put the rinsed quinoa and veggie broth in a bowl sitting on the trivet. When the pot was depressurized the quinoa is already in a bowl ready to go on the table and the pot is a breeze to clean.
YAY! I am so glad you had success with your quinoa. It does make meal prep so easy!
I have never used a bowl in the Instant Pot. I love this idea. So, what kind of bowl? A metal bowl? You add 2 cups of water in the IP, and then follow the 1:1 ratio in the bowl of quinoa/liquid?
Hi Michelle! I will let Phoenix weigh in as well, but I would use a metal heat safe bowl, add in 1.5 cups of cold water to bottom of inner pan, mix 1:1 ratio of quinoa together in dish and then set cook time for 5 minutes–I find that when cooking in a metal pan I have to add a few minutes for things to cook fully. Hope that helps.
Thanks for making cooking quinoa very simple I used to cook it without pressure cooking until I found out that it’s better for your health to
pressure cooker it.
I am glad you enjoyed Jeff.
This recipe looks delicious! I am going to give it a go. Question? If I added canned kidney beans for example, what cook time do you think I would need with the Instant Pot?
Hi Cindy! No change in time adding canned beans, just plop on top, and mix in after cook time, so quinoa can evenly absorb water.
Maybe I missed it, but is the serving size 1 cup, 1/2 cup ?
A serving is about 1/2 cup cooked quinoa 🙂
Thank you for making my life easier! Great tip on how to make quinoa nice and fluffy by rinsing it before preparing it – love it!
I am so glad that tip helped BETH!!! Wahoo!
I have been wondering if I could make quinoa in the instant pot. I am so glad that I found this tutorial, because it came out perfectly! thank you so much!
YAY! It is just so incredibly simple!
Best and easiest quinoa recipe ever!! The bonus is that this is the base for so many great quinoa dishes and requires almost no effort!
YAY!!! I am right there with you Wenona! This recipe makes quinoa effortlessly!
This is way to easy to work but it does, perfect quinoa.
For reference I have a 6qt Instapot. It’s interesting that so many recipes call for 5 min cook time yet this works perfectly! 👌
It is so simple, yet it really does work perfectly.