This is the way that I get the most consistent results and I am happy to share these with you. This Pressure Cooker Quinoa recipe is for people who love quinoa, but don’t have the time to keep an eye on it when cooking on the stovetop or who are worried about how to cook quinoa. This method gives you perfect quinoa every single time. It is effortless, easy and absolutely fail-proof. And if that is not enough to convince you then how about this – it is a dump everything in and press go recipe. Its no secret that quinoa is packed full of protein so makes a great addition to any meal, without having to think about where that extra protein will come from. It is also naturally gluten-free and really is a great base recipe to build a whole meal or a meal prep around. Try it as a replacement for cooked rice, pasta or couscous or in salads, soups and frittatas.
Recipe Tools
So ready to cook, then gather all your ingredients and let me show you…. This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclosure. Here are some of the items you will need to make this recipe.
8 qt Instant Pot.
I use and love the 8 qt, extra Instant Pot Insert & sealing ring.
3 qt Instant Pot or 6 qt Instant Pot depending on family size. Ziploc bags. Sea salt flakes <= {only the best salt flakes ever} Measuring jugs or cups. Measuring teaspoons. Bowls with covers.
For storing your leftover food.
How To Cook Instant Pot Quinoa
So here are two ways to cook Instant Pot Quinoa. I normally use the manual method as it is much quicker but you can test both and see which way you prefer.
Manual / Pressure Cook Method
Lightly brush the Instant Pot Insert with some oil (this helps prevent sticking).Then go ahead and add the rinsed and drained quinoa, water and sea salt flakes <= {only the best salt flakes ever} into your Instant Pot insert.Cover the Instant Pot, seal, select the manual or pressure cook button (dependent upon IP model), select high pressure and set the timer to 1 min and allow to cook.When done allow the pressure to release naturally before opening, fluff the quinoa with a fork and serve.
Rice Setting Method
Lightly brush the Instant Pot Insert with some oil (this helps prevent sticking).Then go ahead and add the rinsed and drained quinoa, water and salt into your Instant Pot insert.Cover the Instant Pot, seal, select the Rice Button (aka 12 mins at low pressure) and cook.When done allow the pressure to release naturally before opening, fluff the quinoa with a fork and serve.
How To Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker
Cooking quinoa in a rice cooker is super easy. You would need 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of water or stock. Oil the rice cooker insert, add the quinoa, water and any flavouring like salt, cover the rice cooker and press cook. Let it cook till done. That is how simple it is.
How To Cook Quinoa on the Stove Top
Check out my easy guide on how to cook quinoa on the stove top. You would have to change the quinoa water ration to 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water. And a few answers to those cooking quinoa questions you might have.
Recipe Tips
You do want to lightly oil (or use cooking spray) this instant Pot insert so as to avoid the quinoa sticking.Quinoa can be stored in the fridge for up to a week no problem. Any extra can be frozen for later.Toasting the quinoa before cooking adds an extra depth of nutty flavour to it.Cook the quinoa using broth/stock for extra added flavour. Alternatively, you can add in citrus zest, fresh chopped herbs, spices, chilli and more.
How Much Does 1 cup of Quinoa Make?
One cup of uncooked quinoa gives around 3 cups of cooked quinoa.
How Much Quinoa Per Person?
You should aim for 1/2 cup (93g) of cooked quinoa per person. This contained about 110 calories (source USDA).
Instant Pot Quinoa Water Ratio
You need 1 cup of water to cook 1 cup of quinoa in the Instant Pot ( 170g quinoa to 250mls water). A however big tip here. If you rinse your quinoa and don’t drain it very well you might end up with slightly mushy quinoa. So it might be worth reducing the water by a tbsp. or so to compensate for any extra water.
Do You Need to Rinse Quinoa Before Cooking?
Rinsing your quinoa gets rid of the bitter natural coating it comes with as well as reduces its starchiness when cooking. So I say yes you should rinse quinoa before cooking but the answer is it depends on the brand you are using. Some brands have already pre-rinsed the quinoa before packaging it up.
How Long To Cook Quinoa in the Instant Pot
If you are using the manual / high pressure function then you will need to cook it for 1 min at high pressure. If using the rice function then you would just press the rice button which cooks the quinoa for 12 mins.
Instant Pot Quinoa Salad
You can make a great Instant Pot quinoa salad. Simply let the quinoa cool down and add the salad ingredients and salad dressing.
Instant Pot Quinoa and Vegetables
You can easily make Instant Pot Quinoa and Vegetables. This is where you need to use the quick cooking vegetables. Add sweetcorn, chopped carrots, peas, chopped bell peppers along with the quinoa into the pot before cooking.
Can You freeze Quinoa?
Yes, you can. Let the quinoa cool down then portion it into Ziploc bags. Squash the air out, lock the bags, flatten them and freeze them. Thaw overnight in the fridge when needed.
Meal Prep Ideas Using Instant Pot Quinoa
So the great thing about this Instant Pot quinoa is that it can be an awesome base for meal prep. How, you ask? Well, one way is that you can double the recipe and refrigerate till needed. Now on to the actual meal prep idea. There are a gazillion ways you can use this for meal planning. I suggest a few ideas of what to serve with your quinoa here but please don’t be limited by these ideas. They are just a starting point.
Monday – With Instant Pot Shredded Chicken and a salad (gluten-free).Tuesday – to bulk up some Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup (vegan, gluten-free).Wednesday – in a Herbed Quinoa Salad (vegan, gluten-free).Thursday – with a 5 min Instant Pot Chicken Curry (gluten-free).Friday – as Baked Quinoa Falafels (gluten-free).Saturday – Grilled avocado stuffed with veggie quinoa (gluten-free, vegan).Sunday – a Berry Quinoa Porridge (gluten-free).
Meal Prep Storage Solutions
There are many different storage options available, but these are the ones I come back to again and again and work best for all my meal prep needs.
Glass Meal Prep Containers with 1 and 2 Compartments – Having 2 compartments is perfect for those build-it-yourself lunchbox ideas, or when you prefer to keep flavourful items separate. And single compartment containers are just the thing for making up meal prep bowls. These glass meal prep containers are freezable, microwavable, and dishwasher safe.Reusable sauce cups with lids – to keep your food from getting soggy, it is important to store salad dressings and salsa, etc. separate from the other food until mealtime. The 1-ounce size will right inside the larger glass containers.Reusable Utensils– there are lots of cute, packable reusable utensil sets to choose from. Some even come tucked inside a cloth napkin.Reusable Water Bottle – stay hydrated and healthy with these fun portable water bottles.Insulated Lunch Bag – pack up your glass container, utensils and water bottle in this insulated and easy to carry bag and head out the door!
More recipes You Might Like
How To Cook Quinoa On The Stovetop.How To Cook Quinoa In Rice Cooker.
Weight Watchers Points in Instant Pot Quinoa
If you replace the oil in this recipe with calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are 2 Freestyle points in each serving of Instant Pot Quinoa. Thank you for reading my Pressure Cooker quinoa recipe post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for reading Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
