This is how to make quinoa in pressure cooker, Instant Pot or as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe! Perfectly fluffy every time, it’s the best gluten free side dish that even my kids love.
This is the perfect quinoa! It can be made sweet or savory in your Instant Pot! A very versatile grain and a great alternative to rice, especially if you’re looking for something that’s naturally gluten free!
If you have always loved this grain over white rice, us too!! You can make it a bunch of different ways and we will share them all. Best of all is using high pressure with a natural release to get it fluffy and delicious.
Ninja Foodi Quinoa
You can use any brand; as an Instant Pot recipe, in a Crockpot Express or in a Foodi too. With the latter there is a difference in one way; you need to use the lid that is not attached to pressure cook on high.
What is the ratio of quinoa to water?
You need about 1.5 times liquid to dry quinoa to make this fluffy and tender. With that said many people like to use a flavored liquid instead of water to add flavor. The most popular is chicken broth or beef stock.
How Long to Cook Quinoa in Pressure Cooker
Technically it only requires 1 minute with the high pressure function but that doesn’t include the time it takes to reach pressure, and the need to naturally release the steam at the end. Both are required to cook it properly so if you include everything you are looking at about 25 minutes, still faster than brown rice.
If you haven’t tried it as an alternate it is definitely different but great when included in a casserole such as this one. This is the fastest method of them all but you can try using a rice cooker or on the stovetop too. We talk about how long to cook quinoa all different ways here so you can compare.
Tips for Cooking the Perfect Quinoa
I found that allowing it to sit and fluff up using a natural release of steam, instead of releasing the steam quickly, helps when using your pressure cooker.
When you allow your Instant Pot to naturally release the steam for about 15 minutes it creates perfectly fluffy quinoa that’s tender and just right served as a side dish or ready for you to add in yummy add ins like fruit and honey!
Quinoa Pressure Cooker Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup quinoa, traditional quinoa
- 2 1/4 cup water, could use broth if desired
Instructions
- Put quinoa and water into Instant Pot, pick up inner pot and swirl it around. Put pot back in and close lid and steam valve.
- Set to pressure high for 1 minute.
- Allow to naturally release for 15 minutes. Fluff and serve with butter.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you’re looking for more easy quinoa recipes, you can make our chicken quinoa casserole in this same pot or provide a choice of sides with this Instant Pot white rice together.
Once we fell in love with this I wanted to make a sweeter version, that is when we came up with this breakfast quinoa with a bit of honey and great with fresh fruit too.
Is quinoa better for you than rice?
With more nutrients than rice, quinoa has three types but we are only speaking about the traditional white variety. If you wanted to make tri color quinoa under high pressure this way you could, just increase timing from 1 to 2 minutes with the same natural release! There is a red and black version too but those take longer to cook and are crunchier than this popular version.
It is said to have more nutrients than traditional white rice + lots of amino acids too so comparing the two quinoa is said and thought to be healthier.
I made a double batch using some sundried tomato florentine quinoa I had after reading this recipe. After tossed in a pound of pre browned ground beef. Mixed up, let sit on warm in the Foodi for a bit until the flavors melded.
Oh yum
I doubled the recipe and made it in my Ninja Foodi and it came out perfect! Thank you for the great recipe!
OH good!!
Hello, can you double this recipe?
Should be fine
Add a jump to recipe button. Nobody wants stories, just food.
You’re too busy criticizing. There is a jump button
@Craig, Then call me nobody. I want just a recipe I copy it to my pad and move on or I go to a different site instead of making a nasty comment.
Hello Justine,
I wanted to tell you I have read through a lot of your recipes over time and have enjoyed your insights and ideas. I have a question for you, I have the Ninja Foodi (8qt) and love 💕 it but I’m still getting used to it. I never used a pressure cooker before simply because I couldn’t fuss with the food or see it but I’m making peace with that 😆. When I look up Ninja recipes your instant pot ones come up, do all pressure cookers work the same ? What about timing ? And does elevation make a difference ? I moved from sea level to 5000ft. and grains, beans, potatoes take FOR EVER here on stove or oven. I tried a mixed quinoa as you said but added a few mins and it was still very hard. Don’t know if it was the mixed quinoa, elevation, Ninja, or ??? Any ideas ? Thank you ! Oh p.s. I season mine before cooking, maybe that’s it ?
Yes you can absolutely use any of my Instant Pot recipes in the Foodi without any differences. BUT yes elevation does make a bit of a difference I have been told. We aren’t high ourselves but my mom has noted that she needs to add 1/4 c more water to make white rice than I do. I wouldn’t think timing would be that different because it is so contained but may need to mess around with it a bit if you find that it isn’t cooking to the tenderness you desire. Add maybe 2 min. the next time until you figure it out perfectly according to your altitude. Hope this helps!!