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10 Healthy Quinoa Recipes That Take 30 Minutes Or Less

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Last updated on May 4th, 2019 at 05:08 am

If you want to start eating healthier add quinoa to your diet! It is an easy change that can have tremendous benefits – quinoa can help you lose weight, improve your digestion and even reduce inflammation. Here I’m sharing 10 easy and healthy quinoa recipes you can start with.

10 healthy quinoa recipes that are easy and you can make in 30 minutes or less. Including many healthy salad recipes with quinoa and delicious vegetarian and vegan quinoa dinner options! | clean eating recipes


I wasn’t the biggest fan of quinoa 3 years ago. Everybody was raving about it and I hated it. But here’s the thing: I hadn’t even tried it before I judged this angel disguised as a tiny grain. Once I had it, I started loving it.

Health Benefits Of Quinoa

Quinoa is a highly nutritious food that isn’t high in calories. This is the one quality we’re looking for in a food: more nutrients for less calories. This way you can feed your immune system, your brain, your skin, every single healthy cell in your body, so they can do their job and we can live a long and happy life. Now here are some of the health benefits of quinoa:

  • contains high amounts of magnesium, manganese, protein, folate, fiber, and iron
  • can help you lose weight due to its high fiber and protein content
  • gluten-free, so also suitable for those with sensitivities
  • might have anti-inflammatory properties due to its antioxidant content


Quinoa Nutrition

Quinoa is not really a cereal, it’s a seed and it’s more nutritious than most grains. My search in the USDA National Nutrient Database delivered this result for 1 cup of cooked quinoa:

  • 222 kcal
  • 8.4g Protein
  • 3.55g Total fat
  • 39.4g Carbohydrate (30%)
  • 5.2g Fiber (21%)
  • 2.8mg Iron (16%)
  • 118mg Magnesium (37%)
  • 281mg Phosphorus (40%)
  • 318mg Potassium (7%)
  • 2mg Zinc (25%)
  • 0.198mg Thiamin (18%)
  • 0.204mg Riboflavin (18%)
  • 0.228mg vitamin B-6 (18%)
  • 78µg Folate (20%)

Note that the daily value percentages (%) are rough estimates made using the US recommendations for females, 19 years or older. They vary and depend on multiple factors (among others your weight).


How To Cook Quinoa

Quinoa cooks super quickly. We’re talking around 10 minutes.

  • One thing you need to do before you start is to, please, make sure to rinse the quinoa really good. It contains saponins that give it a bitter taste, but washing will get rid of them. For that purpose, I actually boil some water using my electric kettle and wash the quinoa with the hot boiled water 2-3 times inside the pot I will be cooking it in.
  • Now that your quinoa is clean, add water to the cooking pot in 1:2 ratio. Means, 1 cup quinoa + 2 cups water. Then cover with a lid and cook at medium to medium-high heat. To speed things up, I usually use the rest of the hot water.
  • Once the water is boiling and you see most of it is absorbed by the quinoa, reduce the heat (this could take around 4-5 minutes). Let simmer at the lower temperature for about 5-10 minutes, covered with the lid.
  • Then turn off the heat and let quinoa sit covered for 5 minutes.


How To Use Quinoa In Meals

Quinoa is more nutritious, therefore healthier than rice and for me, definitely, easier to cook than brown rice. So, wherever I would usually use rice, I add quinoa instead. On the side of curries, to make fried rice, risottos and my favorite way: in salads. I sometimes also like to use it instead of pasta – it’s definitely the healthier, less processed option.

Adding quinoa to your salads will make them more filling and satisfying, which will reduce cravings and will prevent overeating (which is the biggest reason we gain weight).

10 Healthy Quinoa Recipes Ready in Less Than 30 Minutes


Most of these recipes require only one pan or are bowls that can be put together in less than 15 minutes. To speed things up, I highly recommend pre-cooking the quinoa whenever you have the time, on the weekend or in the evening. You can then store the cooked quinoa in the fridge for 3-4 days.


1. Tomato and Basil Quinoa Risotto

10-Minute healthy quinoa recipe that you can make for dinner tonight! This healthy quinoa risotto with tomato, basil and garlic is satisfying and incredibly tasty. Use cooked quinoa to make it in around 10 minutes, great weeknight dinner recipe! Vegetarian and gluten-free.

This delicious tomato and basil quinoa risotto is a 10-minute meal I made pretty spontaneously before I had to head out to an event one evening. Since then, it’s been one of my go-to quick and easy meals. With sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, a little bit of garlic, some basil, and zucchini this quinoa dinner recipe is healthy, fresh and super comforting. It’s also vegetarian and gluten-free. You’ll find the recipe below.


2. Quinoa, Tomato And Avocado Salad

Avocado quinoa salad recipe! A healthy salad you to enjoy all summer! Full of antioxidants and simply delicious!

Turn a simple tomato and cucumber salad into something more filling and delicious by adding not only quinoa but basil, feta cheese, and avocado. You will find the recipe here.


3. Quinoa Fried Rice

Quinoa fried rice: easy and healthy dinner you can make in 15 minutes!

My sister made this healthier version of fried rice in an effort to feed her toddler something different than bread and olives. I don’t know about him, but I couldn’t stop eating this, and we’ve been making it ever since because it’s delicious and takes 10 minutes. It’s similar to my vegetable fried millet recipe, you can find the recipe on her (new) blog here.


4. Quinoa, Chickpea & Green Bean

Quinoa with chickpeas and green beans - easy dinner recipe! This healthy quinoa recipe makes a lot and is therefore great for meal prep! This vegan dinner is also gluten free, filling and full of flavor. It makes it easy to get your vegetables in! | www.beautybites.org

If you want to cut down on animal products and eat a little bit healthier, meals like this one will make you feel like you can do it. This is a very easy vegan dinner recipe with quinoa, chickpeas, green beans and vegetables. It’s highly nutritious, tasty and my mom loved it, even though she was expecting grilled chicken for dinner. You can find the recipe here.


5. Avocado, Chicken And Quinoa Salad

Healthy Quinoa Salad With Avocado And Chicken! This delicious chicken recipe is satisfying, tasty, gluten-free and easy to make for lunch or dinner!

A healthy quinoa salad recipe with chicken, avocado and roasted red peppers. A nutritious, filling and tasty salad recipe that is great for lunch! Or dinner. You can find the recipe here.


6. Meal Prep Tuna & Quinoa Salad

My Favortie Healthy Tuna Salad - The perfect high-protein recipe - fresh, satisfying and gluten-free. This healthy high-protein salad makes also a great meal prep recipe!

If you’ve got some canned tuna, make this delicious salad. Whether you actually meal prep it or not doesn’t matter – it’s nourishing, full of flavor and beyond easy to make. You can find the recipe here.


7. Lentil Quinoa Soup Recipe

Quinoa and lentil soup recipe with broccoli and vegetables. A warming vegan soup that is great for lunch or dinner!

Another way to use quinoa is to simply add it to soups! Try this one with lentils and broccoli, the recipe is here.


8. Bean and Quinoa Lettuce Wraps

Vegan lettuce wraps with a spicy bean dip, avocado, quinoa and vegetables! Delicious and light vegan dinner recipe!

I don’t want to say I like one of my kids, ahem recipes, more than the others, but this lettuce wrap recipe as unsatisfying as it might sound is my favorite. It’s light, but it’s also FULL OF FLAVOR – the spicy bean dip, the salad, the creamy avocado sauce…you just can’t go wrong with these delicious vegan lettuce wraps. The recipe is here.


9. Avocado, Cucumber And Quinoa Salad

The best avocado quinoa salad! This is becoming my favorite quinoa recipe! Healthy and easy this quinoa salad is made with avocado, cucumber, carrot, basil and sesame seeds - so tasty and perfect choice for healthy lunch or dinner! Even if you’re not obsessed with clean eating, you’ll love this quick and healthy salad recipe!

This avocado, cucumber and quinoa salad has a more Asian flavor and is great if you’re craving sushi or something lighter. The recipe is here.


10. 5-Minute Mediterranean Bowl

5-Minute Mediterranean Bowl! Try this healthy lunch meal prep recipe - you prep everything and keep all parts in separate containers in the fridge (except salad - it takes a minute). Arranging this beautiful & easy healthy bowl with quinoa & hummus takes around 5-minutes! It's vegan & gluten-free!

You can make this super satisfying vegan Mediterranean bowl in around 5 minutes if you have cooked quinoa, hummus and tzatziki at home. It’s easy to put together and makes a healthy tasty lunch or dinner. You can find the recipe here.



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