If you need to change up your breakfast routine and want something healthy, then a quinoa breakfast bowl is for you.
To make one bowl, put 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa in a bowl, sprinkle it with cinnamon and pour in a splash of unsweetened plant-based milk. Top it with 1/3 cup of berries, 1 teaspoon of chia, flax or hemp seeds and a drizzle of raw honey or maple syrup. With the quinoa already cooked, it’s ready in about 5 minutes.
Cooked quinoa makes a great stand-in for cereal or oats. It’s packed with protein, fiber, and good carbohydrates to give you the energy to get through your morning.
A batch of plain cooked quinoa keeps for about 5 days in the refrigerator, so whip up a batch on Sunday to have quick breakfasts all week long.
Why Quinoa for Breakfast?
A seed that cooks like a grain, quinoa is one of the most versatile ingredients in your kitchen.
Quinoa makes a great substitute for cooked rice or grains in just about any savory dish, but you might not know that it’s great in sweet preparations, too. This quinoa breakfast bowl makes a great, simple, healthy breakfast when you’re trying to avoid grains and/or boost your protein intake in the morning. (For more ideas, see my high-protein breakfast ideas.)
If your quinoa is already cooked, this breakfast comes together as fast as pouring a bowl of cereal.
Quinoa Breakfast Bowl Ingredients
I like to keep my quinoa breakfast bowls pretty simple with ingredients I can just grab out of the refrigerator.
Cooked Quinoa:
Learn how to cook perfectly fluffy quinoa over on this post (there’s a video that shows you the trick, too!).
Plant-Based Milk:
I prefer unsweetened almond milk here. Use whatever milk works for you—I suggest always using unsweetened plant-based milk to keep the sugar content low.
Berries or Other Fruit:
This is where you can make it your own! I love it with berries and a little finely chopped apple. Use any in-season fruit that’s a good price. Frozen berries work great, too.
Natural Sweetness & Flavor:
A drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon make this berry quinoa breakfast bowl a winner every time. I prefer raw honey or maple syrup, or choose a natural sweetener that you like best (read about the top 5 best natural sweeteners here).
Optional: Nuts or Seeds
Add a few teaspoons of chopped nuts or seeds to add even more fiber and healthy fat to your quinoa breakfast bowl. I like to add a teaspoon of hemp seeds on top of mine.
Quinoa Breakfast Bowl FAQs
Can you eat quinoa instead of oatmeal?
It’s a great swap. Quinoa has a slightly nutty flavor and a little more bite than oats, and it soaks up milk and cinnamon the same way. It’s also naturally gluten-free (here’s more on why quinoa is gluten-free).
Is a quinoa breakfast bowl served warm or cold?
Either way works. Straight from the fridge, it eats like a bowl of cereal. If you’d rather have it warm, heat the quinoa and milk in a small pot or the microwave for a minute or two, then add your toppings.
Can you make a savory quinoa breakfast bowl?
Definitely. Skip the milk, honey and berries, then top warm quinoa with a fried egg, sliced avocado and a pinch of sea salt and pepper.
How long does cooked quinoa last?
About 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge, so a Sunday batch covers breakfast all week. Find more ways to use it up in my 9 Creative Quinoa Recipes.
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Quinoa Breakfast Bowl with Berries
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves 1
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Description
A seed that cooks like a grain, cooked quinoa is one of the most versatile ingredients in your kitchen. It makes a great substitute for cooked rice or grains in just about any savory dish, but you might not know that it’s great in sweet preparations, too. This breakfast bowl makes a great, simple, healthy breakfast when you’re trying to avoid grains and/or boost your protein intake in the morning. This recipe comes together in seconds if your quinoa is already cooked. Allot 20 minutes to cook the quinoa if needed.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- Nondairy milk of your choice, such as almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk
- 1/3 cup berries
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds, flaxseeds, or hemp seeds (or a combo of all 3)
- 1 teaspoon of raw honey or maple syrup, optional
Instructions
Place the quinoa in a bowl, sprinkle with cinnamon, then top with non-dairy milk. Add the berries, sprinkle the seeds over, and top with honey or real maple syrup, if desired.
Notes
Tip: cook a batch of quinoa at the beginning of the week for easy breakfast bowls. Cooked quinoa lasts for about 5 days in the refrigerator.
This quinoa breakfast bowl recipe is a delicious and healthy way to start the day.