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Our Best Quinoa Recipes

Our Best Quinoa Recipes

Updated November 12, 2014

Credit: Rob Culpepper; Styling: Hagen Stegall

Quinoa is one of the most popular search terms on our site. You love it, and so do we! Here are some of our best quinoa recipes.

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Collard Green-Quinoa Wraps

Credit: Jennifer Causey Styling: Claire Spollen

Collard Green-Quinoa Wraps Recipe

Soaking the greens in warm water softens them enough to make the rolling process a little bit easier and a lot more fun.

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Sprouted Quinoa with Marinated Veggies

Credit: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver

Sprouted Quinoa with Marinated Veggies Recipe

This raw-food dish needs planning and patience, but the payoff is a salad that pops with each crunchy bite. Tracy Singleton says using cooked and cooled quinoa instead of sprouted quinoa is a fine shortcut, but the salad won't be 100% raw.

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Fresh Vegetable Quinoa Bowl

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Fresh Vegetable Quinoa Bowl Recipe

Making stock has never been easier, thanks to the slow cooker. You can also use unsalted chicken stock as a substitute. (Note: You can make the stock overnight after enjoying Dinners 1 and 2. Strip herb leaves, and prep all vegetables for the week, using trimmings in stock.)

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Quinoa, Smoked Trout, and Beet Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Quinoa, Smoked Trout, and Beet Salad Recipe

Layering the elements of this flavor-bomb salad guarantees even distribution in every bite and makes for a lovely platter.

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Quinoa Salad with Apples, Almonds and Dried Cranberries

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Quinoa Salad with Apples, Almonds and Dried Cranberries Recipe

Toss quinoa with diced apples, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries and serve with a large lettuce leaf.

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Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts Recipe

Quinoa is hot right now, and our users can't get enough. Adding toasted pine nuts and fresh herbs makes this healthy side dish even more fantastic.

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Strawberry, Quinoa, and Ricotta Salata Salad

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Strawberry, Quinoa, and Ricotta Salata Salad Recipe

Sautéing the quinoa in oil before simmering helps it come out fluffy every time. We could make a meal of this deliciously unexpected combination, but it's excellent alongside a grilled steak too.

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Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Steak

Credit: Squire Fox; Styling: Carla Gonzales-Hart

Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Steak Recipe

We love the chipotle-rubbed sirloin, but this salad is a wonderful use for any leftover steak. Take it with you for a not-so-boring desk lunch.

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Breakfast Quinoa

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Breakfast Quinoa Recipe

Get your quinoa fix at any time of day! Like most whole grains, quinoa is surprisingly filling, but if you need more for breakfast, serve with an egg on the side.

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Sausage, Shrimp & Quinoa Skillet

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Sausage, Shrimp & Quinoa Skillet Recipe

We swapped rice for protein- and fiber-rich quinoa in this faux dirty rice, but any cooked whole grain would work well; give bulgur or farro a try to change things up.

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Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Quinoa

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Quinoa Recipe

Healthy and hearty, this quinoa chili will become a family favorite. The recipe calls for a bottle of beer; use your favorite seasonal brew to amp up the flavor.

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Cornmeal-Dusted Catfish with Quinoa Sauté

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Cornmeal-Dusted Catfish with Quinoa Sauté Recipe

Farmed catfish is an inexpensive, sustainable option. For a kid-friendly dish, omit the jalapeño in the quinoa.

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Quick Quinoa Meatballs

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Quick Quinoa Meatballs Recipe

This cocktail recipe for pork and quinoa meatballs uses a creative variety of spices in lieu of salt to boost flavor.

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Broccoli-Quinoa Casserole with Chicken and Cheddar

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

Broccoli-Quinoa Casserole with Chicken and Cheddar Recipe

In our updated riff on chicken-rice casserole, whole-grain quinoa stands in for the typical white rice. It's a modern interpretation that still has loads of old-school comfort-food appeal.

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Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges Recipe

Light, fluffy quinoa cooks in practically no time and is incredibly versatile--you can add it to just about any kind of salad.

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Asian Stir-Fry Quinoa Bowl

Credit: Squire Fox; Styling: Carla Gonzales-Hart

Asian Stir-Fry Quinoa Bowl Recipe

A stir-fry quinoa bowl brimming with fresh veggies and tofu is a healthy replacement for the days you just can't kick the craving for takeout.

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Quinoa with Roasted Garlic, Tomatoes, and Spinach

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Quinoa with Roasted Garlic, Tomatoes, and Spinach Recipe

Quinoa contains more protein than any other grain. The tiny, beige-colored seeds have a nice crunch and work well in a variety of dishes.

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Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Quinoa Salad

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Quinoa Salad Recipe

Quinoa, shrimp, and chickpeas pack a triple punch of protein in the this tasty summer dish.

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Quinoa-Granola Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Quinoa-Granola Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Satisfy after-school muchies with healthier sweets. Use an already-made batch of our Nutty Whole-Grain Granola to whip up these scrumptious cookies.

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Cauliflower and Chickpea Quinoa with Tahini Drizzle

Credit: Squire Fox; Styling: Carla Gonzales-Hart

Cauliflower and Chickpea Quinoa with Tahini Drizzle Recipe

Roasting adds an earthy depth of flavor to the veggies, but you can save time by keeping them raw--just toss right into the quinoa.

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Quinoa and Parsley Salad

Credit: Andrea Dorsey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Quinoa and Parsley Salad Recipe

This gorgeous quinoa salad pops with color from dried apricots, fresh parsley, and green onions. Bonus: It tastes just as good (if not better) the next day.

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Glazed Chicken with Almond Quinoa

Credit: Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr

Glazed Chicken with Almond Quinoa Recipe

We love the flavor combination in this dish. The almonds give the quinoa a nice crunch, and the glaze on the chicken is slightly sweet with a punch.

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Quinoa Salad with Apples, Almonds and Dried Cranberries

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Quinoa Salad with Apples, Almonds and Dried Cranberries Recipe

Toss quinoa with diced apples, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries and serve with a large lettuce leaf.

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Spinach-Quinoa Cakes with Bell Pepper Relish

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Spinach-Quinoa Cakes with Bell Pepper Relish Recipe

The quinoa mixture is very moist but will firm up beautifully in the oven. Press firmly when shaping the cakes, and be careful when transferring to the hot baking sheet. Place directly on pan for crispier cakes, or use parchment paper for quicker cleanup.

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Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard and Poached Egg

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Karen Shinto

Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard and Poached Egg Recipe

Technically a seed, quinoa is touted as a superfood for its high fiber and protein. The runny yolk of a poached egg creates a little sauce on top.

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Quinoa-Arugula Layered Salad

Credit: Cooking Light

Quinoa-Arugula Layered Salad Recipe

We made over tabbouleh, turning it into an individually packed picnic dish. This salad holds beautifully, so you can pack it up a day ahead.

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Kale Caesar Quinoa Salad with Roasted Chicken

Credit: Squire Fox; Styling: Carla Gonzales-Hart

Kale Caesar Quinoa Salad with Roasted Chicken Recipe

We skip the croutons and add toasted walnuts for a bit of heart-healthy crunch in this fresh take on the classic salad.

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Chicken, Kale, and Quinoa Soup

Credit: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver

Chicken, Kale, and Quinoa Soup Recipe

We took four of the top recipe search categories from our website--chicken, kale, quinoa, and soup--and combined them into one tasty dish that we think will become your new favorite.

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Cajun Crab and Quinoa Cakes

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Cajun Crab and Quinoa Cakes Recipe

Make gluten-free crab cakes using quinoa in place of the typical breadcrumbs. Cajun spices liven up this easy seafood dish.

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Quinoa Panzanella with Wild Salmon

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Quinoa Panzanella with Wild Salmon Recipe

Cooking the salmon with the skin on keeps the flesh silky and tender and bastes it with its own healthy fat. We love using a variety of heirloom cherry tomatoes--scout your farmers' market for the best options.

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Orange and Tomato Simmered Chicken with Couscous

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

Orange and Tomato Simmered Chicken with Couscous Recipe

This dish is easily customizable. Quinoa can easily replace the couscous here, and cauliflower can replace the fennel. There are plenty of vegetables in this complete dinner, but if you desire, fresh, lightly dressed greens would go well with this dish.

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Red Quinoa Salad with Beets, Kale, and Parmesan

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Red Quinoa Salad with Beets, Kale, and Parmesan Recipe

This salad combines superfoods quinoa and kale with beets, pecans, and Parmesan cheese.

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Kale, Quinoa, and Cherry Salad

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Kale, Quinoa, and Cherry Salad Recipe

The quinoa-rice blend adds bulk to this healthy kale salad, featuring sweet cherries, chickpeas, and goat cheese.

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Radish and Avocado Quinoa Salad

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Radish and Avocado Quinoa Salad Recipe

Enjoy this healthy mixture in a summer salad or as a side dish for fish or chicken entrees.

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Balsamic Lentil Quinoa Lettuce Cups

Credit: Travis Rathbone

Balsamic Lentil Quinoa Lettuce Cups Recipe

Enjoy this balsamic quinoa mixture in lettuce cups for an extra textured crunch.

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Our Best Quinoa Recipes

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Collard Green-Quinoa Wraps

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Sprouted Quinoa with Marinated Veggies

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Fresh Vegetable Quinoa Bowl

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Quinoa, Smoked Trout, and Beet Salad

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Quinoa Salad with Apples, Almonds and Dried Cranberries

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Quinoa with Toasted Pine Nuts

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Strawberry, Quinoa, and Ricotta Salata Salad

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Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Steak

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Breakfast Quinoa

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Sausage, Shrimp & Quinoa Skillet

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Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Quinoa

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Cornmeal-Dusted Catfish with Quinoa Sauté

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Quick Quinoa Meatballs

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Broccoli-Quinoa Casserole with Chicken and Cheddar

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Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Avocado, and Oranges

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Asian Stir-Fry Quinoa Bowl

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Quinoa with Roasted Garlic, Tomatoes, and Spinach

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Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Quinoa Salad

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Quinoa-Granola Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Cauliflower and Chickpea Quinoa with Tahini Drizzle

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Quinoa and Parsley Salad

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Glazed Chicken with Almond Quinoa

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Quinoa Salad with Apples, Almonds and Dried Cranberries

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Spinach-Quinoa Cakes with Bell Pepper Relish

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Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard and Poached Egg

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Quinoa-Arugula Layered Salad

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