Go Back
+ servings
Perfectly cooked quinoa in a bowl with a spoon on the side
Print

How To Cook Quinoa on Stove Recipe

Learn how to make quinoa on the stovetop to make perfectly cooked and fluffy quinoa every time. I made sure to cover proper cooking times for each type of quinoa (white, red, black, and tricolor quinoa).
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 156kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white quinoa
  • 2 cups water (Chicken Stock or Vegetable Broth would also work)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Place raw quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under cold water. Drain.
  • Place rinsed and drained quinoa, water (or chicken broth or veggie broth), and a pinch of salt (optional) into a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Stir it and put the lid on.
  • Turn the heat to medium-high and bring it to a boil. It should take about 3-4 minutes for it to come to a boil.
  • As soon as it comes to a boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until all of the liquid is absorbed.
  • Turn the heat off and let it rest for 10 minutes (covered). Fluff it with a fork and serve.

Notes

  • You can use this recipe to cook red, black and tricolor quinoa as well. However, be aware that the cooking time might vary. For red quinoa let it simmer for 18 minutes, for black quinoa let it simmer for 20 minutes, and for multi color quinoa let it simmer for 18 minutes.
  • 1 cup raw white quinoa yields approximately 3 3/4 cups of cooked white quinoa.
  • How to tell when quinoa is done cooking? You will know that the quinoa is done cooking when most of the liquid in the pan is absorbed with tiny air holes on the surface, and some of the quinoa seeds look like they have popped open, revealing the germ of the kernel.
  • For additional flavoring you can add in a tablespoon of olive oil or butter into the cooking liquid. You can also use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water as your cooking liquid.
  • Best way to store: Place cooked quinoa in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Want to use a different technique to cook quinoa? Check out my Microwave Quinoa, Pressure Cooker Quinoa and Rice Cooker Quinoa recipes.

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 299mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 3g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 2mg