Banana Nut Quinoa Porridge (Gluten-Free & High Protein)

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Start your day off on the right foot with a bowl of Quinoa Porridge. This nutritious breakfast porridge is packed with protein, calcium, fiber, and nutrients and is both satisfying and delicious.

Quinoa Porridge in white bowl with sliced bananas and pecans.

When looking for a healthy, warming gluten-free breakfast, Instant Pot Oatmeal, Banana Baked Oatmeal, and Slow Cooker Oatmeal seem like obvious choices. And while absolutely delicious, if you are in the mood for something other than oats, you are going to love Quinoa Porridge!

While you may think of quinoa being reserved for salads like, Spinach Quinoa Salad, Mexican Quinoa Salad, or Greek Quinoa Salad, it also makes a surprisingly delicious option for breakfast.

Cooked until tender and creamy, quinoa porridge is filled with a texture similar to that of Instant Pot steel-cut oats, and is a powerhouse in terms of nutrition.

why you will love quinoa porridge

Filling. Each serving of quinoa has 8 grams of plant-based protein and is a great source of dietary fiber, keeping you full and satisfied for hours.
Perfect for Meal Prep. Prepare a large batch of quinoa porridge on the weekend and simply reheat it and enjoy it for a simple, healthy breakfast all week long.
Allergy-Friendly. Quinoa porridge is gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free, and can easily be made nut-free.
Versatile. Start off with a creamy bowl of quinoa and top it any way you like. Berries, bananas, yogurt, maple syrup--the options are endless.

Notes on Ingredients

Ingredients for quinoa porridge labeled on counter.

Quinoa: Use any variety of dried quinoa you like. White quinoa, red quinoa, or tri-color quinoa.
Almond or Coconut Milk: This recipe works best using non-dairy milk like almond milk or canned coconut milk, as it is less apt to burn when cooking than traditional dairy milk.
Sweetener: You can opt to sweeten the porridge while cooking with maple syrup or honey, or you can omit the sweetener to keep this breakfast porridge sugar-free.
Cinnamon: I love to add in cinnamon to help flavor the porridge, but feel free to omit it.
Toppings: Top this quinoa porridge with anything you like. I personally love sliced bananas, pecans, and additional maple syrup. Other delicious options would be a dollop of yogurt, chia seeds, fresh berries, homemade granola, or dried fruit.

How to Make Quinoa Porridge

Place the dry quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under water for at least 2 minutes. This will help to remove the natural coating on the quinoa and will remove the bitter taste.
Add the milk, maple syrup, cinnamon salt, and vanilla to the pan and stir to combine.
Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often, to prevent the milk from scalding.
Once boiling, turn the heat to low, place the lid on the pan, and simmer for 15-17 minutes, or until the milk has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender.
Remove the quinoa porridge from the heat and fluff it with a fork.
Serve the quinoa porridge with toppings of your choice.

FAQs on Quinoa Porridge

Does the quinoa need to be rinsed?

Yes! Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin which can cause quinoa to taste bitter if not well rinsed. Even if your quinoa package says it was pre-rinsed, it is best to rinse again.

Can I make Quinoa Porridge in the Instant Pot?

It is best to use water when cooking quinoa in the Instant Pot to prevent a burn notice. Instead of cooking the quinoa with milk, use water and top it with milk and additional toppings after pressure cooking.

Can this recipe be made with regular milk?

Yes! But keep in mind dairy can scald easily when cooked. It is best to use 1 cup of dairy milk mixed with 1 cup of water to lessen the chance of this occurring.

More Gluten-Free Breakfast Recipes

If you tried this easy recipe for Quinoa Porridge, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

Quinoa Porridge

Quinoa Porridge is a hearty, healthy, gluten-free breakfast that comes together with ease and is perfect for meal prep.

5 from 10 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 30

Servings:

Calories: 239kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup dried quinoa
▢ 2 cups non-dairy milk such as almond, soy, or coconut
▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ dash of salt
▢ 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
▢ sliced banana, berries, nuts, granola, etc for serving

Instructions

Place the dry quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse under water for at least 2 minutes. This will help to remove the natural coating on the quinoa and will remove the bitter taste.
Combine the milk, rinsed quinoa, salt, cinnamon, maple syrup, and vanilla together in a medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-17 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender. Once tender remove from the heat and fluff with a fork.
Serve warm with toppings of your choice.

Notes

Note on Milk: This recipe works best using almond milk, soy milk, or canned coconut milk. While you can use regular milk, keep in mind dairy can scald easily when cooked. It is best to use 1 cup of dairy milk mixed with 1 cup of water to lessen the chance of this occurring.

Storage: Leftover quinoa porridge can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat and top as desired before serving.

Nutrition

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