This rice cooker quinoa comes out fluffy in about 20 minutes, and you never have to watch a pot. Rinse it, add two parts broth to one part quinoa, and press the button. You'll have a fridge full of cooked quinoa ready for salads, bowls, and quick weeknight dinners.
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As the author of two quinoa cookbooks, I get asked a lot of questions about cooking quinoa. One of the most common questions is what method is the easiest.
I cooked it on the stovetop for years, and I still believe that is an excellent way to cook it. (You can see this post on how to cook quinoa on the stovetop for the two different methods that I use.)
More recently, I started cooking quinoa in my Instant Pot.
The first time someone asked me about using a rice cooker, I had to confess that I'd never tried. I gave it a try and was immediately hooked. The cooker decides when it’s done, so there’s no timer and no peeking under the lid.
I love to use my rice cooker for meal prep so that I have quinoa on hand during the week to make recipes like my favorite quinoa taco salad bowl and Mediterranean quinoa salad. When dinner time rolls around, I have it to make Turkey Quinoa Meatballs, or Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Looking for more quinoa inspiration? Check out these quinoa recipe ideas!
Let's Talk Ingredients
I’ve tested this with white, red, and tri-colored quinoa—they all work. Just make sure to rinse it well before cooking to remove any bitterness. The darker colors of quinoa will benefit from soaking before cooking.
Skip plain water if you can. In my experience, broth adds enough flavor to make it worth the effort. Try juice if you’re making something on the sweeter side.
Tips & Tricks
- Don't forget to rinse before you cook! You will want to rise it in a fine-mesh strainer under a steady stream of water for three to five minutes or until the water runs clear.
- It is possible to buy it pre-rinsed - it will explicitly say so on the packaging. In this case, you may elect to skip rinsing.
- You may want to soak the seeds before cooking. Many people find that soaking helps to make it more digestible. To soak, rinse it well, and then cover it with water and 2 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar. Let sit for 12 hours, and then rinse again.
- Please note that every rice cooker performs a little differently, so it may take some tweaking the first couple of times until you figure out how to make the perfect fluffy quinoa in your rice cooker.
How Much Liquid to Use
The quinoa-to-water ratio in a rice cooker is 2 to 1. That's 2 cups of broth or water for every 1 cup of dry quinoa. One cup dry makes about 3 cups cooked.
Here's why the ratio matters so much in a rice cooker. The cooker switches to warm once the liquid is absorbed and the pot gets hotter. Too little liquid and it clicks off early, with crunchy quinoa. Too much and you get a soggy layer on the bottom.
Let it rest before fluffing. Let it rest with the lid closed for five minutes so the last bit of steam finishes the job, and the grains separate instead of mashing when you fluff.
Measure with a regular measuring cup. The little cup that comes with most rice cookers holds less than a standard cup. Use the same cup for the quinoa, and the liquid, and the ratio stays right.
Ignore the fill lines in the bowl. They're marked for rice, not quinoa.
Doubling it? 2 cups quinoa, 4 cups liquid. Check that your cooker's bowl has room. Quinoa triples as it cooks.
What I Learned Making It
- Use the White Rice Setting. If your cooker has one, use it.
- Red and tri-color quinoa take longer. Every rice cooker runs differently, but you should expect red quinoa to take about 25 minutes.
- Oil spray on the bottom. A quick spray kept the quinoa from sticking to the bowl.
- Broth over water. Water works fine. Broth adds flavor - something plain quinoa really needs. I used juice when the quinoa was headed into something sweet.
Rice Cookers to Consider
- Aroma Digital Rice Cooker - This is a budget-friendly option! With a delay timer that allows you to prepare ahead, this 20-cup machine is a great option for families.
- Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker - When only the best will do, this is the rice cooker for you. It uses computer technology to fine-tune cooking times and temperatures. Brown rice, white rice and more come out perfect every time.
- Instant Pot with Rice Cooker Function - If you like multi-function cookers, it doesn't get much better than this! This unit is a Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and Sterilizer
How to Make How to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker
20-Minute Rice Cooker Quinoa Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- Olive Oil Spray or a spoon of coconut oil
- 2 cups liquid vegetable broth, juice or water
Instructions
- Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse with cold water, until the water runs clear.
- Spray the bottom of the rice cooker with olive oil.
- Place the quinoa in the rice cooker.
- Add 2 cups of liquid.
- Turn the rice cooker on and cook for 15 minutes. (Use the white rice setting if you have one.)
- Unplug the rice cooker and allow to sit for 5 more minutes.
- Fluff and serve.
Mama Ash {Erica} says
I love quinoa and I don't know why I don't cook with it more often. There are so many delicious ways to incorporate it into my lifestyle. I never thought to use my rice cooker!
Wendy Polisi says
There really are so many ways to use it!
Jo says
I made tri-color quinoa in my rice cooker. I add a little lemon pepper and TJ’s 21 seasoning with the water. I cooked for 15 minutes and it was a little too firm. Cooked 5 more minutes. Came out great!
Tara Pittman says
Bummers that my rice cooker does not have a timmer. I really like how easy this is.
Wendy Polisi says
It may work on your white rice setting!
1stopmom says
I never knew you had to rinse quinoa. Thanks for the tip! i think it is pretty cool that you can cook it in a rice cooker, that is definitely a time saver
Wendy Polisi says
It really is convenient!
What Corinne Did says
i have tried to cook quinoa in a sauce pan once and it was a disaster... it burnt and stuck to the pan! i don't have a rice cooker unfortunately!
Wendy Polisi says
That happened to me when I first started cooking it too.
Kelli A says
I have never tried quinoa before, but this is the 3rd recipe today I have seen that uses a rice cooker! Now I'm thinking I just may need one! Not sure why I don't have one yet, I love rice.. and want to try quinoa now.
Wendy Polisi says
It is a great kitchen tool to have.
Mary says
I have a rice cooker and I definitely want to try this recipe. I didn't know that quinoa had to be rinsed so thanks for the tip!
Wendy Polisi says
Let me know how it goes!
Gemille Sleweon says
This dish looks so delicious. I actually usually cook my quinoa in a rice cooker. I'm Liberian, and i grew up eating lots of rice. You can always find a rice cooker in a Liberian household lol
Kate Andrews says
I don't have a rice cooker but it on my list of wishes for my kitchen. I also love quinoa. So good for you!
Becca Wilson says
I absolutely love quinoa. This looks like such an easy and healthy way to cook it right on up!
Carissa says
This has to be one of the easiest ways to cook quinoa! Yummy!
Wendy Polisi says
It really is such an easy way to cook it!
swathi says
Really useful post, If I can cook quinoa in rice cooker, then I don't need to baby sit them. I like quinoa to make salad and need to cook more often thanks for sharing the this easy method.
Blair Villanueva says
Oh geez this is awesome and I would like to try at home. I have a rice cooker and I'm excited to cook quinoa with it.
forgiveness says
What about if to cook this dish in the instant pot? Would it have the same taste and consistency?
Wendy Polisi says
I have a post on how to cook it in an Instant Pot. It works great!
https://wendypolisi.com/instant-pot-quinoa/
live custom writings says
This is the easiest method for cooking quinoa in a rice cooker. Thanks for the detailed instruction!
Wendy Polisi says
My pleasure!
Rachel says
Thank you for keeping this recipe/method out there to find. I have been trying for years to love quinoa and now I do I did cut the recipe in half, but it turned out amazing. Again, Thank you!!
Allyssa says
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make quinoa in a rice cooker recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!