Quinoa and Sausage is an easy dinner that you can easily tackle any night of the week. Quinoa gets an unexpected boost of flavor from onion, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic when it is all cooked together in a flavorful broth. This simple recipe is sure to gain a spot in your dinnertime rotation.
I have been making this Quinoa and Sausage recipe since my now teenage boys were preschoolers.
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(A version of this recipe appeared in my first cookbook. If you are looking to pick up a quinoa cookbook, I recommend my second book.)
With just seven ingredients (plus salt and pepper), you have a delicious one-pot meal that will please even the pickiest of kids.
It is perfect for meal prepping and so quick and easy!
Give it a try, and I think you will agree - this one deserves a spot in your weeknight rotation.
Ingredients for Making Sausage Quinoa
- Sausage: Use whatever kind of sausage that you like! You can use chicken sausage, turkey, or pork sausage. To make this a delicious plant-based meal, opt for vegan sausage.
- Quinoa: Red, white, or multi-colored quinoa will all work here. Cooking times are based on white quinoa. Add a few more minutes if you are using red or multi-colored.
- Onion: I used a sweet yellow onion; whatever you have on hand is fine.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: You can use dried or oil-packed. If you use oil-packed, you can skip spraying the pan and cook the onion in the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes.
- Garlic: I love the flavor of fresh minced garlic. If you would like to use garlic powder, I recommend ½ teaspoon.
- Broth: Use chicken or vegetable broth. I like to make my own with this Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth recipe.
- Salt and Pepper: Adjust the amount to your liking.
- Fresh Herbs: Either cilantro or parsley are great here.
Tips, Tricks, and Variations
- You can use a seeded and diced red pepper in place of sundried tomato.
- For an extra punch of nutrition, try adding some finely chopped kale.
- Make sure the vegetable or chicken broth you use is good quality, as quinoa has little flavor on its own but is excellent at absorbing flavors. I typically like to make my own.
- You can use olive oil in place of the cooking spray. I would use regular or light olive oil rather than extra virgin olive oil.
What Should I Serve With This Sausage and Quinoa Recipe?
Some side dish options for this recipe include Air Fried Asparagus, Green Beans with Bacon, or Caramelized Brussels Sprouts.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.
You can freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
Quinoa is a seed that for centuries has been known as “the mother grain”. It is a pseudo-grain, which means it is treated as a grain but is not actually a grain.
Quinoa is an excellent source of fiber and iron. It is one of the few plant-based foods that offer a complete source of protein. This means it contains all nine essential amino acids. It is so healthy that NASA scientists have said that it is a good food for long-term manned space missions.
You rinse quinoa to remove the saponin from the outsides of the seeds. This is a bitter substance that protects the quinoa from birds and such as it grows. Not only can it make your quinoa taste bad, but it can also cause digestive upset in some people.
Tools Needed to Make Quinoa with Sausage and Veggies
How to Make Quinoa and Sausage
First, start by rinsing your quinoa. If you like, you can also soak it first. I would recommend at least 20 minutes.
Next, chop the sausages and cook them in a skillet.
While the sausage is cooking, saute the onion and sun-dried tomatoes.
After that, add the quinoa and garlic to the pan and cook for another couple of minutes.
Add the broth, salt, and pepper, and heat to a simmer.
Reduce to low and cover. Cook for 25 minutes.
Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork. Stir in the parsley and sausage. Cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Fluff again and serve.
More Quinoa Recipes to Try
- These flourless Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies are so good that it is hard to believe they contain wholesome ingredients.
- Quinoa Lettuce Wraps are light but so satisfying. They make a great weekday lunch.
- This Black Bean Quinoa Salad has roasted tomatoes and feta cheese for a delicious vegetarian salad that never fails to delight.
- This Southwestern Quinoa Pasta Bake is an amazing gluten-free casserole that the whole family will love!
35-Minute Quinoa and Sausage
Ingredients
- 8 oz sausage chopped
- ½ onion chopped fine
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon parsley or cilantro minced
Instructions
- Cook the chopped sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through. Set aside.
- Spray a saucepan with cooking spray and heat to medium-high. Add onion and sundried tomatoes and cook for 8 minutes. Add quinoa and garlic and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring often.
- Add broth, sea salt, and pepper and heat to simmering over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley and sausage.
- Allow to sit covered for 5 more minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Confused
Wait do you put the quinoa in uncooked to the sausage and everything else? Then place the broth in?
Wendy Polisi
No, the sausage gets browned and set aside in step 1. Make sure you make it to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the step-by-step instructions. (There is a jump to recipe button at the top of the post.)