Quinoa Patties
These Quinoa Patties are something special! They will remind you a bit of hash browns, minus all the white carbs. This kid-friendly recipe is one you will turn to again and again. It is perfect for meal prep since they keep well in the fridge, and can also be frozen.
As a mom, there are a handful of recipes that have been a game-changer for me.
Quinoa Patties are one of them.
The boys were little when I started making them, and getting them to eat healthily was even more of a struggle than it is today.
More than twelve years later, quinoa cakes are still a family favorite.
Why You Need Quinoa Cakes in Your Life
They are:
- Kid-Friendly - One of the best ways I know to get kids eating quinoa and also sneak veggies in.
- Make-Ahead - These hold well in the refrigerator and are perfect for meal prep.
- Meatless - We all could use meatless meals from time to time, and these are a fabulous option.
- Versatile - It is almost impossible to get tired of quinoa patties because there are so many different ways that you can make them. Try these Blue Cheese Quinoa Patties, Southwestern Quinoa Cakes, or these Pumpkin Quinoa Patties!
Quinoa Patties for Toddlers
When Skye came along, I was determined to get her to eat these as early as possible. Here is how I did it:
- Omit the cayenne pepper, chives, garlic, and onion.
- Form them into little bite-sized balls and cook as directed.
Baked Quinoa Patties
These may be baked, but they will not come out as crispy. I recommend spraying them with oil. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 minutes; flip and bake for 7 more minutes.
Making Quinoa Patties Vegan
You can use a flax egg or any egg replacer if you want to make quinoa cakes vegan. Daiya works beautifully in place of the cheese, or you can add in nutritional yeast if you like. (Or get fancy and do both!)
The quinoa patties will not hold together as well when using flax eggs. Be careful when you are flipping! I prefer to bake them.
Variations
- A variety of cheeses will work well in place of the parmesan cheese. I love goat cheese and feta, but cheddar, swiss and mozzarella are nice as well.
- If you would like to add a little kick, add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. (But obviously this isn't the most kid-friendly option.)
Tips & Tricks
- Cooking time can vary depending on the type of pan and stove you are using. My cast-iron skillet on a gas stove cooks faster than a regular skillet on an electric stove. I recommend checking the patties after the first 5 minutes.
- Make sure that you cut the vegetables up fairly small. If they are too large, you will have a problem with the patties sticking together.
Serving Suggestions
These Quinoa Patties are a meal in and of themselves. (I also love them as a snack and have been known to eat them cold from the fridge.)
For dinner, I recommend serving them with a green salad, roasted broccoli or green beans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they freeze beautifully for up to three months. To freeze, place the patties on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and cover.
Freeze in a single layer until solid. At this point, you can transfer them to any freezer-safe container.
The bread crumbs and egg help this quinoa patty recipe stick together. You want the proper balance between being moist without being too wet.
When cooking, it is important to make sure the first side is brown before you attempt to flip them. Look for the bottom edges to be golden brown and then flip.
They are ready to flip when the edges are golden brown. Make sure you let them cook long enough on each side - we want crispy quinoa.
This recipe makes 8 servings and has approximately 195 calories per serving.
Tools Needed to Make Quinoa Cakes
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How to Make Quinoa Patties
See the recipe card below for the full recipe with measurements.
First, combine the quinoa, eggs, and seasonings in a large bowl. Stir in chives, onion, Parmesan, and garlic.
Add breadcrumbs to the quinoa mixture and stir until well combined. Let sit for a couple of minutes so that the breadcrumbs can soak up some of the moisture.
Form the mixture into small patties. (I like to use a ¼ cup measure.)
Place a large skillet over medium-low heat and add oil. (I like to use avocado; olive oil works too.)
Add the patties to the skillet, being careful not to overload. Cover and cook for 8 minutes. Flip and cook for 7 more minutes on the other side.
Allow to cool on a wire rack.
You May Also Like :
- This Quinoa Tabbouleh Recipe is a fun twist on a classic you love.
- Healthy Chicken Nuggets are nuggets that you can feel good about feeding your little ones. Best of all, kids love them.
- Black Bean and Quinoa Burgers make a filling vegetarian dinner and are perfect for Meatless Monday.
- Quinoa Fried Rice is ridiculously full of flavor and works just as well as a side as it does a vegetarian main.
Quinoa Patties
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups cooked quinoa
- 4 large eggs beaten (or flax eggs)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or Chipotle Chili Powder optional
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅔ cup fresh chives chopped or parsley (I use a blend)
- 1 onion chopped fine
- ⅔ cup fresh Parmesan grated (Vegetarian Parm or ¼ cup Nutritional Yeast and 2 tablespoons vegan cheese)
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 cup breadcrumbs gluten free
- avocado oil for cooking (About 2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine quinoa, eggs, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Stir in chives, onion, parmesan, and garlic.
- Add breadcrumbs and stir until well combined. Allow to sit for a couple of minutes.
- Form into patties. You and make them any size you like - I prefer to keep them small because it makes for easy flipping.
- The mixture should be very moist. You may need to add water or extra breadcrumbs to moisten or make the mixture dryer.
- Place a large skillet over medium low heat. Heat avocado oil. Add as many patties as your skillet can handle, being careful not to overload it so that you have trouble flipping the quinoa patties.
- Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. If after 10 minutes your patties aren't brown turn the heat up and cook (carefully to avoid burning) until they brown. Flip and cook for 7 more minutes on the other side.
- Allow to cool on a wire rack, keeping your spatula handy to fend off family members who try to steal them.
Notes
Tips & Tricks for Making Quinoa Patties
- Cooking time can vary depending on the type of pan and stove you are using. My cast iron skillet on a gas stove cooks faster than a regular skillet on an electric stove. I recommend checking the patties after the first 5 minutes. They are ready to flip when they are golden brown.
-
Making Vegan Quinoa Patties
- The quinoa patties will not hold together as well when using flax eggs. Be careful when you are flipping!
-
Making Baked Quinoa Patties
- These Quinoa Patties may be baked, but they will not come out as crispy. I recommend spraying them with oil. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 minutes; flip and bake for 7 more minutes.
Variations for Quinoa Patties
- A variety of cheeses will work well in place of the Parmesan. I love goat cheese and feta, but cheddar, swiss and mozzarella are nice as well.
- My boys have loved garlic since they were little, but if garlic isn't something your family loves, feel free to reduce or omit. You can also use 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of garlic powder if you don't have fresh garlic on hand.
- If you would like to add a little kick, add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Shannon Graham
I bet you could all all kinds of spices to these!
Diane
Do these freeze well?
Wendy Polisi
Yes, they do! I have frozen them several times when I wanted to have something healthy that I could easily pull out for the kids.
Sheree
Is it possible to use aqua fava instead of eggs since flex eggs do not work as well? If you beat the aqua fava into egg whites will they work?
Wendy Polisi
You could certainly try it - it isn't an ingredient I have worked with but I've heard great things.
Wendy Polisi
Yes, they freeze beautifully!
Jeanne W-B
Do you freeze them before you cook or after?
Wendy Polisi
I freeze them after I cook them.
Monidipa Dutta
Whoa! They look good. Next week some guests are coming over to my place so I guess I will make this for them. I am saving this recipe..
Wendy Polisi
Thanks so much! Let me know how it goes if you make them.
Marysa
I've bought quinoa burgers before, but never thought to make my own. I'll definitely have to try this! We are vegetarian and these sound delicious.
Wendy Polisi
I am not strictly vegetarian, but I eat that way much of the time and this is one of my go-to recipes. I hope you enjoy.
betzy cuellar
This simply looks delicious! I can't wait to go give it a try.
Wendy Polisi
Thanks so much! Let me know how it goes if you try it.
Natalia
I've never tried Quinoa Patties but they are a type of food I truly enjoy. The recipe doesn't seem to be very difficult so I'll try to prepare them at the weekend. Yumm! 🙂
Wendy Polisi
They aren't difficult at all! I hope that you enjoy!
Laegendary
Yum. they look really tasty! Must try your recipe soon!
Wendy Polisi
Thanks! Let me know how it goes.
Jessica Taylor
I am not a huge fan of quinoa, but this looks amazing! I might actually enjoy this one!
Kris
I just read through your recipe for these Quinoa Patties and being a "by the recipe" cook, I noticed that in the ingredients list you wrote Avocado oil but in the body of the recipe it says Olive oil. Is one better than the other as I'm sure the taste may be different?
Wendy Polisi
Thanks for pointing that out! I just recently updated the recipe and missed that. I used to use olive oil in cooking a lot, but I have switched to Avocado oil. The type of olive oil that I typically have on hand is high quality oil intended for salad dressings and finishing. In addition to being expensive, it also has a low smoke point. I use avocado oil because it is safer at higher temperatures.
Eze Azubike
The patties look quite appetising. Healthy eating is good and your details will really help anyone interested in trying them out.
Ann Snook
Ooo, these sound yummy! I love quinoa. I think these would be good in a wrap like falafel!
Jojo Hua
I pinned this because I've actually already got all of the ingredients to make these. Not to mention, they sound and look incredibly delicious!
Heather
I’ve been on a serious quinoa kick recently. I love adding it to bowls to make a more satisfying meal. These patties sound awesome!
Rosey
I can see why they are a family favorite. I know I'd like them and I bet my kids would too.
Christina
These look so good! I'll have to try making these soon.
Princess Quinn
Wow. This looks so good! I like that the ingredients are easy to find and the recipe is easy to follow. I can't wait to make some of this.
Nadine
I made these this morning to have ready for the upcoming work week. I have to tell you that my S.O. who does not anything healthy, LOVED these! So that says alot.
I used the nutritional yeast and being without fresh chives, just use flat Italian Parsley. I made my own bread crumbs using Ezekiel bread. I also wanted to try both the baking and using olive oil in the pan. We both liked the pan crispy texture better. However, I am thinking that it makes it so much easier to bake them first, then when semi cooked, to just transfer them into the pan!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It is one that I will be making again!
Wendy Polisi
So glad you enjoyed them! Great idea to prebake them!
Sayanti
I have never heard of quinoa patties before but now I am going to give this a try. Looks delicious
Redoy
Wow! this recipe looks so yummy and tasty. Thanks for sharing this recipe. take care...