If you are looking for a healthy recipe that can easily be made ahead, these Quinoa Patties are a great option! They are gluten-free, can be baked and have a vegan option. Both kids and adults love this Quinoa Patties Recipe!
As a mom, there are a hand full 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.
Neither of them have ever been big fans of quinoa, but as much as I love it I was determined to find ways to incorporate it into their diet.
At first, I was strictly adding quinoa to pancakes, cookies, and muffins. I felt pretty sneaky, but it was worth it knowing that my then-gradeschoolers were getting quality nutrition. (Even if there was sugar involved.)
Then I ran across a recipe for Quinoa Patties in Heidi Swanson’s cookbook, Super Natural Every Day: Well-Loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen
It felt like a long shot, but surprisingly both of them liked the quinoa patties and they quickly became a regular in our rotation. This recipe is an adaptation of Heidi’s original, and I’ve gone on to create dozens of other quinoa patty recipes. 
More than seven years later, quinoa patties are still a family favorite. 
They taste like hash browns or potato cakes or …something very unhealthy. I almost felt guilty eating them until I reminded myself that they were, in fact, healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions for Quinoa Patties:
- Can You Freeze Quinoa Patties?
Yes! Quinoa Patties freeze beautifully for up to three months. To freeze, place the patties on a parchment lined baking sheet and cover. Freeze in a single layer until solid. At this point you can transfer them to any freezer-safe container.
- How Do You Make Quinoa Patties Stick Together?
The breadcrumbs 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.
- What Sauce Should I Serve with Quinoa Patties?
A variety of sauces go well with quinoa patties. Some to try:
Lemon Dill Sauce from Add a Pinch
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce from Cooking Light
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Tools for Making this Quinoa Recipe:
Quinoa Patties
If you are looking for a healthy recipe that can easily be made ahead, these Quinoa Patties are a great option! They are gluten-free, can be baked and have a vegan option. Both kids and adults love this Quinoa Patties Recipe! They taste like hash browns or potato cakes or ...something very unhealthy!
- 2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
- 4 large eggs beaten (or flax eggs)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or Chipotle Chili Powder optional
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2/3 cup fresh chives chopped or parsley (I use a blend)
- 1 onion chopped fine
- 2/3 cup fresh Parmesan grated (or 1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast and 2 tablespoons vegan cheese)
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 cup breadcrumbs gluten free
- avocado oil for cooking (About 2 tablespoons)
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.
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.
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Making Vegan Quinoa Patties
- The quinoa patties will not hold together as well when using flax eggs. Be careful when you are flipping!
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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 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Serving Suggestions for this Quinoa Patties Recipe
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.
If You Like Quinoa Cakes You May Also Like:
Do you have a favorite recipe for quinoa patties?
I bet you could all all kinds of spices to these!
Do these freeze well?
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.
Yes, they freeze beautifully!
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..
Thanks so much! Let me know how it goes if you make them.
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.
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.
This simply looks delicious! I can’t wait to go give it a try.
Thanks so much! Let me know how it goes if you try it.
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! 🙂
They aren’t difficult at all! I hope that you enjoy!
Yum. they look really tasty! Must try your recipe soon!
Thanks! Let me know how it goes.
I am not a huge fan of quinoa, but this looks amazing! I might actually enjoy this one!
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?
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.
The patties look quite appetising. Healthy eating is good and your details will really help anyone interested in trying them out.
Ooo, these sound yummy! I love quinoa. I think these would be good in a wrap like falafel!
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!
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!
I can see why they are a family favorite. I know I’d like them and I bet my kids would too.
These look so good! I’ll have to try making these soon.
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.