Quinoa Porridge (Quinoa Oatmeal)

If you're stuck trying to come up with a healthy, filling breakfast, try this Quinoa Porridge soon. This version of quinoa oatmeal is packed with nutrients and is easy to make ahead for busy mornings. Try it with sweet or savory toppings!

Add this Quinoa Porridge to your breakfast routine

On chilly mornings, I enjoy waking up with something cozy and filling.

Quinoa porridge is a comfort food I regularly crave on winter mornings. There are few things better than sitting down with a warm bowl of this with a side of coffee. Even better if I manage to enjoy it before my toddler wakes up!

If you love breakfast porridges, I think you'll love this quinoa oatmeal

If you're already a porridge lover, quinoa oatmeal is the perfect way to change things up. It's similar enough to oatmeal, but just different enough that you have a new porridge variety to add to your breakfast options.

I think you will love this quinoa porridge for breakfast because it's:

• full of flavor
• warm and hearty
• versatile
• easy to make ahead

If you have never tried quinoa for breakfast before, you won't regret adding this healthy dish to your breakfast routine.

Quinoa Porridge is a healthy breakfast

For me, starting my morning on a positive note is important to set the tone for the whole day. For instance, I know my day will go more smoothly if I prepare lunches and lay out clothes for a stress-free morning.

What I eat for breakfast also sets the tone for my day. It might sound strange, but it's true!

Eating something healthy just makes me feel nice and energized. This breakfast really checks all the boxes of a healthy meal. It will keep you full and satisfied and it's loaded with nutrients.

Health benefits of quinoa

Quinoa is pretty amazing when it comes to nutrition. Quinoa is full of health benefits including:

• Fiber - at least twice as high as other grains!
• Protein
• Iron and magnesium
• Antioxidants
• Good for blood sugar control

This quinoa oatmeal is also a gluten-free breakfast recipe

Besides being healthy, quinoa is gluten-free, making this a great breakfast for anyone with a gluten allergy or sensitivity.

Fun fact: Quinoa is technically a seed, but since it's often eaten like a grain, it's sometimes referred to as a pseudo-grain.

If you are looking for gluten-free breakfast recipes, here's a collection of them.

Choose your toppings wisely, and you'll get an extra health boost

You can really add a health boost by picking the perfect toppings for this quinoa breakfast bowl. Here are some of my go-to ideas to try:

• Greek yogurt
• pomegranate seeds
• pumpkin seeds
• walnuts
• dried fruit
• chia seeds
• flaxseed

TIP: Topping this recipe with nuts and seeds adds nice texture with a bonus of heart healthy fats and fiber!

How to make quinoa oatmeal

You can think of this recipe as a twist on oatmeal, using quinoa in place of the oats. Cooking regular oatmeal and quinoa oatmeal is just about the same.

In a small saucepan, simply simmer together quinoa, milk and a pinch of salt for about 15 minutes. For the final 5 minutes, remove the porridge from heat, and let it sit for about 5 minutes. This recipe takes just about as long as it does to cook steel cut oats.

The result is a hearty, warm and delicious breakfast. Actually, it's great any time of day. It works as a side at dinner, or a quick healthy lunch too.

This porridge is made with all quinoa, but you can adjust the ratio and use other grains or pseudo-grains

I use 100% quinoa in this "oatmeal" recipe. If you are new to having quinoa for breakfast, you might start with using ½ oatmeal and ½ quinoa to adjust to the texture.

Alternatively, here's another breakfast recipe of mine that uses ½ quinoa and ½ amaranth. It's healthy quinoa breakfast bowl that uses two superfoods.

Be creative with your quinoa breakfast bowl

Using quinoa as the base for this breakfast bowl means you can really flavor it however you like. The flavor of quinoa is fairly neutral - though a bit earthy, so you can make your porridge either sweet or savory.

Sweet Quinoa Porridge

As written, this recipe makes a sweet breakfast bowl. I just love the yogurt, nuts and seeds paired with the nutty quinoa.

No sweetener is required. However, honey, condensed milk or maple syrup taste great for a little extra sweetness.

TIP: Use dried fruit for a touch of sweetness if you prefer to leave out other sweeteners.

Savory Quinoa Porridge

You can easily adjust this recipe to make it a savory breakfast bowl too. When I do this, I still cook it in milk but I add an extra pinch or two of salt while it cooks.

Complete this dish using savory toppings like:

• Fried egg
• Grated cheese
• Avocado

For a more unique flavor, Dukkah is so good on this quinoa porridge. Furikake is also delicious.

Can you reheat quinoa oatmeal?

Yes! This is a great make ahead recipe for weekdays. I cook a batch -sometimes even a double batch- and reheat small portions in the morning.

Using a microwave will work. I'd say 45 seconds is about all you will need to heat this up. You may need to add a splash of milk if it seems a little dry after microwaving.

You can also stir in some extra yogurt after reheating.

TIP: If making ahead, wait to add toppings until the quinoa oatmeal has been reheated.

Other quinoa breakfast recipes

Quinoa is an easy and delicious breakfast. Best of all, it can made in several different ways. If you're hooked on quinoa for breakfast like I am, here are some other recipes to try:

My Peruvian Quinoa Porridge with Amaranth is another cozy dish that features quinoa and amaranth, another delicious ancient grain.

Or try my Individual Duck Eggs with Quinoa, which is a cute and fun recipe baked in individual cocottes!

Cozy up with this healthy quinoa breakfast soon

If you love a breakfast that warms you up and gets you ready to start the day, I hope you try this recipe soon.

Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below. And I’d love to hear how you top your Quinoa Porridge in the comments below.