Ready for the best vegan quinoa recipes? We collected delicious sweet and savory meals, snacks and treats featuring this gluten-free grain including bowls, salads, smoothies, baked goods and more!
Whether you’ve recently fallen in love with quinoa but are not sure what meals or snacks to create with it, or already love this ingredient. This article will be for you!
Skip the rice, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, or couscous — it’s time for quinoa to shine.
free 7-day vegan meal plan
Your next week of eating is planned out with these quick and delicious vegan bowls, meal prepping steps & full grocery list.
This grain has definitely become much more popular over the last few years and it allows us to create more variety in our plant-based dishes.
Quinoa can be used to prepare protein-packed breakfasts, vegan bowls, healthy snacks, and light vegan dinners!
Delicious Vegan Quinoa Recipes
Easy Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
Let’s start sweet and simple! This customizable breakfast bowl is made with freshly cooked quinoa (using both water and almond milk) as opposed to the traditionally used oatmeal. The fun part is all of the flavor combinations you can create: from apples to pistachios, banana, berries, mint or pistachios.
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Photo credit: www.thevgnway.com
Triple Berry Quinoa Parfait
These beautiful vegan berry parfaits are definitely a step up from your usual breakfast! They work wonderfully for meal prep because you can make them with pre-cooked quinoa by mixing your gluten-free grains with some non-dairy yogurt and layering this creamy mixture with fresh berries.
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Photo credit: www.karissasvegankitchen.com
Gluten-Free Quinoa Pancakes
Fluffy, gluten-free and sugar-free: these protein-packed pancakes tick all of the boxes. Thanks to the quinoa flour, they offer a cake-like texture and lots of essential nutrients along the way! Delicious toppings include date caramel sauce, peanut butter, peaches and sliced banana.
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Photo credit: runningonrealfood.com
Crunchy Quinoa Smoothie Bowl
Another versatile vegan breakfast idea are smoothie bowls! And who would have guessed it, you can make them with quinoa, too. No matter if it’s cooked quinoa added to the creamy base of puffed quinoa used as a crunchy topping like this recipe calls for, there are many ways of bumping up the whole food protein content of your smoothie bowls.
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Photo credit: thegreencreator.com
Dark Chocolate, Coconut and Almond Granola
Have you ever made your own granola at home? If so, you should definitely add some quinoa to the mix next time you do so. Together with rolled oats, shredded coconut and chopped almonds, it creates a lovely variety of healthy add-ins which can be flavored to your liking — we definitely love this dark chocolate version!
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Photo credit: www.rachaelhartleynutrition.com
Vanilla Chai Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
If you’re in for a cozily sliced and warm vanilla breakfast bowl, this easy recipe will be for you! The quinoa is cooked in almond milk, vanilla and a homemade chai spice mix before being topped with vanilla yogurt, apple and some sliced almonds. The perfect combo!
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Photo credit: flavorthemoments.com
Coffee Quinoa Smoothie
Can you imagine a better way to start the day than with this coffee, cocoa, banana and quinoa smoothie?It’s rich, creamy, refreshing and will make your energy levels soar. Perfect for busy times because it’s thrown together in just 5 minutes!
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Photo credit: wendypolisi.com
Chunky Monkey Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
One more for the chocolate lovers: this chunky monkey quinoa breakfast bowl is loaded with creamy peanut butter, sweet bananas and rich dark chocolate which will send your taste buds into overdrive. No worries, it’s super nutritious, too!
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Photo credit: veganhuggs.com
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
This colorful Mediterranean-flavored vegan salad doesn’t just feature cooked quinoa, it is also made with quinoa pasta! If you can’t find the latter, just use any pasta you like for this crunchy summer salad featuring a creamy yogurt tahini dressing.
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Tomato and Quinoa Salad Jars
This one is for all of our meal-prepping friends! Mason jar salads are the go-to choice for healthy and easy-to-make packed lunches, featuring your favorite fresh produce plus some fiber, complex carbs and protein-rich staples like chickpeas or cooked quinoa. Don’t skip the vegan feta here!
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Photo credit: annabanana.co
Spiralized Carrot Quinoa Veggie Bowl
Do you love vegan bowls as much as we do? They are endlessly customizable and can be thrown together within minutes if you have some cooked ingredients on hand. This carrot, chickpea and quinoa bowl is simple, nutrient-packed and can be flavored with any sauce of your liking.
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Pesto Quinoa Wraps
Vibrant basil pesto, quinoa, soy-glazed mushrooms, crunchy fried onions, avocado and crispy red cabbage wrapped inside a tender tortilla. Sounds awesome, doesn’t it? Well, it is! This vegan lunch idea is really tasty, perfectly portable and super satisfying — definitely a must-try.
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Photo credit: fullofplants.com
Loaded Quinoa Black Bean Salad
This scrumptious vegan quinoa bowl can be made ahead of time and is totally able to feed a crowd! No matter if you’re looking for a quick lunch or dinner, want to bring a meal to a gathering or have any salad veggies that are about to go soggy, this recipe will come to your rescue.
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Photo credit: happyfoodhealthylife.com
Sweet Potato Quinoa Patties
These gluten-free sweet potato and quinoa patties are hearty, filling and amazing in salads or in a bun as a burger! Flavored with dried herbs, spices, onion and garlic, they hold together nicely thanks to the buckwheat flour and can be stored for around 3 days — hello, grab-and-go lunch.
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Photo credit: thehealthfulideas.com
Quinoa Salad with Berries and Candied Nuts
This quinoa salad with berries and candied nuts is sure to excite your taste buds! It’s sweet and sour, light and crunchy, packed with nutrients and almost tastes like dessert. Try this kid-friendly summer recipe for lunch or serve it as a side during dinner!
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Photo credit: mypureplants.com
Tangy Quinoa Spring Salad Cups
A sturdy black bean and quinoa salad topped off with a crunchy mix of cucumber, mango, jalapeno, radish and avocado — this 30-minute recipe delivers crunchiness, creaminess, sweetness and heat. Part of it can be prepared in advance for a short prep time, too!
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Photo credit: simplebites.net
Summer Blackberry Salad with Cashew Ricotta
This easy summer salad is both healthy and delicious: leafy greens mixed with quinoa, blackberries and cucumber and topped with a 3-ingredients tangy balsamic vinaigrette, pumpkin seeds and vegan cashew ricotta. Customizable to your preferences, you can enjoy it for 4 lunches in a row if wanted!
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Photo credit: healthmylifestyle.com
Vegan Quinoa Muffins
Originally created as “breakfast muffins” by the author Sarah, these baked goodies are so versatile that we’ve put them into the snack category! Savory spiced using thyme, parsley, coriander and butternut squash purée, they are the perfect in-between snack, to-go lunch addition or can be served for brunch.
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Photo credit: wellandfull.com
Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies
These easy-to-make chocolate chip cookies are soft, nutty and the perfect way to use up leftover quinoa! Featuring common ingredients such as oat flour, applesauce, nut butter and (of course) chocolate chips, you just add cooked quinoa to the mix to bump up the protein and fiber content. What an awesome idea!
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Photo credit: runningonrealfood.com
Healthy Quinoa Tahini Crackers
Store-bought crackers can be made with too much salt or refined ingredients — if you want to go for a nutritious and easy homemade version, this recipe will be for you. Loaded with healthy nuts, gluten-free oats and savory spices, they can be made within 30 minutes and stored for several days for a quick snack.
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Photo credit: sarahsveganguide.com
Kid-Friendly Vegan Nuggets
Maybe it’s because nuggets are small and dippable or because you don’t need any utensils to munch them — but everyone, especially kids, seems to love them!This fantastic recipe doesn’t just feature quinoa but also walnuts and even cauliflower, all marinated in delicious savory spices to make these vegan nuggets not just nutritious but also really crowd-pleasing.
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Photo credit: bohemianvegankitchen.com
Quinoa Chocolate Bark
Chock full of nutritious nuts and seeds, this dark chocolate treat is the healthified version of your chocolatey treats. Crunchy and deliciously addictive, it can totally be modified to your liking and features maple syrup, vanilla and espresso powder in its original form!
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Photo credit: www.flavourandsavour.com
Cheesy Quinoa Bites
One more savory quinoa snack for good measure: these cheesy dairy-free bites can be enjoyed alongside a salad, pita bread or simply with a creamy dip. They also make for a great appetizer at any gatherings or portable snack!
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Photo credit: www.godairyfree.org
Winter Rainbow Buddha Bowl
Make this colorful rainbow Buddha bowl featuring sweet potato, quinoa, chickpeas and veggies on a cozy fall or winter night! Endlessly customizable and loaded with texture and flavor, this easy and healthy vegan dinner can be enjoyed by the whole family.
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Warm Kale and Quinoa Salad
For this 30-minute or less recipe, cooked quinoa is tossed with kale, carrots and bell peppers in a hot skillet. Drizzle with homemade lemon tahini dressing, then top with fresh herbs, seeds and avocado and you are ready to devour this satisfying salad!
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Photo credit: theliveinkitchen.com
Moroccan Stuffed Eggplant
These comforting quinoa stuffed aubergine halves feature a flavorful vegetable filling and are baked to perfection before being served with a 3-ingredient lemony yogurt sauce. Great for meal prepping, easily customizable and family-friendly, this plant-based recipe is a wonderful weeknight dinner on its own or can be served as a side dish.
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Roasted Cauliflower Quinoa Bowls
Beautiful dinner bowls are the perfect way to feature different grains, including quinoa. This scrumptious and flavorful roasted sweet potato and cauliflower bowl comes with a ton of delicious spices and a creamy cashew dressing — making healthy plant-based dinners for families super easy!
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Photo credit: saltandbaker.com
One Pan Mexican Quiona
Hearty, flavor-packed and ready in about 30 minutes — this delicious mexican dinner has it all. Perfect for the whole family and during busy weeknights, it’s made with easy staple foods and will leave you with only one pan to clean up afterwards!
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Photo credit: veganhuggs.com
Tex-Mex Quinoa Burgers
Everyone needs a good vegan burger from time to time! This flavorful patty uses cooked quinoa (hello, leftovers!), kidney beans, rolled oats and a handful of spices. Easy to make within 20 minutes, you can dress up your burger with any toppings such as lettuce, onion, avocado or vegan mayo.
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Photo credit: www.connoisseurusveg.com
Roasted Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash
Traditionally served during the holiday season, this roasted acorn squash filled with quinoa, kale, bell pepper and lots of delicious spices is perfect as a Thanksgiving main dish — but it can be enjoyed year-round as a healthy dinner by the whole family. Definitely don’t skip the tangy balsamic glaze!
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Photo credit: www.veganosity.com
Moroccan Roasted Vegetable Salad
This warm Moroccan roasted vegetable salad is packed with cold weather comfort foods, like butternut squash, apples and pomegranate. With lots of colorful seasonal produce and a roasted garlic vinaigrette, it’s incredibly flavorful, satisfying and easily customizable.
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Photo credit: www.occasionallyeggs.com
Vegan Quinoa (Not) Fried Rice
Bored of fried rice? Switch things up and use quinoa instead! This easy oil-free recipe works perfectly for a quick lunch or dinner, uses leftover cooked quinoa and allows you to clean out your fridge by using up any veggies that are about to spoil.
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Photo credit: sproutingzen.com
Easy Plant-Based Stuffed Peppers
These Mexican-flavored plant-based stuffed peppers have serious potential to become your go-to weeknight dinner! Filled with hearty protein-packed staples and gluten-free grains, they are easy to make ahead of time and customize to your needs.
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Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowls
Bring on the veggie bowls! This beauty features roasted vegetables, a creamy cashew curry sauce, chickpeas and fresh greens — alongside some cooked quinoa, of course. Easily customizable, these flavorful bowls are ready in under an hour and offer so much texture!
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Photo credit: www.veggieinspired.com
Southwest Black Bean Bowl
Another recipe that is the perfect meal for anyone who wants a healthy, quick and delicious dinner option that can be made ahead of time. The avocado kale salad makes the perfect base for your favorite toppings, like black beans, corn and tomato. It will take you less than thirty minutes to whip this up!
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Photo credit: www.resplendentkitchen.com
Vegan Spinach Fig Salad
If you happen to read this article during Fall, this recipe will be for you! Featuring gorgeous seasonal produce, this spinach fig salad with roasted squash makes for a wonderful combination in terms of texture and flavor. Perfect with an easy blueberry dressing and cooked quinoa, it’s an easy 30-minute dinner idea.
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Loaded Quinoa Pizza Crust
This pizza is unlike most you've made as it uses soaked quinoa for the base and is therefore perfect for those who are avoiding gluten, or yeast. And the best part is, it comes together so fast and easy! The star of the show is definitely the kale pesto, and you can top it with any veggies you like from tomatoes or basil to spinach, mushrooms and bell pepper.
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Photo credit: www.wholeheartedeats.com
Black Bean Quinoa Chili
Packed with protein and healthy veggies, this vegan black bean quinoa chili is a hearty and satisfying one pot meal! Serve it up with all your favorite chili toppings and a side of tortilla chips for a filling meatless meal the whole family will love.
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Photo credit: www.veggieinspired.com
Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
This delicious salad with roasted butternut squash and quinoa is a great healthy Fall recipe that is packed with nutritious ingredients and full of flavors. It’s super easy to make and will be a perfect addition to any dinner, lunch, or even meal prep! Plus, you can swap out most of the ingredients if you don’t have the exact ones on hand.
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Photo credit: veronikaskitchen.com
Spring Pesto Quinoa Bowl
Since we want to offer something for all seasons of the year, let’s move back to Springtime! An ode to all of the colorful produce during these months, it features asparagus, mushrooms, arugula and corn slathered in a vegan basil pesto. Yum!
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Photo credit: shortgirltallorder.com
Fiesta Buffalo Tofu Bowls
If chicken wings, a plate of loaded nachos and a burrito had a vegan love child, this would be it! Loaded with tahini lime crema, this nourishing fiesta tofu bowl looks super festive and can be made with seasonal produce, such as butter lettuce, alongside simple kitchen staples.
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Photo credit: www.justinecelina.com
Sweet Potato Casserole
Here’s to some more plant-based comfort food! Enjoy this savory and comforting vegan sweet potato casserole with black beans, kale, quinoa and roasted garlic sauce for dinner this week. It’s easy to assemble and perfect to make ahead!
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Photo credit: happykitchen.rocks
Italian Lentil Quinoa Meatballs
This is how kids will gobble up quinoa for sure: baked Italian meatballs! Perfectly tender on the inside and firm on the outside, they are loaded with flavor and work super well with a big bowl of spaghetti.
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Photo credit: www.staceyhomemaker.com
One-Pot Lentil Quinoa
Let’s finish up this list with some protein-on-protein action, shall we? Another easy to clean one-pot recipe, this lentil quinoa dish with asparagus and peas features spring produce cooked in creamy coconut milk and flavored with soy sauce, mustard and nutritional yeast. Delicious!
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Photo credit: www.vnutritionandwellness.com
Related Recipes
Which of these quinoa recipes did you like the most and have you tried any? Share with us in the comments below and Pin this article here.
Ready for the best vegan quinoa recipes? We’ve collected over 40 delicious ways to enjoy this gluten-free grain and want to share with you our favorite quinoa chickpea tabbouleh with lots of vegetables and an easy homemade dressing. Enjoy this exclusive recipe from our eBook Live Lightly!
Serves 2
Ingredients
Chickpea Tabbouleh
- 1 cup quinoa 170 g, dry
- ¼ cup fresh mint 7 g, minced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley 15 g, minced
- ½ red bell peppers finely chopped
- 10 oz cucumbers 280 g, finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes 200 g, finely chopped
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas 160 g, drained
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa, then add to a small saucepan with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cover with a lid.
- Cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes. Once the quinoa is cooked, add mint and parsley, then fluff gently with a fork. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine bell peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions and chickpeas in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix with a spoon, then add the cooked quinoa mixture, olive oil and lemon juice and mix again.
- Adjust with salt and pepper to taste preferences, then cover the bowl with a lid and store in the fridge to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Tastes even better the next day. Enjoy!
Notes
- This recipe is a delicious light dinner recipe or cookout side and can be served with fresh bread or sandwiches!
- Drizzle with olive oil if wanted.
- Feel free to use any vegan store-bought dressing for a quicker quinoa tabbouleh.
- Find 40+ more vegan quinoa recipes in the article above!
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Alena Schowalter is a Certified Vegan Nutritionist who has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan since 2012. Together with her husband, she founded nutriciously in 2015 and has been guiding thousands of people through different transition stages towards a healthy plant-based diet. She’s received training in the fields of nutrition, music therapy and social work. Alena enjoys discussions around vegan ethics, walks through nature and creating new recipes.
Thanks so much for sharing my Apple Pie Quinoa Breakfast Bowl!! You have a great roundup here with lots of quinoa lovin’ deliciousness!! :) – Jana
Hey Jana,
your recipes are awesome so of course we needed to feature one at last! Thanks for putting them out there.
Hope this finds you well,
Alena x
I love vegan recipes and all, but we need to stop eating quinoa.
Hey Elise,
thanks for sharing. Yes, I see where you’re coming from. And I agree that every choice we make has consequences, much of the food we grow and items we buy have caused some kind of harm in the process.
On this website, we focus on plant-based eating, veganism, and health. We also don’t discourage eating avocados or coconuts, although they aren’t the most reasonable/reasonable choices in the big picture.
Hope you understand! Have fun with our other recipes.
Best wishes,
Alena
In the U.K. one of our supermarkets sells organic British quinoa. Buying this doesn’t impact South America, unless you believe by buying it from where it is not native is morally wrong and indefensible.
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-duchy-organic-british-quinoa/421665-524159-524160
Hi! Thank you for sharing these great recipes! I love quinoa and I’m always looking for the new recipes! Two days ago I made Fiesta Quinoa Salad and it was really amazing!