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Quinoa Fried Rice Recipe (Healthy Side Dish)

Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.
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Healthy Quinoa Fried Rice.

Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice (esp. fried rice) and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with quinoa, you will need quinoa (well, obviously) and mixed vegetables (use the veggies you like)! Olive oil, broth (veggie or chicken broth works), salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is an excellent make-ahead dish. I like making it on Sunday and then using the leftover throughout the week. Quinoa is ideal for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.

Anyways, this quinoa dish is super quick and easy to put together especially if you “precook” or cook the quinoa ahead of time, but even if you don’t, quinoa takes only 15 minutes to cook (yes 15 minutes), and then you can make many other quinoa recipes such as my quinoa and black bean bowl or quinoa stuffed pepper! YUM

Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.

What is Quinoa?

Quinoa is a heart-healthy food; it is a whole grain packed with many nutrients, fiber, protein, and plant compounds. Quinoa is also ancient grain alongside sorghum, teff, millet, and amaranth. Quinoa has several health benefits, one being that it is gluten-free and perfect for people with wheat allergies.

Quinoa is one of nature's best grains; they are gluten-free, high in protein, and have tons of vitamins and minerals that the body needs. Quinoa is easy to incorporate into your diet! Click To Tweet
What is Quinoa? Quinoa is a heart-healthy food; it is a whole grain packed with many nutrients, fiber, protein, and plant compounds. Quinoa is also ancient grain alongside sorghum, teff, millet, and amaranth. Quinoa has several health benefits, one being that it is gluten-free and perfect for people with wheat allergies.
I usually purchase this organic quinoa from BJs

How to Cook Quinoa From Scratch:

Can You Use Quinoa Instead Rice?

Yes, you can use quinoa instead of rice; though it tastes a little different, they are similar in many ways.

Lately, my family and I have been enjoying on quinoa, and have used it many times to replace rice and other carbs. Well, you may say, but quinoa is carb. Not quite. Though it very much embodies a grain crop; it is actually a pseudocereal, in other words, quinoa is not a grass like the other grains (such as rice or wheat). Also, essential to know that brown rice and quinoa have almost the same health benefits!

Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.
Instead of “rice and chicken” we opted for quinoa and chicken! YUM!!!

Why You Will Love Quinoa Fried Rice

  • Quinoa is versatile; I have served this super easy quinoa fried rice with oven-baked chicken drumsticks. At the same time, I add quinoa to salad most times, and it is an absolute bomb! I also love and enjoy this quinoa and black beans bowl.
  • Quinoa cooks quicker than rice. If you are still deciding whether to cook quinoa, one consolation is that it cooks way quicker than rice!
  • Gluten-free; quinoa is gluten-free and perfect for anyone that has gluten-free intolerance. 
  • Quinoa is healthy, containing proteins and other vital minerals. 
  • Ancient grains 
  • It’s perfect for a make-ahead recipe; typically, when I make quinoa fried rice, it lasts for an entire week.
Quinoa is high in fiber and great for stabilizing or controlling blood sugar, plus other numerous health benefits Click To Tweet
Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.
A serving with baked drumstick; yum!!!

Ingredients for Quinoa Fried Rice Recipe:

  • Cooked Quinoa or Raw Quinoa; if using raw quinoa as I did, please first cook it before “frying” or turning it into quinoa fried rice). 
  • Broth; (you only will need this if using raw quinoa that needs initial cooking). 
  • Mixed Vegetables 
  • Onions (diced)
  • Garlic (optional)
  • Olive oil or butter.
  • Salt and pepper.
  • Bay Leaves.
  • Knorr Bouillon or Maggi (optional)
Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.
2 main ingredients you need to cook quinoa from scratch – broth and raw quinoa!

HOW TO MAKE QUINOA FRIED RICE (STEP-BY-STEP)

Making quinoa is literally a walk in the park! It cooks quickly and becomes an incredibly delicious + healthy dish serving the entire family. This is how I make my Quinoa fried rice from scratch.

  1. Cook the quinoa from scratch

    You can skip this step if you are using pre-cooked quinoa. However, this is an essential step if you have raw quinoa. First, place the uncooked quinoa in a colander and wash it in running water. Then aside to drain the water. Next, you will add your 3 cups of broth to the pan and place it on the stove. When it simmers, add 2 cups of raw quinoa, you previously washed. Cook for 15 minutes, turn off the heat/stove, and allow to rest for 5 minutes while the pot/pan is still covered. Then you will open the pot and use a fork to fluff it after 5 minutes.Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.

  2. Make the quinoa fried rice

    Wash and cut all the vegetables and set aside if using fresh veggies. I prefer frozen veggies for this recipe; it’s quicker. Then place a pan on a medium heat stove, and add the oil; as soon as it heats up, start sautéing the vegetables. Begin with onions, garlic, and then frozen vegetables. Sautee each at 2 minutes interval or less. As the vegetables cook, sprinkle a dash of salt, pepper, curry powder, and the seasoning powder/bouillon. Stir everything together, taste for flavors, and then add the quinoa. Cook everything for the next 4 – 5 minutes or until the quinoa and vegetables are married together. Taste and adjust flavors accordingly. Cook in batches if making a big pot. Serve with baked chicken, air fryer chicken thighs, salmon, steak, or shrimp. You can also keep it vegan and turn your cooked quinoa into this quinoa mushroom bowl.Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.

Perfect Holiday Dish!

I like making quinoa on special occasions, especially as part of our holiday menu. I made quinoa during the 2022 Thanksgiving, and in the same breath, our 2023 Easter menu featured this quinoa fried rice recipe, and it was a hit! Also, It is on repeat every month on various Sunday Dinner menus!

Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.
This was our 2023 Easter Feast!

Tips for Making Quinoa Fried Rice:

  • Cook raw quinoa ahead of time to save time. Personally, I like having cooked (plain) quinoa in the refrigerator to make it into quinoa fried rice, quinoa, and black beans bowl or even add it to salad!  
  • When cooking quinoa from scratch, do not add too much liquid. I usually do 20 cups of raw quinoa to 3 cups of water.
  • Cook raw quinoa with broth instead of water. This helps to season and add more taste.
  • Use the vegetables you like. For instance, if you do not like peas, do not use them.
  • You can use frozen vegetables to save time. 
  • NOTE: Usually, when I make Quinoa for most occasions like Easter or Christmas, I triple this recipe to make the huge batch you see in this post. I make upward of 6 cups of quinoa during holidays and special occasions.
Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.

How to Store Leftover Quinoa Fried Rice.

To store leftover fried quinoa, first allow it to cool completely, Then pack it up in a container, and then store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Be sure to heat it up before eating whenever you wish to have it! I typically warm it up in the microwave.

Like Mushrooms? Make Quinoa Fried Rice with Mushrooms:

Super easy to make but delicious and healthy quinoa fried rice recipe is the only side dish you need for any main dish. The best part is that this recipe requires only a few readily available ingredients. Click To Tweet

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:

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Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.

Quinoa Fried Rice Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Nkechi Ajaeroh
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2 – 3 1x
  • Diet: Low Calorie
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Description

Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.

When you want flavor, color, yummy, and nutritiousness all loaded in one bowl, you go for this dish. This quick and easy quinoa fried rice is incredibly easy to make and very tasty!

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Cook the quinoa from scratch. You can skip this step if you are using pre-cooked quinoa. However, this is an essential step if you have raw quinoa. First, place the uncooked quinoa in a colander and wash it in running water. Then aside to drain the water. Next, you will add your 3 cups of broth to the pan and place it on the stove. When it simmers, add washed 2 cups of raw quinoa. Cook for 15 minutes, turn off the heat/stove, and allow to rest for 5 minutes while the pot/pan is still covered. Then you will open the pot and use a fork to fluff it after 5 minutes. Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner. 
  2. Make the quinoa fried rice. Wash and cut all the vegetables and set aside if using fresh veggies. I prefer frozen veggies for this recipe; it’s quicker. Then place a pan on a medium heat stove, and add the oil; as soon as it heats up, start sautéing the vegetables. Begin with onions, garlic, and then frozen vegetables. Sautee each at 2 minutes interval or less. As the vegetables cook, sprinkle a dash of salt, pepper, curry powder, and the seasoning powder/bouillon. Stir everything together, taste for flavors, and then add the quinoa. Cook everything for the next 4 – 5 minutes or until the quinoa and vegetables are married together. Taste and adjust flavors accordingly. Cook in batches if making a big pot. Serve with baked chicken, air fryer chicken, salmon, steak, or shrimp. You can also keep it vegan and turn your cooked quinoa into this quinoa mushroom bowl or balanced quinoa salad bowl. Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner.  

Notes

I served this recipe with oven-baked chicken drumsticks, and it was a sumptuous lunch. On Easter we served it with salmon with green sauce! You can serve quinoa fried rice with any main!

Make this recipe vegan by not serving it with drumstick. Or replace it with tofu.

Usually my quinoa is already pre-cooked in well-seasoned broth, so I normally add less bouillon seasoning, little to no salt. If you cook your quinoa with plain water, then your recipe may change a bit, and you may need to add more seasonings. Always taste as you go.

Remember to always add salt according to your taste or according to your health needs.

If you will be cooking quinoa from scratch then the total time may slightly increase. 

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Entree
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Quinoa, fried rice, quinoa fried rice, healthy dinner, lunch, quinoa recipe, weekday dinners, quinoa salad, easy quinoa recipe, quinoa recipe,

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MORE QUINOA RECIPES TO TRY:

Quinoa black bean bowl is easy, tasty, and customizable! Perfect for weekday lunch or diner, and the best part is that you can make it ahead!

Nutrient-dense + tasty quinoa bowl recipe with black beans is literally the best thing E V E R! Listen, this is about to be your favorite quinoa bowl from now on (I AM NOT KIDDING)! Already cooked quinoa is deliciously sauteed with onions, bell peppers, mixed veggies, and spices. Sauteed black beans, chicken breast, mashed avocado, and fresh baby spinach completes this healthy quinoa bowl recipe! Finally, top this bowl with chopped fresh parsley and avocado slices and enjoy! #quinoarecipe #quinoabowl #blackbeanrecipe #quinoablackbeans #tacobowl

Easy healthy quinoa stuffed peppers is a fantastic lunch/dinner recipe that your body will thank you for! Simply stuff the peppers with some of the ingredients you love, and end up with the best stuffed pepper recipe!

Healthy stuffed peppers with vegetables.

BEST Quinoa Salad Bowl (Video)

Want More Side Dishes? Here You Go:

While you are still here, grab my FREE (5) spinach salad recipe bundle. It would be a great addition to your dinner table (if you like salads) or you are looking to incorporate more veggies. Get the recipes here.

Finally, let’s connect on social media, am on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. If you like video recipes, then be sure to head over to my YouTube Channel. Share this recipe post, and SAVE/PIN THIS IMAGE ON PINTEREST! ⤵️

Quinoa is an ideal substitute for rice and is even easier to cook and healthier than rice! This healthy, easy to make quinoa fried rice is a perfect, easily vegan side dish everyone will enjoy. To make this healthy fried rice with raw quinoa, mixed vegetables, Olive oil, broth, salt, and pepper. Quinoa fried rice is great for weekday/weekend lunch or dinner and also excellent for any occasion, such as holidays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Sunday dinner. When you want flavor, color, yummy, and nutritiousness all loaded in one bowl, you go for this dish. This quick and easy quinoa fried rice is incredibly easy to make and very tasty!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! Stay well, safe and keep cooking!

Nkechi Ajaeroh's blog nkechiajaeroh.com for healthy food recipes, and healthy living. tips.

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Nkechi Ajaeroh, MPH

Hi, I'm Nkechi "Kechi" Ajaeroh, a Public Health professional turned Inspirational author slash exceptional home cook. A 2x International Best Selling Author of Elevate Your Life with the Power of Positive Perception and Gratefully Growing. African, (specifically, Nigerian) Food Enthusiast, watermelon connoisseur, on my to finessing my fitness. This blog is all about loving food, living life, practicing gratitude, and inspiring you to use your wings. Join the journey.

12 Comments

  1. Wow Nkechi! This is amazing, never in a thousand years would I have been able to come up with this! So creative, delish and healthy…

    Reply

  2. This Quinoa Fried Rice dish turned out great! I followed the recipe exactly as written – the result was a delicious side dish that also looked so inviting on the dinner table.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  4. What a great idea for a healthy side dish! I like that you are using quinoa instead of rice.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  5. This quinoa fried rice has quickly become one of my family’s favorite side dishes! Easy to make and so full of flvaor!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  6. This is fabulous! I love that you use quinoa instead of rice to make this a healthier and delicious side idsh.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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