This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.
Learn how to make perfect quinoa porridge, a protein rich, gluten-free oatmeal alternative! It has a comforting, creamy texture and comes together in about 20 minutes. Top it with all kinds of extras for the perfect breakfast bowl!

Many of you may already know about making quinoa for a dinner side dish, but have you tried it for breakfast? Just in case it has missed your radar (or even if it’s been awhile since last you made it), consider this a gentle reminder (I need such nudges myself!).
If you are ready to shake up your morning cereal or patmeal routine, quinoa porridge is jthe answer. The essential recipe requires two ingredients, but the options for customizations–different flavors and toppings–are vast. You will love the creamy texture as well as the long lasting sustenance it provides all morning long.
Recipe Benefits
- 7 grams protein per serving
- Gluten-free
- Easy to prepare
- Made with 2 ingredients (other than water, optional salt, and optional toppings)
- Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
- Can be made in advance
- 3 grams fiber per serving
Ingredients
The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post. Toggle between US Customary (volume) and Metric (weights) for preferred measurement option.
- Quinoa (white, or multi-colored)
- Non-dairy milk (e.g., almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk or cashew milk)
Step by Step Instructions
Note that the complete directions are also in the recipe card below.
- In a small saucepan, combine the quinoa, nondairy milk, water, and optional salt.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and the porridge is thickened (add more water to the saucepan, as needed, to achieve desired consistency).
- Divide the porridge between two bowls and top with additional nondairy milk and the toppings of your choice.
Suggested Topping Ideas
- Sweetener (e.g., maple syrup, agave nectar, date sugar or coconut sugar)
- Fresh fruit (e.g., raspberries, blueberries, sliced apples, diced strawberries, chopped mangoes)
- Dried fruit (e.g., raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, chopped dates, diced apricots)
- Chopped nuts (e.g., pecans, walnuts, almonds)
- Seeds (e.g., sunflower seed kernels, hemp hearts, green pumpkin seeds / pepitas)
- Nut butter or seed butter (e.g., a spoonful of almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter)
- Coconut flakes (plain or toasted)

FAQ
- Is Quinoa Gluten-Free? Yes, quinoa is gluten-free! It safe for individuals who are celiac or wishes to avoid gluten for any reason.
- Can I Use Multi-Color Quinoa? Yes! Quinoa porridge can be made with white quinoa or multicolored quinoa. The cooking process is the same for both. Note that the red and black quinoa in multicolor quinoa has a slightly chewier texture and a faintly stronger nutty flavor.
- Can I Add Flavorings to the Quinoa Porridge? Yes! Stir in vanilla extract, lemon zest or orange zest, or a few pinches of your favorite spices (e.g., cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger).
- Can I Make Quinoa Porridge in Advance? Yes! Instead of taking 20 minutes to prepare the porridge on a busy weekday morning, make a double or triple batch the night before, or on the weekend, and rewarm the next morning or later in the week.
- How Should I Store Quinoa Porridge? Cool completely, the store the prepared quinoa porridge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days until ready to eat.
- How Should I Reheat Quinoa Porridge?
- In the microwave: Reheat a single portion of the quinoa porridge in a microwave safe bowl for 30 to 60 seconds at a time until warmed through. Add one or more tablespoons of water or nondairy milk to the bowl, as needed, to reach the desired level of creaminess.
- On the stovetop: Reheat all or a portion of the quinoa porridge in a small saucepan over low to medium heat until warmed through. Add one or more tablespoons of water or nondairy milk to the bowl, as needed, to reach the desired level of creaminess.

Related Recipes

Quinoa Porridge
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup quinoa, (rinsed)
- 1 cup nondairy milk, (e.g., almond milk, oat milk, hemp milk, plus more for serving)
- 1 cup water, (I use filtered tap water
- Optional: large pinch of salt
- Optional toppings, (see notes below)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the quinoa, nondairy milk, water, and optional salt.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and the porridge is thickened (add more water to the saucepan, as needed, to achieve desired consistency).
- Divide the porridge between two bowls and top with additional nondairy milk and the toppings of your choice.
Notes
- Make a double or triple batch the night before, or on the weekend, and rewarm the next morning or later in the week. Cool completely, the store the prepared quinoa porridge in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days until ready to eat.
-
- Sweetener (e.g., maple syrup, agave nectar, date sugar or coconut sugar)
-
- Fresh fruit (e.g., raspberries, blueberries, sliced apples, diced strawberries, chopped mangoes)
-
- Dried fruit (e.g., raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, chopped dates, diced apricots)
-
- Chopped nuts (e.g., pecans, walnuts, almonds)
-
- Seeds (e.g., sunflower seed kernels, hemp hearts, green pumpkin seeds / pepitas)
-
- Nut butter or seed butter (e.g., a spoonful of almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter)
-
- Coconut flakes (plain or toasted)




Hi Mal,
Yes, regular milk is fine! (note it says regular or nondairy–just wanted to make sure everyone can enjoy 🙂 Hope you like it!
Do you have to use non-dairy milk for it to be tasty? Or is that because of the flexitarianism?
Sounds delish, just want to make sure using the milk I already have in the fridge won’t “fudge” the recipe…
Thanks for all the great ideas!
Thank you for your blog — found it when looking for homemade LaraBars. Tried this porridge this morning. Made it exactly as written until the end when I found I had no more milk left 🙁 Husband suggested canned coconut milk with a tad more hot water to dilute, threw in approx. 1-2 Tbl. Added raisins and maple syrup. Very tasty. Next time will throw the raisins in the last 5 min. while cooking to soften. Do you think the red quinoa would have a stronger taste? Thanks again.
I am going to share a link to your post on my blog. I loved this. =)
This was my breakfast this morning, and I thoroughly enjoyed it; I never would have thought to make porridge out of quinoa, but I found it more to my taste than my usual oatmeal.
Wow! I’m sure this quinoa recipe will be very delicious. I love eating porridge and I love quinoa, so I’m surely gonna try out this recipe. Thank you very much for sharing!
I made this and enjoyed it. Thanks
I made this and enjoyed it. Thanks
Hi Nikko,
Glad you loved it! My 4-year-old will not touch it with a 10-foot pole (he says it looks like eyes), so I’m impressed that your kids at least tried it. I have to sneak the quinoa into him via muffins (I have some quinoa muffins on my blog)
We made this today. It had mixed reviews from my kids, but I loved it!
Yum. My!
My 18-month old daughter and I eat oatmeal A LOT of mornings for breakfast, which she loves. This will be something different, but still warm and filling, that I know she will wolf down.
I have a pot simmering on the stove right now so it will be ready to go once I go and get her up for the day.
Thanks!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Oh yum!!! I will have to try this!
Cold, rainy and I believe this porridge are in my very near future 🙂
Thanks Zaira! Hope you enjoy the porridge 🙂
that looks great! We eat porridge every morning but I have been looking for a way to work more quinoa into our diets. Going to have to give this a try! And Happy (belated) Birthday! 😉