How to make Crispy Quinoa in 2 easy steps. This quinoa recipe is not only nutritious, it's also delicious. When quinoa is crisped, it undergoes a transformation that makes it crunchy, nutty, and toasty. Use it as a healthy topping for salads, bowls, soups, or any meal.
If you haven't tried crispy quinoa, this is your sign to make some! Quinoa is a high-quality protein containing all nine essential amino acids, making it an excellent option for vegans and vegetarians looking to meet their protein requirements.
🤷🏽♀️ What is Crispy Quinoa?
Crispy quinoa is essentially cooked quinoa tossed in a drizzle of oil and roasted until golden and crunchy! Roasting transforms it into a crunchy, nutty topping that you can add to any meal, sweet or savory, for extra nutrients. It's also delicious on its own as a healthy snack.
I enjoy pairing Quinoa Crispies with Crispy Roasted Chickpeas, and this flavor-packed Paprika Dip on my site for the most incredible vegan dinner!
For everything you need to know about cooking quinoa (stovetop, rice cooker, Instant Pot, and Microwave methods), visit my 'How to Cook Quinoa' post on my site.
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👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
- Quinoa (tricolor, white, red, or black quinoa) is versatile, healthy, and cooks in just 15 minutes. It's technically a seed but it is considered a pseudocereal because it is cooked and used like a grain. It's rich in fiber, protein, and various essential vitamins and minerals.
- Olive oil, herb-infused oil, garlic oil, avocado oil, or chili oil - try this 7-minute homemade Easy Chili Crisp recipe on my site
- Salt and additional seasonings to taste
See the recipe card for quantities.
🍚 Substitutions
- Quinoa - use white, tricolor, red, or black quinoa or a combination to make crunchy quinoa
- Oil - use a good quality olive oil, herb-infused oil, garlic oil, or chili oil for a kick
- Seasonings - For a savory recipe, season with za'atar, garlic powder, onion powder, sumac, paprika, cumin, dried or fresh oregano, thyme, or rosemary. For a sweet recipe, toss it with maple syrup and add cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice.
- Vinaigrette - Toss crispy quinoa with balsamic vinegar, pomegranate molasses, or 1 tablespoon vinaigrette. Try my Lemon Quinoa vinaigrette recipe.
Learn how to cook quinoa like a pro with my 'How to Cook Quinoa Guide' on this site. For more easy and delicious quinoa recipes, visit my Vegan Quinoa Recipes page.
📖 Instructions
Leftover quinoa is ideal for making the best Crispy Quinoa (or Quinoa Crispies) as it is already cooled. However, freshly made quinoa will work too once it has reached room temperature.
Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
Step 1. Dry the quinoa: Use chilled or room-temperature quinoa. Spread the quinoa onto a large nonstick or parchment-lined baking sheet in a thin even layer. Bake the quinoa for about 10 minutes, or until dry and slightly crumbly.
Step 2. Season: Drizzle the quinoa with oil and an optional dash of seasoning. Toss to coat evenly. Bake for about 10 minutes more, or until crunchy and golden brown.
For serving: Use Quinoa Crispies as a topping on bowls, salads, soups, or any meal! It's so versatile.
Add a vinaigrette: Try my Lemon Quinoa recipe and substitute the quinoa for Crispy Quinoa! (Use 1 tablespoon vinaigrette for 1 cup cooked quinoa.)
💡 Expert Tips
- For baking: Use a large rimmed baking sheet, or more than one sheet, to make sure the quinoa is spread evenly in a thin layer for even roasting. Line the sheet with parchment paper, or use a nonstick sheet so the quinoa does not stick.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftover Quinoa Crispies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It retains its crunch! Meal prep a batch for the week to add to dinner.
🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
While you can omit the oil as needed, it won't be as crisp or flavorful without it. Oil is essential for making the quinoa crispy.
Try this 2-step method with white rice, brown rice, wild rice, farro, barley, or pearled couscous! You may need more than one baking sheet to keep the grain in a single layer.
To learn how to make perfectly cooked fluffy quinoa, visit my 'How To Make Quinoa Guide.' If your quinoa is already mushy, turn it into Quinoa Crisps using this recipe!
🍽 Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Crispy Quinoa
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Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa or ⅓ cup dry quinoa, cooked, chilled or at room temperature
- Drizzle of olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- Step 1. Dry the quinoa: Use chilled or room-temperature quinoa. Spread the quinoa onto a large nonstick or parchment-lined baking sheet in a thin even layer. Bake the quinoa for about 10 minutes, or until dry and slightly crumbly.
- Step 2. Season: Drizzle the quinoa with oil until fully coated, and an optional dash of seasoning. Toss to coat evenly. Bake for about 10 minutes more, or until crispy and golden brown.
Notes
- For baking: Use a large rimmed baking sheet, or more than one sheet, to make sure the quinoa is spread evenly in a thin layer for even roasting. Line the sheet with parchment paper, or use a nonstick sheet so the quinoa does not stick.
- For a savory recipe, season with za'atar, garlic powder, onion powder, sumac, paprika, cumin, dried or fresh oregano, thyme, or rosemary. For a sweet recipe, toss it with maple syrup and add cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice.
- Add a vinaigrette: Try my Lemon Quinoa recipe and substitute the quinoa for Crispy Quinoa! (Use 1 tablespoon vinaigrette for 1 cup cooked quinoa.)
- Storage: Refrigerate leftover Crispy Quinoa in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It retains its crunch!
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is an ESTIMATE only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.
TC says
I’m a little unclear about this. Are you using pre-cooked and dried quinoa. Or dry, right out of the bag quinoa? Thanks!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
1 cup cooked quinoa. (1/3 cup dry quinoa that is cooked before baking.)
Linda says
Such a great topper when you're looking for some crunch. I make this weekly when meal prepping for work and add to soups and salads. Thanks for the inspiration!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them. Thank you.