Crock Pot Quinoa

This Crock Pot Quinoa is the easiest way to cook quinoa since there is no babysitting a pot on the stove and no guessing on water ratios. All you do is dump it in the slow cooker and let it do the work! It turns out fluffy, perfectly cooked quinoa every single time with minimal effort. The best part is it’s packed with protein and fiber, and it’s a side dish that pairs with just about any protein you are already making for dinner.

If you have never cooked quinoa before, the crockpot is honestly the best place to start. It is forgiving, hands off, and turns out perfectly every time; take it from me, I’ve had numerous burned pots of quinoa. Just swap it in anywhere you would use white rice, brown rice, or even mashed potatoes. Our personal favorites are topped with grilled chicken, salmon, pork chops, or even just roasted veggies for a simple meatless meal. Plus, for meal prep, it’s perfect to make one big batch and eat it all week,

Crockpot Quinoa Ingredients

• Quinoa– I used White quinoa, but you can use any colored quinoa too.
• Chicken Broth– Use fat-free chicken broth so the broth has zero points in the recipe. The only thing that will have points is the Quinoa. You could also use bone broth as well.
• Minced Garlic– You could substitute garlic powder or another seasoning; we are big garlic fans, so I used this.

How To Cook Quinoa In The Crock Pot

Spray your crockpot with a non-stick spray or line with a crockpot liner.

I used a 4-quart crockpot to make mine, a 2-quart crockpot would also work. (Fun fact the first time I made this, I used the 8 quart, which was way too big.)

Add your chicken broth, quinoa, and minced garlic to your crockpot.

Mix the ingredients with a spatula and cover with the slow cooker lid.

Turn your crockpot on low and cook for 1 1/2 hours. *I did check mine at the one-hour mark to make sure it wasn’t overcooking*

Remove and Serve!

How To Store Quinoa

Allow to cool down completely and store in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. You can freeze the quinoa for up to three months in an airtight container.

Storing leftovers properly requires the right tools! My preferred storage method is if the leftovers can be sealed in a food saver. If not, then an air-tight container or Ziploc bag for the fridge is the way I go. The airtight container or a freezer Ziploc bag are the next best bet for freezing the leftovers. I also use a food scale to measure portions into serving sizes.

How To Reheat Quinoa

Defrost your quinoa if it is frozen by leaving it in the fridge; I tend to pull mine out the night before. In a pinch, you can defrost it with the setting on your microwave.

The fastest way to reheat cooked quinoa is to use your microwave until it is heated through. If you want, you can use a pan, but the process will take much longer.

Macros For Crockpot Quinoa
When made following the recipe card, the macros are: calories are 155 with 28 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fat, and 7 grams of protein.

To add more protein, you can use bone broth, but you will need to add more of it as it will cook down fast. Using fat free and sodium free broth will give the healthies results

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Quinoa

Honestly, anything you would serve with white rice, brown rice, or even mashed potatoes can be served with Quinoa.

Main Dishes: Grilled Cuban Pork Chops, Grilled Garlic Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Salmon, Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Tilapia, Crockpot Ranch Ranch Chicken, Cream Cheese Chicken, WW Ranch Chicken, WW Chicken Parmesan, and Cabbage Soup

Side Dishes: Air Fryer Bacon Asparagus, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes, Air Fryer Brussell Sprouts, Green Beans, Caesar Salad, Acorn Squash, Green Salad, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Air Fryer Broccoli, Grilled Zucchini, Grilled Corn On The Cob, Air Fryer Zucchini Chips