The Easiest Instant Pot Quinoa

This Instant Pot quinoa is an ideal solution for busy home cooks who don’t want to be tied to the stove. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it recipe that comes together in less than 15 minutes and turns out perfectly fluffy quinoa every time.

Close-up image of fluffy Instant Pot quinoa.

I use quinoa in SO many of my recipes (hence my blog’s name!). I basically always have some already cooked up in the fridge, just waiting to be included in some dish or another. I often make it on the stove, but recently, I’ve been super into my Instant Pot. It gets the job done so quickly and with less fuss. Basically, you just pop some quinoa and water (or broth) in the pressure cooker, seal it, press a couple of buttons, and walk away. Less than 15 minutes (and a little fluffing) later, you’ll have perfect quiona. It doesn’t get much easier!

Perks of This Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe

Wondering whether you should switch your quinoa cooking method from the stovetop to the Instant Pot? Here are a few reasons to consider it:

This quinoa comes out perfectly fluffy and tender every time. The Instant Pot really takes the guesswork out of the process.
More traditional methods of making quinoa (see my Stovetop Quinoa) are great, but they do require you to be a bit more present in the kitchen (boiling the water, keeping an eye on the timer, etc.). This is very much a set-it-and-forget-it method, which I love, especially when I am running around and multitasking.
You literally only need 2 ingredients and about 30 seconds of active kitchen time to make this fluffy quinoa. Cheers to that!

Labeled ingredients for Instant Pot quinoa.

What You’ll Need

You’ll only need 2 ingredients to make this foolproof quinoa. Here they are (see the recipe card below for exact measurements):

Quinoa – Any color will do. White, red, black, or tri-colored are the most common.
Water – Or broth for a more flavorful quinoa.

How to Cook Quinoa In the Instant Pot

Here’s a quick look at how to cook quinoa in an Instant Pot. See the recipe card below for more details.

Adding water to an Instant Pot with quinoa. — Add the water and quinoa to the Instant Pot.

Load up the pressure cooker. Add the quinoa and broth to the Instant Pot and seal the lid.

Quinoa and water in an Instant Pot. — Cook on high for 1 minute, followed by a natural release.

Cook. Cook on high pressure for 1 minute and then allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes.
Fluff ‘n serve. Remove lid, fluff the quinoa with a fork, and enjoy.

A spoon listing fluffy Instant Pot quinoa up to the camera.

Expert Tips

Before you begin, have a look at these simple tips and tricks for the best quinoa possible:

Optional rinse. Quinoa can have a bitter taste, so some people choose to rinse theirs before cooking it. Do this if you remember, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t.
Measure carefully. The water-to-quinoa ratio is everything here! Too much water and your quinoa will turn out mushy. Too little and it will turn out dry and/or burn in the Instant Pot. So be sure to measure your ingredients with care.
Natural release. It may be tempting to manually release the pressure cooker. Don’t. The quinoa is still cooking in there!
Don’t skip the fluff. When the quinoa is done cooking, give it a nice fluff with a fork. This will separate the grains and release any excess steam for a lighter, fluffier texture.

Variation Ideas

This versatile recipe is begging for your creative touch. Here are a few fun suggestions:

Broth instead of water. If you want a more flavorful quinoa, swap the water for broth. Store-bought will work, but my Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth or this Instant Pot Mushroom Vegan Bone Broth would be even better if you have time.
Season the water. I didn’t even add salt to this recipe, but you can if you’d like. You could also add a splash of lemon juice or some dried herbs to the Instant Pot before sealing and cooking. Oregano, bay leaves, or Italian seasoning would be nice.
Dress it up. Once the quinoa comes out of the Instant Pot, feel free to toss it with a little olive oil, lemon juice, and maybe some parsley for a slightly more elevated side dish. Chopped nuts or pepitas also make a nice addition. So do dried cranberries.

Storing and Reheating Quinoa

Refrigerator: Seal any leftover quinoa in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Once cool, seal the quinoa in a freezer-safe airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge before reheating (or serving cold).
Reheating: If you’d like to reheat your leftover quinoa, add a splash of water or broth (about 1 tablespoon per cup of cooked quinoa) and reheat, covered, over low heat on the stove for 2-4 minutes. You can also microwave leftovers in 30-second intervals until warm.

A spoon listing fluffy Instant Pot quinoa from a bowl.

More Quinoa Recipes

Looking to go beyond quinoa basics? Try one (or several) of these quinoa-centric recipes and let me know which is your favorite:

Prep: 2 minutes

Cook: 1 minute

Natural Pressure Release: 10 minutes

Total: 13 minutes

1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups water (or broth)

Add the quinoa and broth to the InstantPot.
Seal and set to high pressure for 1 minute.
Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.
Remove lid, fluff with a fork, and enjoy!