Make morning meal time a breeze with a 15-minute recipe for heart-healthy Quinoa Breakfast Bowls piled high with your choice of fruits, nuts and seeds. They’re light, flavor-packed and perfect for meal prep!
Table of Contents
Breakfast can often be a flurry of flung-open cereal boxes, granola bars on-the-go and smoothies sipped at stoplights, but now your morning meal just got a whole lot easier with my latest make-ahead favorite starring hearty whole grain quinoa.
Quinoa, while technically a seed, is a quick-cooking whole grain loaded with nutrients. It’s rich in antioxidants and vitamins. What I love most about quinoa is that it’s a blank canvas. It can go savory or it can go sweet, simply by taking on the flavor of the ingredients it’s paired with.
Looking for more recipes starring quinoa? Don’t miss my favorite Quinoa Salad and Quinoa with Corn and Scallions.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Nutrient powerhouse. Quinoa, often referred to as a superfood, is a complete protein, rich in essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It’s the ultimate healthy way to kickstart your day!
- It’s completely customizable. From sweet to savory, these bowls can be customized with toppings to suit taste buds of all ages.
- It’s quick, creamy and a great alternative to oatmeal.
- Unsweetened coconut milk: Adds a perfectly creamy tropical touch to the cooked quinoa.
- Water: Water not only provides the necessary liquid for cooking but also balances the creaminess of coconut milk, preventing the final dish from becoming overly rich or heavy.
- Uncooked quinoa: Feel free to use any color of quinoa you have on hand – white, red, black or tri-color. If you’re looking for a gluten-free option, quinoa is your perfect go-to choice.
I love to get creative with toppings, experimenting with seasonal fruits and nut butter, and even going the savory route once in a while with a fried egg and sauteed spinach. The options are endless but here are some ideas to take your breakfast bowl to the next level:
- Yogurt or milk
- Nuts
- Seeds, such as chia seeds, pumpkin seeds or flaxseeds
- Fresh fruit
- Nut butter
- Dried fruit
- Honey or maple syrup
- Fried egg
- Sauteed spinach
- Grape tomatoes
- Avocado
In this recipe, quinoa is simmered with both water and coconut milk, which leads to an incredibly creamy outcome in just 15 minutes. Here’s exactly how to do it:
- In a medium saucepot set over medium heat, stir together the coconut milk, water and quinoa. Bring the mixture to a boil then cover the saucepot, reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, until all liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Lightly fluff the quinoa with a fork then stir in the honey (optional). Divide the quinoa into serving bowls.
Pro Tip: When cooking quinoa, it’s important to look at the individual seeds and confirm the hulls have popped open. When you bite into cooked quinoa, it should have a bit of pop in terms of texture.
- Make it Sweet: If you prefer slightly sweetened quinoa, add a tablespoon of honey to the cooked quinoa. Adjust the amount to your taste preferences or skip it altogether if you prefer a less sweet bowl.
- Setup a Topping Bar: Encourage creativity and exploration by setting up a topping bar with various fruits, nuts and seeds. Let each family member customize their own breakfast bowl to suit their preferences.
- Make-Ahead Option: Cook a batch of quinoa in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Having cooked quinoa stored in the fridge makes assembling the breakfast bowls a total breeze.
- All About Textures: Combining soft fruits like berries with crunchy nuts and creamy nut butter provides the perfect contrast of textures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Quinoa is a nutrient-dense food, rich in protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, making it a wholesome way to start your day. Its complete protein profile provides sustained energy, while the fiber content helps you feel full and satisfied. Quinoa breakfast bowls, combined with fruits, nuts, and yogurt, offer a well-rounded and delicious morning meal.
Both quinoa and oatmeal are nutritious options, each offering different health benefits. It really comes down to individual dietary preferences and nutritional needs.
Cooked quinoa can last in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 6 days when stored properly in an airtight container.
- Healthy Breakfast Cookies
- Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffins
- Healthy Overnight Oats with Chia
- Freezer-Friendly Egg White Muffins
- Baked Oatmeal Cups (Freezer-Friendly)
Ingredients
- 1 (13.66-oz.) can unsweetened coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1 Tablespoon honey (optional)
- Yogurt or milk, for serving
- Assorted fruit, for topping
- Assorted nuts, for topping
- Nut butter, for topping
Instructions
- In a medium saucepot set over medium heat, stir together the coconut milk, water and quinoa. Bring the mixture to a boil then cover the saucepot, reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, until all liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- Lightly fluffy the quinoa with a fork then stir in the honey (optional). Divide the quinoa into serving bowls.
- Serve with your choice of milk or yogurt then top with assorted fruit, nuts or nut butter.
Kelly’s Notes
- If you prefer slightly sweetened quinoa, add a tablespoon of honey to the cooked quinoa. Adjust the amount to your taste preferences or skip it altogether if you prefer a less sweet bowl.
- Cook a batch of quinoa in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 6 days. Having cooked quinoa stored in the fridge makes assembling the breakfast bowls a total breeze.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
Did you try this recipe?
Leave a comment below with your star rating!
This post may contain affiliate links.
So good! The coconut milk added just the right amount of sweetness without being overpowering.
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Lacie!
This is my kind of breakfast!
How pretty! I’ve been on a big lentil kick lately because I was getting a bit bored of quinoa, but creations like this make me crave it again. Beautiful photos!
Such a bright and pretty bowl to begin the day! I love it!
Quinoa is such a great substitute and my go-to when I’m out of oats!
On a separate note, your videos are so well made. Do you film them using a tripod or do you have additional help?
Thanks so much, Christina! I have a team who produces the videos for me :)