19 High-Protein Quinoa Recipes to Help You Build Muscle, Fast (2024)

Here 19 high-protein quinoa recipes you’d surely want to add to your diet.

1. Greek Quinoa Salad with Feta Cheese

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Via Food for Fitness

Topping off our list is our very own Greek Quinoa Salad with Feta Cheese. This is a beautiful, fresh, tasty and easy recipe. It works well as a main course if you follow a plant-based diet but also as a delicious accompaniment to other meals too.

2. One-Pot Chicken, Quinoa, Mushrooms & Spinach

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Via Cookin’ Canuck

With a protein content of 29 grams and calorie count of only 277, you won’t go wrong with this chicken, quinao, mushroom and spinach dish. It takes but a short time to cook too, making it an ideal “instant” comfort food for your family or friends.

3. Crockpot Italian Chicken & Quinoa Soup

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Via Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Vegetable lovers and meat eaters alike will surely want to get a taste of your delicious crockpot soup. This soup is loaded with chicken, and everyone’s favorite vegetables together with, of course, protein-heavy quinoa seeds.

4. High-Protein Quinoa and Lentils

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Via Cooking for Peanuts

This one-pot and easy-to-make recipe will be your next favorite vegan dinner. With just very simple ingredients needed, your meal is ready in less than 30 minutes. A budget-friendly and insanely delicious recipe, who would dare miss trying this one out? PS. It's also gluten-free!

5. Cheesy Quinoa Waffles

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Via Smart Nutrition

One thing about this quinoa is that it’s simply an improvement over your normal waffle. It adds in quinoa, eggs and lentils into the waffle batter and finishes off the taste with cheddar, cottage and feta cheese.

6. Savory Pesto Quinoa Breakfast Bowls

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Via Simply Quinoa

This breakfast bowl is a powerhouse. It is full of protein thanks to the eggs and quinoa seeds, loaded with complex carbohydrates for energy and healthy fats from the avocado.

7. Greek Quinoa Zucchini Fritters

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Via Delish Knowledge

Fried is dried, so they say, and thus fried food generally loses nutritional value. These fritters, however, are full of nutrition, thanks to the combo of zucchini, quinoa and flour. Just make sure to fry at high temperature so the oil doesn’t eat away all the nutrients!

8. Spinach Salad with Quinoa

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Via Happy Healthy Mama

If you’re looking for a quick salad fix, then you can build this Spinach salad. This recipe puts in a creamy avocado dressing to complement the salad, which contains dry quinoa, chickpeas, avocado oil and tomatoes.

9. Red Quinoa Burgers

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Via Coffee & Quinoa

You said burgers are unhealthy? You only need to add quinoa seeds, egg, cannellini beans and one large egg to your hamburger patties, and you have a burger that packs a lot of nutrition.

10. Quinoa Granola with Coconut & Chia Seeds

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Via Vegangela

You don’t have to avoid sweets even if you’re keeping to a diet. This healthy but delicious granola is made up of quinoa flakes, chia seeds, coconut shreds, and raw almonds, among others. Agave or maple syrup contribute to making it taste like the granola you love!

11. Quinoa Chowder with Spinach, Feta, and Scallions

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Via Chowhound

This is the vegetarian way of making chowder. It replaces seafood toppings with a mix of vegetables, feta and quinoa. It also does away with cream as well.

12. Spicy Thai Coconut Quinoa

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Via Chowhound

This quinoa dish brings together all the great stuff about coconut milk, peanut sauce and vegetables. Anyone can cook this in their own kitchen, so go ahead and give it a try!

13. Cranberry Quinoa Scones

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Via Cannelle et Vanille

These quones are made out of mixture of quinoa flour and cranberries. They’re very easy to make, and takes just a short time to prepare. You only need to make the dough, set it in the oven and you just wait for the final product.

14. Quinoa-Crusted Cauliflower Steak

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Via The Vintage Mixer

This looks like tasty meat steak, but is actually cauliflower covered in thick quinoa crust. This goes well with vegetable salad too.

15. High-Protein Chocolate Quinoa Muffins

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Via Foodaciously

This is the perfect sweet treat for vegans that are looking for high-protein snack ideas. This delicious Chocolate Quinoa Muffin recipe is just simply amazing!

16. Quinoa, Black Bean & Edamame Summer Salad

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Via Food For Fitness

This is a super-tasty summer salad that is a great vegetarian edition to any BBQ.

17. Cheesy Quinoa Cakes

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Via Spoon Fork Bacon

This quinoa dish is not only delicious, but it’s also very easy to prepare. If you have lots of quinoa seeds lying around and some ingredients, you can quickly make some as a snack for surprise visitors!

18. Black Bean & Quinoa Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

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Via Lauren Kelly Nutrition

That’s not spaghetti, but healthy squash that has been roasted for 60 minutes in the oven. It also has quinoa seeds in vegetable broth and topped with creamy cheddar cheese.

19.Berry Quinoa Salad

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Via Two Peas and a Pod

Looking for a healthy dessert that also tastes great? Give this recipe for Berry Quinoa Salad a try. Enjoy the sweetness of strawberry, blueberry, raspberry and blackberry mixed together with 2 cups of dry red quinoa for that protein content you are looking for.

Our collection of 'High Protein Quinoa Recipes' offers a variety of nutritious and delicious options for incorporating this versatile grain into your diet. Among these, our 'Quinoa Edamame Summer Salad' stands out as a perfect example of how quinoa can be used to create a refreshing, protein-rich meal. Ideal for summer days or as a healthy side dish, this salad embodies the nutritional benefits of quinoa. Explore the Quinoa Edamame Summer Salad recipe and discover a delightful way to enjoy quinoa’s health benefits.

19 High-Protein Quinoa Recipes to Help You Build Muscle, Fast (2024)

FAQs

How do you eat quinoa for protein? ›

You can use quinoa in both sweet and savory recipes. For example, you can try making a savory quinoa and vegetable salad topped with feta and grilled chicken. Or make a sweet breakfast porridge with cooked quinoa, coconut milk, fresh fruit, walnuts, cinnamon, and a drizzle of honey.

How much quinoa per day? ›

Quinoa can be consumed anytime – at breakfast, lunch or dinner. But it is best to eat healthy food like quinoa before going to bed. It induces sleep, because it relaxes the muscles, due to its high magnesium and protein content. “One can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day.

How to eat quinoa? ›

Once you've made a batch of quinoa, you have endless options for using it. Make it the base of your next grain bowl, toss it into a salad, or stuff it into squash or sweet potatoes. It's also at home in soups & wraps, and it pairs nicely with sweet flavors as well as savory.

How do you add calories to quinoa? ›

To increase the calorie content of quinoa, you can add high-calorie toppings or mix-ins such as avocado, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, cheese, and olive oil. These additions not only enhance the flavor but also boost the calorie content of your quinoa dishes.

When should I eat quinoa for bodybuilding? ›

More than just a 'trendy' health food, quinoa (pronounced “keen-whah”) is another great whole grain to add to your post-workout meal. Quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids making it a high-quality source of protein. Protein is important for muscle growth, repair and recovery after a workout.

What does quinoa do for gym? ›

Muscle Recovery: Quinoa's protein content, along with its carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, helps support muscle recovery after exercise. Protein is crucial for repairing damaged muscle tissues, while carbohydrates replenish glycogen stores and provide energy for recovery.

Does quinoa burn belly fat? ›

It is very healthy due to its plant chemical contents that cause the secretion of appetite-suppressing hormones that curb your appetite. 25. Quinoa: High in protein, quinoa keeps you full with its high levels of plant-based proteins. It decreases your appetite and promotes belly fat decrease.

Is quinoa a lot healthier than rice? ›

Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice. Unlike rice, quinoa fibers help to lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. Unlike rice, quinoa reduces your blood fat levels after a meal called triglycerides. Quinoa has a higher amount of all essential amino acids.

Is quinoa a protein or carb? ›

Quinoa is considered a carbohydrate because it contains many carbs per serving. Although it contains some protein, the macronutrient distribution is closer to what you find in other grains and starches.

What can I mix with quinoa? ›

13 Ways To Add More Flavor To Quinoa
  1. Cook it in broth instead of water. ...
  2. Dress it with a vinaigrette. ...
  3. Mix cooked quinoa with caramelized onions. ...
  4. Infuse it with dried fruit and fruit scraps. ...
  5. Add oil and salt to cooked quinoa. ...
  6. Toast uncooked quinoa. ...
  7. Don't skimp on the garlic. ...
  8. Season your water with spices.
Jul 21, 2023

Is it OK to eat quinoa every meal? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

Should you eat quinoa warm or cold? ›

The quick-cooking grain is delicious cold in a salad, served warm as a side dish, or combined with vegetables and dairy to make a spectacular and filling main course. Read on for even more of our favorite quinoa recipes, from quinoa pancakes to crispy quinoa sliders.

What makes quinoa a super food? ›

Nicknamed a “superfood,” quinoa is a complete source of protein, which means it contains all nine amino acids, and it's also a great source of fiber (it contains more than any other grain) and heart-healthy fats.

How much is 200 calories of quinoa? ›

The usual ratio that I use is 1 cup of quinoia to 2 cups of water, and that yields ~3 cups of cooked quinoia. That means a “realistic” 1 cup portion of cooked quinoa has around 200-ish calories, which is reasonable, and about what you'd get from white rice.

Is quinoa good for high protein diet? ›

Quinoa is a seed that's high in plant protein and fiber. It has all the nine essential amino acids that your body needs but that you get only from your diet. That makes quinoa one of the best non-animal food sources of complete protein.

How to cook quinoa for best digestion? ›

If quinoa gives you digestive distress …

Cover and let sit. You can do this in the morning before you go about your day, and it will be ready for you to cook in the evening. Then drain it, wash it and cook it. Just reduce the boiling water to 1½ cups, since the quinoa will already have soaked in some liquid.

What type of quinoa is best for protein? ›

White quinoa is an excellent source of protein (containing all essential amino acids) as well as dietary fiber, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese.

Can quinoa replace meat protein? ›

Quinoa is the only grain that contains all the essential amino acids that make it a complete protein. It is equivalent to eating a chicken breast, steak or salmon. “I love quinoa because it is so versatile,” says Waldeck. “It is like a sponge.

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