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Master this easy recipe for how to cook quinoa in a pressure cooker, whether you have an Instant Pot, or other brand.
It’d be an understatement to say that electric pressure cookers have changed the game.
Cooking grains (or seeds, in the case of quinoa) offers an easy, useful way to break in your Instant Pot. Even if you’ve never cooked a full-on dish in one of those, just cooking beans, rice, and other grains alone will keep your pressure cooker busy!
Have it plugged in while you carry on with the other ingredients for your dish…Buddha bowls are great for this easy kind of multi-tasking.
At Steamy Kitchen, we like to build healthy one-bowl meals on a sturdy foundation of grains and greens. Think brown rice, couscous, quinoa, crispy salad greens, even farro–to name a few. Of course, go half-and-half if you like! We want to help you find your favorites–delicious grains/greens you can make time and time again.
Although quinoa is technically a seed, not a grain, it is typically prepared like any traditional grain such as rice–used in salads, casserole bakes, pilafs, you name it! Buy it in plain beige (white) or rainbow varieties, you’ll enjoy the same fragrant but pleasantly neutral taste.
The most popular varieties: white vs. rainbow quinoa.
The job of the pressure cooker? Deliver fluffy, not-too-dry, definitely not gummy quinoa so you can get on to blinging up the rest of your Buddha Bowl!
Tips for Perfect Pressure Cooking Quinoa
Lubricate that pot! Either use cooking spray or toast the quinoa beforehand in oil.
If you have extra time, rinse quinoa thoroughly to get rid of extra bitterness. Most quinoa comes pre-rinsed, but true quinoa freaks won’t forget the ol’ rinse ‘n shake!
Add the right amount of water to avoid soupy, mushy quinoa. Don’t worry, the ratio couldn’t be simpler! Use 1 cup water or broth for every cup of quinoa.
How to Cook Quinoa in a Pressure Cooker – Step by Step
1. Toast the quinoa (optional step)
Select “SAUTE” mode on your Instant Pot®. Heat some oil up and stir in the quinoa to coat. Cook and stir until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
*If you wish to skip this step, lightly coat the inner pot of your pressure cooker with cooking spray.
2. Pressure cooking time!
Add water and salt to the toasted quinoa. Don’t skip the salt! Stir everything one more time before sealing the valve and cooking on Manual high pressure for 1 minute.
*Some folks say to cook for “0” minutes; point is, quinoa cooks up super quickly. Most of the cooking takes place during the time it takes for the pot to come to pressure–typically about 5 minutes (more if you’ve doubled or tripled the recipe).
Use the natural release mode and let it simmer down for about 10 minutes.
The whole process should take less than 15 minutes and is so hands-off, you’ll be glad you recruited your Instant Pot®!
½tablespoonoilor cooking spray as needed (optional)
1cupquinoa – rinsed and drained
1cupwater or broth
¼teaspoonsalt
Instructions
Either coat the inner pot with cooking spray or toast the quinoa. To toast, select Saute mode on your electric pressure cooker. Add oil to the pot once hot and stir in quinoa until coated in oil. Cook and stir until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
Mix water and salt in with quinoa. Close and lock the lid. Select “MANUAL”; set timer for 1 minute on high pressure according to manufacturer’s instructions. Allow about 5 minutes for pressure to build.
Release pressure using the natural-release method, about 10 minutes. Carefully release any remaining pressure. Unlock and remove the lid. Fluff quinoa with a fork or a rice paddle.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our
disclosure policy
for more information.
Master this easy recipe for how to cook quinoa in a pressure cooker, whether you have an Instant Pot, or other brand.
It’d be an understatement to say that electric pressure cookers have changed the game.
Cooking grains (or seeds, in the case of quinoa) offers an easy, useful way to break in your Instant Pot. Even if you’ve never cooked a full-on dish in one of those, just cooking beans, rice, and other grains alone will keep your pressure cooker busy!
Have it plugged in while you carry on with the other ingredients for your dish…Buddha bowls are great for this easy kind of multi-tasking.
At Steamy Kitchen, we like to build healthy one-bowl meals on a sturdy foundation of grains and greens. Think brown rice, couscous, quinoa, crispy salad greens, even farro–to name a few. Of course, go half-and-half if you like! We want to help you find your favorites–delicious grains/greens you can make time and time again.
Although quinoa is technically a seed, not a grain, it is typically prepared like any traditional grain such as rice–used in salads, casserole bakes, pilafs, you name it! Buy it in plain beige (white) or rainbow varieties, you’ll enjoy the same fragrant but pleasantly neutral taste.
The most popular varieties: white vs. rainbow quinoa.
The job of the pressure cooker? Deliver fluffy, not-too-dry, definitely not gummy quinoa so you can get on to blinging up the rest of your Buddha Bowl!
Tips for Perfect Pressure Cooking Quinoa
Lubricate that pot! Either use cooking spray or toast the quinoa beforehand in oil.
If you have extra time, rinse quinoa thoroughly to get rid of extra bitterness. Most quinoa comes pre-rinsed, but true quinoa freaks won’t forget the ol’ rinse ‘n shake!
Add the right amount of water to avoid soupy, mushy quinoa. Don’t worry, the ratio couldn’t be simpler! Use 1 cup water or broth for every cup of quinoa.
How to Cook Quinoa in a Pressure Cooker – Step by Step
1. Toast the quinoa (optional step)
Select “SAUTE” mode on your Instant Pot®. Heat some oil up and stir in the quinoa to coat. Cook and stir until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
*If you wish to skip this step, lightly coat the inner pot of your pressure cooker with cooking spray.
2. Pressure cooking time!
Add water and salt to the toasted quinoa. Don’t skip the salt! Stir everything one more time before sealing the valve and cooking on Manual high pressure for 1 minute.
*Some folks say to cook for “0” minutes; point is, quinoa cooks up super quickly. Most of the cooking takes place during the time it takes for the pot to come to pressure–typically about 5 minutes (more if you’ve doubled or tripled the recipe).
Use the natural release mode and let it simmer down for about 10 minutes.
The whole process should take less than 15 minutes and is so hands-off, you’ll be glad you recruited your Instant Pot®!
½tablespoonoilor cooking spray as needed (optional)
1cupquinoa – rinsed and drained
1cupwater or broth
¼teaspoonsalt
Instructions
Either coat the inner pot with cooking spray or toast the quinoa. To toast, select Saute mode on your electric pressure cooker. Add oil to the pot once hot and stir in quinoa until coated in oil. Cook and stir until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
Mix water and salt in with quinoa. Close and lock the lid. Select “MANUAL”; set timer for 1 minute on high pressure according to manufacturer’s instructions. Allow about 5 minutes for pressure to build.
Release pressure using the natural-release method, about 10 minutes. Carefully release any remaining pressure. Unlock and remove the lid. Fluff quinoa with a fork or a rice paddle.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our
disclosure policy
for more information.
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
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I’m Jaden Rae, former TV chef, three-time bestselling author, and creator of Steamy Test Kitchen, a 20+ year-old digital space where food, wellness, and personal evolution intersect. What began as a recipe site has grown into a space for storytelling, plant-based healing, and breaking the rules of modern online life. My work has been featured on the Today Show, Oprah, Martha Stewart, ABC’s Recipe Rehab, Tim Ferriss’ book, and more.
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
Stay in touch with me in our 
