15 High-Protein Quinoa Recipes You Need to Try Right Now! – One Green Planet

For breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, try quinoa! This whole grain is not only full of protein and fiber but a myriad of vitamins and minerals that are great for us. It can be used in a lot of different ways and works with all kinds of flavors, both sweet and savory. Quinoa makes a great addition to meals because it adds that extra little bit of protein that you don’t have to think too much about. And, if you don’t feel like including another protein source like tofu, beans, or mock meats, quinoa is a great alternative.

Before getting into the recipes, here are some suggested plant-based protein products:

Now, let’s move on to these high-protein quinoa recipes that make it so easy to be plant-based!

1. Cinnamon Quinoa Protein Cereal Bowl

Source: Cinnamon Quinoa Protein Cereal Bowl

This Cinnamon Quinoa Protein Cereal Bowl by Michele Elizabeth is so simple to make, vegan and gluten-free, healthy, and packed with protein and flavor! The nutty quinoa mixed with cinnamon and nut butter is just so super yummy and warming!

2. Protein Quinoa Bowl

Source: Protein Quinoa Bowl

This Quinoa Bowl by Caroline Doucet is packed with protein from quinoa, edamame (you could use black beans or chickpeas instead), nutritional yeast, tahini, sunflower seeds and hemp hearts. But you can substitute for all your favorites!

3. Protein-Packed Breakfast Quinoa Bowl

Source: Protein-Packed Breakfast Quinoa Bowl

It may seem weird to eat quinoa in the morning but it actually makes a great breakfast. This Breakfast Quinoa Bowl by Jesse Lane Lee is a tasty vegan, gluten-free meal that will keep you feeling happy and full until lunchtime! The secret is making the quinoa in non-dairy milk with delicious spices. Then it’s topped with fruit and protein-packed seeds and nuts for extra power. This quinoa breakfast bowl is the perfect way to start your morning!

4. High Protein Edamame Fried Quinoa Rice

Source: High Protein Edamame Fried Quinoa Rice

Made with only vegetables and quinoa, this High Protein Edamame Fried Quinoa Rice by Crissy Cavanaugh is loaded with protein from grains and edamame. It’s lightly flavored but easily adapted to what levels of flavor you prefer, while the vegetables are easily changed according to what’s in season. Best of all, this is a quick and easy meal that won’t leave you hungry!

5. Protein-packed California Quinoa Collard Wraps With Edamame Pesto

Source: Protein-Packed California Quinoa Collard Wraps With Edamame Pesto

These easy Quinoa Collard Wraps by Lindsay Cotter are super light in texture but filling and packed with plant-based protein. The quinoa salad is an amazing mixture of textures and flavors; tangy red onion, fresh tomato, juicy mango, crisp bell peppers, raisins, and fresh herbs … yum! The edamame pesto brings more protein to the table, so even though these wraps are served in collard leaves, this is an easy and portable lunch that won’t leave you hungry.

6. Quinoa, Lentil, and Walnut Protein Patties

Source: Quinoa, Lentil, and Walnut Protein Patties

This recipe for mini Quinoa, Lentil, and Walnut Protein Patties by Maya Sozer really hits the spot. These powerhouse patties are made by combining quinoa, green lentils, and walnuts with nutritional yeast for a slightly cheesy flavor. As soon as you taste one, you’ll know that these are something to add to your weekly recipe rotation.

7. Veggie Quinoa Sauté and Beet Sesame Sauce

Source: Veggie Quinoa Sauté and Beet Sesame Sauce

Vibrant beet sesame sauce is the star of this vegan Veggie Quinoa Sauté by Kristina Humphreys. Smooth and creamy with subtle flavors of garlic and a tangy sweetness, the sauce tastes amazing when spread over sautéed mushrooms, onions, and beets. This sweet and savory element elevates a regular vegan quinoa bowl to a whole new level. When drizzled over the quinoa and sautéed veggies, the creamy sesame sauce enhances their natural taste and texture.

8. Quinoa Bowl With Garlic Sauce

Source: Quinoa Bowl With Garlic Sauce

Big bowls of goodness are a warming and hearty comfort food, especially when they are big bowls of plant-based goodness that are satisfying and nourishing at the same time. They warm your belly, but also feed your soul. High-protein grains, veggies, healthy fats, and herbs & spices are the key ingredients for creating a delicious bowl of goodness. This Quinoa Bowl With Garlic Sauce by Kristina Humphreys contains just those ingredients with a variety of flavors.

9. Carrot and Kale Quinoa Patties

Source: Carrot and Kale Quinoa Patties

Packed full of vitamins and antioxidants, this veggie duo makes a perfect companion for the nutritionally dense super grain, quinoa, which is rich in protein, fiber, moderate fat, and vitamins and minerals. It’s also considered a complete protein (meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids), making it a great choice for people trying to eat less meat. Plus, add in the fact that it’s delicious, and you have a great meal! Try these Carrot and Kale Quinoa Patties by Judy Moosmueller!

10. Toasted Quinoa Cereal with Pistachio and Figs

Source: Toasted Quinoa Cereal with Pistachio and Figs

Crunchy, toasty, and oh-so-packed with protein, this perfectly spiced Toasted Quinoa Cereal with Pistachio and Figs by Amy Height makes a great topper for coconut yogurt, fruit, and smoothies, or pair it with milk for a cereal alternative. It keeps for months in a sealed container (keep in the fridge for best results) which means you can enjoy this for breakfast whenever you please!

11. Quinoa and White Bean Burger

Source: Quinoa and White Bean Burger

These Quinoa and White Bean Burgers by Julie West are loaded with protein and fiber as well as other beneficial nutrients, and they are very filling. As far as veggie burgers go this is fairly easy. The white bean quinoa burger patties came out fantastic and held up great without falling apart. The texture, taste, and visual appeal all hit the mark. Once layered with all the extra goodies, this white bean quinoa burger was supreme––best veggie burger ever! And, if you don’t feel like having it on a bun, by all means top your quinoa veggie burger on a bed of fresh leafy greens with a squeeze of lemon, some avocado, salt, and pepper…so good!

12. Crustless Quinoa Quiche

Source: Crustless Quinoa Quiche

Perfect for a light dinner or brunch, these Crustless Quinoa Quiche bites by Jessica Meyers Altman are high in protein and fiber but light enough to feast on. Besides quinoa, they contain kale, sweet potato, celery, and red onion, and are held together by flax eggs. Freeze a big batch for a healthy addition to your weekly meals, or an appetizer you simply need to warm and serve.

13. Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies

Source: Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies

Is anything easier, more comforting, and more amazing than chocolate chip cookies? These vegan, gluten-free Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies by Juhea Kim are lightly crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Quinoa provides a dose of high-quality vegan protein, as well as riboflavin, Vitamin B6, and magnesium. It’s also one of the best grain alternatives for your digestive system, acting as a prebiotic by encouraging good flora in your intestines.

Chocolate and banana bring mood-boosting benefits with tryptophan and zinc. Finally, coconut oil is immune boosting, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal. It also is metabolized quicker by the body, normalizes blood sugar levels, and promotes healthy weight loss. In short, this is one cookie that you can feel great about!

14. Harissa Lentil Quinoa Meatballs

Source: Harissa Lentil Quinoa Meatballs

This recipe is a keeper! Hearty, spicy, smoky veggie meatballs with a ton of high-quality plant protein. Each bite of these has a rich variety of flavors, from spicy Harissa to nutty tahini. Use these Harissa Lentil Quinoa Meatballs by Maya Sozer to make a hearty sub, top a bowl of spaghetti, or add some depth to a salad.

15. Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed With Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf

Source: Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed With Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf

This Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed With Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf by Jeanette Chen is pretty enough to serve to company and provides a nice healthy addition to any table. Not only can this be enjoyed as a main course by your vegan friends, but non-vegans will want a spoonful of this too.

For more high-protein vegan food check out 15 More Hearty High-Protein Quinoa Recipes, 25 Of Our Most Popular Plant-Based High-Protein Recipes from 2018, or browse through our High Protein Archives!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental well-being, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

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