Quinoa Fried Rice is the perfect healthier version of classic fried rice. Loaded with vegetables and protein packed quinoa and eggs, it's the perfect healthy meal or side dish.
Since quinoa hit the scene years ago, I've made tons of recipes with it. It's the perfect lower carb option and it's easy to replace white rice or pasta with quinoa. Fried rice is one of my vices, and you can make it much healthier by subbing quinoa for the rice, and making it at home so you know exactly what goes into it. This Quinoa fried rice is made in one pot and loaded with broccoli, eggs, mushrooms, carrots, peas, corn, which makes it the perfect easy healthy meal or side dish.
I've been making quinoa fried rice for over 10 years, and we never get sick of it! Everyone in my family loves it, and trust me, you don't even miss the rice when you use quinoa!
Serve this quinoa as a side dish alongside these delicious Spicy Thai Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Salmon Bites, Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken or this vegetarian General Tso's Tofu for the perfect balanced meal!
Why Quinoa is healthier than regular rice:
**Scroll all the way to the end of this post to see full nutritional information.
- One cup of cooked quinoa has about 40 fewer calories than the same amount of white rice, but the real benefit is in the carbohydrates. White rice has almost 15 times more grams of carbohydrates than quinoa.
- Quinoa provides 5 more grams of fiber and double the protein (8 grams per cup)!
- Quinoa is a complete protein meaning it contains all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs. There are very few non-meat sources that provide this!
- Quinoa is gluten free. It's full of minerals; iron, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, and magnesium. It also contains calcium, potassium, and selenium.
This recipe is great because it can all be made in ONE POT! I love one pot recipes!
How to Make Quinoa Fried Rice:
**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**
- Start by heating half the oil in your big pot (I recommend one like this); crack your eggs into the bottom and scramble them up until just cooked. Remove and set aside.
- Heat the rest of the oil in the pot, add the onions, garlic, and ginger and cook for a few minutes. Add carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, and zucchini and cook.
- Add 1 ½ cups of rinsed quinoa to the pot, then add 2 ½ cups water to the pot; stirring to combine. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender.
- Add the corn and peas, then stir to combine and allow those to heat up.
- Lastly, add the soy sauce, green onions, and scrambled eggs into the pot. Stir to combine then serve topped with additional green onions if you want!
How to freeze Quinoa Fried Rice:
- If you would like to double this recipe, it works to freeze the extra batch. I allow it to completely cool, then add 2 cups into freezer safe quart size zip lock bags. Lay them flat and press out all the air before sealing, and press the quinoa out flat inside the bag as well. Place into freezer.
- Keeps for up to 3 months.
- Place in fridge or on the counter a few hours before you plan to serve the quinoa fried rice.
What to serve with Quinoa Fried Rice:
- Serve quinoa fried rice alongside Genera Tso's Tofu for the perfect Chinese take-out at home!
- Serve Bang Bang Tofu along with Quinoa Fried Rice.
- Air Fryer Sesame Chicken is crispy and coated in a delicious sweet sticky sesame sauce! There is no guilt with this healthier air fryer meal!
- Want to double up on your protein? Try these delicious Spicy Thai Chicken Tenders with the Quinoa Fried Rice.
- Not a big spicy sauce lover? Try these easy Crispy Coconut Chicken Strips as your main dish and serve the quinoa on the side!
Quinoa Fried Rice is the perfect healthier version of classic fried rice. Loaded with vegetables and protein packed quinoa and eggs, it's the perfect healthy meal or side dish.
- 1 TBS olive oil divided
- 2 eggs
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 TBS ginger grated
- 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms chopped
- 2 cups chopped broccoli (frozen or fresh) chopped
- ½ cup grated carrots
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 1 ½ cups quinoa, rinsed and patted dry
- 2 ½ cups water
- ½ cup frozen corn
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 3 TBS lower sodium soy sauce
- 4 stalks green onions chopped
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Heat half the oil in a large pot over medium heat; crack the eggs into the bottom and scramble until just cooked. Remove and set aside.
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Add the remaining oil to the pot. Add onions, garlic, and ginger and cook for a 2 minutes. Add carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, and zucchini; sauté 2 minutes.
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Add 1½ cups of rinsed quinoa to the pot, then add 2½ cups water to the pot; stirring to combine. Increase heat to high; bring to a boil then cover and reduce the heat to simmer. Simmer, covered, for 15-20 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender. Turn off heat. Fluff quinoa with a fork when done.
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Add corn and peas, then stir to combine and let sit for 2-3 minutes.
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Add soy sauce, green onions, and scrambled eggs into the pot. Stir to combine then serve topped with additional green onions if desired.
Originally posted in 2013, updated February 2018 and January 2023.
Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious.
Winniebear
For those folks that have tried making quinoa at home but the taste was too bitter (like I did LOL) one of the keys to unlocking its wonderful nutty flavor and ridding the bitterness is rinsing it first. Not a quick rinse like, say, a can of black beans. I usually rinse mine for at least 60 seconds under cold water.
Allyson
YES! As stated in the directions, it needs to be rinsed. I was even getting stomachaches years back and I realized it was because I wasn't rinsing it enough!
Jenny Bender
Would the recipe be different if using a "Pressure Cooker"
Jenny Bender
Would the recipe be different if using a "Pressure Cooker"
This is the first time I comment on this recipe
April
Delicious! Such a great alternative to rice, I loved it!
Olivia
Made this for lunch today and loved it! Great healthy option and it tasted so delicious! Thanks for sharing
Kristyn
I'll take this over regular rice any day!! It's healthier, easy to make, & so yummy!! It goes so well with all my Asian favorites!!
Beth
I've made quinoa in several different ways, but I've never tried it like this before. This looks like such a delicious recipe!
Amanda
This is going to be perfect for through the week! I love one pot dishes!
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert
Looks absolutely fantastic! You had me on this!
Sandra McCollum
Sounds amazing!
Melissa
I love this recipe - so delicious and fresh!
Erin
This recipe is great for someone looking to sneak extra protein throughout their day (like me!) An addition of chicken would be GREAT!!