20 Delicious Quinoa Bowls for Breakfast
Making its way around the health scene, this superfood has been touted for its exceptional balance between oil, fiber, protein, and fat. And that's not all. Because of its high protein nutritional quality–quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it has all 10 essential amino acids–and high fiber content–just one cup of cooked quinoa contains 5 grams of satiating fiber–having it for breakfast will help to arm your body with the tools it needs to get through the day. As an added bonus, quinoa is packed with health-boosters like zinc, calcium, iron, riboflavin, heart-healthy fats and antioxidants that have been found to reduce inflammation.
With quinoa's growing popularity leading to guest appearances in all your favorite meals, you might be wondering what to do with your leftovers–that is, if you have any. The great thing about quinoa bowls is that they're even better (and faster) when your quinoa is already cooked. Similar to oatmeal, quinoa's nutty flavor base is the perfect canvas for a variety of different topping and flavor combinations, giving you countless possibilities for this breakfast to help you burn fat, keep you satisfied, and boost your immunity. Whip one of these recipes up to start your day a better way.
VANILLA BEAN COCONUT QUINOA PUDDING
Serves: 6
Nutrition: 305 calories, 13.4 g fat (6.3 g saturated fat), 42.7 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 13 g sugar, 8 g protein (calculated with 2 cups lite coconut milk and 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk, coconut sugar and 1 tablespoons honey)
A simple base of flavors and star-studded supporting cast makes the perfect platform for quinoa to sing in this recipe. Vanilla bean coconut cream combines with honey-drizzled raspberries in this Quinoa Pudding. For breakfast puddings using a different superfood, check out these 45 Best Chia Pudding Recipes for Weight Loss.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
COCONUT MILK BREAKFAST QUINOA
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 302 calories, 10.3 g fat (4.9 g saturated fat), 99 mg sodium, 34.6 g carbs, 5.3 g fiber, 7.9 g sugar, 8.2 g protein
This is your basic breakfast quinoa bowl: quinoa, coconut milk, vanilla extract and cinnamon. This blogger covers it with bananas and toasted pecans for the perfect blend of crunchy and creamy, but feel free cover it with anything you'd like! Maybe even with a vitamin-B2-packed egg to help your body convert all that food into fuel, giving you extra energy throughout the day.
Get the recipe from How Sweet It Is.
CHERRY ALMOND COCONUT QUINOA PORRIDGE
Serves: 1
Nutrition: 358 calories, 14.5 g fat (5.6 g saturated fat), 116 mg sodium, 50.1 g carbs, 8.4 g fiber, 12.6 g sugar, 10 g protein (calculated with unsweetened almond milk, 2 tbsp dried cherries, and flax seeds)
This vegan treat substitutes traditional dairy milk for almond milk in this Cherry Almond Quinoa Porridge. Because almond milk is a fairly thin liquid, a spoonful of melted coconut oil and flax seeds pumps up the volume with some healthy fats and richness. Even though flax seeds are diminutive in size, they're rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help fight off metabolism-slowing inflammation.
Get the recipe from Savory Simple.
COCONUT QUINOA WITH DATES AND NUTS
Serves: 6
Nutrition: 337 calories, 15.6 g fat (8.6 g saturated fat), 60 mg sodium, 44.7 g carbs, 4.2 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 7 g protein (calculated with unsweetened coconut milk, 1/8 cup honey, ¼ cup each of almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachios, and no optional garnishes)
While the colors of this coconut quinoa bowl are muted, the flavors are anything but. Amber honey and creamy coconut milk sweeten up the earthy, nutty flavors of quinoa and trio of roasted almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachios. These nuts aren't just for garnish either. Both almonds and pistachios have been found to help you burn fat and reduce your BMI while hazelnuts can reduce risk of coronary heart disease by increasing healthy HDL cholesterol levels.
Get the recipe from My Name is Yeh.
QUINOA BREAKFAST SKILLET
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 447 calories, 18.6 g fat (4.8 g saturated fat), 84 mg sodium, 62.2 g carbs, 10.9 g fiber, 17.8 g sugar, 13.1 g protein (calculated without optional toppings)
Yes, this breakfast dish is cooked in a skillet in under 10 minutes, but it's far from any fat-laden, heart-stopping meal a cowboy might whip up. With the complete protein profile from quinoa and the added antioxidants and healthy fats from the medley of superfoods, it's the perfect breakfast to help melt love handles.
Get the recipe from One Ingredient Chef.
MIXED BERRY BREAKFAST QUINOA PORRIDGE
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 266 calories, 3.8 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 168 mg sodium, 51 g carbs, 5.8 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 6.8 g protein (calculated with almond milk and without optional toppings)
This Mixed Berry Breakfast Quinoa Porridge is bursting with antioxidants, flavonoids and fiber. One Harvard study demonstrated the flavonoid anthocyanin in strawberries, blueberries and blackberries improves blood flow, therein reducing the amount of plaque build up and actually lowered the risk of a heart attack in women who had eaten three or more servings of berries per week.
Get the recipe from Begin Within Nutrition.
CHAI SPICED BREAKFAST QUINOA
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 274 calories, 5.1 g fat (0.6 g saturated fat), 174 mg sodium, 48.9 g carbs, 4.9 g fiber, 10.7 g sugar, 8.7 g protein (calculated with optional vanilla extract)
Over the past decade, chai tea has gone from an obscure Indian tea to your basic Starbucks latte. As its popularity has grown, so too has its average caloric content–almost 400 calories a cup. But don't pass on these warming spices just yet. Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom pair together in this nutritionally well-balanced breakfast that has half as much sugar as even the smallest chai latte. Not only does it taste great, but studies show that cinnamon may help ward off the accumulation of belly fat.
Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.
MANGO KIWI BREAKFAST QUINOA
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 362 calories, 15.7 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 84 mg sodium, 49.9 g carbs, 7.5 g fiber, 16.8 g sugar, 8.8 g protein
Take a trip to the tropics with this exotic Mango Kiwi Breakfast Quinoa. This bright bowl of food is swimming in vitamin A and antioxidant vitamin C from the fruits that will help keep you immune system in working order and provide you with ammo that may help protect you from having a stroke.
Get the recipe from Running to the Kitchen.
SUPERFOOD QUINOA BREAKFAST BOWL
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 357 calories, 12 g fat (6.3 g saturated fat), 19 mg sodium, 56 g carbs, 8 g fiber, 21 g sugar, 8 g protein (calculated with ½ teaspoon chia seeds and 20 g goji berries)
This Superfood Quinoa Breakfast Bowl is sure to supercharge your morning. Topped with hunger-quelling chia seeds and metabolism-boosting goji berries, you'll be burning calories and rearing to go after just one bowl.
Get the recipe from A House in the Hills.
BLACKBERRY, BLUEBERRY & BALSAMIC BREAKFAST QUINOA
Serves: 1
Nutrition: 201 calories, 5.3 g fat (1.2 g saturated fat), 26 mg sodium, 31.3 g carbs, 4.7 g fiber, 4.7 g sugar, 7 g protein (calculated with ⅓ cup blackberries and blueberries, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, ¼ teaspoon balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp sliced almonds and 1 tbsp shredded unsweetened coconut)
Breakfast quinoa is a perfect way to use up leftover quinoa, which is exactly what Cookie and Kate does in this recipe. Quinoa's nutty flavor pairs perfectly with the almonds, blackberries and coconut. For extra flair, it's topped with a splash of balsamic vinegar, an ingredient which also plays a supporting role as an antiglycemic agent. A study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adding vinegar to food can reduce your glycemic response to a mixed meal by over 30%. A decreased glycemic response means your blood glucose levels are raised more slowly so your body will feed you energy over a longer period of time.
Get the recipe from Cookie and Kate.
DARK CHOCOLATE QUINOA BREAKFAST BOWL
Serves: 4
Nutrition: 375 calories, 16 g fat (9.2 g saturated fat), 132 mg sodium, 60 g carbs, 6.4 g fiber, 15.2 g sugar, 9 g protein (calculated with lite coconut milk, 2 tbsp maple syrup, vanilla extract, 3 squares chocolate and no optional toppings)
One taste of this hearty quinoa bowl, and you won't have trouble going back to your boring breakfast routine. It may look complicated, but you'll be surprised at how easy it is to whip up this one-pot, 7-ingredient recipe. Even better, it'll feel like you're indulging in a decadent treat, when in reality, the dark chocolate actually boasts flat-belly benefits. Research shows that the fiber in chocolate, especially when paired with the fruit you'll find in this recipe, feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut (probiotics), leading to reduced overall body fat and a shrinking waist.
Get the recipe from Minimalist Baker.
QUINOA CEREAL WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 354 calories, 19.9 g fat (11.4 g saturated fat), 22 mg sodium, 39.4 g carbs, 3.9 g fiber, 17.4 g sugar, 6.8 g protein (calculated with ½ cup coconut milk and without optional almond butter)
Bananas do some pretty amazing things to your body, like keeping cravings to a minimum and helping with digestion. If you're as big of a banana fan as we are, you're going to love this recipe. Spiced, caramelized bananas and walnuts warm up and fill out this quinoa cereal to give you a boost of energy and keep you full all morning.
Get the recipe from Running to the Kitchen.
VANILLA BEAN BREAKFAST QUINOA
Serves: 6
Nutrition: 200 calories, 4 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 100 mg sodium, 35 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 7 g protein (calculated without optional toppings)
Rather than using vanilla extract, this recipe calls for its precursor: vanilla beans. While you'll get the same characteristic vanillin flavor profile from the vanilla almond milk, adding the beans provides a bit of texture and extra health benefits. In fact, research in the Journal of Food and Agriculture found that vanilla beans are high in oleic fatty acids, monounsaturated fats that can help reduce appetite and promote weight loss. What else is high in fat-crushing oleic acid? Avocados!
Get the recipe from Fit Foodie Finds.
ROASTED BLUEBERRY QUINOA BREAKFAST BOWL
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 346 calories, 8.5 g fat (2.0 g saturated fat), 150 mg sodium, 56.5 g carbs, 7.2 g fiber, 21.9 g sugar, 11.9 g protein
Anthocyanins are the antioxidant compounds that make blueberries blue, and are also responsible for their health benefits. These potent organic compounds may play a role in preventing certain types of cancers and provide protection against heart disease, so keeping them in tact is extra important. Luckily, research in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition found that cooked blueberries maintain their antioxidant capacity. Instead of roasting these blueberries, the study found that if you pan fry them, you'll actually increase their antioxidant activity. Load up on more antioxidant-rich blueberries with these 56 Smoothies For Weight Loss.
Get the recipe from Recipe Runner.
QUINOA AND GRAPEFRUIT BRUNCH SALAD
Serves: 5
Nutrition: 318 calories, 16.7 g fat (1.8 g saturated fat), 136 mg sodium, 36.7 g carbs, 5.1 g fiber, 7.3 g sugar, 7.4 g protein
There's no excuse to skip breakfast, even on those late-morning days. When you wake up closer to noon than you had hoped, whip up this Quinoa and Grapefruit Salad. A slightly more savory take on the sweet breakfast quinoa bowl, this salad bowl will brighten up your palate and help you lose weight. Tangy grapefruit slashes belly fat accumulation by lowering insulin, a fat-storage hormone, and fills you with it's high percentage of water content so you end up eating less.
Get the recipe from A House in the Hills.
CHOCOLATE QUINOA CEREAL
Serves: 5
Nutrition: 358 calories, 20 g fat (11.5 g saturated fat), 99 mg sodium, 39.4 g carbs, 5.9 g fiber, 11.3 g sugar, 9.4 g protein (calculated without optional toppings)
No, that's not a bowl of Cocoa Krispies you're looking at. If it were, it would be one of our Worst Breakfast Cereals because of its high percentage of calories from sugar. Instead, you're looking at a nutritionally sound bowl of chocolate quinoa cereal: unprocessed, healthy and incredibly tasty. Better yet, this version uses coconut oil to make the chocolate sauce. A tropical fat that is filled with the medium-chain saturated fat lauric acid, which converts into energy more easily than other types of fat, this addition will ultimately aid in your weight loss goals.
Get the recipe from One Ingredient Chef.
QUINOA PORRIDGE WITH WARM BLUEBERRY JAM
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 293 calories, 8.4 g fat (0.8 g saturated fat), 77 mg sodium, 48.6 g carbs, 10.5 g fiber, 18.9 g sugar, 8.2 g protein
Not only are we loving this quinoa porridge, but we can't stop raving about the tangy, all-natural blueberry jam that sits so modestly on top. Unlike those jellies you pick up in the grocery store that have more added sugar than they do fruit, this fresh, warm blueberry topping is made with just blueberries, lemon, honey, and chia seeds, those belly fat blasting omega-3 fatty acids that lend their gelatinous properties to this jam.
Get the recipe from VeguKate.
BANANA QUINOA PORRIDGE
Serves: 4
Nutrition: 255 calories, 3.6 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 50 mg sodium, 53 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 18.8 g sugar, 6.9 g protein
Taking a page from the overnight oats book, this quinoa bowl also sits overnight to soaks up all of its flavors. One of those flavors is mashed banana, a potassium superstar that helps you strengthen muscle development and reduce bloat.
Get the recipe from Fit Foodie Finds.
MULTIGRAIN CHAI-SPICED PORRIDGE WITH BUCKWHEAT & QUINOA
Serves: 10
Nutrition: 128 calories, 4 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 56 mg sodium, 19.6 g carbs, 3.2 g fiber, 2.1 g sugar, 4.0 g protein (calculated with almond milk)
Spice up your oatmeal routine with this recipe featuring raw buckwheat and quinoa in addition to the more traditional steel-cut oats. Using multiple grains results in a lighter, more textural mix that certainly doesn't skimp on flavor. For an indulgent chai tea effect, the grains are toasted in extra virgin coconut oil and warm spices before adding hot almond milk to make this pudding-like breakfast bowl.
Get the recipe from The First Mess.
BREAKFAST QUINOA WITH TOASTED COCONUT, ALMONDS AND FRESH MANGO
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 323 calories, 9.7 g fat (1.7 g saturated fat), 108 mg sodium, 50.3 g carbs, 6.2 g fiber, 9 g sugar, 10 g protein (calculated with 1 tablespoon brown sugar and ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk)
Bet you never thought to put applesauce in your quinoa breakfast bowl before. Well lucky for you, this blogger did, and shared her delicious recipe with us. The natural sugars from the applesauce sweeten up the quinoa and add a cool, smooth texture. This secret ingredient also brings its ample health benefits like helping to decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer, and asthma, which is why it's one of the 50 Best Breakfast Foods for Weight Loss.
Get the recipe from Joy the Baker.
