The Fluffiest Quinoa Rice

Rice vs. quinoa decision fatigue? Enjoy them together for the perfect balance between cozy and nutritious! This fluffy quinoa rice combo gives you the best of both worlds, all while still being prepared in just one pot. The result is not soggy or burnt - just perfectly fluffy quinoa rice.

Fluffy quinoa rice in a white bowl next to a blue towel with a white marble background.

As a health-conscious mom who places a strong emphasis on nutrition, I tend to gravitate towards quinoa when I need whole grains. It's light, is a complete plant-based protein and has a delicious nutty flavor. I absolutely love quinoa salads and incorporate quinoa into tons of recipes, including breakfast and dessert!

But there are some dishes where quinoa isn't my top choice. I can technically make it work in entrees like stir-fries, curry bowls and tacos, but it definitely leaves something more to be desired (ahem, rice).

Rice is definitely a comfort food for me, whether it's white rice or brown rice. It's light and fluffy (like quinoa) but has a neutral flavor and retains a bit more moisture, making it perfect for sopping up flavors in saucier dishes.

So while both quinoa and rice are staples in my cooking, I frequently wrestle between the two when deciding which I should use on a particular day. Do I choose the healthy and nutritious quinoa or the more substantial and satisfying rice?

The solution? An even combination of both! When cooking two different grains, it can be tricky to get both of them fluffy without one getting hard or mushy, but here both come out absolutely perfect.

Quinoa rice in a white bowl next to a blue cloth with a white background.

Why You'll Love Quinoa Rice

Perfect balance of light, fluffy and starchy
Not compromising the texture of either grain
Provides the taste and feel of rice with the nutritional benefits from quinoa
Great way to get extra protein
Prepared in one pot
Perfect for meal prep - feel free make double (or triple!)
Easy recipe - just cover and let simmer!

Ingredients

This foolproof recipe uses quinoa, rice, water and just a little bit of salt.

I split the quinoa and rice evenly (50/50) and a use 2:1 ratio of water to total grains. This means that I'll add 1 cup of grains (½ cup of quinoa, ½ cup of rice) for every 2 cups of water.

Quinoa, rice, salt and water in separate bowls with a white marble background.

How to Make Quinoa Rice

I am obsessed with this stovetop method because it is almost entirely hands-off. Allowing it to simmer allows all the water to be absorbed and prevents burning. It works every single time!

1. Rinse the quinoa and rice until the water runs clear.

Quinoa in a mesh strainer being drained and rinsed in a sink.

Rice in a mesh strainer being drained and rinsed in a sink.

2. Add water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the quinoa, rice and salt to the boiling water. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Quinoa and rice mixed together in a pot with water.

3. Without lifting the lid, turn the burner off and let it sit with the lid on for an additional 20 minutes.

4. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork. Serve warm.

Cooked quinoa rice in a pot with a white marble background.

A hand using a fork to fluff quinoa rice in a pot with a white marble background.

Allow leftover rice to cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Which Rice is Best for Quinoa Rice?

The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity, as any type of long grain rice will work. These include white rice, brown rice, basmati rice and jasmine rice. Each of these have a light and fluffy texture with a little bit of starchiness.

Medium (like Arborio) and short grain (like sushi rice) types are stickier, and while they are delicious in dishes such as risotto and sushi, I would not recommend them in this recipe.

Which Quinoa is Best for Quinoa Rice?

It makes no difference which type of quinoa you use in this recipe. Whether using white, black or red quinoa, the differences are subtle (besides their color!).

White quinoa is the most popular and widely available. It's the mildest of the three in terms of flavor (red is slightly nuttier and black has a subtle sweetness) and is the one I use for this recipe.

Fluffy quinoa rice in a white bowl with a white marble background.

Variations

This recipe lays the foundation for any dish you plan to use it for. Feel free to spruce it up in any of the following ways:

Use vegetable broth instead of water. Cooking it in veggie broth will give it a bit more flavor. Use your favorite brand or make your own!
Mix with other ingredients. After cooking, mix it with fresh veggies such as green onion, diced bell pepper or snow peas. Or enjoy with sliced almonds!

Serving Suggestions

This quinoa rice recipe is perfect for grain bowls and essentially any dish that would normally be served with rice:

Grain bowls: I love the the lightness of this veggie roasted grain bowl with this combo!
Entrées: Enjoy it as a base for this delicious vegan stir fry or veggie shawarma.
Side dishes: Serve as a side dish with stuffed sweet potatoes or cauliflower steak marbella.

A white bowl of quinoa rice next to a blue cloth with a white background.

Health Benefits of Quinoa

Although technically a seed, quinoa is widely referred to as a grain given the way it is used. Quinoa is a great source of plant-based protein (it has more protein than any other grain).

Quinoa is also loaded with fiber and contains both zinc and iron. Its nutritional profile is impressive and has been shown to potentially help lower the risk of diabetes.

Learn more about all the benefits quinoa has to offer in this complete guide which includes tons of quinoa recipes as well!

I hope you enjoy this quinoa rice as much as my family does! My kids typically won't go for plain quinoa, but they will with this recipe. It really is a game changer and a great option for healthy recipes any day of the week.

If you make this recipe, please tag me @eatingbyelaine so I can see it in action!