13 BEST Red Quinoa Recipes Your Whole Family Will Love (2024)

We’ve gathered all the best red quinoa recipes online, from vibrant quinoa salads to delectable breakfast bowls.

Did you know that quinoa has been in existence since around the time of the Inca empire?

Quinoa, particularly the red variety, has been consumed by Inca warriors because they believed that it supplements their strength during battles.

Red quinoa, often also known as Inca red, is a variation of quinoa that may often appear purple or brown but is not likely to be confused with the white or black variety.

It is a small, round flat seed that is consumed much like grains or cereals.

Much like white and black quinoa, red quinoa should be washed thoroughly before cooking to remove its bitter taste from the saponin compound.

After being meticulously washed and cooked, the quinoa grains fluff up and put on a chewy texture.

Because of its texture and neutral-to-nutty taste that can easily complement other elements of a dish, it has long been a go-to ingredient for salads and smoothies.

Red quinoa in particular is favored for its colors that instantly command attention and make the dish a bit more interesting to look at.

Its inclusion also adds a bite and some substance to dishes.

We have listed some of the tastiest red quinoa recipes, from salads to desserts.

Get your kitchen ready and let’s prepare them!

BEST Red Quinoa Recipes

Quinoa salads are the most popular dishes to make with your red quinoa.

In fact, there are tons of recipes out there just for quinoa salads alone.

This recipe combines meaty yet tender chicken breasts, fresh vegetables, and creamy and tangy feta.

Yum!

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, chicken breast, English cucumber, Cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese.

If you didn’t know you could make burgers with quinoa, you’re in for a surprise.

These are perfect for when you want to eat a patty but just don’t want some meat.

It may not be meaty, but it is packed with the amazing flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, and basil.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, marinated Sun-dried tomatoes, almonds, gluten-free bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese.

Here’s another red quinoa salad with a symphony of flavors and textures.

Black beans and bright yellow corn kernels join your red quinoa, along with some cherry tomatoes, red onions, and the greens of jalapeño and cilantro.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, canned black beans, roasted corn kernels, avocado, and cherry tomatoes.

Red quinoa isn’t limited to savory and tangy meals but desserts, too.

It has different fresh and brightly-colored fruits like Fuyu persimmon, pomegranate seeds, and dried fruits of your choice like raisins, dried apricots, and cranberries.

You may also add nuts like pecans and almonds for some texture.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, pomegranate seeds, fuyu persimmon, butternut squash, and dried cranberries.

Are you familiar with farro?

They are whole-wheat grains, like quinoa, and have a nutty taste and chewy texture.

This meal is great with some savory meat and seafood dishes or even a salad.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, farro, lime juice, low-sodium vegetable broth, and white wine vinegar.

Who knew quinoa could also be eaten for breakfast?

This red quinoa breakfast bowl is joined by assorted red fruits like pomegranate seeds, strawberries, and raspberries.

More textures are added with walnuts and flax seeds, while different ground spices add more flavor.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, pure Maple syrup, walnuts, flax seeds, and assorted red berries.

Roasted potatoes are an easy and tasty dish to make.

Red quinoa adds another level of texture and a bit of nutty taste to the yummy red potatoes, while capers provide a burst of tang.

Apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard flavor the light vinaigrette.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, roasted potatoes, Apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, and lemon juice.

This chicken and grain dish is traditionally made with rice which might sometimes be a bit of a heavy meal.

Red quinoa makes a lighter alternative and perfectly contrasts the colors of the cilantro and green olives, which makes the dish more of a visual feast.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, boneless chicken thighs, pitted green olives, fresh cilantro, and tomatoes.

This soup is a rainbow in a bowl!

It’s also a treasure trove of a variety of flavors and textures.

Every bite is a different but equally flavorful experience with this mix of quinoa, beans, avocado, sweet potato, corn chips, tomatoes, and more.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, black beans, sweet potato, jalapeño, and spinach or kale leaves.

This plant-based meal has kumara in it—a sweet potato that is popular in New Zealand.

Together with cauliflower and red quinoa, it makes for a filling and flavorful curry dish.

Coconut or greek yogurt, coriander leaves, and fresh chili garnish this dish for a pop of color and flavor.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, kumura, cauliflower, coconut cream, and chicken or vegetable stock.

This filling bowl of lentils is enough to represent a whole meal.

It has grains, a hearty soup base, and different kinds of vegetables that will leave you satisfied.

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, french lentils, celery, carrots, and swiss chard.

This salad may look like a bowl of candies from afar, but it is a mix of different colored fruits and quinoa, glazed in a honey lime dressing.

The honey lime dressing gives the fresh fruits a sheen that makes them look candied or too pretty to be real.

It isn’t all aesthetics, though; this dish is full of beautiful flavor too!

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, blueberries, strawberries, mango, and lime.

Another gorgeous dish, these Red Quinoa Pancakes are not only pretty to look at but extra filling with the addition of red quinoa.

The embedded red quinoa grains also add a nuttiness and chewy and grainy texture to the dish that isn’t present in other regular pancakes!

Ingredients include: Red quinoa, coconut or almond milk, eggs, flour, and coconut palm sugar.

The bottom line

Red quinoas have gone a long way from being the Inca soldiers’ favorite pre-battle meal.

They have become a staple ingredient in salads and grain dishes and have added texture to desserts.

Its color, flavor, and texture are definitely worthy additions to any meal.

The Red Quinoa Burgers and Red Quinoa Bowl With Lime Cilantro Ranch Dressing make the perfect get-together side dishes.

The Winter Fruit And Quinoa Parfait or Quinoa Fruit Salad With Honey Lime Dressing, on the other hand, are perfect brunch desserts that will surely impress your guests.

Red quinoa really is a stellar ingredient to master using.

You may want to add some red quinoa to your favorite salads or desserts or try out any of the wonderful and flavorful meals that we have collected and make your own.