4.10 from 53 votes

Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

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79 Comments

Servings: 2

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Have quinoa for breakfast with this easy cinnamon quinoa breakfast bowl. It’s vegan, gluten-free and the quinoa packs in a good amount of protein.

I love adding quinoa to savory dishes (this Greek quinoa salad is one of my faves), but lately I’ve been experimenting with having it for breakfast as well. In the past I’ve made a strawberry quinoa parfait and this quinoa breakfast bowl, but more recently I’ve been trying my hand at making quinoa as a hot breakfast option to replace my go-to bowl of oatmeal.

Bowl of cinnamon breakfast quinoa, topped with raisins, chia seeds, peanut butter, and banana slices. A gold spoon and jar of coffee are to the side.

Quinoa for Breakfast

Today I whipped up this cinnamon raisin quinoa breakfast bowl and it turned out to be quite delicious — almost as good as a cinnamon raisin oatmeal raisin cookie… almost.

And this quinoa breakfast recipe is the perfect way to switch up your normal routine of having oatmeal, overnight oats or cold cereal for breakfast. Plus, it gives you an added boost of protein to get through your morning! I hope you love this breakfast recipe as much as I do.

Bowl of cinnamon breakfast quinoa, topped with raisins, chia seeds, peanut butter, and banana slices.

Is Quinoa Better Than Oatmeal?

If you’ve been reading EBF for a while, you already know that quinoa is one of my favorite grains (even though it’s actually a seed, I think of it as a grain). Not only is it high in protein, but the protein that it supplies is complete, meaning it includes all nine essential amino acids. Plus, it’s gluten free, which is perfect for those avoiding wheat and gluten.

I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s “better” than oatmeal because I think both grains are great! If I *had* to tell you what to eat, I’d tell you to eat a healthy mix of both.

Bowl of cinnamon breakfast quinoa, topped with raisins, chia seeds, peanut butter, and banana slices. A glass of iced coffee is beside the bowl.

Ingredients in This Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

  • milk – I prefer unsweetened almond milk, but coconut milk or oat milk would also be delicious. Regular cow’s milk works too.
  • quinoa – dry, uncooked quinoa that has been rinsed.
  • cinnamon and vanilla – to amp up the flavor!
  • chia seeds – ground flaxseed works great too.
  • raisins – I like the cinnamon raisin combo, but any dried fruit will work.
  • nut butter – either almond or peanut butter is delicious, but if you can’t do nuts sunflower seed butter works too
Bowl of cinnamon breakfast quinoa, topped with raisins, chia seeds, peanut butter, and banana slices. A teaspoon of cinnamon, a gold spoon, and a glass of iced coffee are beside the bowl.

More Delicious Quinoa Recipes to Try:

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.

4.10 from 53 votes

Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Have quinoa for breakfast with this easy cinnamon quinoa breakfast bowl. It’s vegan, gluten-free and the quinoa packs in a good amount of protein. 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2
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Ingredients  

  • 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 Tablespoon chia seeds, or ground flaxseed
  • 2 Tablespoons raisins
  • 1 Tablespoon peanut or almond butter
  • maple syrup + banana slices for topping, optional

Instructions 

  • Rinse quinoa: Rinse quinoa and drain.
  • Cook quinoa: Place milk and rinsed quinoa into a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
  • Combine ingredients: Add cinnamon and vanilla.
  • Reduce heat: Reduce to a simmer and cook about 15 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Watch the pot carefully and stir often because it has a tendency to want to boil over.
  • Add toppings and serve: When ready to eat, place a portion of the quinoa into a bowl, drizzle with maple syrup and top with chia seeds, raisins and nut butter.

Notes

  • Milk: I prefer unsweetened almond milk, but coconut milk or oat milk would also be delicious. Regular cow’s milk works too.
  • Chia seeds: Ground flaxseed works great too.
  • Raisins: I like the cinnamon raisin combo, but any dried fruit will work.
  • Nut butter: either almond or peanut butter is delicious, but if you can’t do nuts sunflower seed butter works too

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 recipe without toppings | Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 95mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

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4.10 from 53 votes (39 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




79 Comments

  1. 3 stars
    Taste profile is good. Cannot say the same about the proportions. 1 cup of milk is not enough to get quinoa to the same condition as it is on a picture. It’s undercooked. Had to add water a few times 🙁 not helpful for me unfortunately.

    1. Hey Amor – So sorry to hear that you had issues with this recipe. Thank you for letting me know. I should test this one again!

    1. Hey Laura, I haven’t tried this in the Instant pot, so I’m not too sure. I think you’d be fine with the same measurements, but I’m not sure how long it would take. Maybe use this recipe as a guide?

  2. 5 stars
    I’m a big fan of quinoa for dinner. First time I’ve made it for breakfast. It’s delicious 🤯 I love oatmeal as well but the quinoa is lighter to me. Definitely making this more often!

    1. Woo! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Kathy. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!

  3. 5 stars
    The only thing I didn’t have on hand were raisins, but it didn’t matter. This recipe was a flavorful way to start my morning. Oatmeal can get so repetitive, glad I stepped out of my routine!

    1. Ahh yay, so glad this breakfast bowl was a hit, Melanie! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3

  4. 4 stars
    I really liked this breakfast recipe! I didn’t put banana slices and raisins in mine. Instead I replaced them with fresh blueberries and it tasted great. It makes this quinoa bowl less caloric and less sugary. I had to add more almond milk while the quinoa was cooking because it wasn’t cooked all through yet and there was no more liquid in the pan. But, overall it’s an excellent breakfast bowl! 🙂

  5. 5 stars
    Loved this as a switch up to oats for breakfast and it kept me totally satisfied until lunch!! And can you ever go wrong with nut butter + banana?!

    1. Ahh yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this quinoa bowl for breakfast, Erica! Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it!