Quinoa Fried ‘Rice’

My favorite better than takeout fried recipe made with quinoa! It adds protein and all of the benefits of quinoa and you won’t be able to tell a difference in this better for you dish!

Pair this exquisite side dish with Sticky Asian Glazed Chicken, Skinny Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken or Baked Firecracker Chicken for a fabulous meal.

Quinoa Fried ‘Rice’

I love using quinoa as a part of a healthy lifestyle. It adds so many awesome health benefits and added protein. So because I am obsessed with fried rice, I thought why not add quinoa instead!?

Quinoa is so much better for you than white rice and I couldn’t even tell a difference with my first bite! I used it to meal prep for an entire week and it was full of amazing flavor and veggies inside. I looked forward to eating it every single day. It was that good!

This recipe is better than any takeout you will get and better for you! A total win in my book! 😉

Quinoa Fried Rice Ingredients

• Quinoa: Already cooked
• Oil: Canola or vegetable
• Onion: Chopped
• Frozen Peas and Carrots: Be sure to thaw them first
• Soy Sauce: You can add more or less to taste
• Sesame Oil: For flavor
• Eggs: Beat them lightly
• Green Onions: Chopped, these are optional

Making the Fried Rice

1. Sauté: In a large skillet or wok heat the oil over medium heat. Add in the onion and peas and carrots and fry till tender.
2. Eggs: Move the veggies to one side and pour in the beaten eggs. Scramble the eggs, once cooked stir into the vegetables.
3. Combine: Add the quinoa into the veggies. Pour the soy sauce and sesame oil on top and stir fry till heated through. Top with green onions if desired.

What is Quinoa and Why Should I Use It

Like in this recipe, quinoa is often substituted for rice and considered to be a grain, but it’s not. It’s actually a seed. The plant these seeds come from is called Chenopodium quinoa and comes from Peru. The plant is a relative of beets, spinach and chard. When cooked quinoa is soft and fluffy with a nutty flavor.

Since quinoa is a seed, it is gluten free and a great substitute for rice. It has 5 grams of fiber, and 8 grams of protein. It’s a complete protein too, which means it contains all the amino acids your body needs. It’s also packed with vitamins and minerals, like iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. It is called a super food for good reason!

Variations of Quinoa Fried Rice

• Crunch: If you need a little crunch add some chopped cashews to top the Quinoa Fried Rice.
• Meat: Turn it into a meal by adding some meat. Try ham, chicken, bacon, pork or shrimp.
• Veggies: This dish is so versatile, make it veggie heavy or change up the veggies to your liking. Use broccoli, sugar snap peas, celery, cabbage or other frozen stir fry vegetable mixes.
• Make ahead of time: This is a wonderful dish that gets better the longer the flavors have to meld together. Make a day ahead of time or make a double batch and save the rest for another night.
• Storing: Quinoa Fried Rice will keep in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. It can also be frozen for up to 2 months.

More Healthy Quinoa Recipes to Love

Quinoa is so good for you, and it’s so yummy!

• Fruity Quinoa Salad
• Thai Quinoa Salad
• Roasted Beet, Quinoa, and Carrot Salad
• Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Chicken Quinoa
• Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

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Quinoa Fried 'Rice'

By: Alyssa Rivers

My favorite better than takeout fried recipe made with quinoa!  It adds protein and all of the benefits of quinoa and you won’t be able to tell a difference in this better for you dish!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 Servings

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 3 cups quinoa cooked
• ▢ 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• ▢ 1 white onion small, chopped
• ▢ 1 cup frozen peas and carrots thawed
• ▢ 2-3 tbsp soy sauce more or less to taste
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ▢ 2 eggs lightly beaten
• ▢ 2 tbsp green onions chopped, optional

Instructions 

• Preheat a large skillet or wok to medium heat. Pour vegetable oil in the bottom. Add white onion and peas and carrots and fry until tender.
• Slide the onion, peas and carrots to the side, and pour the beaten eggs onto the other side. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
• Add the rice to the veggie and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce and sesame oil on top. Stir and fry the quinoa and veggie mixture until heated through and combined. Add chopped green onions if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 12gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 285mgPotassium: 438mgFiber: 5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1745IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 3mg

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

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!