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Home » Breakfast

5-Minute Creamy Quinoa Porridge (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Published: Jan 18, 2022 by Felicia Lim · This post may contain affiliate links

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Close up of a bowl of quinoa porridge
Collage of quinoa in a pot and a bowl of porridge
A bowl of quinoa porridge with blueberries
Holding up a spoonful of quinoa porridge

Comforting and delicious, this creamy quinoa porridge is a perfect alternative to oatmeal. With only 5 ingredients required, this recipe can be made in just 5 minutes and is perfect for filling you up anytime you’re hungry. Top it with berries and a sprinkle of quinoa flakes for the perfect protein-filled breakfast or snack! Totally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, so anyone can enjoy!

A bowl of creamy quinoa porridge with fresh blueberries.
Jump to:
  • The Easiest, Most Comforting Breakfast
  • Quinoa Porridge: A Perfect Alternative to Oatmeal
  • What Are Quinoa Flakes?
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients You’ll Need:
  • Ingredient Notes/Substitutions
  • How to Make Quinoa Porridge (Step by Step)
  • Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
  • Recipes FAQs:
  • Quinoa Recipes You’ll Love:
  • Other Breakfast Bowls to Enjoy:
  • Easy Recipes for Breakfast to Indulge In:
  • 5-Minute Creamy Quinoa Porridge (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

The Easiest, Most Comforting Breakfast

When I was younger and still living in Singapore, I remember that my dad would begin his day by tucking into his favorite breakfast – a warm bowl of oatmeal.

There’s something incredibly comforting about soft, warm oatmeal, especially when you’re hungry or feeling under the weather, and over the years, oatmeal has become my comfort food.

A spoon in a bowl of  quinoa porridge with blueberries.

Quinoa Porridge: A Perfect Alternative to Oatmeal

However, I’ve realized that for those who are Celiacs or have gluten-intolerance, oatmeal may not always be an option.

While oats naturally do not contain gluten, oats are often processed in the same facilities that process wheat, so cross-contamination is prevalent in oats.

cornbread in a cast iron skillet
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In some countries such as the US, it’s easy to find gluten-free oats, but in other countries, it’s impossible to find certified gluten-free oats.

In fact, some Celiacs tends to have similar reactions to oats as they would to gluten, making it a no-no for those with Celiac disease in many countries (such as Argentina where Juan and I live, or in Australia).

If you’ve been missing oatmeal, but can’t eat oatmeal because you’re Celiac and can’t find certified gluten-free oats where you are, or have reactions to oats, this deliciously creamy quinoa porridge made with quinoa flakes is your answer!

What Are Quinoa Flakes?

Not long ago, I discovered quinoa flakes, which are an incredibly close alternative to oats.

Quinoa flakes are basically quinoa seeds that have been pressed and rolled into flat flakes (in the same way that oat groats are rolled in a machine to become rolled oats).

I recently made this easy honey quinoa bread with quinoa flakes, and didn’t know what else to make with the half-used bag of leftover quinoa flakes remaining.

Googling online however, I discovered that quinoa flakes could also be cooked to make porridge for a healthy breakfast.

I tested out a recipe I found online and when it worked, I went crazy happy!! It literally feels like you’re eating oatmeal – just no oats required!

Quinoa flakes in a wooden bowl.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Simple Ingredients: All you need for this delicious quinoa porridge is just 5 ingredients (water included)! Nothing fancy is required for this easy breakfast recipe.
  • Ready in No Time: You can literally make a bowl of warm quinoa porridge from scratch in under 5 minutes, which is a great way to enjoy a comforting and nutritious breakfast even if you’re short on time. No more excuses to skip breakfast! Keep this recipe handy because you’ll be making it over and over again!
  • Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan: Best of all, this recipe is 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that even those who have Celiac disease, or gluten and dairy intolerances, or even those simply on a gluten-free or vegan diet can enjoy it.
Holding up a spoonful of quinoa porridge.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for this easy quinoa porridge recipe.

(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Ingredients required for making creamy quinoa porridge recipe.

Ingredient Notes/Substitutions

  • Quinoa Flakes: Quinoa flakes are NOT interchangeable with uncooked quinoa seeds – quinoa flakes behave like instant oats and cook up in much less time than raw quinoa seeds. I do NOT recommend that you substitute it with quinoa seeds. If you do so, note that you will require a much longer cooking time, and even more milk and water for the porridge to reach its desired creamy consistency.
  • Sugar: I used white granulated sugar in this case, but feel free to use brown sugar or coconut sugar if you prefer. Add until sweet enough to taste.
  • Ground Cinnamon: I like adding ground cinnamon for extra flavor and natural sweetness. It also adds some color to the porridge. However, if you don’t like cinnamon, feel free to leave it out. You can add a teaspoon vanilla extract if you prefer it to cinnamon.
  • Almond Milk: I like using my 5-minute homemade almond milk for this creamy quinoa porridge recipe. However, feel free to use another non-dairy milk such as cashew milk, rice milk, sunflower milk, coconut milk or soy milk. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal dairy milk instead.

How to Make Quinoa Porridge (Step by Step)

1. Combine Dry Ingredients

Combine quinoa flakes, ground cinnamon, and sugar in a small pot (you can also use a medium saucepan instead). Mix to combine.

Mixing dry ingredients in a white pot.

2. Add Wet Ingredients

Add almond milk and water, and stir to combine.

Mixing wet ingredients in a white pot.

3. Cook on Moderate Heat

Cook the ingredients over medium heat on stove, stirring gently. The porridge should start to bubble and thicken within 2 minutes (reduce the heat if it starts bubbling too much).

Once the porridge is ready and has reached its desired consistency (no more than 3 to 4 minutes), remove it from heat. If the porridge has become too thick during cooking, add an extra splash of milk or water.

Mixing oatmeal porridge in a white pot.

4. Garnish and Serve

Divide quinoa porridge between 4 small bowls and serve with fresh berries, a sprinkle of quinoa flakes and ground cinnamon. Drizzle with maple syrup if desired.

A big bowl of quinoa porridge with fresh blueberries.

Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:

  • Toppings: I highly recommend topping this delicious porridge with fresh fruit (such as berries, banana, peaches or kiwi), quinoa flakes, chia seeds, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I also like it with a generous drizzle of maple syrup. You can also top it with granola, chopped nuts or coconut chips for extra crunch, or use your favorite toppings instead.
  • Eat this Porridge Warm or Cold: I’ve tried this porridge both warm just after cooking, and as cold leftovers the next day. Both are delicious. I love how versatile this porridge is – if it’s a cool morning, heat up the leftover porridge in the microwave and eat it warm. If it’s a hot day, eat it straight from the fridge for a cool, refreshing treat!
  • Make it Creamier: I used almond milk because that’s what I always have on hand. However, if you want an even creamier porridge, you can use full-fat coconut milk instead.
  • Make a Savory Porridge: In this case, I’ve made a slightly sweet breakfast porridge by adding sugar and cinnamon. If you prefer eating savory porridge instead, feel free to leave out the sugar and cinnamon, and add salt and herbs instead! You can also drizzle some sesame oil and sprinkle some chopped spring onions over!
  • Make a Big Batch: This recipe makes 4 servings, but you can double or triple it to make a larger batch (and store it in the refrigerator for a few days), so you can enjoy it over the next few days.
Holding up a spoonful of quinoa porridge from a bowl.

Recipes FAQs:

How do I Store Quinoa Porridge?

To store this vegan quinoa porridge, let it cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can eat it cold or heat it up in the microwave for a few minutes before eating.

Can I Use Quinoa Seeds Instead of Quinoa Flakes?

No, you can’t. I don’t recommend substituting the quinoa flakes with quinoa seeds because they cook in different times. Quinoa flakes cook very quickly and are ready in just a few minutes (just like instant oatmeal), while quinoa seeds take a much longer time to cook (almost 3 times as long).

Up close shot of quinoa porridge in a gray bowl.

Quinoa Recipes You’ll Love:

  • Soft, Fluffy Yeast Quinoa Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Honey Quinoa Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Warm Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash, Arugula, & Avocado
  • Quinoa, Butternut Squash and Kale Salad
  • Quinoa and Minced Beef Stuffed Bell Peppers

Other Breakfast Bowls to Enjoy:

  • Warm Millet Bowl with Mushrooms and Kale (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
  • Creamy Millet Breakfast Porridge (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
  • Blueberry and Almond Flaxseed Porridge (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
  • Maple Peach Oatmeal (Gluten-Free)

Easy Recipes for Breakfast to Indulge In:

  • Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Bread (Dairy-Free)
  • Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns (Dairy-Free)
  • Gluten-Free Blueberry Dump Cake (Vegan)
  • Gluten-Free Rice Krispies Treats (Vegan)

P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!

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5-Minute Creamy Quinoa Porridge (Gluten-Free, Vegan)


★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Felicia Lim
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Description

Comforting and delicious, this creamy quinoa porridge is an awesome alternative to oat porridge or oatmeal. Ready in just 5 minutes, this recipe is perfect for filling you up anytime you’re hungry. Top it with berries and a sprinkle of quinoa flakes and cinnamon for the perfect protein-filled breakfast or snack! Totally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, so anyone can enjoy!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup quinoa flakes + more for sprinkling
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon + more for sprinkling
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups almond milk
  • 1 cup water
  • Berries, for topping (optional)
  • Maple syrup, for drizzling (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine Dry Ingredients: Combine quinoa flakes, ground cinnamon, and sugar in a small pot. Mix to combine.
  2. Add Wet Ingredients: Add almond milk and water, and stir to combine.
  3. Cook on Moderate Heat: Cook over moderate heat on stove, stirring gently. The porridge should start to bubble and thicken within 2 minutes (reduce the heat if it starts bubbling too much). Once the porridge is ready and has reached its desired consistency (no more than 3 to 4 minutes), remove it from heat. If the porridge has become too thick during cooking, add a little extra almond milk or water.
  4. Garnish and Serve: Divide quinoa porridge between 4 small bowls and serve with fresh berries, a sprinkle of quinoa flakes and ground cinnamon. Drizzle with maple syrup if desired.

Notes

Quinoa Flakes: Quinoa flakes are not interchangeable with quinoa seeds – quinoa flakes behave like instant oats and cook up in much less time than raw quinoa seeds. I do NOT recommend that you substitute it with quinoa seeds. If you do so, note that you will require a much longer cooking time, and even more milk and water for the porridge to reach its desired creamy consistency.

Sugar: I used white granulated sugar in this case, but feel free to use brown sugar or coconut sugar if you prefer. Add until sweet enough to taste.

Ground Cinnamon: I like adding ground cinnamon for extra flavor and natural sweetness. It also adds some color to the porridge. However, if you don’t like cinnamon, feel free to leave it out.

Almond Milk: I like using my 5-minute homemade almond milk for this creamy quinoa porridge recipe. However, feel free to use another non-dairy milk such as cashew milk, rice milk, sunflower milk, coconut milk or soy milk. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal dairy milk instead.

Toppings: I highly recommend topping this delicious porridge with fresh fruit (such as berries, bananas, or even mango and kiwi), quinoa flakes and a sprinkle of cinnamon, along with a generous drizzle of maple syrup. However, you can also top it with granola or chopped nuts for extra crunch.

Storing: To store the quinoa porridge, let it cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can eat it cold or heat it up in the microwave for a few minutes before eating.

  • Prep Time: 1 min
  • Cook Time: 4 mins
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: quinoa porridge

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @felicialimhz on Instagram and hashtag it #dishbydish

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About Felicia

Hey you! I’m Felicia, a Singaporean girl who moved to Buenos Aires for love. A couple of things about me: I love food, writing and food photography. I wrote a grain-free ecookbook that I know you’ll love and I also do freelance writing and photography if you want to work with me. Follow me on this blog as I navigate the world of cooking gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free.

Did you make a recipe? Tag @felicialimhz on Instagram. I love to see what you cook!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristine says

    April 19, 2022 at 10:27 am

    This is delicious! A perfect comfort food. It was a nice break from our usual golden milk oatmeal. I only added 1TBSP of sugar and then stirred in some maple syrup as I was taking it off the stove (less than 1TBSP). This will be a regular breakfast for us now. Thank you!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Felicia Lim says

      April 19, 2022 at 11:21 am

      Hi Kristine! So happy to hear that you enjoyed this quinoa porridge! Thanks for your lovely note, and for sharing the changes you made. Hope to see you around the blog sometime soon!

      xx,
      Felicia

      Reply
  2. Grace Lim says

    March 23, 2021 at 6:56 pm

    Good morning Felicia,

    I am so happy that you are providing more wonderful options and choices for people in the community who are gluten intolerant..
    Keep up the good work and be blessed 🙂

    Big hugs and love from us in SG,
    Mum

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Felicia Lim says

      March 23, 2021 at 7:43 pm

      Glad you enjoyed this mummy! You should give it a try one day, I think you might like it! 🙂

      Reply

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I’m Felicia: a girl from Singapore who moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina for love. My husband is Celiac so I test and share gluten-free recipes on my blog! I help people with food intolerances and allergies cook and eat delicious, healthy food! Stay a while, and let's be friends! ♥

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