Quinoa Patties

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Whether you’re looking for a way to use up leftover quinoa or just in search of a vegetarian protein option for dinner, these easy Quinoa Patties deliver! Pan-frying the patties makes them golden brown and crispy, perfect for adding your favorite sauce or stuffing into a burger bun. Lots of room for customization when making your quinoa patties, too!

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One of my favorite staple pantry ingredients is quinoa. I cook 2 cups of quinoa at the beginning of the week and use it in all kinds of recipes. When I have some leftover, these quinoa patties are the perfect way to use them up! (For some more leftover quinoa recipes, try my Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini Boats and Pizza Quinoa Bites.)

This recipe is very forgiving and versatile, so the exact measurements aren’t that important. But the good thing is the short list of ingredients are everyday items you may already have around.

Serve the quinoa patties with Avocado Crema for a delicious appetizer or side dish. It’s a winning combination that combines a cheesy, crispy quinoa cake with a fresh and light dip. And I guarantee you everyone will love them!

Recipe At a Glance

Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
Dietary Info: Vegetarian
Key Flavor: Cheesy, savory
Skill Level: Easy

Standouts

• A Delicious Vegetarian Protein: It’s not always easy to find vegetarian proteins the whole family will enjoy, but these pan-fried quinoa patties are the exception! With their cheesy flavor and crispy texture, they’re sure to be a hit.
• Quick and Easy: These quinoa cakes are done in just 20 minutes! They’re perfect for those busy weeknights when you have to fit dinner between soccer practice and homework time.
• Customizable: You can experiment with different cheeses, herbs, and toppings to make these crispy quinoa patties your own. The possibilities are endless!
• Great for Meal Prep: If you meal prep the quinoa in advance, you can use it to make these quinoa patties during the week. But the quinoa patties themselves are also great for meal prep since they store well and are easy to reheat.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Quinoa Patties

• Cooked quinoa: Here’s how to cook quinoa.
• Eggs: Eggs help hold the quinoa cakes together.
• Seasonings: Oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper bring the flavor.
• Mozzarella cheese: Mozzarella has a neutral flavor that allows these quinoa patties to pair well with all kinds of sauces.
• Red onion: Finely minced red onion doesn’t just add flavor, but also some moisture to the patty mixture.
• Panko breadcrumbs: In addition to the eggs, panko helps bind the patties.
• Avocado oil: Or another high smoke point oil you like to use for cooking. 

Popular substitutions & additions

• Try another cheese. Cheddar has a more assertive flavor, fontina or Parmesan would be delicious if you’re serving your crispy quinoa cakes with marinara, and smoked gouda is just all-around amazing. But feel free to use any other cheese you like!
• Switch up the seasoning. You can make these quinoa patties Tex-Mex by using taco seasoning or chili powder, add za’atar, or swap the dried herbs for fresh—anything goes here!
• Add spinach. Wilt some baby spinach in a skillet with olive oil and fold this into the quinoa mixture.
• Make them gluten-free. Use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs to make these quinoa cakes gluten-free, or use oat flour or almond flour as a binder instead.

How to Make Quinoa Patties

If you don’t have the quinoa cooked ahead of time, you’ll need to factor in an extra 15 minutes for making this recipe.

Make the quinoa patties

1. Combine the cooked quinoa and eggs in a medium bowl.
2. Stir in the cheese and onions.
3. Add the panko and stir.
4. Let the mixture sit so the panko can absorb some of the moisture.
5. Use wet hands to form the quinoa mixture into patties.
6. Set the patties on a plate or tray.

Pan fry the quinoa patties

1. Cook the patties in a nonstick skillet with the avocado oil.
2. Flip and cook the other side until both sides are golden brown and crispy.

Tips for Making the Best Crispy Quinoa Patties

1. Finely mince or grate the onion. You don’t want big pieces of crunchy onions in your quinoa cakes! Grated or finely minced onion means the flavor will be more evenly distributed, too.
2. Be sure to let the mixture sit a bit before forming patties. The panko will absorb some of the moisture, and your patties will hold together better.
3. Adjust as needed. Once you form the patties, feel free to add more breadcrumbs, more cheese, or more water if you find the mixture is too dry.
4. Add more oil to the pan if needed. I only needed 4 tablespoons, but if your patties are sticking (which can happen if your pan isn’t nonstick) or the pan seems dry, you can add some more.

What to Serve With Quinoa Cakes

• Avocado Crema
• Massaged Kale Salad
• Mustard Potato Salad
• Garlic Roasted Potatoes

How to Store & Reheat Quinoa Patties

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat the quinoa patties in the microwave, a 350ºF oven, or a nonstick skillet set over medium heat.

How long will quinoa patties last in the fridge?

These crispy quinoa patties will last for about 5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze quinoa cakes?

Yes, you can freeze these quinoa cakes either before or after cooking them:

• To freeze them prior to cooking, lay them on a flat baking dish in the freezer for at least 4 hours. When frozen, place them in an airtight bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight and cook per instructions.
• To freeze them after cooking, simply store them in an airtight bag after they’ve cooled. To re-heat, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake in a 350°F oven until heated through.

Frequently asked questions

Make these quinoa patties for any occasion and any time of year. They’re addictively cheesy, delicious and perfect for a healthy snack or appetizer! And the great thing about them is you can make them ahead and freeze to have them ready to heat up whenever you need a quick protein option.

Easy quinoa recipes:

• Quinoa Burger
• Quinoa Avocado Salad
• Pizza Quinoa Bites
• Quinoa Crust Breadsticks
• Cauliflower Fritters
• Quinoa Tabbouleh
• Chicken & Quinoa Bowl
• Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowl

If you try this feel good Quinoa Patties recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

This Quinoa Patties recipe was originally published on April 1, 2019. The recipe has not been modified but the post has been updated with new step-by-step photos and more helpful information.

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Review

Quinoa Patties

When you're looking for ways to use leftover quinoa, try these easy tasty vegetarian quinoa patties! Super simple to make and so good!

5 from 864 votes

Author Yumna Jawad

Servings 10 patties

Course Appetizer, Entree

Calories 127

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 cup cooked quinoa
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ ½ teaspoon oregano
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ½ cup mozzarella cheese
• ▢ ¼ cup red onion finely minced
• ▢ 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ▢ 4 tablespoons avocado oil divided

Instructions

• Combine quinoa, eggs, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir in cheese and onions.
• Add the breadcrumbs, stir, and let sit for a few minutes so the crumbs can absorb some of the moisture. Use a ¼ cup measuring up to scoop, wet your hands with water and form them into patties. It should make about 10 patties
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place half of the quinoa patties on the heated pan and cook until the patties are golden color, about 3-4 minutes per side. Set aside and repeat with the remaining oil and remaining patties.

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl Set
• Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set

Notes

The nutrition label is for 1 patty. This recipe serves about 4 people.

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last up to 5 days in the fridge.

Freezing Instructions: You can also freeze the patties before or after cooking them.

• To freeze them prior to cooking, lay them on a flat baking dish in the freezer for at least 4 hours. When frozen, place them in an airtight bag. Thaw in the fridge overnight and cook per instructions.
• To freeze them after cooking, simply store them in an airtight bag after they’ve cooled. To re-heat, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake in a 350°F oven until heated through.

Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.

• Instead of eggs, you can use a flax eggs. For each regular egg, use 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water.
• Any type of shredded cheese can be used in place of mozzarella.
• If you prefer not to use breadcrumbs, you can use a gluten-free flour like almond flour or oat flour, or you can also use panko breadcrumbs.

Equipment:  I love using my Cuisinart Smart Stick mini blender for making dips. It’s quick and easy and gets me the perfect consistency, without any chunks of avocado and cilantro leftover.

Serving Size: One serving is 1-2 patties with the dip. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1patty, Calories: 127kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.003g, Cholesterol: 37mg, Sodium: 151mg, Potassium: 70mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 89IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 50mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Diet: Vegetarian

Cuisine American

Course: Appetizer, Entree