A chocolate quinoa bowl is a hearty and sweet breakfast that’s both filling and nutrient-rich. This dish combines the goodness of quinoa with rich cocoa, making it a tasty start to your day while providing a nice protein boost.
This chocolate quinoa breakfast bowl addresses blandness and lack of nutrition often found in standard breakfast options, offering a tasty and healthy alternative.
I remember the first time I tried this chocolate delight. My kids were eyeing my bowl with curiosity instead of their usual breakfast options. Quinoa can sometimes feel tricky to work with, but this recipe makes it easy and fuss-free, perfect for busy mornings.
What makes this bowl special is its quick prep time of just 5 minutes and a cook time of 15 minutes. With plenty of room for customization, you can top it off exactly how you like it. If you want to keep breakfast exciting, try my Protein Brownies next!
Table of contents
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Rich Chocolate Flavor – The unsweetened dark cocoa powder gives this bowl a deep, satisfying chocolate taste without overwhelming sweetness. It’s a great way to enjoy a chocolate fix early in the day.
- Protein Powerhouse – Quinoa shines as a high-protein ingredient, making this breakfast an energizing start. It keeps you feeling full and satisfied, ensuring you’re ready to tackle the day.
- Customizable Toppings – With options like sliced bananas, berries, and hemp seed hearts, you can personalize each bowl. This flexibility lets you vary your breakfast, keeping things exciting day after day.
- Quick and Easy Prep – In just 20 minutes, you can have a nourishing meal on the table. The simplicity of preparation means you can whip this up even on the busiest mornings.
Chocolate Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cool Time:
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Vegetarian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A delicious and nutritious chocolate quinoa breakfast bowl, perfect for a healthy start to your day.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (170 g) quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups (480 ml) unsweetened almond milk
- ⅛ teaspoon (0.7 g) sea salt
- 3 tablespoons (15 g) unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons (60 ml) pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) pure vanilla extract
- Hemp seed hearts, sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate shavings – optional, quantities as desired
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat until hot. Add the rinsed quinoa and stir frequently for 3-4 minutes, watching for the quinoa to slightly darken to avoid burning. This toasting enhances the nutty flavor of the quinoa.
- Step 2: Pour in the unsweetened almond milk and sprinkle in the sea salt. Stir to combine the ingredients evenly.
- Step 3: Bring the mixture to a low boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer for 12-15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from boiling over.
- Step 4: After simmering, check that the quinoa is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. If the quinoa seems undercooked, add an additional ¼ cup (60 ml) of almond milk and simmer uncovered for another 2-3 minutes.
- Step 5: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the unsweetened dark cocoa powder, pure maple syrup, and pure vanilla extract thoroughly until fully combined and smooth. If the chocolate flavor is mild, mix in 1 tablespoon more cocoa powder to intensify richness without added sugar.
- Step 6: Spoon the chocolate quinoa mixture into bowls. Top with your choice of sliced bananas, fresh berries, hemp seed hearts, or dark chocolate shavings. For added texture and flavor, consider sprinkling 1 tablespoon of nuts or a drizzle of almond butter.
Notes
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day to maintain texture and flavor.
- Refrigeration: Cool completely, then seal in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Freeze in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Use organic quinoa and rinse thoroughly under cold water before cooking to remove bitterness and enhance its nutty flavor.
- Use Dutch-processed cocoa powder for a smoother, richer chocolate taste; check for freshness by smell and texture.
- If the mixture boils aggressively, reduce heat immediately and stir during simmering to prevent boil-over.
- To avoid lumps after adding cocoa, stir vigorously immediately after removing the saucepan from heat.
- Adding hemp seed hearts or berries just before serving adds color, nutrition, and a pleasant crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Ingredient Notes
- Quinoa: Choose a good quality, organic quinoa. Rinsing the grains under cold water before cooking helps remove any bitterness and ensures a nutty flavor.
- Cocoa powder: Use Dutch-processed cocoa for a smoother, richer taste. Check for freshness by looking for a fine texture and a deep color; it should smell chocolatey, not stale.
- Almond milk: Unsweetened almond milk gives a nice creaminess without overpowering flavors. If you’re not a fan, any plant-based milk works well here; just skip the sweetened versions.
- Maple syrup: Opt for pure maple syrup for its depth of flavor. It balances the bitterness of cocoa perfectly. Avoid imitation maple syrup if you can, it’s not the same!
- Chia seeds: These little seeds add thickness and a slight crunch. Make sure you let them soak to plump up, which helps bind the ingredients together nicely.
- Banana: Use a ripe banana for natural sweetness and creaminess. The brown spots on the peel mean it’s perfect for mashing into the bowl without altering the flavor much.
- Nuts: Any chopped nuts add a great crunch and healthy fats. Walnuts or almonds are nice choices; just make sure they’re unsalted for better balance in flavors.
Recipe Tips
- If the quinoa seems undercooked after 15 minutes, check for liquid absorption and add ¼ cup almond milk if needed, then simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- When your mixture starts to boil too aggressively, reduce the heat immediately and stir while simmering to avoid overflow; do this around 10 minutes into cooking.
- If the chocolate flavor is lacking, add 1 tablespoon more cocoa powder when the quinoa is fully cooked to intensify the richness without added sugar.
- For lumpy quinoa, vigorously stir the mixture after adding cocoa powder to combine evenly, which you should do right after removing from heat.
- If your bowl looks plain, top with 1 tablespoon of hemp seeds or a handful of berries before serving for a colorful and nutritious finish.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the chocolate quinoa bowl with sliced bananas or a handful of fresh berries for a colorful breakfast experience. You may also enjoy it alongside a dollop of Greek yogurt or a sprinkle of chia seeds for added nutrition.
Use to make overnight chocolate quinoa jars or breakfast parfaits with yogurt layers and your favorite fruits. Add to smoothies or energy bites for nutritious snacking options throughout the day.
Top with almond butter, a drizzle of honey, or some crushed nuts for texture and flavor. You can also finish it with a sprinkle of cinnamon or cocoa powder to enhance the chocolate experience.
Recipe variations
- You can use white, red, or black quinoa to create variations of the chocolate quinoa bowl, adjusting cooking times slightly according to the quinoa type.
- Add ½ tsp cinnamon or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the cocoa powder mix for a spiced chocolate quinoa bowl with subtle warming notes.
- Either unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk can be used as the liquid base, providing dairy-free options that alter creaminess and flavor.
- If serving more than four, multiply the ingredients by two or three, and cook quinoa in larger batches while stirring frequently to prevent sticking or boiling over, similar to my Quinoa and Sausage Bowl.
Save This Recipe!
How to Store?
To keep your chocolate quinoa bowl fresh and delicious, follow these storage tips:
Room Temperature: Store the chocolate quinoa bowl in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day to preserve texture and flavor.
Refrigeration: Place the bowl in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days, ensuring it cools completely before sealing.
Freezing: Transfer the chocolate quinoa bowl into a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
If you enjoyed this chocolate quinoa bowl or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I appreciate taking time to read about this recipe, thank you!
