Vegan Quinoa Patties
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.My Vegan Quinoa Patties are so easy to make and come together in just 45 minutes. They’re perfectly crispy with bold, delicious flavors, making them a healthy snack or a great addition to main meals. Plus, I made them super simple to tweak if I need a gluten-free option.
I created these vegan quinoa patties because I wanted a healthy, plant-based option that’s packed with flavor and easy to make. They’re crispy, satisfying, and perfect for meal prep or quick weeknight dinners. If you’re a fan of hearty veggie patties, you’ll also love my mushroom fritters, another favorite in my house!
Quinoa is such a versatile and healthy ingredient, it’s become a staple in my kitchen for creating amazing recipes my family loves. From hearty main meals to wholesome breakfasts like my favorite quinoa oatmeal, it’s perfect for starting the day off right and keeping us fueled all day long!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
I absolutely love my vegan quinoa patties because they’re packed with protein, veggies, and flavorful herbs, making them the perfect plant-based meal. They’ve become a road trip tradition for my family, I pack them up with ease, and the kids can’t get enough of these healthy, delicious snacks on the go.
I use my healthy quinoa patties in so many ways, stacked as veggie burgers with all my favorite toppings, paired with a tasty dipping sauce for a quick snack, or crumbled over a salad for a lighter meal. They’re also my favorite when hosting holiday dinners, as they’re a healthy, satisfying option for friends who care about their diet. I even make a gluten-free version using gluten-free breadcrumbs for one of my friends, and she absolutely loves them.
Have you ever made something so delicious it’s gone in seconds? That’s exactly what happens every time I make these vegan quinoa patties, they’re perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and everyone always asks for more. I can’t wait for you to try them.
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🥘 Ingredients
My recipe for vegan quinoa patties uses simple, wholesome ingredients like fresh veggies and flavorful spices. These are the main ingredients:
Vegetable Broth: I cook the quinoa in vegetable broth to infuse it with rich flavor, it makes such a difference.
Spices: Cumin, curry powder, ground coriander, salt, and pepper give the quinoa a warm, flavorful seasoning.
Quinoa: Quinoa is a powerhouse protein, and I love that you can use white, black, or red quinoa for this recipe.
Veggies: Carrot, green onion, and garlic bring freshness, texture, and so much flavor to these patties.
Chia Seeds: Ground chia seeds mixed with water make a chia egg, it’s my favorite egg replacer for keeping the patties together.
Nutritional Yeast: A touch of nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor and extra nutrients.
Lemon Zest: Lemon zest brightens up the patties and pairs beautifully with the spices and herbs.
Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs help bind the patties while adding a nice texture.
🍲 Substitutions
Broth: I usually stick with vegetable broth, but you can use any broth or even water, it’s super flexible!
Spices: Feel free to mix it up with onion powder, garlic powder, or paprika to suit your taste.
Veggies: Swap in your favorites like bell peppers, red onion, sweet corn, or even sweet potatoes for a fun twist.
Flax Egg: If I’m out of chia seeds, I make a flax egg using ground flaxseeds and water, it works just as well.
Herbs: Fresh herbs like cilantro, dill, or mint add an extra layer of flavor to the patties.
Flour: Breadcrumbs are great, but oat flour, chickpea flour, or almond flour work perfectly as substitutes.
Oil: I like using olive oil, but avocado or coconut oil are excellent high-heat options for frying.
🔪 How To Make
Now for the fun part! I’ll show you just how easy it is to make this recipe in just 45 minutes with my step-by-step photos.
Rinse, Drain, Cook Quinoa: I start by rinsing the quinoa under cold water and draining it well. Then, I add the quinoa, broth, and spices to a medium pot, bring it to a boil, lower the heat, and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes until it’s perfectly cooked and fluffy.
Cool: Once the quinoa is cooked, I take it off the heat and let it cool down before mixing it with the other ingredients.
Saute Veggies: I heat 1 tablespoon of oil (or use cooking spray) in a frying pan, then sauté the grated carrot, sliced green onion, and minced garlic until they’re soft and fragrant.
Combine: I toss the sautéed veggies into a large mixing bowl with the cooked quinoa and give it a good mix to combine all the flavors.
Prep Chia Egg, Add Additional Ingredients:I start by mixing ground chia seeds with water in a small bowl, stirring it well, and letting it sit until it forms a gel-like consistency. Then, I add the chia egg, nutritional yeast, lemon zest, parsley, breadcrumbs, and seasonings to the quinoa mixture in the large bowl and mix everything together until well combined.
Shape Patties: I dampen my hands to keep the mixture from sticking, then shape the quinoa mixture into 10 evenly sized patties.
Cook Patties: I heat some oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then cook the patties until they’re beautifully golden brown on both sides, crispy and perfect!
Repeat: I repeat the process with the remaining patties, cooking them in batches until they’re all golden brown and crispy!
Serve: I serve the cooked quinoa patties as a tasty side or main dish, pairing them with vegan sour cream, hummus, or any of my favorite dipping sauces. Perfect for any meal!
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for making the best vegan quinoa patties is to always rinse the quinoa before cooking it! I learned this the hard way after my first batch tasted a little bitter, it turns out quinoa has a natural coating called saponin that needs to be washed away. Now, I always rinse it thoroughly with a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear, and it makes such a difference in the flavor!
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Fluffy Quinoa: I make sure to cook the quinoa until it’s fluffy and all the liquid is absorbed. This gives the patties the perfect texture.
- Shaping The Patties: Using damp hands makes shaping the patties so much easier. It keeps the mixture from sticking to my fingers.
- Season Generously: Quinoa has a mild flavor, so I always season the mixture to taste before cooking. A little extra seasoning goes a long way.
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: I cook the patties in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet. This way, they fry up golden and crispy instead of steaming.
📖 Variations
I love how versatile these vegan quinoa patties are, they’re already delicious, but you can easily switch things up to make them your own.
Add Protein: I love mixing black beans into this recipe for extra protein and flavor! Use half black beans and half quinoa, or replace the chia egg with smashed black beans for a fun twist.
Baked Them: Instead of frying, I bake these patties in the oven for a healthier, lower-oil option. They still turn out crispy and delicious.
Spicy: I like to spice things up by adding a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the mix. It gives the patties a nice kick.
Gluten-Free: when I need a gluten-free option, I just swap out the regular breadcrumbs for gluten-free ones, and they turn out perfect every time!
🍽 Serving Suggestions
I love enjoying these patties as a healthy side dish, or turning them into vegan quinoa burgers with a whole wheat bun and all my favorite toppings. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve them:
For a Vegan Burger: I love turning these quinoa patties into a veggie burger with all my favorite toppings: ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and onion. My favorites are my chipotle black bean burgers or my lentil falafel burger recipe!
For a Healthy Falafel Wrap: These patties are perfect in a pita for a Mediterranean twist. I like adding vegan feta, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and a dollop of vegan yogurt for extra flavor.
Sides: Pair these patties with air fryer fries or a scoop of my healthy guacamole for a simple, satisfying meal. Both are quick and so delicious.
🫙 Storage Directions
Refrigerating: I store any leftover quinoa patties in an airtight container once they’ve cooled to room temperature. They stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Make Ahead: When I know I’ll be busy, I prep the patties ahead of time and chill them in the fridge for up to 2 days before cooking. It makes mealtime so much easier.
Freezing: I love making a big batch to freeze, these patties can be stored for up to 1 month. I just layer parchment paper between them to keep them from sticking if I stack them.
Reheating: If frozen, I let the patties defrost, then heat them in a skillet with a little olive oil, flipping to warm evenly. They can also be reheated in the oven or toaster oven for a quick, crispy option.
❓Recipe FAQs
Yes! I love using quinoa as a binder for recipes, it even works as a substitute for breadcrumbs in some dishes. In this recipe for vegan quinoa cakes, I use a mix of quinoa, breadcrumbs, and a chia egg to hold everything together perfectly!
Each serving of my quinoa patties, two patties, gives you 7 grams of plant-based protein! Quinoa provides most of the protein, while the chia seeds and nutritional yeast add a little extra boost.
To get the crispiest quinoa veggie patties, I make sure to fry each one long enough and leave plenty of room in the pan. I wait until they have a beautiful golden color before flipping them over, and once both sides are golden brown, they’re perfectly crispy and ready to enjoy.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Vegan Quinoa Patties
Ingredients
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp curry powder
- ½ tsp ground coriander
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 carrot peeled and grated
- 2 green onion thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp ground chia seeds
- 3 tbsp cold water
- ½ tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa under cold water and drain.
- Add broth, spices and quinoa to a pot.
- Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer 20-25 minutes until the quinoa is cooked and fluffy.
- Remove the quinoa from the heat and allow to cool.
- Heat 1 tbsp oli and sauté the grated carrot, sliced green onion and minced garlic until soft.
- Combine the cooked vegetables with the quinoa in a mixing bowl.
- In a small bowl mix the ground chia seeds and water, stir and set aside to form a gel.
- Combine the nutritional yeast, lemon zest, chopped parsley, breadcrumbs and chia seed mixture (chia egg) with the quinoa mixture. Mix to combine.
- Season to taste.
- Using damp hands, shape the mixture into 10 patties.
- Heat the oil over a medium heat and cook the patties until golden on both sides.
- Repeat with remaining patties.
- Serve with a side of vegan sour cream.
Notes
- To make the best vegan quinoa patties I always rinse the quinoa before cooking it! I learned this the hard way after my first batch tasted a little bitter, it turns out quinoa has a natural coating called saponin that needs to be washed away. Now, I always rinse it thoroughly with a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear, and it makes such a difference in the flavor!
- I make sure to cook the quinoa until it’s fluffy and all the liquid is absorbed. This gives the patties the perfect texture.
- Using damp hands makes shaping the patties so much easier. It keeps the mixture from sticking to my fingers.
- I cook the patties in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet. This way, they fry up golden and crispy instead of steaming.
- Quinoa has a mild flavor, so I always season the mixture to taste before cooking. A little extra seasoning goes a long way.
I love these quinoa bites! They were a huge hit for dinner and the leftovers made for such a great snack yesterday. Will definitely be making these again!
Thanks so much Bobby!
They look good and they taste GREAT!
Yay! Great to hear that Sisley!
So healthy and delicious too. I really loved the spices and the great crunch too.
Thanks Amanda!!
Nice and crispy! Great recipe for filling pita pockets. We made then quite spicy too by adding lots of cayenne pepper! Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you liked this recipe Ieva!
Really love all of the flavors going on in these cakes! So tasty and super simple to make!
Thanks Suzy! Enjoy!!
I have so much quinoa at home, and don’t know what to do with it. This looks like the perfect solution!! Thank you so much for the recipe, bookmarked for later 🙂
This is the best way to use up extra quinoa!! I’m sure you’ll love this recipe Cathleen!
Love it when an experiment in the kitchen works to my advantage! Perfect recipe!
Thanks so much Jess!! 🙂
Made these tonight and they were ok. They definitely did not stay together, even after adding two eggs and breadcrumbs. So we called it hash and moved on :). The flavor was good but very mild. Next time I will add the full amount of chili powder and more cayenne (I was worried they would be too spicy for the kids, but it wasn’t the case). I also substituted queso fresca for feta and added sharp cheddar to give it more flavor.
Thanks for letting me know Jennifer! It’s too bad yours didn’t stay together – I think another reader had the same issue with this recipe. I think adding the egg/breadcrumbs was the right thing to do – you could also try making the patties, putting them in the fridge for about 15 minutes, and then putting them in the pan to cook – that way the mixture will set and they will stay together. And yes the more spices the better! Everyone’s palate is different – it sounds like you are definitely on the spicier side 🙂 I love your additions of sharp cheddar and queso fresco, you should also try eating it with a spicy salsa and maybe even some guacamole with jalapeños the next time around!
I tried making this recipe last night, but I just couldn’t get the mixture to hold enough to make patties (they would fall apart whenever I would try to flip them). Instead, we just enjoyed the mixture warm–like a quinoa salad of sorts. Any suggestions to help make the patties more firm?
Hi Aileen! Aw that’s too bad! I’m glad you enjoyed it as a salad though – it is a tasty mixture 🙂 Next time, try adding some breadcrumbs (like a couple tablespoons), or 1 egg into the mix before you break it up into patties. That should act as a great binder to hold everything together. Let me know if that works!
These look amazing!! Such a nutrient-rich, fiber-licious meal idea! Love it!!
Thanks so much Kati! I’m sure you will love these! 🙂
These look DELICIOUS!!!! Making them this weekend 🙂 Love your recipes!!
Yaaay!! Thanks so much Elizabeth! Can’t wait to hear what you think!