Make crispy quinoa balls in the oven to replace traditional meatballs, a side dish, or enjoy them as a tasty appetizer or snack with your favorite dipping sauce.
What are Quinoa Balls?
Quinoa balls are essentially savory fritters made from cooked quinoa (pronounced “keen-wah”) mixed with seasonings and a binder, then formed into balls and baked, pan-fried, or air-fried until crisp.
Key Ingredients
Quinoa on its own can be a little…boring. But mixing it with aromatics, warm spices, and creamy white beans completely transforms the grains into a savory and delicious bite.
- Quinoa: Use white, red, black, or a combination of quinoa to make the baked quinoa ball recipe.
- Carrots: Cooked carrots add natural sweetness and help bind the mixture together.
- Garlic: Two fresh garlic cloves add the best flavor.
- Beans: Cannellini beans help hold everything together while adding extra flavor and protein. You can easily substitute chickpeas or black beans if that’s what you have.
- Spices: Season the quinoa balls with black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, ground cumin, and dried parsley.
Additions and Substitutions
- Use seasonal vegetables: Include greens like spinach or fresh herbs such as basil or parsley. Replace the carrots with in-season vegetables. I have tried acorn squash, butternut squash, and sweet or russet potatoes. You can also give leftover cooked vegetables in the fridge new life.
- Spice things up. Season the quinoa balls with za’atar, taco seasoning, or this Slap Ya Mama’s Seasoning recipe to change the flavor.
How to Make Quinoa Balls
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Bring 2 cups of water, quinoa, and salt to a boil in a saute pan, then reduce the heat. Cover and cook at a gentle simmer for 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add carrots and ¾ cups of water to the same pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 8–10 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in the minced garlic and Cannellini beans. Sauté for another minute, then drain the mixture through a colander. Combine it with the cooked quinoa and set it aside to cool slightly at room temperature.
Step 4: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. While the mixture is still, use a potato masher or fork to mash the carrots, beans, and quinoa together until well mixed.
Step 5: Season with black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and dried parsley, and stir to combine.
Step 6: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Using lightly oiled hands, roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange them onto the prepared baking sheet.
Step 7: Lightly brush or spray the balls with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown, flipping them halfway through.
Ary Fryer Balls
The air fryer will give you the crispiest quinoa balls. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (191°C), then prepare the air fryer basket with oil. Air fry the balls in batches for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through.
Pan-Fried Balls
If you want crispy, golden-brown balls, pan-frying them is your best option—use warm oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the balls in a single layer, and cook for 2–3 minutes per side.
Expert Tips
- Use dried quinoa. Allow the cooked quinoa to dry. If it appears damp or sticky, spread it onto a baking sheet to air dry.
- Slightly cool the mixture. Let the mashed quinoa, beans, and carrots cool slightly before rolling them into balls to prevent them from falling apart.
- Carefully roll the balls. Roll the quinoa balls between oiled hands to keep them from sticking. Slightly compress them so they’re tight, preventing them from crumbling.
If you enjoy the crispy quinoa balls, try more bite-sized appetizer recipes!
How to Serve Quinoa Balls
Dunk the quinoa balls into marinara sauce (sugo al pomodoro) and other dipping sauces such as, Calabrian aioli, hot mustard, sos czosnkowy, BBQ aioli, lemon dill aioli, Big Mac sauce, or chipotle lime sauce for a quick snack the whole family will love.
Use the quinoa balls to replace regular meatballs, or serve them over a bed of mixed greens, an avocado cucumber tomato salad, or a cucumber beet salad. You can even stuff them into warm pitas with tzatziki, tahini yogurt sauce, or butter bean hummus like you would falafel.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftover quinoa bites in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Freeze the cooked or uncooked quinoa balls in a freezer-safe container or bag for 3 months.
- Thaw: Defrost the balls in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat: Warm the leftovers in the microwave or the oven at 350℉ (165℃) for 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vegetables can you use in these veggie quinoa bites?
I love using carrots and garlic to add flavor and help bind everything together, but you can easily switch it up in different ways. You can even sneak in extra vegetables that might otherwise scare off picky eaters.
Try finely grated zucchini, chopped spinach leaves or kale, mashed sweet potatoes, corn, or finely chopped broccoli into the quinoa mixture.
More Vegetarian Recipes:
Quinoa Balls
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2¾ cups water, divided
- 1 cup carrots, roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces) cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- cooking spray or oil
- Bring 2 cups of water, quinoa, and salt to a boil in a saute pan, then reduce the heat. Cover and cook at a gentle simmer for 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- Add carrots and ¾ cups of water to the same pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 8–10 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and Cannellini beans. Sauté for another minute, then drain the mixture through a colander. Combine it with the cooked quinoa and set it aside to cool slightly at room temperature.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. While the mixture is still warm, use a potato masher or fork to mash the carrots, beans, and quinoa together until well mixed.
- Season with black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and dried parsley, and stir to combine.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Using lightly oiled hands, roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and arrange them onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly brush or spray the balls with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
- Use dried quinoa. Allow the cooked quinoa to dry. If it appears damp or sticky, spread it onto a baking sheet to air dry.
- Slightly cool the mixture. Let the mashed quinoa, beans, and carrots cool slightly before rolling them into balls to prevent them from falling apart.
- Carefully roll the balls. Roll the quinoa balls between oiled hands to keep them from sticking. Slightly compress them so they’re tight, preventing them from crumbling.
Debra
Monday 23rd of October 2023
Tressa, I have some questions. On step 4 you say drain and add “it” to the quinoa. I assume you mean the carrot, garlic and bean mixture. But in step 5 you say to mash the carrots and beans and then add them to the quinoa. But they were already added in step 4. Pls clarify. Tx
Tressa Jamil
Tuesday 24th of October 2023
My mistake, I will correct the instructions immediately. Thank you for bringing them to my attention. You can technically mash them before adding them to the quinoa, but I just mashed everything together.
Deepti
Saturday 30th of September 2023
These Quinoa balls look so perfect! I am adding them to a gravy with rice for a complete meal. Thanks so much!
Tressa Jamil
Monday 2nd of October 2023
Yum, that sounds delicious.
Laura
Friday 29th of September 2023
What a great option for vegetarians! Such a good recipe!
Tressa Jamil
Friday 29th of September 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Consider trying one of these vegetarian recipes, next!
Han
Friday 29th of September 2023
I just have one issue with this recipe and it's that it's too addictive. Seriously, I ate like 8 in one go!
Tressa Jamil
Friday 29th of September 2023
Wow, what a raving review!! I am glad my quinoa balls were such a hit!
Charlotte
Friday 29th of September 2023
I love making these Quinoa balls and putting them on my salads for lunch during the week! They keep me full and energized! Thanks for another great recipe!
Tressa Jamil
Friday 29th of September 2023
I love the idea of adding the quinoa balls to salad - happy you enjoyed them.