This recipe for Crunchy Granola with Quinoa is the perfect combination of sweet and crunchy. It's completely customizable with add-ins of your choice like chopped nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips. This granola is delicious over morning yogurt parfaits or baked apples!
This post was first published on July 1, 2020. It was updated on December 20, 2022.
Why should I add quinoa to granola?
Quinoa makes for the perfect addition to this simple granola recipe as it provides an awesome crunch and packs in some added protein and nutrients like fiber, folate, and manganese. I recommend buying pre-rinsed quinoa as this can help reduce any bitter flavors.
How do you make this crunchy granola?
This DIY granola is as easy as mixing up, baking, and enjoying. It is one of my favorites to teach clients in my virtual Coaching + Cooking program! If you go through this granola as quickly as I do, simply double the recipe. Watch the video below in the recipe card or keep reading to see how simple it is to make!
1. Gather your ingredients
You'll be using simple pantry ingredients like oats, quinoa, oil, sweetener, and add-ins of your choice.
2. Stir everything together
Use a large bowl to stir your dry and wet ingredients together until all the oats are coated in your sweetener and oil.
3. Add to a sheet pan
You'll want to press the mixture down in an even layer over a 9 x 13-inch sheet pan. If you are doubling the recipe, use a larger sheet pan. Be sure to layer a piece of parchment paper or a reusable silicone baking mat over the sheet pan for easy clean up and no issues with sticking. If you don't have parchment paper, try spraying the sheet pan with a generous amount of cooking spray.
4. Bake until golden brown
You'll bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes. I recommend briefly pulling it out halfway through (at around the 15 minute mark) to rotate the pan and pull any bits around the corners that may be getting more golden brown into the center.
After baking for a few more minutes... voila! Now you have homemade granola and a delicious smelling house in under an hour!
Customize it your way
What's even better is all of the ingredients are likely already in your pantry- so you can use up items you already have on hand. The recipe is completely customizable so you can throw in whatever you desire! Here's how I usually make mine:
Here's how I usually make mine:
- I love to fill my 1 cup of add-ins with chopped nuts like pecans, almonds, and walnuts.
- Next for the seeds, I throw in a mixture ground flaxseed and chia seeds.
- For the spices, cinnamon is always my go-to to use.
- For the oil, I usually love the taste of coconut oil here. You could also opt for a more heart-healthy oil like canola oil or olive oil.
- Finally, for the sweetener, I use a mixture of honey and maple syrup.
This crunchy granola makes the perfect holiday gift too
I love gifting this granola because it's something unique besides cookies and chocolate. It's perfect to bring over to neighbors or even ship to loved ones. CLICK HERE to print these cute holiday labels to stick onto your mason jars!
What do you eat with granola?
Here's some recipes I loving adding this quinoa granola over:
- Customizable Yogurt Parfaits
- Baked Apples
- Oat Flour Pancakes
- Baked Oats
- Breakfast Charcuterie Board
- Gingerbread Mug Cake
- Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
- Or simply enjoy on its own for a snack!
How long does granola last?
I find this granola stays good in an airtight container or bag at room temperature for up to a month. You can even eat it beyond one month, but you'll notice the flavor tasting a bit stale.
Need more help with recipes for your busy schedule?
In my coaching + cooking program, I help busy people with beginner cooking knowledge become confident in the kitchen so that they can enjoy nourishing foods they love and stress less about mealtime. Click here to learn more about this virtual program led by a dietitian.
Quinoa Crunch Granola
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Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons uncooked sprouted or pre-washed quinoa
- 1 heaping cup add-ins of your choice (pecans, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, peanuts, coconut flakes, cocoa nibs, puffed rice, millet, dried fruit, chopped dates, chocolate chips*, or a mixture!) - see note
- ¼ cup seeds of your choice (chia seeds, ground flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds)
- 1 teaspoon spices of your choice (pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, or nutmeg)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup oil of your choice, (I prefer using coconut oil here but you can also use olive oil or canola oil)
- ⅓ cup liquid sweetener of your choice (maple syrup, agave, honey)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the oats, quinoa, add-ins, seeds, spices, salt, and vanilla in a large bowl and stir until combined.
- Using a liquid measuring cup, pour oil and liquid sweetener over top and stir once more until dry mixture is completely coated.
- Add granola mixture to a 9"x13" baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until slightly browned. Turn pan halfway through baking to ensure even cooking. If you notice the edges are browning more than the middle, stir them into the center of the granola and push the middle area towards the edges.
- Once done baking, remove sheet pan from the oven and cool on a wire rack. At this point, if you like your granola less chunky, stir to break up any pieces. If you like your granola more chunky, do not stir the granola and let it completely cool before breaking apart.
- Store cooled granola in an airtight container or bag and enjoy for up to a month.
Video
Notes
- Within the 1 cup of add-ins of your choice, you can fill this with just one ingredient but I would recommend filling with a lot of different ingredients you like. For example, I usually fill my 1 cup of add-ins with ¼ cup of coconut flakes, ¼ cup of chopped walnuts, ¼ cup of sliced almonds, and ¼ cup of chopped pecans.
- If using chopped dates, dried fruit, or chocolate-stir them in after the granola comes out of the oven to avoid the fruit or chocolate being overly hard.
Nutrition
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Lisa says
Excellent Granola Recipe. I subbed the Vanilla with Maple Extract. Added a Tablespoon of Peanut Butter then decreased the oil by one Tablespoon.
I will be making this again!
Mackenzie Burgess says
Hi Lisa! Thank you so much for trying out this recipe and sharing your positive experience! So glad you were able to customize it to your liking too. Love this idea for swapping some of the oil with nut butter – I'll have to give that a try! ~Mackenzie