Popped Quinoa Granola (Crunchy & Nut-Free)
Popped Quinoa Granola is packed with quinoa, chia, flax, and pepitas. Ideal for a quick breakfast or snack, pair with vegan yogurt for a delightful nut-free crunch!
Servings: 15
Calories: 132kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ cup flax seeds
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup pepitas pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- a pinch of salt
- ½ cup optional mix ins chocolate chips, dried fruit
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F and add parchment paper or a silicone mat to a baking sheet
- Pop uncooked quinoa in a large skillet or medium saucepan for 5 to 10 minutes or until the quinoa starts to make a popping sound and smells toasty.
- Place flaxseed, chia seed, and water in a large bowl and mix to combine. This mixture should gel up almost immediately.
- Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix.
- Add the maple syrup and mix to thoroughly coat the dry ingredients.
- Pour the granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Spread the mixture into an even layer all the way to the edges of the pan. Use the back of your spoon or spatula to tamp it down.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the baking tray from the oven and use a spatula to flip the granola in sections. Tamp the granola back down into a flat, even layer.
- Continue baking the granola for 15 to 20 additional minutes or until it looks golden brown.
- Let the quinoa granola cool completely (about 30 to 60 minutes) on the baking sheet before breaking it into clusters.
- Add mix-ins like chocolate chips or dried fruit, if desired.
Notes
See more expert tips, pictures, and variations above for making the best popped quinoa granola!
Yield: about 5 cups
Serving Size: about ⅓ cup
Storage: Wait until your quinoa granola is fully cooled before storing. Then, place it in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 weeks. For longer storage, you can freeze granola for up to 8 months!
Variation: Instead of breaking the granola into pieces, chop it into crunchy granola bars!
Nut-Free Note: While this recipe is made without nuts, always check the packaging for seeds as they are often processed in the same facility as nuts, and there can be cross-contamination.
Nutrition
Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 160mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg
