Quinoa Vegetable Soup

This Quinoa Vegetable Soup is packed with flavor and wholesome ingredients. It’s loaded with veggies, shredded chicken, tender quinoa, and a perfect spice blend. Make this hearty soup in a pressure cooker (Instant Pot) or slow cooker (Crock-pot).

Try some of our other favorite quinoa soups like this Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup, Crockpot Chicken Quinoa Soup, and Healthy Minestrone Soup.

Can You Put Quinoa In Vegetable Soup?

A resounding yes, and you’ve got to try it — particularly in this very Quinoa Vegetable Soup! While we’re nothing short of obsessed with this plain Vegetable Soup, adding quinoa is a fun way to change things up a bit and boost the nutrition. 

If you have ever tried quinoa in soup instead of barley or rice, you know what a great replacement it is for either. Quinoa is a great grain to add to soup because it takes on the flavors of surrounding ingredients and gives the soup a wonderfully thick and hearty texture.

Also, adding quinoa to a soup recipe makes the soup more satiating. This is because quinoa is packed with plant-based protein that helps you feel more full for longer. And especially when there is also chicken in the soup! Of course, you can make this quinoa soup chicken-free if you’d prefer a vegan or vegetarian version, but my family does love it with the chicken.

How To Make Quinoa Vegetable Soup

This recipe is meant to be easy. It can be made on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, or in a pressure cooker! To maximize flavor and ensure veggie tenderness, you’ll want to use a slow cooker or pressure cooker that has a sautéing function. If not, you can sauté everything in a skillet and transfer.

1. Sauté. Sauté the mirepoix (carrot, celery, and onion) in olive oil. Then we add in garlic, tomato paste, and all the seasonings. This is the “secret” to unlocking loads of flavor. Don’t skip or rush past this part and you’ll be rewarded with a deeply flavorful soup!
2. Slow cook or pressure cook. Next up, add everything else in, including the uncooked quinoa and uncooked chicken. That’s right — the slow cooker or pressure cooker will do all that work for us!
3. Enjoy! Once the Quinoa Vegetable Soup is done cooking, you can remove the chicken and give it a quick shred with 2 forks then return it to the soup. Ladle into bowls, add some toppings, and enjoy this tasty meal!

Quinoa Vegetable Soup FAQs

How To Top Your Soup Bowl

This Quinoa Vegetable Soup is great right out of the pot, but toppings take it to the next level! Below are our favorites:

• Freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese (my kiddos love lots!)
• A scoop of sour cream (lite or fat-free is great) or Greek yogurt
• A squeeze of fresh lime
• Fresh herbs like cilantro (or parsley if you don’t love cilantro)

Recipe Notes

• The longer this soup cooks, the more liquid the quinoa absorbs. For a heartier soup, that’s great, but if you want it to remain more brothy, stop cooking as soon as the quinoa has “popped.” How to know when the soup is done? Look for chicken that shreds easily, quinoa that is fully cooked through, and tender veggies.
• Rinse the quinoa first: Quinoa has a naturally occurring bitter coating on it, called saponin, and needs to be rinsed before adding to the cooker. Many brands of quinoa are pre-rinsed, so check the package to see if that’s the case. If not, add quinoa to a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cold water until the water runs clear.

Pair This Quinoa Vegetable Soup Recipe With:

• Some hearty, crusty bread (or if you’re feeling ambitious, fix some homemade Dinner Rolls!)
• A quick side salad like this Beet Goat Cheese Walnut Salad or Cucumber Salad
• A slice of toasted Honey Whole Wheat Bread or White Bread
• A fruit salad like this Winter Fruit Salad or Creamy Fruit Salad
• Even more veggies! This Roasted Broccoli and Roasted Brussels Sprouts are two favorites!