High Protein Quinoa Granola (Without Protein Powder)

Name: High Protein Quinoa Granola
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 cups old fashioned oats; 1 ½ cups popped quinoa ((aka puffed quinoa)); ¾ cup chopped pecans; ½ cup sliced almonds; ⅔ cup coconut flakes; 2 Tablespoons chia seeds; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; 1 Tablespoon brown sugar; 2 Tablespoons flaxseed meal; 1 teaspoon salt; 5 Tablespoons water; ½ cup honey; ½ cup maple syrup; ½ cup oil

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Skip the chalkiness of protein powder and go for a high-protein granola recipe that uses quinoa and ingredients from the pantry! It makes perfect ready-to-eat clusters in under 45 minutes!

Granola and fresh berries in a white bowl with milk.

Why This Recipe Works

Unlike recipes that use powder to increase the protein count, this homemade granola recipe uses a secret ingredient: popped quinoa. These light and airy popped seeds provide a unique nutty flavor profile and a little extra crunch.

But it doesn't stop there! There is additional protein from other nuts and seeds, plus flaxseed meal instead of eggs. This not only keeps it gluten-free, but it is dairy-free and vegan as well!

All of this together means that one simple serving of this high protein quinoa granola gives you almost 20% of the recommended protein for the day.

What's In This Recipe

Ingredients for making high protein granola.

For this super high protein granola recipe you need:

Rolled oats. For the best crunch, get the ones that are old-fashioned and NOT quick cook.
Sweeteners. I prefer a balance of maple syrup and honey because it keeps the granola from tasting too strongly of one. Plus, I add in just a little brown sugar for a deeper caramelization.
Coagulant. This is what helps bind together the quinoa granola and make it clump. In order to keep this dairy-free, I use flaxseed meal and oil. These thicken up and work just like an egg white.
Fat. I prefer a flavor-neutral oil like canola or avocado oil, but coconut oil or any other type works fine.
Nuts and seeds. This recipe uses chopped pecans, sliced almonds, coconut flakes, and chia seeds. The nuts and seeds help boost the protein even higher plus add a delightful crunch.
SECRET INGREDIENT! This is what makes the granola so protein-packed: popped quinoa. You can pop your own quinoa at home, or get store-bought. (It's often called puffed quinoa.)

How To Make This Recipe

Four steps showing how to make high protein granola.

golden circle with black number 1 in it.

Preheat the oven to 325°F

In a small bowl combine the flaxseed meal and water. Let it sit for five minutes or until thick and gummy.

golden circle with black number 2 in it.

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. (Oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, brown sugar, salt, popped quinoa, and dried fruit). Then set aside.

Stir together the liquid ingredients in a separate bowl. (Honey, maple syrup, oil, and flaxseed.). Add it to the dry ingredients and stir until well coated.

golden circle with black number 3 in it.

Spread the mixture out on a baking sheet and use a spoon or the bottom of a mixing cup to press it down firmly.

Bake for 20 minutes, rotate the pan and bake for 15 minutes more. Remove it from the oven and let it cool completely.

golden circle with black number 4 in it.

Once the high protein granola is room temperature throughout, use a wooden spoon to scoop it up. It will break into clusters as you remove it from the pan.

Serve the quinoa granola with greek yogurt, milk, or use it for a snack.

A measuring spoon pouring water into flaxseed meal.

Overhead view into a bowl of flaxseed meal to use instead of eggs.

Expert Tips

Everyone's tastes vary. If this recipe is too sweet for you, halve the maple syrup and honey. It creates quinoa granola that is more savory and lets the saltiness shine.
As you're mixing the dry ingredients, the seeds and popped quinoa may sink to the bottom. Once the wet ingredients are added, the seeds will incorporate evenly.

A wooden spoon scraping homemade granola into clusters.

A clear jar of high protein granola on a counter.

FAQ's

How much protein is in granola?

Most store bought granolas offer around 3 grams of protein. This high-protein quinoa granola offers 10 grams per serving.

How do I get my granola to stick together?

Granola clumps together in a combination of ways. As the sugar cooks it becomes hard, holding together the items around it. (Like hard candy.). In addition, egg whites (or in this case flaxseed meal) serves as a binder as well. Finally, you need to be patient and let the granola cool completely so everything can harden.

Why is my homemade granola not crunchy?

If the oven temperature is too high, it causes the ingredients to burn on the outside before the inside finishes cooking. It needs to dry out in order to get crunchy, so rotate the pan halfway through cooking and make sure the layer of granola isn't too thick.

How long does homemade granola last?

If kept in a cool, dark place, homemade granola lasts for up to two weeks in an airtight container. I don't recommend putting it in the refrigerator because the amount of humidity in there can make the granola soggy.

What oil do you use for granola?

I prefer using a flavor neutral oil like canola or avocado because it doesn't distract from the granola. However, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil both bring unique profiles to the granola that will spice up the standard recipe.