Slow Cooker Banana Peanut Butter Quinoa Breakfast

📝Shopping list

To make delicious quinoa breakfast bowls, you will need these simple ingredients:

• quinoa
• plant-based milk -  I use almond milk
• bananas mashed
• natural peanut butter
• salt

💜Why You Will Love Breakfast Quinoa

Quinoa is the perfect healthy breakfast!  It is a complete protein that is totally plant-based.  Like overnight oats, quinoa has a very neutral flavor that goes with anything.  

🔪Instructions

This great recipe involves just a few simple steps:

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

Cooking

• 🥣Start by rinsing your uncooked quinoa in cold water until the water runs clear. You do not need to soak it, just rinse. Quinoa grows a naturally bitter coating to help it repel bugs and other predators. Rinsing will help remove any leftover bitter taste.
• 🥣Place rinsed quinoa into greased slow cooker
• 🥣Mash bananas using a fork and add them to crock pot along with all remaining ingredients
• 🥣Cover and cook quinoa on low heat for 4-6 hours or until quinoa is cooked through.  
• 🥣Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy

🍽Serving suggestions

This creamy, protein-filled dish is only mildly sweet and does not have a strong flavor.  This makes it perfect for customizing to your taste. 

Here are some ideas to help take your delicious quinoa breakfast bowl to the next level:

• Fresh fruit:   top your quinoa with banana slices, fresh berries, or tropical fruits such as pineapple or mango chunks. 
• Nutty Crunch:  add crushed nuts, like peanuts, candied pecans, and cashews, or seeds, such as chia seeds or pumpkin seeds to your quinoa breakfast recipe.   Each of these will provide extra flavor and texture to your bowl.
• Sweeten things up:  Since there is no added sugar in banana peanut butter quinoa breakfast, it is not overly sweet.  Honey, maple syrup, or agave are all amazing drizzled on top.  A handful of chocolate chips are also a favorite addition. Brown sugar is another perfect way to add an extra touch of sweetness.  Vanilla extract added at the start of cooking time lends a warm vanilla flavor. 
• Extra creaminess: Stir in some Greek yogurt or an extra splash of milk for extra creamy goodness when serving.  

🔁Substitutions

• 1. Coconut milk is a great plant-based milk to use instead of almond milk.  Cashew milk and soy milk are also great non-dairy milk options. 
• Swap almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for peanut butter for a peanut-free version.  (Chocolate sunflower seed butter is AMAZING  in this!!). 
• Both chunky and creamy peanut butter work well in banana peanut butter quinoa breakfast

Storing

Store leftovers in a single-serving-sized airtight container for easy grab-and-go breakfasts.  It will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator making it perfect for weekly meal prep

😉Hints & hacks

1. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price. 
2. A fine mesh strainer is the easiest to use when rinsing quinoa.  
3. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
4. When you are finished cooking, use a fork to help fluff your quinoa.
5. Don't forget to plug in your crockpot!