Chocolate-Quinoa Muffins

By Samira Vishwas On Feb 18, 2026

This recipe makes a dozen protein-rich chocolate muffins for breakfast or snack.
The fiber from the quinoa, bananas and whole-wheat flour supports gut health.
For light, mild flavor, choose white quinoa; for a firmer, nuttier bite, use red or tricolor.

Don’t let the “quinoa” in our Chocolate-Quinoa Muffins deter you—you might start adding it to all of your muffins after tasting these. These chocolate-forward muffins are packed with protein from cottage cheese, quinoa, eggs and whole-wheat flour. We minimize the added sugar by adding sweetness from ripe bananas and just enough brown sugar to balance out the polyphenol-rich unsweetened cocoa powder. The quinoa adds lovely texture and adds to the other sources of fiber in this muffin: whole-wheat flour and bananas. Make these for breakfast or as a satisfying hunger-crushing snack. Keep reading for expert tips on how to cut down on prep time, ingredient substitutions and more.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

Using precooked quinoa can significantly reduce preparation time. Choose white quinoa for a lighter texture and mild flavor, or opt for red or tricolor quinoa for added nuttiness and a firmer bite.
To make filling the muffin tins easier, consider using jumbo liners. If you prefer regular liners, you will need to fill them almost to the point of overflowing.
Greek yogurt can be substituted for the cottage cheese. Additionally, if you wish, you can replace the dark brown sugar with coconut sugar or light brown sugar.
For an even creamier texture, use small-curd cottage cheese with 4% milkfat; low-fat varieties can be used, but they may yield drier results. Be sure to use instant espresso rather than ground coffee to ensure even flavor dispersion.

Nutrition Notes

We used half all-purpose and half whole-wheat flour in this recipe to increase the fiber without affecting the taste or texture. Getting more fiber can help curb hunger and support gut health and digestion.
Quinoa is the surprisingly high-protein, high-fiber ingredient in this recipe. It also provides plant-based iron, which is used to make hemoglobin and carry oxygen throughout the body.
Cottage cheese is high in protein and is also a source of calcium, which supports healthy muscle contraction, bone and heart health.