Hearty Quinoa Salad Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating
It seems that quinoa continues to grow in popularity year after year. And for good reason! This superfood is so not dull or boring, especially when it's paired with fragrant herbs, seasonal vegetables, and cheese. Rather than serving it as a side dish, make it the star of the show with these quinoa salad recipes.
According to nutritionists, quinoa is one of the most protein-rich foods we can eat—it also happens to be high in fiber, magnesium, and vitamin B. While there are over 100 different varieties of quinoa, the most common that you'll find are white, red, and tri-color.
Aside from its impressive health benefits, we love quinoa because it cooks faster than other grains like rice or farro. Cook some on a weeknight or prep it for your weekly meal prep. Before cooking with quinoa, rinse it thoroughly with water because it has a slightly bitter coating that disappears once washed.
Not sure where to start, give our Saffron Chickpeas and Bitter Greens with Quinoa, pictured here, a try. It's a light but filling meal that you'll enjoy all year long. If you're looking to upgrade your everyday lunch salad, try this Greek Quinoa Salad. This simple and delicious dish pairs classic Greek salad ingredients like cucumbers, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese with nutty quinoa. Another winner is this Quinoa Bowl with Tahini Dressing. It's prettier and tastier than the plant-based bowls sold at fast-casual restaurants (plus, it's cheaper to make yourself!).
Quinoa Salad with Zucchini, Mint, and Pistachios is the perfect healthy recipe to make during the warmer months because it makes use of seasonal squash. Refreshing mint and salted pistachios add a pop of bright green color and plenty of fresh flavor as well.
Whether you add them to your weekly lunch or dinner routine, these quinoa salad recipes will certainly upgrade your meal.
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Greek Quinoa Salad
The makings of a classic Greek salad are all present—feta, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives—but they're joined by a new supporting player: quinoa.
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Warm Quinoa and Chicken Salad
Only have one pot to spare? It's all you need! Chicken is nestled into the same pot as the quinoa and cooked simultaneously for this filling meal. The best part? The salad is equally delicious warm or cold, so you can make it ahead.
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Quinoa Salad with Zucchini, Mint, and Pistachios
Quinoa is mixed with garlicky sautéed zucchini and plenty of fresh mint in this invigorating salad. Pistachios add a satisfying crunch.
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Quinoa Bowl with Tahini Dressing
Everyone will love the combination of textures in this balanced salad—chewy quinoa, tender roasted broccoli and red onion, creamy avocado, and crunchy cucumber and almonds.
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Shaved Brussels Sprout, Meyer Lemon, and Quinoa Salad
Quinoa and toasted walnuts add heft and texture to this raw Brussels sprouts salad. A Meyer lemon vinaigrette and a touch of chile de arbol perk up all the flavors.
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Marinated Chickpeas with Quinoa and Dandelion Greens
Nutty quinoa, lemony chickpeas, and toasted almonds add flavor and protein to this colorful Mediterranean-style salad.
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Roasted Vegetables with Quinoa
There's a lot going on in this salad—quinoa, fresh spinach, butternut squash, and Brussels sprouts roasted with coconut oil and smoked paprika—but an herbed tahini dressing brings it all together.
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Toasted-Quinoa Saute with Lemony Cabbage and Dill
The quinoa is toasted in the same skillet used to sauté the cabbage in this delectable salad. Chickpeas bulk up the dish, while Castelvetrano olives add a briny kick.
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Quinoa Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is a grain- and vegetable-based salad traditionally made with bulgur wheat. Here, we swapped it for white quinoa. Both are rich in protein, fiber, and iron, but the quinoa makes it gluten-free.
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Swiss Chard, Mushroom, and Quinoa Salad
It's all about layering in this meatless meal. Start with sautéed Swiss chard on the bottom of the plate, then top with a mixture of tender quinoa and meaty creminis, followed by shaved Parmesan.
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Quinoa Salad with Toasted Almonds
This recipe has everything you could ever want in a salad—the amalgam of quinoa, almonds, bell pepper, celery, and zucchini is chewy, nutty, crunchy, and refreshing all at the same time. When you're ready to eat, squeeze a wedge of lime over the top for an extra pop of flavor.
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Roasted Carrots and Red Quinoa
With its rich, warm colors, this bowl is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. Thyme-roasted carrots and red onions are tossed with red quinoa and a lively lemon-miso dressing.