30 + Quinoa Salad Recipes

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Whether you need a salad to meal prep for healthy lunches or wanting a salad to pack into an airtight container to bring to your next picnic, there are so many options for you to choose from here! 

A Little Bit About Quinoa

Quinoa is one of my absolute favourite gluten-free grains to use in cooking. Well, it’s actually what they call a pseudo grain, which means that it is similar to a grain but actually a seed. Quinoa originates from South America but is now a popular food sold worldwide. It’s a great source of plant-based protein, zinc, fibre, folate and antioxidants. 

You can purchase whole, raw quinoa, puffed quinoa and rolled quinoa. It can be used in a range of sweet and savoury dishes. For example, I love using it to make quinoa porridge as a nutritionally boosted breakfast or using it in my Vegan Chilli recipe to up the protein.

How to Cook Quinoa

To use quinoa in salads it first needs to be cooked. My go-to method is below:

1. Add the 1 cup of quinoa to a pot and top with water. Use your hands to swish the water around and then strain through a fine mesh sieve. Return to the pot and repeat this step 2 more times. This helps to remove the saponins from the quinoa, which are anti-nutrients that inhibit the absorption of nutrients. 
2. After returning the quinoa to the pan for a final time, top with 2 cups of water and place onto the stovetop. Bring to a boil and boil until most of the water has been absorbed. Note: The amount of water you need to add can vary depending on the type of quinoa. 
3. Turn the heat to low and place the lid on the saucepan. Once any liquid has stopped bubbling up through the quinoa, turn off the heat and leave the lid on, allowing the quinoa to steam.
4. Once steamed, use a fork to fluff up the quinoa and then use as desired. 

You might like to transfer the cooked quinoa to a large bowl to cool before using in a salad, depending on the recipe you are following. 

Quinoa Salad Ingredients 

Here are some ingredients that I love using when creating a healthy quinoa salad recipe:

Veggies

• red onion
• sweet potato 
• pumpkin or butternut squash 
• grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
• arugula, kale and other fresh green leaves like spinach or lettuce
• crunchy cucumbers like Persian cucumbers (also known as Lebanese cucumbers)

Fresh Herbs

• mint
• parsley 
• basil 
• coriander (cilantro)

Extra protein 

• chickpeas
• black beans 
• lentils 
• shredded chicken 

Dressing ingredients 

• extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil or flaxseed oil 
• sea salt flakes and cracked black pepper
• lemon juice (try this lemon dressing) 
• lime juice (try this honey lime dressing) 
• dijon mustard or seeded mustard
• balsamic vinegar
• garlic 
• red pepper flakes

Extras 

• kalamata olives 
• feta cheese or goats cheese 
• capers
• sun dried tomatoes

Healthy Quinoa Salad Recipes

Winter Quinoa Salad

A delicious mix of roasted winter vegetables, fluffy quinoa, kale and toasted nuts, all dressed in a dijon dressing. This salad is not only delicious but healthy too! Using some of my favourite Winter vegetables like butternut squash, sweet potato and kale, this salad is full of flavour but hearty enough to really fill you up. 

Contents:

Perfect Pumpkin Quinoa Salad

A wholesome and filling salad with tender roasted pumpkin, fluffy quinoa, fresh baby spinach leaves, flavoursome red onion and salty crumbled feta, all drizzled in a sweet balsamic dressing.

Arugula Quinoa Salad with Feta & Olives

A light and refreshing, yet filling salad made with arugula, white quinoa, salty feta cheese, Sicilian olives and more. Serve as a side dish at your next gathering or make for delicious and healthy mid week meals.

Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad

Tender roasted butternut squash paired with fluffy quinoa, walnuts, pomegranate arils and rocket, drizzled with a maple dijon dressing. This salad is perfect for the get-togethers or to meal prep for healthy lunches throughout the week.

Fresh & Delicious Quinoa Lentil Salad

This Quinoa Lentil Salad is a delicious salad that is perfect for meal prep. With no lettuce, all of the ingredients in this salad will happily sit in the dressing and marinate. It stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days, making it a great salad to prep ahead for healthy lunches. 

Warm Mediterranean Grain Bowls

A light and healthy dinner or lunch, these Mediterranean Grain Bowls are filled with brown rice, quinoa, chickpeas, fresh vegetables, olives and feta, all drizzled in a lemon herb dressing.

Chickpea Feta Cucumber Salad

Fresh, crunchy and filled with flavour, this delicious salad has everything you need for it to be a complete meal. With whole grains (quinoa), veggies, healthy fats and plenty of protein, this salad is feels light while still filling you up.

Hot Honey Chicken Bowls

Full of flavour and nutrition, these wholesome hot honey chicken tenders bowls have tender roasted sweet potatoes, fluffy quinoa, juicy seasoned chicken tenders and a creamy slaw.

Moroccan Chickpea Salad

A delicious salad made from tender chickpeas, crunchy fresh cucumber and capsicum, nutty pistachios, sweet cranberries and fresh herbs all tossed through a lemon dijon dressing and topped with crumbled feta.

The Best Nourish Bowls

This delicious nourish bowl is filled with healthy ingredients like kale, quinoa and roasted vegetables. It is perfect to meal prep for a healthy lunch. This nourish bowl is filled with yummy roasted veggies, earthy quinoa, marinated butter beans (yum!) and lots of other nourishing ingredients. 

Roasted Veggie Quinoa Salad

This Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad is packed with protein-rich quinoa, fiber-filled roasted Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, beets, and kale, all tossed in a flavorful Honey-Orange Balsamic Dressing. It’s easy enough for a weeknight but elegant enough for your Thanksgiving table.
Recipe: Life Around the Table

Crunchy Quinoa Salad

This Quinoa Salad with Lentils recipe checks all the boxes. Lentils and quinoa satisfy while apples, carrots, and celery offer a delightful crunch. A bright vinaigrette dressing brings it all together. It’s perfect for a light, energizing lunch. It also works as a side dish. Best of all, it stays fresh for days.
Recipe: Life Around the Table

Mango Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Dressing

This Mango Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Dressing and roasted pumpkin seeds is the perfect mix of sweet, savory, and spicy. If you’ve never tried mango in a salad, you have to give this one a try! It has no lettuce so it’s the perfect salad for meal prep!
Recipe: The Healthful Ideas

Asparagus Quinoa Salad with Pesto

Upgrade your lunch game with this easy-to-make Asparagus Quinoa Salad with Pesto! It’s the perfect combination of flavors and textures. The nutty quinoa provides a filling base, while the roasted asparagus and peas add flavorful savory contrast.
Recipe: The Healthful Ideas

Salmon Quinoa Salad with Honey Soy Dressing

This salmon quinoa salad with honey soy dressing checks all of my weeknight dinner requirements – healthy, easy, fast, and delicious. It’s my favorite recipe for using up leftover salmon!
Recipe: Our Salty Kitchen

Southwest Quinoa Salad with Chili Lime Dressing

This Southwest Quinoa Salad with Chili Lime Dressing is a colorful and crunchy grain salad speckled with black beans, corn, avocado and cilantro that easily feeds a crowd. It’s a filling salad bowl that can be made-ahead to enjoy for a light lunch throughout the week or served (warm or cold) as the perfect side dish at your next get-together.
Recipe: Foolproof Living

Crunchy Thai Quinoa Salad

This Thai Quinoa Salad recipe is flavored with an out of this world peanut butter sesame ginger dressing. It uses protein-packed quinoa along with veggies that are available all year round. It is made extra crunchy with lightly roasted cashews and almonds used as topping.
Recipe: Foolproof Living

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

This zesty Quinoa Tabouleh Salad is loaded with fresh flavors. Juicy cherry tomatoes, tangy lemon juice, fresh herbs, along with protein-rich quinoa make this gluten free salad a satisfying meal on its own or the perfect side kick to summer cookout and BBQ season!
Recipe: Garden in the Kitchen

Quinoa Beet and Arugula Salad

This hearty quinoa, beet and arugula salad is bursting with flavor. Roasted beets, peppery arugula, salty feta, crunchy almonds and fluffy quinoa come together with a basic olive oil vinaigrette for the ideal springtime lunch.
Recipe: Garden In the Kitchen

Mason Jar Quinoa Salad

Incredible Cucumber Chickpea Salad Jar paired with a flavorful lemon vinaigrette! This easy-to-prep vegetarian lunch is filled with fresh veggies, chickpeas, quinoa, and herbs for a nutritious, protein-packed meal that’s easy to grab and go.
Recipe: Healthy Fitness Meals

Cranberry Kale and Quinoa Salad

This Cranberry Kale Quinoa Salad with Candied Pecans and Feta is crazy delicious! Tender massaged kale is topped with broccoli, cranberries, feta, candied pecans, and quinoa are tossed in a super simple lemon dressing for a healthy vegetarian salad that will totally rock your plate.
Recipe: Peas and Crayons

Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad

This Cauliflower Chickpea Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing combines roasted cauliflower & chickpeas with fluffy quinoa and creamy avocados. It’s a healthy, protein-packed salad that can be made ahead of time. 
Recipe: Platings and Pairings

Crunchy Quinoa and Edamame Salad

Grab a bag of frozen edamame, cook up some quinoa, whip up the Asian-inspired dressing, chop some cucumbers, toss in some bagged coleslaw mix + slivered almonds for that beautiful crunch….and let’s do this! Crunchy edamame quinoa salad is packed with veggies + is my current lunch obsession.
Recipe: The Natural Nurturer

Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad

This Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad is wholesome, filling, and the perfect way to enjoy your veggies. Perfect for meal prep or simple plant-based dinners. Skip the leafy greens and indulge in this Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad tonight.
Recipe: From My Bowl

Cucumber Salad with Crunchy Quinoa

Fresh Persian cucumbers come together with crunchy quinoa and a refreshing lemon vinaigrette for the ultimate summertime salad. This is my Cucumber Salad With Crunchy Quinoa and Lemon Vinaigrette, and it is so simple and easy to make. 
Recipe: Kale Junkie

Crunchy Quinoa Green Goddess Chicken Salad

This Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa recipe is a fresh and flavorful dish that’s perfect for any meal. With juicy chicken, crispy quinoa, and a creamy green goddess dressing, it’s a satisfying salad that’s both nutritious + delicious. Whether for lunch or a gathering, it’s sure to be a hit!
Recipe: Orchids and Sweet Tea

Chicken Quinoa Cobb Salad

Fluffy quinoa adds the perfect boost of heartiness to this loaded chicken quinoa cobb salad! Pair it with a tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette for the perfect dinner or lunch salad.
Recipe: Whole and Heavenly Oven

Mexican Street Corn Quinoa Salad

This Dairy-Free Mexican Street Corn Quinoa Salad is a fun spin on Mexican Street Corn! With a boost of complete protein from the quinoa and the delicious dairy-free smoked paprika dressing, this is sure to be on your summer picnic side dish rotation!
Recipe: Healthy Little Vittles

Watermelon Quinoa Salad

This refreshing Watermelon Quinoa Salad is the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and tangy summer flavors. Made with juicy watermelon, fluffy quinoa, creamy avocado, sweet cherry tomatoes, fragrant fresh basil, red onion, vegan feta, and crunchy pistachios, it’s tossed in a zesty lime-maple vinaigrette for a vibrant, nourishing dish. 
Recipe: The Healthy Vittles

Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Feta

This Strawberry Quinoa Salad is made with feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, and mint. It’s refreshing, nutritious, and incredibly easy to make!
Recipe: Walder Wellness

Salmon Quinoa Salad Bowl

This healthy salmon quinoa bowl recipe is packed with protein, healthy fats, and fiber. Paired with the most delicious creamy lemon herb tahini dressing and roasted veggies, this dish is perfect for a nutritious dinner or packed lunch!
Recipe: Walder Wellness

Carrot Salad with Crispy Quinoa

Filled with flavors and textures—from sweet to savory and crisp to creamy—this Carrot Salad with Crispy Quinoa is deliciously complex, rich in protein and fiber, and make-ahead friendly.
Recipe: Sandra Valvassori