These 5 Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes are full of protein! Choose from five flavours: southwest, curried, Mediterranean, caprese or green goddess.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Quinoa – use white, black or red quinoa.
- Water – you could also try cooking the quinoa in chicken or vegetable broth for added flavour.
- Salt – to taste.
- Toppings – try out different variations and add-ins like veggies, protein, cheese and seasonings.
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How to make quinoa salad
Step 1: Add quinoa and water to a pot.
Step 2: Cook the quinoa.
Bring the quinoa to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Stir the cooked quinoa.
Remove from the heat and give it a good stir.
Step 4: Let it cool.
Transfer to a large bowl and let it cool for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
Step 5: Add in your chosen salad ingredients.
Prepare the toppings of your choice, mix them into the quinoa and toss to combine well.
Step 6: Serve or store for later!
Quinoa salad recipe tips
Here are some of my top tips for making the best quinoa salad:
- Cook the quinoa ahead of time: You can make the quinoa 2 days before prepping your salads. This actually makes the salad prep easier, because you don't have to wait for the quinoa to cool down. You can even cook it then freeze it for up to 3 months.
- Rinse the quinoa: This is optional, but it does help rinse away any extra coating that may be on the quinoa.
- Ingredient prep: Cut down on prep time by chopping up any ingredients in advance. Learn how to ingredient prep.
- Store the salads in mason jars: You can store your salads in glass containers or even mason jars! These are the mason jars I like to use.
- Try out different toppings: These quinoa salad recipes are totally customizable. Feel free to try out different toppings, add-ins and salad dressings.
Frequently Asked Questions
These quinoa salad recipe ideas are fantastic for lunch or a veggie-packed side dish for dinner. Pair them with burgers, steak or chicken breasts to make a complete meal.
These quinoa salad recipes are all served cold, so you don't need to worry about reheating your salad. If the quinoa is hot, the rest of the ingredients will get all soggy.
This is an optional step but I do recommend it. Quinoa has a natural coating that rinsing will wash away. Some people think it tastes bitter or soapy without rinsing while others might say it just has an earthy flavor. Most boxed quinoa is pre-rinsed, so you can rinse it again to be sure, but only if you want to. Just put it in a fine mesh strainer and run cold water over it for a minute or two.
You can definitely customize these quinoa salad recipes by making them with different healthy salad dressings.
Yes! You can cut down on prep time by cooking the quinoa in advance. Make it in a rice cooker or in a pot on the stovetop up to 2 days in advance, or cook and freeze it for up to 3 months.
5 Different Quinoa Salad Variations
The following quinoa salad recipes will give you a place to start with experimenting with combinations. Feel free to mix and match with different ingredient and flavour combinations.
Southwest quinoa salad
Caprese quinoa salad
Curried quinoa salad
Green goddess quinoa salad
Mediterranean quinoa salad
Storing quinoa salad
Quinoa salad is an easy lunch to prepare in advance. It is normally eaten cold so it’s a great option if your office doesn’t have a microwave. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about wilted or soggy lettuce! Store your salad in the fridge in glass meal prep containers for up to 5 days then eat it cold.
Can you freeze quinoa salad?
You can freeze quinoa on its own, but not the entire assembled quinoa salad. Freezing cooked quinoa is a great way to prep ahead – that way, it’s easy to make a salad with quinoa whenever you want.
After the quinoa cooked, allow it to cool completely. Then, transfer it into freezer storage bags or meal prep containers and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, let it thaw in the fridge for 24 hours then use it to make a fresh salad or any recipe of your choice.
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Meal Prep Tools
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these salads into meal prep lunches.
- Freeze cooked quinoa in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months.
- **Get my full list of tools here**
5 Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes {Meal Prep}
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
Southwest quinoa salad
- 1 cup black beans
- 1 cup corn
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
- 2 tsp chili powder
Mediterranean (Greek) quinoa salad
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tsp oregano
Curried quinoa salad
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Caprese quinoa salad
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1 cup bocconcini pearls, sliced in half
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Green goddess quinoa salad
- 1/2 cup edamame
- 1/2 cup broccoli finely chopped
- 1/2 cup cucumber
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Add quinoa and water to a large pot on the stove. Bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease to med-low heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat, stirring quinoa once more. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
- While quinoa is cooling (you can also do this while it's cooking), prepare the toppings of choice for whichever salad you are going to make (choose from one of the headings). Once quinoa has cooled slightly, mix in toppings and toss to combine well. Serve and enjoy!
- Quinoa salad is typically eaten cold and will last in the fridge up to 5 days. Cooked quinoa without toppings will last in the freezer up to 3 months. If freezing, defrost in the fridge for 24 hours before tossing with toppings and serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Roza says
If preparing in advance for the week, do you leave out the liquid dressing until day of use? – ie the balsamic vinegar in the caprese salad.
Thank you
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Roza! No you can add it in immediately, the longer the dressing sits with the salad, the better the flavours will be!
Alden says
Made the curried quinoa salad for a packed work lunch and it was so good! I added some chicken as well for added protein. Cant wait to try the others!
Taylor Stinson says
I am so glad you enjoyed 🙂 Thanks for leaving your review!!
J says
Versatile and easy….love these combos!
Susan Slykerman says
Great combinations! I saw “dressings” mentioned yet didn’t see any recipes.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Susan
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Susan – the seasonings/dressings are included under each heading (Green Goddess, Caprese, Curried, etc.)
Michelle says
I don’t see dressings anywhere.
Taylor Stinson says
The seasonings for each salad are listed under each heading.
Carol says
I cooked the quinoa in broth and added cumin and garlic granules. It was to dry for me so I added some olive oil (garlic infused) too!
Tash says
Great ideas. What order would you put these salads in for meal prep in mason jars to avoid it being soggy?
Taylor Stinson says
Hey Tash – I’m not sure I understand your question, my apologies! I would recommend putting each salad in separate mason jars. In terms of which ones you should eat up first, I’d say you should probably eat the caprese and the green goddess first. Hope that helps!
Line says
Interesting array of ideas! I’d love to make the curried version for a real change from our typical salads, but my Other Half can’t bear bell peppers. Could you suggest another vegetable I could include, please?
Thanks for your help.
Taylor Stinson says
Thank you so much! I would recommend just leaving them out altogether or possible adding in another veggie such as celery or zucchini.
Mo says
Hi,
I used Couscous and tomatoes in place of quinoa and bell pepper.
Our group of friends absolutely loved the curried version.
We also made a curried vinegar dressing to top it off. Deeelicious!!
Thank you
Lisa says
I didn’t see the Greek quinoa recipe. Did I miss it?
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Lisa – it’s there in the recipe card! It’s just labelled Mediterranean.
Olivia says
What are the nutritional values for each of the variations? Is the nutritional information given for the quinoa alone?
Taylor Stinson says
Hey Olivia! The nutritional info is about the same for each variety (includes veggies, quinoa, sauce and other add-ins)..it will vary very slightly per salad, and if you need exact figures you can use an app like My fitness pal to calculate it.
Sylvianne Craig says
Is the quinoa quantity for one of these and it serves four people? Or to divide between the five options for four people. I am not that familiar with how quinoa cooks up. Looks like great variations.
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Sylvianne! The quinoa quantity is for one of the flavours, and it serves 4 people 🙂