By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 23, 2021
Wonderfully fresh and flavor and dressed in a honey vinaigrette, this quinoa salad is one delicious side dish. Simple to make it’s a great side salad to serve with all your favorite mains.
Healthy Quinoa Salad Recipe
Time for a bit of goodness with this delicious recipe!
This easy quinoa salad is a great side dish to serve with meats and fish, but it also makes for a hearty vegetarian lunch.
The dressing is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, and every mouthful is packed full of flavor.
Be sure to try my 3 bean salad and Olive Garden salad too!
Why you’ll love this Easy Quinoa Salad recipe:
- HEALTHY : Rich in fiber, minerals and antioxidants, quinoa is a great addition to a well balanced diet.
- GLUTEN-FREE : Quinoa is naturally gluten-free so it’s a great option for those with wheat allergies.
- VEGETARIAN : This is a great lunch option for meat free Monday, and can easily be made vegan with a few swaps.
How to make Easy Quinoa Salad
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Whisk together the ingredients for the salad dressing.
- Saute the quinoa in the butter.
- Add water and boil until the quinoa is fully cooked.
- Allow the quinoa to cool in the fridge.
- Mix the quinoa with the rest of the ingredients and toss in the salad dressing to serve.
Can you make it ahead of time?
This is a great make ahead recipe and is perfect for weekly meal prep . The mixed and dressed salad will keep well in the fridge for around 4 to 5 days, depending on the freshness of the veggies.
The dressing will keep well in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
Can you make it vegan?
Yes! Simply swap the honey in the dressing for maple syrup and saute the quinoa in olive oil or a plant based butter.
What do you serve with it?
This quinoa salad works great with so many mains, from seafood to chicken to grilled meats. It’s an excellent side/salad for potlucks , BBQ or picnics. Try it with:
- Grilled BBQ Chicken
- Garlic Butter Salmon
- Tomato Pie
- Carne Asada Steak
- Loaded Potato Skins
Tips!
- Feel free to add in any other favorite veggies to this recipe. Bell peppers and shredded cabbage works great! I like to add whatever produce is in season to change things up.
- You can make double the amount of quinoa and freeze it for later use. It keeps well for up to 6 months.
- Store in an airtight container to keep the salad fresh.
This quinoa salad is so versatile, we ate this with so many meals throughout the week. It’s one tasty way to get the goodness in!
More Salad Recipes we Love
- Chicken Cobb Salad
- Caprese Salad
- Spinach Salad with Bacon
- Potato Salad
- Creamy Broccoli Bacon Salad
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Dressing:
▢ 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
▢ 1 Tablespoon honey
▢ 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
▢ 2 teaspoons lime juice
▢ 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ ½ teaspoon dried basil
▢ 2 tablespoon salted butter
▢ 1 cup uncooked quinoa
▢ 2 ½ cups water
▢ 15 ounces chickpeas drained
▢ 7.5 ounces black beans half can, rinsed and drained
▢ 1 avocado peeled, pit removed, and chopped
▢ 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
▢ ¾ cup cucumber peeled, chopped (~½ cucumber)
▢ ½ cup carrot shredded (~1 medium carrot)
▢ ½ cup red onion chopped (~½ red onion)
▢ ¼ cup parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the extra virgin olive oil, honey, white wine vinegar, lime juice, salt, garlic powder, and dried basil. Whisk until everything is combined. Set aside.
- Take a large saucepan over medium heat and sauté the quinoa in the 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the 3 ¼ cups of water to the saucepan and let boil with the quinoa for 20 minutes or until quinoa is completely softened and cooked.
- Set aside quinoa in the refrigerator to cool.
- Once the quinoa has completely cooled, place it in a bowl with the chickpeas, black beans, avocado, grape tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, red onion, and parsley.
- Mix together and then add in the dressing.
- Toss the salad again to make sure the dressing is evenly coated and then plate and serve.
Becky’s Tips
- Feel free to add in any other favorite veggies to this recipe. Bell peppers and shredded cabbage works great!
- You can make double the amount of quinoa and freeze it for later use. It keeps well for up to 6 months.
- Store in an airtight container to keep the salad fresh.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Quinoa Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons lime juice
1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried basil
2 tablespoon salted butter
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 ½ cups water
15 ounces chickpeas drained
7.5 ounces black beans half can, rinsed and drained
1 avocado peeled, pit removed, and chopped
1 cup grape tomatoes halved
¾ cup cucumber peeled, chopped (~½ cucumber)
½ cup carrot shredded (~1 medium carrot)
½ cup red onion chopped (~½ red onion)
¼ cup parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the extra virgin olive oil, honey, white wine vinegar, lime juice, salt, garlic powder, and dried basil. Whisk until everything is combined. Set aside.
- Take a large saucepan over medium heat and sauté the quinoa in the 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the 3 ¼ cups of water to the saucepan and let boil with the quinoa for 20 minutes or until quinoa is completely softened and cooked.
- Set aside quinoa in the refrigerator to cool.
- Once the quinoa has completely cooled, place it in a bowl with the chickpeas, black beans, avocado, grape tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, red onion, and parsley.
- Mix together and then add in the dressing.
- Toss the salad again to make sure the dressing is evenly coated and then plate and serve.
Notes
- Feel free to add in any other favorite veggies to this recipe. Bell peppers and shredded cabbage works great!
- You can make double the amount of quinoa and freeze it for later use. It keeps well for up to 6 months.
- Store in an airtight container to keep the salad fresh.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
