Want to kick up your protein intake without adding more chicken, eggs or protein powder to your diet? I have some tasty quinoa recipes to power up your day and help you reach your protein goals. There’s something for everyone on this list – including vegetarians.
Power Up with These 15+ Surprising & High-Protein Quinoa Recipes
1. Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
This recipe is always in our weeknight rotation because it’s so delicious and it’s quick and easy to make, too.
Quinoa cooks up in just 15 minutes. Once ready, you’ll mix it with black beans, corn, enchilada, fresh cilantro, green chiles, Roma tomatoes and avocado. Top with shredded cheddar and mozzarella, bake and enjoy.
The quinoa, black beans and cheese add an extra dose of protein.
Related: One Pot Mexican Quinoa with Lazy Guacamole
2. High Protein Quinoa Salad
Healthy, delicious and rich in flavor. You’ll need a lot of ingredients to make this salad, but it will be worth the effort.
Fresh bell peppers, edamame (high in protein), red cabbage, radishes, carrots, parsley, scallions and cashews are the perfect ingredients for this salad. The homemade dressing adds even more protein, thanks to the peanut butter. Soy sauce, olive oil, lime and spices round out the dressing to give it a kick of flavor.
3. Quinoa Tabbouleh
This is one of my favorite quinoa recipes for lunch. The chickpeas and quinoa add tons of protein. Add in the cucumber, green onions, tomatoes, olives, herbs and spices, and you have a flavorful salad everyone will love.
You can prepare a large batch of this and eat it over a few days if you’re into meal-prepping. Another recommendation I have is to add crumbled feta cheese. You’ll add a little more protein and get your cheese fix.
4. Greek Chicken Quinoa Salad
Cooked chicken and feta add tons of protein to this salad. The tomatoes, olives, cucumber and homemade dressing really bring these flavors together.
I recommend preparing this the night before so that all of the herbs and spices have a chance to marry. Try making it in bigger batches so that you have lunch prepared for a few days.
If you’d like to add other ingredients into the mix, you can. I’ve added sundried tomatoes before as well as artichokes. Both variations were delicious and loved by everyone.
5. Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad
Crunchy veggies, a spicy peanut dressing and healthy quinoa – what more could you ask for? Cole slaw mix makes quick work of the veggie prep, so you don’t have to shred cabbage and carrots. Freshly diced peppers, green onions, cilantro, cashews and edamame add tons of flavor and extra protein to the salad.
The homemade dressing is a delicious mix of peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, red wine vinegar, lime, chili paste, ginger and oil.
Mix the whole thing together and enjoy. Try serving with lime wedges on top so that you can add an extra squeeze of lime juice to your serving.
6. Kale and Quinoa Chickpea Salad
This is one of our favorite quinoa recipes. The chickpeas add more protein, and the rest of the ingredients are surprisingly healthy: kale, tomatoes and red onion. The homemade dressing is a tasty mix of olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard and salt and pepper.
Mix all of the ingredients together, chill and serve.
If you don’t like kale, you can use any greens you want. Arugula is a great choice, but microgreens are just as delicious. You can also use black beans instead of chickpeas or green onions instead of red onions for a milder flavor.
Experiment with different flavors to find a mix you love.
7. Quinoa Pudding
Quinoa pudding? Yes! This new take on breakfast is full of fiber and protein, and the ingredient list is simple enough: milk of your choice, sweetener (maple syrup is great), salt, vanilla extract and cinnamon. I like to add a scoop of vanilla protein powder and an equal amount of extra milk to kick up the protein.
The pudding stays fresh for up to three days in the fridge, so you can easily make this ahead of time for quick and easy breakfasts in the morning.
8. Supercharge Protein Quinoa Balls
Looking for a protein-rich snack? These quinoa balls are perfect. They blend cooked quinoa with pumpkin seeds, pitted dates, cacao powder and tahini. Add a sweetener of your choice, or skip it if you want. You can also replace the cacao powder with chocolate protein powder to add more protein.
Gluten-free and dairy-free, these protein balls are great to pack for lunch or just to enjoy as an afternoon snack.
9. Mexican Black Bean Quinoa Salad
A refreshing and protein-rich salad that’s perfect for vegetarians. Black beans and Cojita cheese bump up the protein, and the rest of the ingredients add a zesty flavor.
I use canned beans (rinsed) to save time, but I bet homemade would taste even better. And if you can’t find Cojita cheese, cheddar, feta or goat cheese will work just as well.
Just prepare and mix all of the ingredients together and serve.
Related: 30-Minute High Protein Meals to Smash Your Fitness Goals
10. One-Pot Moroccan-Inspired Chickpeas and Quinoa Salad
Another one of our favorite quinoa recipes is this Moroccan-inspired dish. It has a lot of ingredients, but it’s so worth the time to prepare. Cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and coconut oil are the perfect spice blend for this dish. Chickpeas will add more protein, and the cranberries add a hint of tartness. Fresh parsley also adds a fresh flavor, but you can use any herb you like (mint is a great choice).
Almonds are a great addition to this dish. I sometimes use pistachio or walnuts to change things up.
11. High Protein, Low-Carb Quinoa Salad
What you’ll love about this recipe is its flexibility. You can add any salad ingredients you want, but the recipe calls for chickpeas, cucumber, red onion, parsley and mint. Lemon juice and maple syrup create a dressing for this dish. You can add tomato and any other ingredients you want to this dish. I normally use green onions instead of the red onion for a milder flavor.
12. Apple Cranberry Quinoa
Tart, sweet and crunchy, this apple cranberry quinoa takes thirty minutes from prep to enjoying your first spoonful. Simple and light, a maple cider vinaigrette made of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup and Dijon mustard is drizzled on top of your salad made of:
- Quinoa
- Veggie broth
- Baby spinach
- Apples
- Cranberries
- Sliced almonds
- Goat cheese
13. Lentil and Quinoa Buddha Bowl
Green or brown lentils add a delish flavor and a lot of fiber to this dish. Quinoa, sweet potato, chickpeas, kale, olive oil, avocado, cilantro and sesame seeds are your main ingredients. But, and I think you’ll agree, you’ll need to add a touch of dressing to make this bowl not so dry.
A tahini dressing is a must-have and is made with tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup, water, garlic cloves and salt and pepper.
I do recommend thinning the tahini to make it easier to spread.
14. Quinoa Kale Salad
Quinoa recipes are always so simple, which is why they’re great when you’re short on time and only have twenty minutes to make something healthy. But this recipe took me by surprise with a dressing made from:
- Olive oil
- Cloves
- Dijon mustard
- Lemon juice
- White wine vinegar
- Maple syrup
- Spices
For the bulk of the salad, you’ll need a cup of pepitas, slivered almonds, tamari, ground cumin, paprika and chili powder. And the salad has a healthy mix of antioxidant-filled kale, quinoa, pomegranate seeds, chickpeas, parsley and avocado.
You’ll start by lightly toasting the nuts and seeds, putting the dressing together and assembling the salad.
Related: Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl Salad
15. Easy Quinoa Chickpea Salad
In just over 30 minutes, you’ll bite into this delectable chickpea salad that works as a main or side dish. Start with the lemon vinaigrette to allow it time to mix together and settle. The dressing is made from:
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Sea salt
- Pepper
Using your favorite saucepan, bring water to a boil and add your quinoa while you prep the celery, cherry tomatoes, parsley, dill, chickpeas and pumpkin seeds. If you like to meal prep, this quinoa chickpea salad will stay up to five days in the refrigerator.
Each serving is just 219 calories, comprised of 6 grams of protein, 12 grams of fat and 23 grams of carbohydrates.
16. The Ultimate Buddha Bowl
Quinoa and chickpeas come together well in this buddha bowl that’s called the “ultimate” bowl because it has a lot of great ingredients. Tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, parsley, feta cheese, kalamata olives, hummus, lemon juice and salt and pepper come together well in this bowl.
Offering the perfect balance, each serving offers:
- 20g of protein
- 40g of carbs
- 10g of fat
Roasting the chickpeas is an essential part of this recipe because the slight crunch adds something special to this hearty meal. And if you find that the bowl is a tad too dry for your liking, add in a splash of vegetable broth or lemon juice.
17. Best Chickpea Quinoa Bowl
Colorful and filled with flavor, this recipe is deceiving because it looks simple yet calls for 22 ingredients. Chickpeas and quinoa add a healthy punch of protein, while the tahini, soy sauce and rice vinegar add an abundance of flavor.
Mixed greens, cabbage, sesame oil, avocado and peppers are also added.
Want to add a bit of spice? Jalapeno peppers are a good addition. And I like that the author recommends adding a hard boiled egg on top for an additional boost of protein.
