High in protein and fiber and low in calories, quinoa really is a superfood. And unlike other plant-based foods, quinoa is a complete protein. There are so many tasty ways to prepare this seed, but one of the best ways is to make a salad. I have 15 delicious, protein-packed quinoa salad recipes that I know you’re going to love.
15 Protein-Packed Quinoa Salad Recipes to Fuel Your Body
1. Vegan, Gluten-Free Quinoa Salad
This salad is so easy to put together, and the recipe is flexible, so you can add whatever you want. It calls for chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, fresh onion, chopped parsley and a delicious homemade dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, spices and red wine vinegar.
I sometimes use green onion instead of red onion for a milder flavor. You can add fresh basil, tomatoes, artichokes – whatever your favorite salad ingredients are.
Related: 20 Easy High Protein Salads for Meal Prep
2. Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad with Maple Dijon Mustard
A fresh and healthy quinoa salad packed with flavorful ingredients like apples, dried cranberries, celery, walnuts and parsley. The delicious dressing is made of olive oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic and allspice.
If you want to change things up, you can use pears instead of apples or dried cherries instead of cranberries.
3. Copycat Costco Quinoa Salad
One of my favorite quinoa salad recipes is this copycat recipe for Costco’s tasty salad. It’s packed with so many healthy and delicious ingredients, like lentils (which add even more protein and fiber), bell pepper, tomato, cucumber, kale and fresh cilantro. The dressing is so easy to make and only needs a handful of ingredients.
Each serving of this salad has just 218 calories and 7g of protein.
4. One-Pot Moroccan Inspired Chickpea Quinoa Salad
A sweet and flavorful salad with simple ingredients and tasty spices like turmeric, cumin and cinnamon. Chickpeas and almonds kick up the protein and fiber in this dish, and the addition of dried cranberries adds just a hint of sweetness. Fresh parsley adds a refreshing flavor.
This salad is so rich in flavor that you don’t even need dressing. The spices and ingredients make every bite unforgettable.
5. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
A Mediterranean-inspired quinoa salad that you won’t be able to get enough of. In a mixing bowl, combine fluffy cooked quinoa with cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, olives, feta and a quick vinaigrette made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and spices.
I prefer to eat this salad warm, but you can chill it for a few hours before eating. It will stay good for a few days in the fridge, so this is a great option for meal prepping.
6. Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad
If you’re looking for more substantial quinoa salad recipes, you’ll love this one. It’s loaded with roasted sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, fresh spinach, avocado, basil and a fresh lemon vinaigrette.
To add more protein, you can top this salad with flank steak or grilled chicken. Feta cheese, nuts and seeds are other great add-ins that add flavor and texture.
7. Jennifer Aniston Salad
This viral quinoa salad is divine and so easy to make. It’s loaded with chickpeas, red onion, cucumber, crumbled feta, pistachios, parsley, mint and a tasty honey lemon dressing.
The quinoa is cooked in chicken or vegetable broth to add more flavor and give it a fluffy texture. I recommend chilling the quinoa before adding your salad ingredients.
This salad keeps for up to three days, so you can easily make this ahead of time for weekday lunches. And each serving has 10g of protein, so it’s a healthy, balanced dish to add to your meal rotation.
Related: Power Up with These 15+ Surprising & High-Protein Quinoa Recipes
8. Kale Salad with Quinoa and Chickpeas
Here’s a simple quinoa salad that’s absolutely delicious, healthy and packed with protein. Chickpeas, feta cheese and roasted sunflower seeds add an extra dose of protein and some fiber. You’ll also need chopped kale (tuscan has a nice texture), red onion, red bell pepper, cilantro and vinaigrette.
Not a fan of chickpeas? Try using black beans or you can even add grilled chicken or steak. If you’re not a fan of feta cheese, you can use cheddar, mozzarella or any other cheese you want. Sundried tomatoes would be another great addition to this tasty salad.
I’ve also made this recipe with walnuts instead of sunflower seeds, and it was just as tasty.
When making this salad, make sure that you follow the tip to “massage” the kale with olive oil to make it more tender.
9. Mexican Black Bean Quinoa Salad
A rich and flavorful salad that only has a few ingredients: quinoa, black beans, cilantro, green onion and cotija cheese. If you can’t find cojita cheese, you can use feta or queso fresco instead.
The dressing is a tasty mix of lime juice, olive oil, honey, shallot and spices.
I recommend using canned black beans to save time, but if you’re not in a hurry, you can cook yours from scratch. Just make sure that you soak the beans overnight before cooking. I like to add spices and aromatics like cumin, garlic, bay leaf and onion to the pot to add more flavor.
As for the other salad ingredients, feel free to mix things up or add new ingredients, like jalapeno for some spice or grilled chicken for extra protein. For texture, pepitas are a great choice.
10. Immune-Boosting Quinoa Salad
This colorful salad is packed with immune-boosting ingredients like broccoli, shaved Brussels sprouts, carrots, celery, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, onion and more. Pistachios and kale add some tartness and crunch to this salad.
But you’ll really love the vinaigrette, which has Dijon mustard, lemon juice, honey, spices and apple cider vinegar.
I like to add more fresh herbs to this recipe and packaged cole slaw mix (cabbage, carrots, etc.) to provide more nutrients and immune-boosting effects.
11. Kale Quinoa Salad
Kale quinoa salad recipes are always a healthy choice thanks to the high antioxidant and protein content. And for this recipe, you’ll obviously have quinoa and kale, but you’ll also incorporate cranberries, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, almonds, pepitas and olive oil together.
Healthy and delish, you can prep this salad within 35 minutes, and it keeps for up to four days in the refrigerator.
And the author gives a lot of additions and substitutes that you can swap in if you dislike some of the ingredients.
12. Greek Quinoa Salad
Two Peas and Their Pod is the author of this quinoa salad recipe that is super simple to make and perfect fuel for your day. You’ll make a salad out of a handful of basic ingredients:
- Quinoa
- Cucumbers
- Feta cheese
- Olives
- Red onion
- Tomatoes
Start by cooking the quinoa in a medium sauce pan and fluff when it’s cooked fully. You’ll want the quinoa to cool before serving it, but in the meantime, you can make a wonderful dressing out of red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, mustard and honey.
Whisk the ingredients together well, add some salt and pepper and combine with the remaining items and quinoa. Toss and add more dressing to taste.
If you want to add a little more with this salad, the author recommends Greek chicken kabobs or turkey meatballs. You can also serve with fish or pita bread and tzatziki sauce.
13. Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad
Thai cuisine is always flavorful and a delight for the tastebuds. Spicy with crunchy veggies and a peanut butter dressing, this salad is a tad more involved than others on the list. But it’s worth every minute.
For the dressing, you’ll need a creamy peanut butter of your choosing, soy sauce, honey, red wine vinegar, fresh lime juice, ginger, chili paste, olive and sesame oil.
And for the salad itself, you’ll need:
- Cooked, cooled quinoa
- Olive oil
- Cole slaw mix
- Red bell pepper
- Cilantro
- Edamame
- Salted cashews
- Green onions
You can add garnish, such as some chopped cashews (they add a really nice flavor), sriracha and chili paste. And the secret to this recipe’s “crunch” is to add your cooked quinoa to a skillet and cook for 10 minutes or so until they’re golden and crispy.
14. Lemon, Quinoa and Chickpea Salad
If quinoa doesn’t provide enough protein already, add in chickpeas and you’ll have a salad with just shy of 12 grams of protein in each serving. Packed with vitamin A and iron, this salad is simple to make. Rinse your quinoa under cold water and then cook in a large pot with garlic powder.
Fluff with a fork when complete and start prepping your veggies (cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes, carrots).
Once your quinoa is thoroughly cooked, you can begin assembling by adding all of the veggies together with the chickpeas, scallions, parsley, lemon juice, quinoa and spices. Mix well, top with salt and pepper and a drizzle of lemon on top.
For added fat, you can slice an avocado and add the pieces on top. Enjoy!
Related: 20+ Chopped Salad Recipes That Are Anything But Boring
15. Another Costco Quinoa Salad Copycat
Going to Costco is like an all-you-can-eat buffet with samples around every corner. On occasion, you may have the opportunity to try a delicious quinoa salad that will leave your mouth watering. And I’m happy to report that this recipe by Wellness by Kay is another delicious take on the “Costco quinoa salad,” which requires 15 ingredients to recreate:
- Quinoa
- Dry lentils
- Feta cheese
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Red bell pepper
- Chives
- Parsley
You’ll also make a lemon vinaigrette from olive oil, lemon, Dijon mustard, honey, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. And while the author recommends using a Boil-In-Bag quinoa, I personally prefer to cook the quinoa the traditional way in a stock pot.
