With a light, fluffy texture and a savory flavor, this easy quinoa salad recipe is a great summer side dish for a barbecue or a picnic.

With a light, fluffy texture and a savory flavor, this easy quinoa salad recipe is a great summer side dish for a barbecue or a picnic.

When you’re put on the spot to come up with a flavorful side dish—and something that’s not a wispy green salad—quinoa quickly becomes your best friend. This pseudo-grain is extremely easy and versatile to cook with due to its nutty flavor and fluffy texture, it also contains all nine essential amino acids, making it an excellent source of protein (and more likely to satisfy your appetite).

A fun fact about quinoa: it’s actually a relative of the spinach, beet, and chard family. We eat the seed of the plant, which is why quinoa is also gluten-free. Kind of neat, isn’t it?

Whether you’re looking for a good summer barbecue or picnic recipe or you need a tasty side dish in a pinch, this easy quinoa salad recipe will do the trick. Personally, I’ve been making this healthy salad ahead of time and using it as a side dish for my sous vide meals.

With a light, fluffy texture and a savory flavor, this easy quinoa salad recipe is a great summer side dish for a barbecue or a picnic.

You can make the recipe as-is, but don’t be afraid to get creative and jazz it up with your other favorite ingredients. I’ve used a lemon dressing in this recipe, but if you’re after a little more flavor, you could put a Mediterranean twist on it—a nice change for the warmer months. Simply add some red wine vinegar, parsley, cucumber, red bell pepper, black olives, and crumbled feta. If you’re after something with more of a kick (and also great picnic fare), a quinoa Chipotle Burrito Bowl is another tasty, healthy option.

This quinoa would also be nice as an accompaniment to a chicken salad or served in a small bowl next to some grilled kebabs.

You can cook the quinoa in water, but I recommend using bone broth instead—a game-changer when it comes to effortlessly boosting savory flavor and nutrition in simple recipes like this one. Nutrition-wise, bone broth is a great source of type II collagen, which promotes skin, gut, bone, and joint health.

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Easy Quinoa Salad

Easy Quinoa Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Sharon Chen
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Stove, Mix
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

With a light, fluffy texture and a savory flavor, this easy quinoa salad recipe is a great summer side dish for a barbecue or a picnic.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups uncooked quinoa
  • 4 cups beef or chicken bone broth
  • 1 5-ounce package spring mix
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Juice of 1 lemon

Instructions

  1. Rinse quinoa under cold running water.
  2. Transfer cleaned quinoa in a large saucepan, add bone broth and bring to a boil. Switch heat to low and let it simmer for 15-25 minutes until the quinoa is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed.
  3. Once the quinoa is cooked, remove from heat and let cool completely.
  4. In a large bowl or in the same saucepan, add spring mix, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Mix until all ingredients are well combined. Enjoy!


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 190
  • Sugar: 1.7g
  • Sodium: 392mg
  • Fat: 3.4g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.6g
  • Carbohydrates: 30.5g
  • Fiber: 3.9g
  • Protein: 9.2g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

About the Author

Sharon Chen, StreetSmart Kitchen

Sharon Chen is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and author of the Complete Sous Vide Cookbook. She believes food not only brings healing but also connection. As the creator of StreetSmart Kitchen, she aims to make meal prep easier than ever and help you find balance, ease, joy, and simplicity in the kitchen as you improve your well-being.