Name: Quinoa Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil; 1 lemon, juiced and zested; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 2 teaspoons sugar; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa, rinsed; 2 cups diced cucumber; 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 1 large tomato, chopped; 1 red bell pepper, chopped; 1 cup baby spinach leaves, chopped; 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

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This Quinoa Salad is a favorite healthy salad, packed with vegetables and herbs, and perfect for lunches, picnics, and sides.

Quinoa Salad in a White Bowl with Wood Service

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Much like the always popular Costco Quinoa Salad, this simple-to-make salad is filled with fresh cucumber, red bell pepper, chickpeas, and fresh parsley.

What I Love About This Quinoa Salad

Some simple reasons I’m absolutely in love with this salad.

Ingredients are fresh, healthy, and flavorful.
The lemon olive oil dressing with garlic and cumin brings the flavors together deliciously.
It keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
A perfect make-ahead salad for picnics, lunches, and road trips.

How Long Does it take to Make this Quinoa Salad?

The short answer? As long as the quinoa takes to cook!

While the quinoa is cooking, prep the vegetables for the salad and combines the dressing ingredients. By that time, the quinoa is usually ready.

I like to cook the quinoa in the Instant Pot, which takes 1 minute plus time to come and release pressure. For me, very often, it’s completed within 15 to 20 minutes.

Quinoa Salad Ingredients in a glass bowl

Ingredients for Quinoa Salad

Gather these simple ingredients for this easy quinoa salad. Specific measurements and instructions are found in the recipe card below.

Uncooked quinoa
Cucumber
Canned chickpeas
Red bell pepper
Large tomato
Baby spinach leaves
Fresh parsley

For the dressing, you will need the following:

Olive oil
Fresh lemon (juice and zest)
Apple cider vinegar
Sugar
Cumin
Minced garlic
salt and pepper

How to Make the Salad

This simple summer, healthy salad recipe is made quickly and easily with these three steps.

Step One:

Begin by cooking the quinoa, according to package instructions. If you have an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, it takes only a minute. See our Instant Pot Quinoa recipe to read more.

Once cooked, fluff with a fork and transfer to a large bowl. Add the drained and rinsed chickpeas.

Quinoa Salad ingredients with lemon dressing on the side

Step Two:

Chop the vegetables and herbs; add to the bowl with quinoa and chickpeas and toss together.

Pouring Lemon Dressing over Quinoa Salad

Step Three:

Add the dressing ingredients into a small bowl or lidded jar. Whisk or shake to combine and then pour over the salad. Toss to incorporate.

Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.

Quinoa Salad in mason jars with grapes and a picnic basket

Perfect for Picnics

For me, this salad is perfect for picnics. Assemble in lidded jars, gather some fruit, sunglasses… and a favorite book.

It’s rather heavenly to enjoy the outdoors!

Closeup view of Quinoa Salad in Mason Jars

How Long will the Quinoa Salad Keep?

The salad will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Although I like it best when used within a couple of days.