Mediterranean Crunchy Quinoa & Chicken Salad
Fluffy quinoa tossed with juicy grilled chicken, crisp vegetables, toasted nuts, and a zesty lemon dressing.
Crunchy, colorful, and balanced — one of the best Mediterranean salads for diet-conscious meals.
⏱ Time
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: ~35 minutes
🥘 Ingredients
Salad
1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
½ cup cucumber, diced
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
¼ cup shredded carrots
⅓ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
¼ cup roasted chickpeas or toasted almonds
¼ cup fresh parsley or mint, chopped
¼ cup crumbled feta (optional)
Lemon Dressing
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 small garlic clove, grated
Salt & black pepper to taste
🧑🍳 Instructions
1. Cook quinoa
Rinse quinoa well.
Simmer 1 cup quinoa with 2 cups water 12–15 minutes.
Fluff and cool
2. Prepare chicken
Grill or pan-sear seasoned chicken breast until cooked through.
Rest and dice.
3. Make dressing
Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon, garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Assemble salad
In a large bowl, combine quinoa, chicken, vegetables, olives, chickpeas/almonds, herbs, and feta.
5. Toss & serve
Drizzle dressing and toss gently.
Serve chilled or at room temperature
🌿 Crunchy Add-Ins
Toasted pine nuts or pistachios
Seeds (sunflower or pumpkin)
Crispy onions (light sprinkle)
🧮 Nutritional Information
Calories: ~420
Protein: 32 g
Carbs: 34 g
Fat: 18 g
Fiber: 6 g
Sodium: ~360 mg