This easy quinoa salad with hen is an ideal gluten-free, wholesome salad to take to somebody who wants additional nourishment and love! With veggies, feta cheese, olives, a lot of herbs, and hen, it’s an all-in-one lunch or mild dinner.
One in every of my good buddies broke her kneecap, and I made her this Quinoa Salad that’s excellent for sending to a buddy who wants a bit of additional nourishment—or for stocking your personal fridge on a prep day. It’s easy to make, loaded with wholesome substances, and filled with shiny flavors and textures.
I’ve been on a really lengthy streak of Mediterranean substances this yr, partly as a result of they’re all the time in my fridge and partly as a result of they’re scrumptious! So that you’ll discover feta, olives, pink peppers, herbs, and lemon on this salad together with juicy hen tenders.
Quinoa Salad Elements + Why They’re Good For You!
- Quinoa: This historical grain brings each fiber and full plant protein to the desk, which suggests lasting vitality and regular blood sugar. It’s gluten-free, filling, and makes a superb base for all these add-ins.
- Rooster Tenders: Lean, high-quality protein ensures this can be a balanced meal—excellent for restoration or simply feeling grounded and happy.
- Bell Pepper & Cucumber: These crunchy veggies add freshness, hydration, and vitamin C, giving the salad a vibrant pop of taste and vitamins.
- Feta Cheese: A contact of creaminess and tang—plus calcium and a few protein—goes a good distance in flavoring the entire bowl.
- Kalamata Olives: These ship wholesome fat, a satisfying brine, and a touch of Mediterranean aptitude.
- Herbs (dill & parsley): Recent herbs brighten every thing and produce a great deal of antioxidants and phytonutrients.
- Lemon Juice & Zest: Vitamin C bonus, plus simply the fitting zing to marry all of the salad parts.
- Olive Oil: Retains issues heart-healthy and helps your physique take up these fat-soluble nutritional vitamins.
What Makes This Salad So Straightforward
- Minimal cooking: Simply quinoa and hen—each forgiving and easy.
- One-bowl toss (after you’ve received your substances prepared): No sophisticated layering or fancy plating—simply combine and go.
- Completely versatile: Swap in no matter herbs, seasoning, or add-ins you’ve readily available.
- Make-ahead pleasant: Retains properly within the fridge—and tastes nice chilly or barely warmed.
Serving + Sharing
In case you’re delivering this to a buddy, pack it in a sturdy container with a bit of additional dressing on the facet. I ended up maintaining the hen separate in a to-go pan for simple reheating and since my buddy’s children didn’t need all of it blended up!
How To Make This Easy Quinoa Salad
Elements (serves 4-6)
- 2 cups dry quinoa
- 2 lbs hen tenders, seasoned + olive oil
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 6 oz crumbled feta
- 1 small cucumber, sliced
- 1 cup Kalamata olives, chopped
- ? cup chopped herbs (dill + parsley)
- Juice of two lemons + zest (?¼ cup)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Salt & pepper, to style
Directions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 levels
Step 2: Prepare dinner quinoa
Prepare dinner quinoa per bundle till fluffy and tender.
Step 3: Prep and prepare dinner hen
Pat hen dry, season (I like lemon-pepper or Italian seasoning), calmly drizzle with olive oil, and bake 15–17 minutes till cooked by means of.
Step 4: Prep substances
Whereas hen roasts, chop bell pepper, cucumber, olives, crumble feta (if wanted), and chop the herbs.
Step 5: Make dressing
Whisk lemon juice, zest, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a measuring cup.
Step 6: Toss all of it collectively!
In a big bowl, toss quinoa, veggies, olives, feta, herbs, and dressing. High with hen—serve heat or chilly.
Extra Quinoa Salads You’ll Love
If this reunion of quinoa, vibrant veggies, and flavorful dressing had you craving for extra, listed below are a number of recipes from Kath’s archives which might be in the identical queen-of-prep-day fashion:
- Feta and Herb Quinoa Salad – An easy herb-forward model with pink peppers, feta, and recent blended herbs drenched in lemon-olive oil goodness. Tremendous easy and ideal for a “prep day” — simply toss and go!
- Moroccan-Impressed Quinoa Salad with Tahini Dressing – Raisins, almonds, chickpeas, spinach, and capers belt out sweet-savory-nutty vibes, warmed by cinnamon and pulled along with a creamy lemon-tahini dressing.
- Vegetarian Greek Salad – All of the sun-kissed flavors of a Greek salad—cucumber, olives, feta—with quinoa and a easy lemon-olive oil dressing. It’s nice scorching, chilly, or picnic-ready.
Straightforward to prep, filled with nourishing substances, and completely scrumptious—whether or not you’re making it for your self or somebody who wants a pick-me-up. It balances consolation with vitamin and taste with comfort.
Easy Quinoa Salad with Rooster
This simple quinoa salad recipe is an ideal gluten-free wholesome salad to take to somebody who wants additional nourishment and love! With veggies, feta cheese, olives, a lot of herbs, and hen, it’s an all-in-one lunch or mild dinner.
Elements
- 2 cups dry quinoa
- 2 kilos hen tenders seasoning olive oil
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese
- 1 small cucumber sliced
- 1 cup Kalamata olives chopped
- 1/3 a cup of chopped herbs akin to dill and parsley
- Juice of two lemons plus zest about 1/4 cup
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt and pepper to style
Directions
-
Preheat oven to 350 levels.
-
Prepare dinner quinoa in line with bundle instructions till fluffy and tender.
-
Pat hen dry with paper towels and season on each side with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil, plus any additional seasonings you want. I used lemon pepper, however Italian seasoning works too. Or maintain it easy.
-
Bake hen for 15-17 minutes
-
In the meantime, chop pepper, slice cucumber, chop herbs, and chop olives. Crumble feta if not pre-crumbled.
-
Make the dressing by zesting lemons and squeezing juice right into a measuring cup with olive oil.
-
Toss every thing collectively in a big pot or bowl.
-
Serve salad with hen on prime both heat or chilly.
Extra salads you would possibly like!