Chicken/ Gluten Free/ Mexican and Latin Recipes/ Rice & Grains/ Salads/ Vegetables

Chicken and Quinoa Salad

Chicken and Quinoa Salad – A quick tossed together salad loaded with protein from grilled chicken, black beans, and quinoa, then made rich and silky with a creamy cilantro dressing.

Chicken and Quinoa Salad ~ A quick tossed together salad loaded with protein from grilled chicken, black beans, and quinoa, then made rich and silky with a creamy cilantro dressing ~ The Complete Savorist

This salad started as a taco salad with quinoa.  Then it progressed to a quinoa lettuce wrap. This is how it turned out.  A cobb salad looking dish.  While there is little in common with the cobb salad, it is quite delicious.

Now if you’re wondering why in the world there is quinoa in a salad, I have a quick answer for you.  I have no idea.  It sounded like a good idea so I went with it. Quinoa is still fairly new to me and I really like it. During my recent, but still uncompleted kitchen clean out, I found the quinoa and left it out.  I have been staring at it for days trying to figure out what I want to make with it.  I came up with some fun ideas, mostly ideas that are not conducive to my diet, but I’ll make them anyway. This is when the idea of tossing it in a salad was born.

I cooked the quinoa according to the directions, let it cool a bit and then added it to the salad.  I was utterly pleased with added texture it gave the salad. But I find the texture of quinoa to be fun anyway. I wanted the salad to have a Mexican flavor  profile so I used my creamy cilantro dressing, queso fresco, other ingredients often found in Mexican themed salads, namely corn and black beans.  I added some seasoning and spices to the chicken to boast that Mexican flavor as well.

The salad was so good, I ate it for both lunch (with two of my neighbors) and dinner.  My daughter rejected the lettuce, but I expected as much, but she loved the rest of it. So, while quinoa seems like an odd choice, it really worked.  What’s the oddest thing you’ve put in a salad?

Chicken and Quinoa Salad ~ A quick tossed together salad loaded with protein from grilled chicken, black beans, and quinoa, then made rich and silky with a creamy cilantro dressing ~ The Complete Savorist

Chicken and Quinoa Salad

Servings:
Author: Michelle
Print

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1 head romaine (or any desired green)
  • 1/2 cucumber; halved and sliced
  • 5-6 radishes; sliced
  • 1/4 cup queso fresco +/-; crumbled
  • 1/2 cup black beans; canned , drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup corn; frozen , thawed
  • 1/2-1 lb chicken breast; grilled
  • Dash of:
  • salt
  • pepper
  • granulated garlic
  • chili powder
  • Creamy Cilantro Dressing

Instructions

  1. Cook quinoa according to package directions.
  2. Grill chicken seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and chili powder. (I used an indoor grilling press, you know that former professional boxer one.)
  3. Clean and prep all the remaining ingredients, including crumbling the queso fresco.
  4. Once the chicken and quinoa have cooked and slightly cooled, assemble the salad, either in one large bowl or as individual servings.
  5. Serve with creamy cilantro dressing and enjoy

Chicken and Quinoa Salad ~ A quick tossed together salad loaded with protein from grilled chicken, black beans, and quinoa, then made rich and silky with a creamy cilantro dressing ~ The Complete Savorist

Chicken and Quinoa Salad ~ A quick tossed together salad loaded with protein from grilled chicken, black beans, and quinoa, then made rich and silky with a creamy cilantro dressing ~ The Complete Savorist

Thank you for sharing!

You Might Also Like

37 Comments

  • Reply
    Debra @ Bowl Me Over
    March 5, 2015 at 2:04 pm

    I love the look of this – shared & pinned. Big quinoa fan, so this is right up my alley!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 5, 2015 at 2:19 pm

      Thank you Debra, it was simple and very tasty.

  • Reply
    betty
    March 5, 2015 at 2:25 pm

    This salad looks so good. Great looking spring salad. Can’t wait to try it.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 5, 2015 at 2:25 pm

      Thank you Betty, hope you enjoy it.

  • Reply
    Melissa Falk
    March 6, 2015 at 12:32 am

    Such a beautiful looking dish! Thanks for sharing it.

  • Reply
    Christine
    March 6, 2015 at 3:05 am

    Quinoa in salads is my favorite kind of salad! I love how it adds texture, flavor, and fills you up! This looks lovely!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 6, 2015 at 8:15 am

      Thank you Christine. Glad to know I wasn’t crazy for putting quinoa in a salad.

  • Reply
    Kristy @ Chocolate Slopes
    March 6, 2015 at 4:46 am

    Quite the combination of different foods! I love a salad with several ingredients especially with grains like quinoa added!

  • Reply
    David @ CookingChat
    March 6, 2015 at 5:12 am

    now here’s a salad that would certainly satisfy as a main course!

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 6, 2015 at 8:18 am

      That’s usually my goal with salads, make them my meal. Thanks for stopping by David.

  • Reply
    The FOOD Hunter
    March 6, 2015 at 8:11 am

    This salad looks amazing…all the foods I love

  • Reply
    heather @french press
    March 6, 2015 at 8:46 am

    however it started, it turned out amazing if you ask me! the perfect spring or summer meal

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 6, 2015 at 11:53 am

      Thank you Heather, I have truly enjoyed this salad, hearty and satisfying, but not overly filling.

  • Reply
    Mireille
    March 6, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    composed salad looks so pretty

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 6, 2015 at 3:37 pm

      Thank you so much Mireille!

  • Reply
    Patricia @ Grab a Plate
    March 6, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    Love how this evolved! I think the quinoa sounds like a great idea, and it certainly looks amazing!

  • Reply
    Healing Tomato
    March 6, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    5 stars
    You have made a great recipe here. I love the colors, combinations of veggies and your style. The Coriander Sauce is definitely perfect for the Quinoa Salad.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 6, 2015 at 10:25 pm

      You are too kind HT! Thank you.

  • Reply
    Chicago Jogger
    March 6, 2015 at 6:18 pm

    This looks really tasty! I love anything with quinoa 🙂

  • Reply
    Des @ Life's Ambrosia
    March 6, 2015 at 10:35 pm

    This salad is gorgeous! Perfect for lunch or dinner 🙂

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 7, 2015 at 12:11 am

      Thanks Des, it really is great for either meal.

  • Reply
    Mommy's Kitchen
    March 9, 2015 at 1:40 am

    Looks healthy and delicious! 🙂

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 9, 2015 at 11:03 am

      Thank you so much for stopping by.

  • Reply
    Joy @ Joy Love Food
    March 9, 2015 at 7:28 am

    This salad is beautiful! I’d happily eat it for lunch and dinner too.

    • Reply
      Michelle
      March 9, 2015 at 11:04 am

      Thank you Joy, it is rather refreshing.

  • Reply
    Sandi Gaertner (@sandigtweets)
    July 15, 2015 at 9:38 am

    I am slowly trying to incorporate more quinoa into my cooking. It is high in protein and low fat…two biggies for my family. So far most of us are on board, except for my hubby 🙁

    • Reply
      Michelle
      July 16, 2015 at 1:12 am

      Just tell him it’s rounded, pebble-y rice.

  • Reply
    Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life
    January 4, 2016 at 10:15 pm

    I like quinoa in salads too…it absorbs dressing so nicely and I like the texture. I make a salad with quinoa that my daughter absolutely loves and asks me to make every week. I need to try yours…it looks so delicious! That Cilantro Dressing is right up my alley…I am addicted to the stuff. 🙂 Happy New Year, Michelle

  • Reply
    Megan Keno
    January 6, 2016 at 1:07 am

    This looks so great and I love all the colors!

  • Reply
    Andi @ The Weary Chef
    January 6, 2016 at 8:40 am

    I LOVE quinoa, and having it on my salad sounds delicious! I also like the variety of flavors in this salad! Definitely a perfect weeknight dinner!

  • Reply
    Stephanie
    January 6, 2016 at 1:44 pm

    I had to pin this, it looks so amazing!

  • Reply
    Michelle | A Latte Food
    January 6, 2016 at 3:49 pm

    This looks so healthy and delicious! I’m always looking for new salad recipes to jazz up my lunches and dinners, and this one totally makes the cut!

  • Reply
    cathy ~ noble pig
    January 6, 2016 at 11:05 pm

    Oh my gosh I need this after the holiday splurge!

  • Leave a Reply

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Close ad Close ad