Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad (2025)

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Ingredients for Quinoa Power Salad Customizing Serving Storing Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad Ingredients Instructions Notes Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate) References

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This delicious Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad recipe only takes 25 minutes to make! It's full of fresh flavors and healthy, energizing, plant-based goodness. Great for packed lunches, potlucks, BBQs, and beyond! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

Quinoa and avocados are a match made in heaven! They combine forces in this delicious power salad with lots of nourishing, hearty goodness.

Then we add fresh spinach, sweet tomatoes, green onion, garlic, and a simple red wine vinegar dressing to the party. (Yum!) It's healthy, pleasantly filling, and feels so energizing.

The best part is it's incredibly easy to make and only takes about 25 minutes. It's a crowd-pleasing dish that's great made ahead of time for take-along lunches, summer gatherings, potlucks, meal prep, or simply enjoyment at home.

I had so much fun creating this recipe, and I truly hope you enjoy it as well!

Ingredients for Quinoa Power Salad

For this recipe, you'll toss together in a large bowl:

White quinoa: This is a good source of protein and fiber among many other nutrients. Quinoa is also a complete protein which means it contains all nine essential amino acids. Quinoa is often classified as a grain, but technically it's a seed, making it gluten-free. There are a few different varieties, but I prefer the mild flavor of white quinoa in this recipe.
Avocado: You'll need two medium avocados for this recipe. Their smooth, buttery texture and rich flavor is perfect paired with the fluffy quinoa! I like to find just-ripe avocados that are still firm but with a slight give and softness.
Fresh baby spinach: I like tender spinach in this recipe, but you could include baby kale as well if you'd like.
Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes: You'll need one pint, which is about 8-10 ounces. I like using grape or cherry tomatoes because they're so sweet and flavorful. But you could substitute roma tomato, plum tomato, or other ripe garden tomatoes if you wish.
Green onion (scallion): Or you can substitute finely diced red onion for a stronger taste.
Red wine vinegar: Start with the noted two tablespoons and add more for extra tanginess! For a different flavor profile, readers have reported success substituting this with apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar. Or you can use fresh lemon juice and lemon zest instead.
Fresh garlic cloves: I like the flavor of fresh garlic, but you can use a half teaspoon dried garlic powder instead.

Customizing

Herbs: Add fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or basil for added flavor. Or you can also add dried herbs to the dressing. (Dijon mustard is also a tasty addition to the dressing!) For a hint of spice, add black pepper or chili powder to taste.

Veggies: Stir in cucumber or red bell pepper for added crunch. Roasted bell pepper or Kalamata olives would be tasty too!

Vegan cheese: Sprinkle dairy-free feta cheese crumbles on top before serving if desired.

Protein: Toss in chickpeas, white beans, or seeds to add even more plant-based protein and fiber.

Oil: The dressing is made oil-free, but feel free to whisk in a tablespoon of good quality extra-virgin olive oil if preferred.

Serving

Serve this salad right away while it's still warm, at room temperature, or chilled. I find it delicious all ways! You can enjoy it as a main dish or side dish.

It's great made ahead of time, so it's a fantastic option for meal prep, picnics, potlucks, parties, and beyond.

Storing

Store the leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator. I find it keeps for about 3-4 days. If preparing ahead, you can also save the avocado to add right before serving if you wish. This helps keep it fresh!

For more inspiration, also browse all vegan salad recipes or quinoa recipes.

Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad

A nourishing quinoa salad with creamy avocado, sweet tomatoes, and fresh spinach. Easy to make and full of energizing, plant-based goodness!

4.84 from 25 votes

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 5 medium bowls

Ingredients

1 cup white quinoa (uncooked)
2 medium avocados
3 oz. baby spinach
1 pint grape/cherry tomatoes (about 8-10 oz.)
3 green onions (or finely diced red onion)
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1-2 cloves garlic
1/8 tsp. salt

Instructions

Rinse and cook quinoa according to package directions.* (I use a ratio of 1 cup quinoa to 1 1/2 cups water for fluffier quinoa.)
Meanwhile, roughly chop the spinach. Place it in a large mixing bowl.
Mince garlic and add to spinach.
Halve or quarter the tomatoes, slice green onions, and dice avocado.
When quinoa is done cooking, immediately add it to the large bowl with spinach and garlic. Toss well to combine, then let it sit for a couple minutes. (This allows the heat from the quinoa to lightly wilt the spinach and mellow the garlic.)
Then add the tomatoes, green onions, red wine vinegar, and salt. Stir to combine.
Add the avocado and lightly toss. Taste and add more vinegar or salt if desired. Serve this salad right away while it's still warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

Notes

*To cook 1 cup quinoa: In a small saucepan, boil 1.5 cups water (or vegetable broth for more flavor). Once boiling, add rinsed quinoa, reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes or until liquid has absorbed.

Customizing: The dressing and flavors are flexible. I keep it simple with red wine vinegar, but you can add fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dried herbs, or fresh herbs for more flavor. Cucumber, olives, or bell pepper are great additions too.

Yield: Recipe makes about 8 cups salad. That's about 5 servings of 1.5 heaping cups. Or you can stretch it to 8 smaller side dish servings that are 1 cup each.

Recipe originally posted April 2014. Updated July 2024.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts

Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad

Amount per Serving

Calories

270

% Daily Value*

Fat

Saturated Fat

Polyunsaturated Fat