Easy Quinoa Salad with Rooster • Kath Eats

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, numerous herbs, and hen, it’s an all-in-one lunch or mild dinner. 

One in all my good pals broke her kneecap, and I made her this Quinoa Salad that’s good for sending to a good friend who wants just a little additional nourishment—or for stocking your individual fridge on a prep day. It’s easy to make, loaded with wholesome substances, and filled with vibrant flavors and textures.

I’ve been on a really lengthy streak of Mediterranean substances this 12 months, 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 Components + Why They’re Good For You!

• Quinoa: This historical grain brings each fiber and full plant protein to the desk, which suggests lasting power 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—good 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 the whole lot and convey a great deal of antioxidants and phytonutrients.
• Lemon Juice & Zest: Vitamin C bonus, plus simply the proper zing to marry all of the salad elements.
• Olive Oil: Retains issues heart-healthy and helps your physique take up these fat-soluble nutritional vitamins.

What Makes This Salad So Straightforward

1. Minimal cooking: Simply quinoa and hen—each forgiving and easy.
2. One-bowl toss (after you’ve received your substances prepared): No difficult layering or fancy plating—simply combine and go.
3. Completely versatile: Swap in no matter herbs, seasoning, or add-ins you might have available.
4. Make-ahead pleasant: Retains nicely within the fridge—and tastes nice chilly or barely warmed.

Serving + Sharing

Should you’re delivering this to a good friend, pack it in a sturdy container with just a little additional dressing on the facet. I ended up maintaining the hen separate in a to-go pan for simple reheating and since my good friend’s youngsters didn’t need all of it combined up!

How To Make This Easy Quinoa Salad

Components (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 cook dinner hen

Pat hen dry, season (I like lemon-pepper or Italian seasoning), flippantly drizzle with olive oil, and bake 15–17 minutes till cooked via.

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. Prime 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 here are a number of recipes from Kath’s archives which are in the identical queen-of-prep-day type:

• Feta and Herb Quinoa Salad – A simple herb-forward model with pink peppers, feta, and contemporary combined 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.

Extra salads you may like!