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    Home » Salads

    Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas

    Updated: May 6, 2022 by Verna Rindler · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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    red wine vinaigrette being poured over quinoa chickpea salad
    quinoa salad with chickpeas and veggies dressed in a bowl

    Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas is a filling and vibrant dish. Bursting with fresh veggies and an easy red wine vinaigrette, pack up this hearty salad and bring it to any summer celebration, potluck, or make it for meal prep!

    quinoa salad with chickpeas and veggies in a salad bowl with serving spoon

    Say hello to your new favorite lunch or side dish! Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas is not only full of bright flavors and fresh vegetables but is also gorgeous to look at. I mean, just look at all of those colors! Who wouldn’t want a scoop on their plate?

    It isn’t hard to fall for this quinoa and chickpea salad because it’s:

    • Healthy, light, and packed full of protein.
    • Perfect for meal prep, picnics, potlucks, and barbecues.
    • Easy to make in less than 1 hour.
    • Flexible! Easily change up the veggies, dressing, or protein.

    This picnic-ready side dish can quickly be thrown together and stored in the fridge for later. Pack it up, pour on the dressing, and enjoy it with plenty of other summer favorites. It pairs perfectly with Vegan Macaroni Salad, Mediterranean Orzo Salad, Chickpea Salad Sandwiches, and more!

    Jump to:
    • What is quinoa salad made of?
    • How to make quinoa salad with chickpeas
    • Variations
    • Making ahead and storing
    • More healthy salad recipes
    • Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas

    What is quinoa salad made of?

    • Quinoa - Any color or variety of quinoa will do. Save some time by cooking the quinoa up to 2 or 3 days ahead of time. Just store it in the fridge until you want to assemble the salad.
    • Chickpeas - Canned chickpeas are the easiest option but freshly cooked dried chickpeas work just as well.
    • Vegetables - I used cherry tomatoes, corn, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion in the salad. There are plenty of other vegetables you can add to a quinoa salad, like avocado, olives, parsley, spinach, or green onions.
    • Red wine vinaigrette - This simple dressing is tangy and easy to put together. It’s made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, maple syrup, dijon, salt, and pepper. The extras would pair perfectly with a vegan Greek salad or pasta salad.
    ingredients for quinoa chickpea salad in a salad bowl ready to be mixed with dressing

    How to make quinoa salad with chickpeas

    Make sure you rinse the quinoa before getting started. Not only does this remove any debris and dirt, but it also helps the quinoa taste better. After that’s done, you can get started on this picnic-perfect salad:

    1. Cook the quinoa: Cook the quinoa in a rice cooker, on the stove, or in an Instant Pot. Set it aside to cool when it’s done (place it in the fridge or freezer to speed up this process).
    2. Make the dressing: Add all of the dressing ingredients into a jar, seal with a lid, and shake to combine.
    3. Assemble the salad: Transfer the cooled quinoa into a bowl with the salad vegetables.
    4. Serve and enjoy: Pour the dressing over the quinoa salad right before serving, then toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, then enjoy! For full ingredients and instructions see printable recipe card below.
    step by step photos how to make quinoa chickpea salad
    quinoa chickpea salad in a bowl ready to serve

    Variations

    • Oil free - Replace the vinaigrette with an oil free tahini dressing.
    • Mediterranean quinoa salad - Make the salad with kalamata olives, red onion, cucumber, vegan feta cheese, and cherry tomatoes.
    • Mexican quinoa salad - Omit the cucumber and bell pepper, and add in avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, and black beans. Instead of vinaigrette, dress the salad in the same creamy lime dressing I use in my Mexican street corn salad.
    • More vegan quinoa salad add-ins - Add avocado, black beans, seitan chicken, air fryer tofu, vegan feta cheese, balsamic marinated tofu, or fresh herbs.

    Making ahead and storing

    To make ahead: If you plan on making the quinoa salad ahead of time, store the assembled salad and dressing in separate containers. They’ll both stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    To store: The dressed leftover salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Feel free to drizzle extra dressing, oil, or lemon juice over top to rehydrate the salad.

    More healthy salad recipes

    • Cold Thai Noodle Salad
    • Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
    • Cauliflower Potato Salad
    • 15 Minute Cowboy Caviar
    • Vegan Caesar Salad

    Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

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    ingredients for quinoa salad with chickpeas in a bowl ready to be mixed with dressing

    Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas


    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Verna
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 6-8 Servings 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas is a filling and vibrant dish. Bursting with fresh veggies and an easy red wine vinaigrette, pack up this hearty salad and bring it to any summer celebration, potluck, or make it for meal prep!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For salad:

    • 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
    • 1 and 1/2 cups water

    • 1 and 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained (15 oz can)

    • 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered or halved 

    • 1 cup canned corn or freshly cooked from ear of corn

    • 1/2 long english cucumber, seeded and diced (about a cup)

    • 1/2 cup diced bell pepper, any color

    • 1/3 cup red onion, diced small

    • 1/3 cup fresh chopped dill

    For dressing:

    • 4 tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

    • 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or sugar 

    • 1/4 teaspoon dijon mustard (optional)

    • Pinch of salt and cracked black pepper


    Instructions

    1. Cook quinoa: rinse quinoa in a fine meshed strainer. Add to your rice cooker with the water and cook! Fluff with a fork. (or cook according to package instructions) Set aside to cool on counter or fridge 
    2. Prep veggies: Chop all veggies and dill, add to a large salad bowl with chickpeas, corn and quinoa

    3. Make Vinaigrette: add dressing ingredients to a jar, seal and shake or whisk in a bowl to combine.

    4. Serve and enjoy: When ready to serve salad, pour over the dressing. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper if needed and enjoy room temperature or chilled. Step by step photos, tips, suggestions and more in above post.

    Notes

    To make ahead: store the assembled salad and dressing in separate containers for up to 3 days in the fridge.

    Store: Leftover salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Drizzle extra dressing, oil, or lemon juice over top to freshen up the salad.

    • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 Minutes
    • Category: Salads, gluten free
    • Method: mixing bowl
    • Cuisine: American, Canadian

    Keywords: quinoa salad with chickpeas, quinoa chickpea salad,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cheeky_chickpea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #cheeky_chickpea_

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jan

      May 07, 2022 at 7:37 am

      Hi Verna could I add some vegan feta to the quinoa salad? Would that work do you think.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 07, 2022 at 7:41 am

        Absolutley! Vegan feta would be a wonderful addition to this quinoa salad. My favourite is Violife feta but homemade is nice too! enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    2. Lana

      May 06, 2022 at 4:12 pm

      Making this ASAP thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 06, 2022 at 4:58 pm

        Enjoy!!

        Reply

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