Three Fast & Easy Quinoa Recipes

Need some lunch inspiration?  Try my easy quinoa salad recipes!

I’d like to thank ALDI for sponsoring this post about delicious and simple quinoa salads (all 7 ingredients or less!)  As always, all opinions are my own.  I sincerely thank you for supporting posts like this that allow me to publish this blog for free.

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There’s nothing new about quinoa in the healthy living community, but this goodie still deserves some solid respect in my book!  You just can’t beat this powerhouse whole grain food (technically a seed!) for its nutrition profile which includes protein, fiber, folate, iron and a slew of other useful nutrients.  As a mainly plant-based eater, anything with protein is a winner in my book.

That’s why these lovely little morsels remain a solid part of my diet. It’s like foodie perfection in a cup!

After cooking, the little grains are an ideal fluffy addition to so many dishes… but by far my favorites are easy quinoa salad recipes.

I’ve been buying my quinoa lately from ALDI!  You can’t beat their SimplyNature Organic Quinoa for quality and price.

I’ve had a lot of quinoa over the years, and their version is delicious and less expensive!  Plus since its part of their SimplyNature line, I know it’s free of artificial colors, flavors and unnecessary enhancers.  Many of the products in this line are organic as well.

Quinoa is often a lunch solution for me.  I’ll go on kicks where I’ll make sandwiches, salads or even quesadillas.  I’ll eat whatever I’m feeling for a few weeks, get tired of it and then move on to the next thing.

BUT one of my all-time favorite cravings that pops into rotation is quinoa salad.  It’s so fast to put together, light and healthy!  I’ll serve it alone or on a big bowl of greens (which you can also get at ALDI) for extra nutrients.

Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes

There are so many versions of easy quinoa salad, but there are a few easy quinoa salad recipes that are my favorites!  I thought I’d share all three recipes with you today to get you inspired to try the SimplyNature Organic Quinoa at ALDI and to mix up your lunch.

First up is my Mexican Black Bean Quinoa Salad.  It’s probably the first easy quinoa salad recipe I ever made.

My version could not be easier with only 7 ingredients, including the quinoa!  Another star of the recipe is the SimplyNature Organic Black Beans.  I go through SO many cans of these.

To make it you just rinse and drain the black beans.  Next chop up the tomatoes, green onions and avocado.

The flavoring is lots of lime and cilantro.  You could add an oil of your choosing, but with the avocado it’s not that necessary, as there’s enough flavor as is.

Yummm…. avocado….

It’s probably no surprise that I make this easy Mexican Black Bean Quinoa Salad Recipe the most.  It satisfies my Mexican food hankering that I seem to get every few days.

Next up is my Heirloom Caprese Quinoa Salad!

It’s like summer in a bowl. 

This easy quinoa salad recipe only uses 5 ingredients, all found at ALDI!

I used ALDI Fit & Active Balsamic Vinaigrette, Dakota’s Pride Great Northern Beans and Priano Fresh Mozzarella in Marinade.  The Fit & Active line offers products with less fat, less sodium and fewer calories.

This one is even easier than the last!  The only chopping required is halving the tomatoes.

Look at those GORGEOUS heirloom tomatoes I got at ALDI.  I’ve bought them every week since I discovered them.

The white beans are optional and may not suit everyone’s taste, but I like the added protein in this dish!  It makes it an even more well-rounded lunch.

With or without the beans, this Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad could not be an easier, tastier lunch.

My third easy quinoa salad recipe is great for those days you are craving something sweet.

I’ll just warn you, though… my Honey Lime Mango Berry Quinoa Salad is downright addictive!

This is another 7 ingredient recipe, and I got all those delectable fruits in the ALDI fresh produce department.  I’ve gotten some incredible produce there at such great deals.

The star of the dish is SimplyNature Organic Wildflower Honey.  It’s pure honey perfection at a fraction of the price!

The recipe starts with chopping the strawberries and mango.  If you don’t know how to chop and peel a mango, make sure to check out my video sharing my mango cup trick.  It will change the way you do mangoes!

This round gets tossed together with lots of lime and a touch of honey!  It’s only a few tablespoons for the whole recipe, so it’s not too much added sugar or sweetness.

The result is so delicious and all from products found at ALDI.  It’s great as a lunch, but could even be an unconventional breakfast, too!

All three of these yummy, fast and easy quinoa salad recipes are made using products entirely from ALDI.  I’ve really been enjoying shopping there and have loved the lower grocery bills!  Check out more of my favorite ALDI products here.  I also encourage you to visit an ALDI store on your own.  Find your closest location here!

4.78 from 9 votes

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Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes- Mexican Black Bean Quinoa Salad

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

Healthy quinoa salad featuring Mexican flavors!

Servings: 2 -4 servings

Author: Julie Wunder

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup SimplyNature Organic Quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 can SimplyNature Organic Black Beans rinsed and drained
• 1 avocado diced
• 1 cup heirloom cherry tomatoes halved
• 2 green onions sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
• 2 limes juiced
• 1/4 teaspoon Stonemill salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Stonemill pepper

Instructions

1. Cook the quinoa in salted water according to package instructions.
2. Allow quinoa to cool to at least room temperature.
3. Mix all ingredients together.
4. Salt and pepper to taste.

4.78 from 9 votes

Print

Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes - Heirloom Tomato Caprese Quinoa Salad

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

A healthy summer lunch!

Servings: 2 -4 servings

Author: Julie Wunder

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup SimplyNature Organic Quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• 1 8 ounce package Priano Fresh Mozzarella in Marinade removed from the oil
• 1/2 cup Dakota's Pride Great Northern Beans rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup Fit & Active Light Balsamic Vinaigrette
• 1/2 lemon juiced
• 1/4 teaspoon Stonemill iodized salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Stonemill ground pepper.
• optional garnish: fresh basil

Instructions

1. Cook the quinoa in salted water according to package instructions.
2. Allow quinoa to cool to at least room temperature.
3. Mix all ingredients together.
4. Salt and pepper to taste.

4.78 from 9 votes

Print

Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes- Honey Lime Mango Berry Quinoa Salad

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

A sweet and fruity quinoa salad!

Servings: 2 -4 servings

Author: Julie Wunder

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup SimplyNature Organic Quinoa
• 1 cup strawberries diced
• 1 mango diced
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1/2 cup blackberries
• 2 limes juiced
• 2 tablespoons SimplyNature Organic Honey

Instructions

1. Cook the quinoa in salted water according to package instructions.
2. Allow quinoa to cool to at least room temperature.
3. Mix all ingredients together.

Like my Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes? I’d love it if you could pin this to your favorite Pinterest board! Thank you so much for the support. 

Thanks for stopping by today! Tomorrow I’m sharing a Strawberry Mint Nice Cream that’s perfect for summer.

Your turn!

Which quinoa salad would you like to try first?

I’m linking my Easy Quinoa Salad Recipes with: Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah, Meatless Monday with Annmarie and Rachel, Delicious Dish Tuesday, What’s Cookin’ Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday with Miz Helen, FoodFriDIY,  Foodie Friday, and the Weekend Potluck.  Thanks so much ladies for the link up parties