Best 8 Cold Chicken Quinoa Avocado Salad Recipes

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Indulge in a refreshing and flavorful culinary experience with our Cold Chicken Quinoa Avocado Salad, a delightful blend of textures and tastes. This salad combines the protein-packed goodness of tender chicken, the nutty flavor of quinoa, and the creamy richness of avocado. Tossed in a zesty lemon-tahini dressing, it offers a vibrant balance of tangy and savory notes. Accompanying this main recipe are three additional variations: a Mediterranean-inspired salad with roasted red peppers and feta cheese, a spicy twist with chipotle dressing and black beans, and a vibrant Caribbean-style salad featuring mango and cilantro. Each variation brings a unique flavor profile, catering to diverse palates and preferences. Whether you're seeking a light lunch option, a satisfying side dish, or a flavorful addition to your next potluck, this versatile salad collection has something for everyone.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

CHICKEN AVOCADO QUINOA SALAD



Chicken Avocado Quinoa Salad image

An easy salad, like chicken avocado quinoa salad, that can be made ahead and enjoyed all week long is perfect for meal prep or just to get ready for a summer party!

Provided by Shannah Coe

Categories     Salads

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup quinoa cooked and cooled
1/2 onion chopped
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 ears of corn grilled and removed from cob (or 1 small can niblets)
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
1 large avocado
4 limes
3/4 cup fresh cilantro
2 1/2 Tbsp agave (sugar works ok too)

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, mix onion, black beans, corn, chicken and quinoa together.
  • In a blender, combine the lime juice, cilantro and agave to make the dressing.
  • Cut the avocado in small pieces and toss in dressing. Add avocado to quinoa mixture.
  • Pour dressing over quinoa mixture and toss to combine. Sprinkle with sea salt.

BASIC + AWESOME CHICKEN QUINOA SALAD



Basic + Awesome Chicken Quinoa Salad image

Spin those salad wheels with this Basic + Awesome Chicken Quinoa Salad that's easy to customize. Cherry tomatoes, shredded bits of artichoke, tender chicken, and fluffy quinoa all snuggled between pieces of fresh spinach.

Provided by Lindsay

Categories     Salad

Time 10m

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (I use pulled rotisserie chicken)
1 cup cooked quinoa (I buy this pre-packaged, usually comes in 8-10 ounce packages)
1-2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
one 14-ounce can chopped artichokes, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup vinaigrette of choice (I used the Panera at Home Greek dressing)
a handful of spinach or other fresh greens of choice
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Steps:

  • Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl until well-combined.
  • Season to taste. YOU'RE DONE!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 298 calories, Sugar 6.3 g, Sodium 405.8 mg, Fat 12.2 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 25.4 g, Fiber 6.6 g, Protein 22.8 g, Cholesterol 52.5 mg

QUINOA SALAD WITH CHICKEN, ALMONDS AND AVOCADO



Quinoa Salad With Chicken, Almonds and Avocado image

Tricolor quinoa combines the tenderness of white quinoa with the pop of the red and black grains. All soak up a Dijon-sherry vinaigrette in this blend of chewy tangy cranberries, crunchy salty almonds, creamy avocado and refreshing parsley. This salad -tasty warm, at room temperature or cold - is a great way to use up leftover or rotisserie chicken. It's perfectly satisfying without the chicken, too, if you're vegetarian.

Provided by Genevieve Ko

Categories     grains and rice, salads and dressings, appetizer, main course, side dish

Time 20m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups tricolor quinoa (12 ounces), rinsed well and drained
1/4 cup finely diced shallot or onion
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 cups leftover chicken meat, torn from a rotisserie bird
3/4 cup dried cranberries
2 cups fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1/2 cup roasted salted almonds, chopped
1 avocado, pitted, peeled and thinly sliced

Steps:

  • Bring a large saucepan of generously salted water to a boil. Add quinoa and boil, stirring occasionally, until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, whisk the shallot, vinegar, mustard, oil and a generous pinch of salt and pepper in a very large bowl. When quinoa is done, drain very well, then add to the dressing, along with the chicken, cranberries and parsley. Fold until evenly mixed and cooled, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Divide the salad among dishes and top with the chopped almonds and avocado.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 590, UnsaturatedFat 23 grams, Carbohydrate 57 grams, Fat 29 grams, Fiber 10 grams, Protein 28 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 563 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams, TransFat 0 grams

PERUVIAN CHICKEN, AVOCADO & QUINOA SALAD



Peruvian chicken, avocado & quinoa salad image

Fed up with pasta salad? This gluten-free alternative is packed with lean protein from the chicken, and healthy, heart-friendly fats from the avocado

Provided by Justine Pattison

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 10

50g uncooked quinoa
100g frozen sweetcorn
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
75g cherry tomatoes , quartered
small pack coriander , leaves roughly chopped
2 spring onions , trimmed and finely sliced
zest and juice 1 lime
1/2 long red chilli , finely chopped (deseeded if you don't like it too hot)
1 ripe but firm avocado
200g skinless, cold, cooked roast chicken , cut into chunky pieces

Steps:

  • Half-fill a medium pan with water and bring to the boil. Rinse the quinoa in a fine sieve, then add to the water, stir well and simmer for 12 mins or until just tender.
  • While the quinoa is cooking, put the sweetcorn in a dry frying pan over a medium-high heat. Cook for 5 mins, turning every now and then, until defrosted and lightly toasted. Set aside.
  • Rinse the cooked quinoa in a sieve under cold water, then press hard with a serving spoon to remove excess water.
  • Tip the quinoa into a bowl and toss with the olive oil, sweetcorn, tomatoes, coriander, spring onions, lime zest and chilli. Season well with black pepper.
  • Halve and stone the avocado. Scoop out the flesh with a large metal spoon, cut into slices and combine with the lime juice. Add the chicken pieces and avocado to the salad and toss gently together before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 512 calories, Fat 29 grams fat, SaturatedFat 6 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 26 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 34 grams protein, Sodium 0.3 milligram of sodium

QUINOA SALAD WITH AVOCADO MAYO



Quinoa salad with avocado mayo image

Easy to put together and full of flavour, this healthy lunch option proides iron, folate, vitamin C and fibre. Make it vegetarian by leaving out the chicken

Provided by Sara Buenfeld

Categories     Dinner, Lunch, Supper

Time 28m

Number Of Ingredients 12

70g quinoa
75g avocado , halved and stoned
1 small garlic clove , finely grated
½ tsp mustard powder
1 lemon , juiced and half zested
198g can sweetcorn , drained
160g cherry tomatoes , halved
2 x 5cm chunks cucumber , diced
2 spring onions , finely sliced
2 tbsp chopped mint
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
100g cooked chicken (optional)

Steps:

  • Put the quinoa in a pan of boiling water and simmer for about 18 mins until the grains burst. Tip into a sieve and rinse under cold water.
  • Meanwhile, scoop the avocado into a bowl and add the garlic, mustard and 2 tbsp lemon juice, then blitz with a hand blender or in a food processor until smooth. Add 1-2 tbsp cold water if it's too thick.
  • Stir the lemon zest into the quinoa, along with the corn, salad vegetables, mint and pumpkin seeds, then flavour with a little more lemon juice. Tip onto plates or into containers. Top with the chicken, if using, and spoon over the avocado mayo.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 507 calories, Fat 23 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 40 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 12 grams sugar, Fiber 11 grams fiber, Protein 30 grams protein, Sodium 0.13 milligram of sodium

CHICKEN QUINOA SALAD



Chicken Quinoa Salad image

We pile our favorite gyro fixin's into nutritious quinoa bowls. Our local gyro guy has a cool but spicy sauce that transforms his sandwiches. It's a must here, too. -Leah Lyon, Ada, Oklahoma

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons water, divided
3/4 cup quinoa, rinsed
2 tablespoons reduced-fat plain yogurt
1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Sriracha chili sauce
1/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
1 medium cucumber, seeded and diced
3/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon Greek seasoning
1 package (6 ounces) ready-to-use grilled chicken breast strips
1 medium tomato, finely chopped

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, bring 1-1/2 cups water to a boil. Add quinoa. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed, 12-15 minutes. , For dressing, place remaining water, yogurt, mayonnaise, chili sauce and cheese in a small food processor or blender. Cover; process until blended., In a fine-mesh strainer, rinse cooked quinoa with cold water; drain well. In a bowl, toss quinoa with cucumber, parsley, green onions, oil, lemon juice and Greek seasoning. Top with chicken, tomato and dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 341 calories, Fat 19g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 30mg cholesterol, Sodium 590mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

WARM QUINOA AND CHICKEN SALAD



Warm Quinoa and Chicken Salad image

Quick-cooking quinoa is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with protein, iron, and fiber. It is also the foundation for a main-course salad with chicken and springy vegetables. This one-pan recipe comes from our book "One Pot."

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Chicken     Chicken Breast Recipes

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving
4 scallions, white and green parts separated and thinly sliced lengthwise
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, halved
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/3 cups water
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add scallion whites; cook, stirring constantly, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add quinoa, chicken, lemon zest, and the water; bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 11 minutes. Add asparagus and peas, cover, and cook until liquid is absorbed and vegetables are tender, 4 to 5 minutes more.
  • Remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes. Shred chicken and fluff quinoa. Add lemon juice and parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with scallion greens and drizzle with oil.

RED QUINOA AND AVOCADO SALAD



Red Quinoa and Avocado Salad image

A tasty combination of quinoa, avocado, cumin, and lime juice with fresh veggies for a delicious meal!

Provided by Gitano

Categories     Salad     Vegetable Salad Recipes     Avocado Salad Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 10

⅓ cup red quinoa
⅔ cup water
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup diced cucumber
¼ cup diced red onion
2 tablespoons lime juice
½ teaspoon ground cumin seed
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1 avocado - peeled, pitted and sliced

Steps:

  • Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Spread into a mixing bowl, and refrigerate until cold.
  • Once the quinoa has chilled, gently stir in the tomatoes, cucumber, and onion. Season with lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper; stir to combine. Divide the spinach leaves onto salad plates, and top with the quinoa salad. Garnish with the avocado slices to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 311.2 calories, Carbohydrate 37.1 g, Fat 17.3 g, Fiber 11.5 g, Protein 8.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 45.8 mg, Sugar 2.5 g

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the overall flavor of the salad.
  • Cook the quinoa according to the package directions. Be sure to rinse the quinoa well before cooking to remove any bitterness.
  • Let the quinoa cool completely before adding it to the salad. This will help prevent the salad from becoming watery.
  • Use a variety of vegetables in the salad. This will add color, flavor, and nutrients.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different dressings. There are many different ways to dress a chicken and quinoa salad, so find one that you like.

Conclusion:

Chicken and quinoa salad is a delicious, healthy, and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or a snack. It's perfect for meal prep, as it can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to experiment with different ingredients and dressings to find your favorite combination.

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