Best 5 Mexican Chicken Quinoa Salad Recipes

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**Mexican chicken quinoa salad: A flavorful and healthy meal**

If you are looking for a wholesome and flavorful meal that is also easy to prepare, look no further than Mexican chicken quinoa salad. This vibrant salad combines the zesty flavors of Mexican cuisine with the protein-packed goodness of chicken and the nutty flavor of quinoa. With its colorful combination of ingredients, including black beans, corn, tomatoes, and cilantro, this salad is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. The zesty dressing, made with lime juice, cumin, and chili powder, adds a perfect finishing touch to this refreshing and satisfying dish. In addition to the main recipe, this article also includes variations such as a vegetarian version, a spicy version, and a meal-prep version for those who like to plan their meals ahead. With its versatility and delicious flavor, Mexican chicken quinoa salad is a perfect choice for lunch, dinner, or a light and healthy snack.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

MEXICAN CHICKEN QUINOA SALAD



Mexican Chicken Quinoa Salad image

A quick and easy way to make a delicious healthy meal!

Provided by Deemcgee

Categories     Salad     Grains     Quinoa Salad Recipes

Time 45m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup water
½ cup quinoa
1 package taco seasoning mix, divided
2 chicken breasts, cut into small cubes
1 teaspoon butter
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
½ red onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup chopped spinach
1 carrot, chopped
½ red bell pepper, chopped
½ yellow bell pepper, chopped
⅓ cucumber, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
½ cup salsa

Steps:

  • Bring water, quinoa, and 1/2 of the taco seasoning mix to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
  • Mix chicken and remaining taco seasoning mix together in a bowl; let sit for chicken to season, about 10 minutes.
  • Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir chicken until no longer pink in the center, 5 to 10 minutes. Place chicken and quinoa in a bowl and place in freezer until cooled, about 5 minutes.
  • Combine avocado, red onion, celery, spinach, carrot, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, cucumber, and jalapeno peppers in a large bowl; add chicken-quinoa mixture and salsa and mix well.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 299.7 calories, Carbohydrate 32.5 g, Cholesterol 35 mg, Fat 11.3 g, Fiber 7.3 g, Protein 17.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 911.9 mg, Sugar 6 g

AMAZING MEXICAN QUINOA SALAD



Amazing Mexican Quinoa Salad image

Extremely yummy, spicy marinated salad that will keep in the fridge for up to a week! My kids in university love packing this up for their lunch. You have everything you need for a very healthy meal in one dish! Substitute barley for the brown rice if desired. Turtle beans can be substituted for kidney beans.

Provided by Rita

Categories     Salad     Grains     Rice Salad Recipes

Time 2h20m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cups cooked quinoa
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14 ounce) can corn
1 red onion, chopped
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 red bell pepper, chopped
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
¾ cup olive oil
⅓ cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon chili powder, or to taste
2 cloves garlic, mashed
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

Steps:

  • Mix quinoa, pinto beans, kidney beans, corn, red onion, brown rice, red bell pepper, and cilantro together in a glass or plastic container with a lid.
  • Whisk olive oil, vinegar, chili powder, garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl; pour over quinoa mixture and toss to coat. Cover bowl with a lid and refrigerate until flavors blend, at least 2 hours. Stir again before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 396.6 calories, Carbohydrate 42.4 g, Fat 22.6 g, Fiber 8.6 g, Protein 9.1 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 532 mg, Sugar 2.9 g

MEXICAN QUINOA AND CHICKEN SALAD



Mexican Quinoa and Chicken Salad image

Categories     Salad     Chicken     Side     Quinoa     Simmer     Boil

Yield Serves 4; 1 1/2 cups per serving

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 cup uncooked prerinsed quinoa
1 cup water and 2 tablespoons water, divided use
1 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed if frozen
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon honey
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked without salt, all visible fat discarded, cubed
1 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved
2 medium green onions, sliced
1 medium fresh jalapeño, seeds and ribs discarded, diced
4 large lettuce leaves

Steps:

  • In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, covered, over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, still covered, for 12 minutes.
  • Stir in the corn. Simmer, covered, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the water is absorbed, the quinoa is translucent and tender, and the corn is crisp-tender. Remove from the heat. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, cilantro, oil, cumin, pepper, honey, and remaining 2 tablespoons water. Set aside.
  • In a salad bowl, toss together the chicken, bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, and jalapeño. Add the quinoa mixture, tossing to combine. Drizzle with the lime juice mixture, tossing to combine.
  • Place the lettuce leaves on plates. Spoon the salad onto the lettuce.
  • Cook's Tip on Quinoa
  • Mildly flavored and high in protein, quinoa is nutritious and cooks quickly. Try it in place of rice or couscous in recipes or as a side dish. Often called a supergrain, quinoa is covered with a bitter-tasting coating of saponin, a harmless naturally occurring substance. If the quinoa is not prerinsed, put it in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cold running water to be sure to get rid of the coating.
  • Nutrition Information
  • (Per serving)
  • Calories: 277
  • Total fat: 4.5g
  • Saturated: 1.0g
  • Trans: 0.0g
  • Polyunsaturated: 1.5g
  • Monounsaturated: 1.5g
  • Cholesterol: 66mg
  • Sodium: 91mg
  • Carbohydrates: 28g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Sugars: 5g
  • Protein: 31g
  • Calcium: 38mg
  • Potassium: 732mg
  • Dietary Exchanges
  • 1 1/2 starch
  • 1 vegetable
  • 3 very lean meat

MEXICAN QUINOA SALAD



Mexican Quinoa Salad image

A delicious, fresh Mexican dish with a little kick!

Provided by The Lazy Gourmet

Categories     Salad     Grains     Quinoa Salad Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 ½ cups cooked quinoa
1 cup frozen corn
1 red bell pepper, diced
½ cup chopped green onion
½ cup finely chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ cup olive oil
1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons honey
6 pickled jalapeno pepper slices, chopped
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon paprika

Steps:

  • Stir black beans, quinoa, corn, red bell pepper, green onion, cilantro, and garlic together in a large bowl.
  • Whisk olive oil, lime juice, honey, jalapeno, mustard, and paprika together in a bowl until dressing is smooth and creamy. Pour dressing over quinoa mixture and toss to coat. Garnish with cilantro.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 507.5 calories, Carbohydrate 53.8 g, Fat 29.2 g, Fiber 11.5 g, Protein 11.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.9 g, Sodium 446.6 mg, Sugar 12 g

QUINOA AND ARUGULA SALAD WITH CHICKEN



Quinoa and Arugula Salad with Chicken image

An easy and healthy main-dish arugula salad inspired by the signature salad at La Boulange in Palo Alto, California.

Provided by adsomers

Categories     Arugula Salad

Time 55m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 cups water
1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 pinch salt
1 (8 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground oregano
¼ teaspoon ground paprika
1 ½ teaspoons olive oil
1 medium lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (5 ounce) package arugula

Steps:

  • Bring water, quinoa, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool completely.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a small baking dish with foil.
  • Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and paprika. Brush with olive oil and sear in the hot pan until grill marks appear, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking dish.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut into ½-inch cubes.
  • Combine lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon, and honey in a cup. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk rapidly until dressing is smooth.
  • Combine arugula, quinoa, and chicken in a large mixing bowl. Add dressing and toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 573.7 calories, Carbohydrate 66.7 g, Cholesterol 65.9 mg, Fat 17.6 g, Fiber 9.7 g, Protein 40.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 732.8 mg

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Be sure to rinse the quinoa thoroughly before cooking to remove any bitterness.
  • Cook the quinoa according to the package directions. You can use a rice cooker, saucepan, or Instant Pot.
  • While the quinoa is cooking, prepare the other ingredients, such as the chicken, vegetables, and dressing.
  • Once the quinoa is cooked, let it cool slightly before assembling the salad.
  • Be sure to taste the dressing and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
  • Serve the salad immediately or store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

This Mexican Chicken Quinoa Salad is a healthy, flavorful, and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. It is packed with protein, fiber, and vegetables, and it is also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Whether you are looking for a vegetarian option or simply want to add more plant-based foods to your diet, this salad is a great choice.

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