Best 4 Mexican Chicken Quinoa Salad Recipes

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Mexican chicken quinoa salad is a tantalizing dish that blends the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine with the wholesome goodness of quinoa. This colorful salad is packed with tender chicken, fluffy quinoa, crisp vegetables, and a zesty dressing, making it a perfect meal for lunch, dinner, or a refreshing side dish. With its combination of textures and flavors, Mexican chicken quinoa salad is a delightful option for those seeking a healthy and satisfying meal.

Here are our top 4 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

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

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients: Fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices will give your salad the best flavor. If possible, buy organic produce to avoid pesticides and herbicides.
  • Cook the quinoa perfectly: Quinoa should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it. If you overcook the quinoa, it will become mushy and ruin the texture of your salad.
  • Don't overdress the salad: A little bit of dressing goes a long way. If you add too much dressing, it will overwhelm the other flavors in the salad. Start with a small amount of dressing and add more to taste.
  • Serve the salad immediately: This salad is best enjoyed fresh. If you make it ahead of time, the quinoa will absorb the dressing and become soggy. Assemble the salad just before serving.

Conclusion:

This Mexican chicken quinoa salad is a healthy and delicious meal that is perfect for lunch or dinner. It is packed with protein, fiber, and vegetables, and it is also gluten-free. The zesty dressing adds a pop of flavor, and the avocado and cotija cheese add a creamy and tangy touch. This salad is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it!

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