Chicken Quinoa Salad

A bowl of quinoa salad topped with chopped green onions, dried cranberries, nuts, and yellow vegetables, placed on a white cloth with a spoon and fork beside it.

This Chicken Quinoa Salad has been a staple in my kitchen since my daughter was a toddler and I first realized that lunch wasn't happening if I didn't prep ahead. The flavors are warm, tangy, and just a little unexpected. It is oh-so-satisfying and deserves to be a lunchtime habit.

Course Main Course, Salad

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Resting Time / Seasoning 35

Total Time 1 5

Servings

Calories 455kcal

Author Wendy Polisi

Ingredients

Chicken

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil

Dressing

2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons maple syrup
⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Salad

3 cups cooked quinoa
1 mango peeled, pitted and diced
2 stalks celery diced
½ cup dried cranberries currants, raisins
¼ cup almonds toasted and chopped

Instructions

Pat the chicken dry. In a small bowl, combine the curry powder, salt, cumin, crushed red pepper, and black pepper. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, or refrigerate overnight.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 160 °F. Set aside to rest. After the chicken rests for at least 5 minutes, dice.
Meanwhile, make the dressing by combine the lemon juice, maple syrup, olive oil, curry powder, salt and pepper in a blender. Process until smooth.
Place the quinoa, mango, celery, dried cranberries, and almonds in a large bowl with the diced chicken. Toss with the dressing and serve at room temperature or chilled.

Nutrition