Recipe and tips, Easy Recipe, Healthy Recipe, recipe

High-Protein Southwest Quinoa Salad

🧾 Ingredients

For the salad:

1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
2 cups water or broth
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained & rinsed
1 cup corn (fresh, frozen, or grilled)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ red onion, finely chopped
1 avocado, diced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime

🥣 Optional protein boost:

1 cup grilled chicken (diced)
or
½ cup shredded cheese
or
½ cup Greek yogurt (mixed into dressing)

🌶️ Creamy Chipotle Dressing:

½ cup Greek yogurt (or mayo)
1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo (minced)
1 tbsp adobo sauce (from the can)
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp honey or maple syrup
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste
Water (1–2 tbsp to thin, if needed)

🔥 Instructions

1. Cook the quinoa

Rinse quinoa well.
Combine with water/broth and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover, simmer 12–15 minutes.
Let sit 5 minutes, then fluff and cool.

2. Make the dressing

Blend or whisk all dressing ingredients until smooth.
Adjust spice (chipotle = smoky heat 🌶️).

3. Assemble the salad

In a large bowl, combine:
quinoa + beans + corn + veggies + cilantro
Toss gently.

4. Add dressing

Pour dressing over salad.
Mix well until everything is coated.

5. Finish

Add avocado last.
Squeeze fresh lime juice on top.
Chill for 20–30 minutes (optional, but improves flavor).

🥗 Nutrition (Approx per serving, 4 servings)

Calories: ~350–420
Protein: ~15–22g (higher with chicken or extra yogurt)
Carbs: ~40g
Fat: ~12–18g
Fiber: ~10g

💡 Tips for BEST flavor

Let it sit → flavors deepen over time
Use grilled corn for smoky taste
Don’t skip lime—it brightens everything
Add avocado right before serving to keep it fresh

Q&A

Can I make it vegan?

Yes!

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Use plant-based yogurt or vegan mayo
Skip chicken/dairy

How spicy is it?

Mild to medium.

Use 1 chipotle pepper = mild
2+ peppers = spicy 🔥

How long does it last?

Fridge: 3–4 days
Store avocado separately if possible

Can I meal prep it?

Absolutely—this is perfect for meal prep. Just:

Keep dressing separate for best texture
Add avocado fresh daily

Can I swap quinoa?

Yes:

Brown rice
Farro
Couscous (less protein though)

Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.