This easy One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa Salad recipe is flavorful and ready in 30 minutes! It's healthy, quick, and easy to clean up. Plus, it's vegetarian and gluten-free.
There is no question! You'll love all of our one-pot meals!
Finding easy dinner dishes that everyone in my family will love isn't always easy. Believe me, I've tried! I want recipes that are quick to make on a busy weeknight because I'm tired, but I also want them to be healthy and flavorful.
That's why I love this easy and speedy dinner idea so much! This simple dish, made with wholesome whole grains, packed with veggies, and filled with flavor, is sure to be a hit with your family.
No matter the season, my amazing one-pot Mediterranean Quinoa recipe is so easy and tasty that you’ll want to make it every week!
If you love the nutrition and ease of quinoa, try Kid-friendly Quinoa Pizza Bites, spicy Thai Chicken Quinoa Bowls, or mini Quinoa Frittatas!
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Why Make This Recipe
- Easy
- One-Pot
- Freezer-Friendly
- Meal Prep Favorite
Ingredient Notes
Making this quick one-pot Mediterranean quinoa recipe with a lemon dressing is so effortless. For this one-pot quinoa recipe, you’ll need:
- Quinoa: This hearty whole grain is a complete protein that fills you up and is so easy to make!
- Cherry Tomatoes: Add tomatoes for added color and nutrients. Cherry or grape tomatoes work well, but other varieties are just as good.
- Kalamata Olives: These olives give this dish its Mediterranean flavor.
- Baby Kale: Another superfood that adds color to the recipe is kale. You can substitute spinach.
- Red Onion: Chopped or diced red onion adds a mild onion flavor.
- Feta Cheese: This soft, slightly salty cheese adds a little tang to your quinoa salad.
- Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is what we recommend.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Vinegar adds a slight acidity to the dressing.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is best.
- Oregano: A spice that gives this dish a nice flavor.
- Thyme: A dried herb that compliments the other herbs in the recipe.
- Marjoram: Another dried herb that adds flavor.
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste.
You can add other fresh ingredients or make a few kid-friendly swaps. Keep reading to find some fun ways to change these Mediterranean quinoa bowls to suit your family's tastes.
Variations
While this recipe is delicious on its own, you can make a few adjustments to suit your family's tastes. Try these Mediterranean quinoa bowl variations for a new take on this quick and easy recipe:
- Add Additional Fresh Vegetables and Added Nutrients: This dish is bursting with flavor, but you can add more vegetables to the mix! Serve your quinoa bowls with thinly sliced onions, diced green onions, diced English cucumber, artichoke hearts, red bell peppers, or chickpeas (garbanzo beans) to enhance the dish. For a little crunch, try topping your bowls with pine nuts.
- Dress It Up With Herbs: Another simple way to add to the taste of this delicious dish is to add some fresh herbs. Chop up fresh basil or fresh parsley and garnish your Mediterranean quinoa bowls to up the flavor profile.
- Enhance the Sauce Flavor and Add Protein with Hummus: Mix in a bit of hummus to add another layer of taste to the dressing. Or top the dish with hummus for extra protein when serving. We've also topped it with tzatziki sauce, which tastes amazing!
- Add Protein: You can certainly include protein in your recipe by adding shredded chicken, shrimp, garbanzo beans, or plant-based protein.
- Swap The Feta: If you don't like the flavor of feta cheese, make a simple swap and use mozzarella cheese instead.
- Make it Kid-Friendly: While this dish is packed with flavor, your kids may not be fans of the Mediterranean concept. To make a kid-friendly version, mix the quinoa with a few cherry tomatoes, mozzarella chunks, and Italian salad dressing. Yum!
- Vegan Quinoa Salad: You'll need to swap the feta cheese for a vegan feta cheese.
Step-By-Step Instructions
This delicious one-pot Mediterranean Quinoa Salad recipe will become a staple in your house. The most time-consuming part of this recipe is cooking the quinoa—which isn't hard!
- Step 1 - Prepare Your Quinoa: To prepare your quinoa, start by rinsing the grain under cold water for around two minutes to prevent the quinoa from becoming bitter.
Here is a full tutorial on how to cook fluffy quinoa every time or follow the package instructions.
PRO TIP: Cook your quinoa with chicken or vegetable broth for even more flavor!
- Step 2 - Prep Other Ingredients: While your quinoa is cooking, use the time to do a little prep work for your one-pot meal. Slice your cherry tomatoes in half, crumble your feta cheese, and chop your onions and any other veggies you want to use.
- Step 3 - Combine Ingredients: When the quinoa is finished cooking, stir all the ingredients into the same pan as the quinoa. Then, heat for a few more minutes until all the ingredients are warmed.
Once your one-pot meal is cooked through, you can serve it immediately. The recipe is also great at room temperature.
If you're meal-prepping your healthy Mediterranean quinoa salad, transfer your quinoa recipe into 4 individual bowls for later.
Or place your meal in a large bowl with a cover for a quick make-ahead meal you can just take out of the refrigerator when ready to eat.
Expert Tips
- Flavorful Sauce: The sauce is a crucial element. For a delicious dressing, I say use good-quality extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and a mix of Mediterranean spices like oregano and basil.
- Season Generously: Don't be shy with the salt and black pepper. Season the quinoa while it's cooking, and adjust the seasoning of the entire salad at the end.
- Use Vegetable Broth for Cooking Quinoa: For an extra layer of flavor, cook the quinoa in chicken or vegetable broth instead of water. It adds depth to the overall taste of the salad.
Storing
Fridge: This salad typically lasts 4-5 days in the refrigerator. To maintain freshness, keep it covered in an airtight container.
Can You Freeze This Quinoa Dish?
Yes, this quinoa dish can be frozen in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn and reheated. Just take it out of the freezer the night before to defrost.
Reheating: Although this salad is lovely or chilled at room temperature, reheat it in a microwave-safe dish and heat it until warm if desired.
Mediterranean Bowl Meal Prep
Can I make this salad in advance? You bet! In addition to the quick and easy prep and simple ingredients in this one-pot Mediterranean quinoa, we also love how perfect this recipe is for a make-ahead lunch or dinner.
Use this one-pot quinoa recipe for your weekly meal prep and prepare the recipe according to the instructions.
Then:
- Transfer the cooked dish to your 4 individually portioned, airtight containers. Allow the meal to cool before sealing the lids on the containers.
- Store the prepared meals in the refrigerator and reheat them in the microwave when you want to enjoy them. The recipe is also good cold!!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, rinsing quinoa helps remove its natural coating, called saponin, which can make it taste bitter. Rinse it under cold water using a fine mesh sieve before cooking unless the package instructions say otherwise.
Yes, you can use pre-cooked quinoa or leftover quinoa if you have it on hand. Just make sure to fluff it before adding it to the salad to prevent clumping.
This salad can be served as a healthy side dish, a light lunch, or even a main course. For a complete meal, consider pairing it with grilled chicken, fish, or falafel.
More Easy One-Pot Recipes
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Printable Recipe
One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa Recipe
Equipment
- pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
- ¼ cup pitted kalamata olives (we prefer ours chopped, but whole is fine)
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup baby kale (washed, dried, and torn into pieces)
- ½ red onion (chopped or diced)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
- sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Make Quinoa: To prepare your quinoa, start by rinsing the grain under cold water for around two minutes to prevent the quinoa from becoming bitter. Then, follow our fluffy quinoa recipe or the cooking instructions on the package.
- Prep Other Ingredients: Cut tomatoes in half, chop the onion, and then crumble feta cheese if necessary.
- Combine Ingredients: When the quinoa is finished cooking, stir all the remaining ingredients into the same pan as the quinoa and mix thoroughly. Then, heat for a few more minutes until all the ingredients are warmed. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Flavorful Dressing: The dressing is a crucial element. Use good quality extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and a mix of Mediterranean spices like oregano and basil for a flavorful dressing. Hummus is also a wonderful addition.
- Season Generously: Don't be shy with the salt and black pepper. Season the quinoa while it's cooking, and adjust the seasoning of the entire salad at the end.
- Use Vegetable Broth for Cooking Quinoa: For an extra layer of flavor, cook the quinoa in chicken or vegetable broth instead of water.
- Storing: Keep your salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
- Kid-Friendly Version: Mix the quinoa with a few cherry tomatoes, mozzarella chunks, and Italian salad dressing.
- Meal Prep: Make the recipe, let it cool, and then store it in individual containers for the week!
Sara Welch says
Loved all the flavor and textures in this light dish! Paired perfectly with our barbecue dinner last night!
Erin Henry says
Yes! Ther perfect side dish for your BBQ! Thanks for stopping by!
Lily says
What an awesome dish, I loved how simple this was and this recipe makes it easy to use up leftovers. For example, I had some leftover grilled chicken and I added it to the bowl, it was perfect, so yummy and healthy.
Erin Henry says
We love how simple it is too. Grilled chicken is the perfect addition to this dish.
Melissa says
Delicious and healthy! We loved this dish, thanks for a great recipe!
Erin Henry says
One of the reasons we love this recipe so much is it is so easy and healthy!