Ultimate Best Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-29 · Updated 2026-03-29

A refreshing mix of quinoa, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta, and herbs dressed with lemon and olive oil. This mediterranean-inspired salads (mediterranean) ready in about 25 minutes pairs quinoa, cucumber, cherry tomatoes into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 medium diced cucumber
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup sliced kalamata olives
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 small minced red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse quinoa and cook in 2 cups water over medium heat until liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Let cool.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, feta, and red onion.
3. Step 3: In a small jar, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Pour over salad and toss to coat.
4. Step 4: Garnish with parsley and additional black pepper. Serve chilled or at room temperature.