Citrus-Cilantro Chicken Salad with Quinoa

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-10 · Updated 2026-04-10

A bright, herbaceous salad featuring tender chicken, nutty quinoa, and a zesty lime-cilantro dressing that balances perfectly with fresh vegetables. This mediterranean-inspired salads ready in about 20 minutes pairs diced Cooked chicken breast, Cooked quinoa, zested and juiced Lime 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 320 calories and feeds 4, 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

• 2 cups, diced Cooked chicken breast
• 1 cup Cooked quinoa
• 1, zested and juiced Lime
• 1/4 cup, chopped Fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup, finely diced Red onion
• 1/2 cup, halved Cherry tomatoes
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Whisk 2 tbsp olive oil, the zest and juice of 1 lime, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
2. Step 2: Add 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast, 1 cup cooked quinoa, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1/4 cup finely diced red onion, and 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes to the dressing.
3. Step 3: Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.