Colorful Quinoa Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-14 · Updated 2026-04-14

A vibrant, nutrient-packed salad featuring tender quinoa, crisp vegetables, and a zesty citrus dressing that brightens any meal. This mediterranean-inspired salads (gluten-free) ready in about 35 minutes pairs quinoa, water, cucumber 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

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water until water runs clear, then combine with 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let cool to room temperature.
2. Step 2: While quinoa cooks, dice 1 medium peeled cucumber, halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes, dice 1/2 red bell pepper, and finely chop 1/4 cup red onion.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
4. Step 4: In a large bowl, combine cooled quinoa, diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, chopped red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.