Midwest-Style Roasted Vegetable and Quinoa Salad

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-06 · Updated 2026-08-06

A hearty salad featuring oven-roasted seasonal vegetables and nutty quinoa, dressed with a tangy lemon vinaigrette. This American salad recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, and carrot, diced 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 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Add this recipe to your weekly plan" 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 carrot, diced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss 1 diced medium carrot, 1 diced medium red bell pepper, and 1 diced medium zucchini with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper on a baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes until vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized.
2. Step 2: While vegetables roast, rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. Combine quinoa with 2 cups water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
4. Step 4: In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.