Quinoa and Vegetable Power Bowl

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-01 · Updated 2026-05-01

A nutrient-packed quinoa bowl with fresh vegetables and a zesty lemon dressing to fuel focused days at home. This mediterranean-inspired healthy bowls (vegetarian) ready in about 25 minutes pairs quinoa, water, cucumber for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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, diced cucumber
• 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1 large, shredded carrot
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 clove, minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.
2. Step 2: While quinoa cooks, prepare the vegetables: dice 1 medium cucumber, halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes, dice 1 medium red bell pepper, and shred 1 large carrot.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
4. Step 4: Once quinoa is cooked and slightly cooled, transfer to a large bowl. Add all prepared vegetables and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley. Pour dressing over the mixture and toss gently to combine.
5. Step 5: Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes for flavors to meld.