Spiced Chickpea and Quinoa Salad with Citrus Dressing

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-10 · Updated 2026-06-10

A nutritious, colorful quinoa salad tossed with spiced chickpeas, fresh herbs, and a zesty citrus dressing. This Mediterranean-inspired salad recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 35 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed 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 can (15 oz) canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 3 tbsp, divided olive oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup cucumber, diced
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The sheet pan we’d roast this on → Best Sheet Pans in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water until water runs clear. Combine quinoa with 2 cups water in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
2. Step 2: While quinoa cooks, preheat oven to 400°F. Toss 1 can (15 oz) drained and rinsed chickpeas with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder on a baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes until chickpeas are crispy and fragrant.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the cooled quinoa, roasted chickpeas, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, and 1 cup diced cucumber.
4. Step 4: Whisk together 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to combine all flavors evenly. Chill for 10 minutes before serving.