Tropical Mango and Black Bean Quinoa Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

A bright and refreshing salad combining quinoa, sweet mango, and hearty black beans, tossed with a zesty lime dressing for a perfect light meal. This Latin American recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs quinoa, water, black beans 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 rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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, rinsed quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed black beans
• 1 large, peeled and diced ripe mango
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup, finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 tbsp, freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and transfer to a large mixing bowl to cool slightly.
3. Step 3: Add 1 can (15 oz) drained and rinsed black beans, 1 large diced mango, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro to the quinoa.
4. Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until well combined.
5. Step 5: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Chill for 20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.