Veggie-Packed Quinoa Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-25 · Updated 2026-07-25

A fresh, colorful quinoa salad tossed with crisp vegetables and a bright citrus vinaigrette, perfect for a healthy, nutrient-rich meal. This mediterranean-inspired salads (vegetarian, gluten free) ready in about 25 minutes pairs quinoa, water, medium, diced 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 260 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, diced cucumber
• 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup, finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp orange juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 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, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine 1 diced medium cucumber, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1 diced medium red bell pepper, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley.
3. Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp orange juice, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
4. Step 4: Add the cooked quinoa to the vegetable mixture and pour the citrus vinaigrette over it. Toss gently to combine and serve chilled or at room temperature.