Weekly Spiced Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-02 · Updated 2026-05-02

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A vibrant, protein-packed black bean and quinoa salad with warm spices and fresh lime, ideal for weekly meal prep. This Latin American-inspired meal-prep recipe, 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 280 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Latin American cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 cup, rinsed quinoa
2 cups water
1 can (15 oz), drained and rinsed black beans
1 medium, diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup, finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to boil. Add 1 cup rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.
Step 2: Fluff quinoa with fork and transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly.
Step 3: Add 1 can drained black beans, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro to the quinoa.
Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 5: Pour dressing over the quinoa mixture and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
Step 6: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld.