Goat Cheese Quinoa Salad
Goat Cheese Quinoa Salad is a vibrant, protein-packed dish featuring fluffy quinoa, creamy goat cheese, and an assortment of fresh vegetables. Tossed with a tangy honey balsamic vinaigrette, it delivers a perfect balance of flavors and textures for a healthy, satisfying meal!
Goat Cheese Salad
Are y’all on the quinoa bandwagon yet? After a little bit of light-hearted harassment from the peanut section (aka my hubby and sons), I came on board. I actually truly love the taste and the texture, the latter being the stickler for many people. If you mix quinoa with good quality, tasty ingredients, you will eventually come to love it as I did. Trust me.
We’ve gotten into the habit of making a large salad each Monday to start the week. It’s an excellent way to encourage healthy eating because everything is prepped and ready to go. Some of our regulars include our Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad (yes more goat cheese!), Healthy Taco Salad Recipe (this is definitely a full meal), Antipasto Chopped Salad (I love the toppings!), and Chicken Bacon Caesar Salad (oh that Caesar dressing).
Why This Recipe Works:
- FRESH AND DELICIOUS – Feel free to pack this salad with even more fresh veggies. In addition to lettuce greens, carrots, cucumber, and red onion, try some broccoli, cauliflower, or zucchini!
- NUTRIENT DENSE – As y’all probably know, quinoa is a super food and a great source of protein. It fills you up! We also add my favorite bean – chickpeas!
- GREAT MEAL PREP – It’s always nice to have individual servings ready to go in meal prep containers. Wait to add the dressing later (before eating).
Ingredients Used:
- Quinoa – We buy quinoa in large quantities on Amazon. See link below.
- Fresh Veggies – salad greens, cucumber, carrots, and red onion (but you could add whatever you like)
- Chickpeas – These are a mainstay in our pantry. We add them to SO MANY dishes.
- Goat Cheese – The star of the show and one of our favorite types of cheese. Feel free to add even more to this salad.
- Pine Nuts – These little nuts are packed with flavor. Add them to your grocery lists stat!
- Honey Balsamic Dressing – This simple dressing is the perfect topper for our goat cheese quinoa salad. Stores well in the refrigerator too.
How to make Goat Cheese Quinoa Salad:
Step 1
Make Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette. Combine dressing ingredients in a mason jar – the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and seasonings. Shake to combine well.
NOTE: If your salad dressing solidifies in the refrigerator, simple set it out ahead of time or place in a bowl of warm water. Then shake it up and you’re good to go.
Step 2
Make quinoa. Make quinoa according to package directions or in the Instant Pot (our favorite method). Let cool.
In the instant pot, combine two cups of rinsed quinoa and three cups of chicken broth. Pressure cook for one minute and do a 5-6 minute natural release. Open Instant Pot and fluff with a fork.
Step 3
Toast pine nuts. Toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat until slightly browned and fragrant. Set aside.
Step 4
Prep veggies. Clean lettuce and chop. Chop cucumber and carrots, and slice red onions.
Step 5
Combine ingredients. In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked and cooled quinoa, the veggies (lettuce, cucumber, carrots, and red onions), chickpeas, toasted pine nuts, and crumbled goat cheese.
Step 6
Serve. Serve quinoa salad in individual bowls. Top with the prepared honey balsamic dressing.
Store the salad in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. Store salad dressing separately and add when serving.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes, quinoa is a SUPER food. It’s a seed (prepared as a grain) that is high in protein and loaded with vitamins and minerals. It’s also high in fiber, naturally gluten-free (if you are watching that), and low on the glycemic index.
A high-protein diet keeps you feeling full for longer periods of time, helps to balance blood sugar levels, makes it easier to build lean muscle mass, and gives you energy.
Yes, try grilled chicken, steak, or shrimp to this quinoa salad for extra protein.
Yes, but wait to add the dressing until just before serving to keep the salad fresh.
Other Delicious Quinoa Salads:
As you can see, we love eating quinoa in a variety of salads. Try one of these next!
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
We also buy this quinoa on the regular.
xoxo ~Sue
Goat Cheese Quinoa Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 5-6 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 cup English cucumber – sliced
- 1 cup carrots – peeled and shaved
- 1/2 cup red onion – sliced
- 15 oz. garbanzo beans – rinsed and drained
- 8 oz. goat cheese – crumbled
- 1/2 cup pine nuts – toasted
- 8 cups salad greens – chopped
For the Balsamic Dressing:
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
Instructions
- Make Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette. Combine dressing ingredients in a mason jar – the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and seasonings. Shake to combine well.
- Make quinoa. Make quinoa according to package directions or in the Instant Pot (our favorite method). Let cool.
- Toast pine nuts. Toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat until slightly browned and fragrant. Set aside.
- Combine ingredients. In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked and cooled quinoa, the veggies (lettuce, cucumber, carrots, and red onions), chickpeas, toasted pine nuts, and crumbled goat cheese.
- Serve. Serve quinoa salad in individual bowls. Top with the prepared honey balsamic dressing.
Notes
- If your salad dressing solidifies in the refrigerator, simple set it out ahead of time or place in a bowl of warm water. Then shake it up and you’re good to go.
- In the instant pot, combine two cups of rinsed quinoa and three cups of chicken broth. Pressure cook for one minute and do a 5-6 minute natural release. Open Instant Pot and fluff with a fork.
- Store the salad in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days. Store salad dressing separately and add when serving.
Just made this salad three days ago. Leftovers were still good today. I’m always happy to find recipes like this. SO good!
You can never go wrong with goat cheese and pine nuts, right? 🙂
Made this salad Sunday night and finishing the last bit tonight. I surprised myself on this one, because I did not expect to really like it and I love it! It’s refreshing, tasteful and satisfying! Thanks Sue!
That’s great Vicki! I’m a quinoa addict now. 🙂 Thanks for trying my recipes, Vicki!
Might be the best salad ever! The combination of goat cheese and quinoa takes it over the top. Love it!