Greek Quinoa Salad with Feta {Easy & Healthy}

Name: Greek Quinoa Salad with Feta {Easy & Healthy}
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2/3 cup dry quinoa (or 2 cups cooked); 1 1/3 cup of water or broth; 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes; 1 English cucumber (sliced and quartered); A quarter of a red onion (thinly sliced); 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives; 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese; 1/3 cup olive oil; 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 2 teaspoons lemon juice; 1 garlic clove (minced); Pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper

Get ready for a flavor explosion in your mouth! This Greek Quinoa Salad is loaded with delicious Mediterranean flavors and is perfect for meal prep since it tastes better the longer that it sits. Easy to make and great for those barbecues, picnics and weeknight meals! {Gluten-free & Vegetarian}

Overhead shot of the salad in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon.

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Greek Quinoa Salad Recipe – Great for Meal Prep!

If you’ve tried quinoa on its own, you probably know that it’s generally pretty bland. But one thing I’ve discovered is that when you add a bunch of tasty Greek-inspired ingredients in there, it suddenly comes to life!

Similar to a traditional Greek salad, this delicious Greek quinoa salad is so quick and easy to make and loaded with bright Mediterranean flavors.

It’s great to serve as a side dish, but also hearty enough to enjoy for an easy lunch or dinner served with pita chips, grilled chicken or over a bed of greens.

Loaded with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, salty kalamata olives and creamy feta, this hearty salad recipe is fresh, zingy and full of fresh and wholesome ingredients.

If you love Mediterranean flavors, be sure to also try my Greek Cucumber Noodle Salad and Greek Lentil Salad!

Why We Love this Quinoa Salad with Feta

Make ahead: This cold quinoa salad is perfect for meal prep. Make up a big batch and enjoy it at a summer cookout or for lunch and dinner throughout the week. It tends to taste better the longer that it sits!

Healthy: Quinoa is a great source of fibre and antioxidants. Unlike some other plant-based protein sources, quinoa is considered to be a complete protein, which means that it contains all nine essential amino acids. This salad is also loaded with fresh veggies for a whole load of additional nutrients.

Quick and easy: You can make up a big batch of this salad in less than 30 minutes with a few simple ingredients. If you use pre-cooked quinoa, it comes together super quickly!

Ingredient Notes

For the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Quinoa: Quinoa is gluten-free so it’s a great option if you or someone in your family has an intolerance. You can also make this recipe with couscous as a non-gluten-free option.
Fresh cucumbers: You can use English or Persian cucumbers for this quinoa salad. They add a great burst of freshness.
Cherry tomatoes: I like to use cherry tomatoes for this recipe. They’re nice and sweet and you just have to slice them in half and add to the other ingredients. You can also use grape tomatoes or Roma tomatoes if that’s what you have on hand.
Red onion: Red onion is milder and less acidic than yellow or white onions so it can be enjoyed raw in salads. You can also use green onions.
Kalamata olives: Kalamata olives have a meatier texture and more fruity flavor compared to black olives which can be quite salty. You can sub in black olives if desired.
Feta cheese: This Greek cheese adds a great briny flavor and creamy texture to the salad. You can also use goat cheese. For a vegan dish, omit the cheese altogether or sub in a plant-based cheese.

For the Lemon Vinaigrette

Olive oil: Use extra virgin olive oil if you can as it has a much rounder flavor. Regular will do the job too though.
Lemon juice: Adds a zesty flavor to the dressing. For best results, use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled.
Red wine vinegar: Red wine vinegar adds a nice fruity tang. You can also make this with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar for a slightly different taste.
Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor.

How to Make Quinoa Salad – Step-by-Step Instructions

In a small pot, cook quinoa according to package directions. You can use vegetable or chicken broth instead of water to incorporate more flavor. Allow to cool.

Once cool, toss quinoa together with the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olives and feta cheese in a large mixing bowl.
In a small bowl or mason jar, mix together the ingredients for the Greek salad dressing.

The dressing mixed together in a glass jug.

Pour desired amount of dressing onto the quinoa mixture and toss to combine.

Dressing being poured over the salad ingredients.

Allow to sit for at least half an hour for optimal flavor.

Greek quinoa salad in a large bowl with a wooden spoon digging in.

Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!

Tips for the Best Quinoa Salad

Dice the vegetables into pieces that are roughly the same size. This will allow the flavors to be more evenly distributed throughout the salad.

I recommend preparing this quinoa Greek salad in advance and letting it sit in the dressing for at least a half an hour to allow all of the flavors to come together. It tends to taste better the longer that it sits.

Rinse the quinoa in a fine wire mesh strainer before cooking to help get rid of any bitterness.

Make up a batch of the quinoa in advance to help this recipe come together really quickly.

Recipe FAQs

How to make fluffy quinoa

To make perfect quinoa, first you’ll want to give the quinoa a good rinse to help get rid of the bitterness. You can do so by placing the dry quinoa in a mesh strainer and rinsing it for a few seconds under cold water.

Next, dump the rinsed quinoa in a saucepan with about one and a third cup of water (or broth if you’d like to add more flavor) and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, turn the stove down to low and cover, allowing it to simmer for about 12-15 minutes. Turn the stove off, fluff the quinoa with a fork and allow to cool while preparing the other ingredients.

Do you need to soak quinoa before cooking?

The quinoa needs to be rinsed to remove the natural outer coating which can taste bitter and soapy, however, it’s recommended that you don’t soak it, as these flavors can leach into the grains. Instead, simply rinse it under cold running water in a fine mesh strainer before cooking it.

How do you quickly cool cooked quinoa?

If you’re in a hurry and need to cool the quinoa quickly, you can spread it into an even layer on a lined baking sheet and place it in the fridge. If you don’t have time to cool it completely, you can mix the other ingredients into it while it’s still slightly warm.

Do you serve this quinoa salad warm or cold?

This salad can be served either warm, cold or at room temperature. Any way it’s delicious!

How to store

The good news about this vegetarian salad is that it keeps for up to 3-4 days in the fridge, so it’s perfect for meal prep. Store in the bowl covered with saran wrap or place in an airtight container.

You can make up a batch at the beginning of the week and eat it for lunch or dinner all throughout the week!

What to Serve with Quinoa Salad

Although it’s great on its own, you may wish to pair these healthy Greek quinoa salad bowls with some extra protein to make it even more of a complete meal!

Here are some protein-rich ideas to serve on the side:

Grilled chicken (marinated in one of these healthy chicken marinades)
Lemon Garlic Chicken Kabobs
Grilled Chicken Tikka
Chicken Feta Burgers
Walnut Crusted Salmon
Fish with Easy Lemon Garlic Sauce
Parmesan Crusted Cod

You may also wish to serve it over a bed of greens, or along with warm pita or pita chips to make it even more filling and satisfying.

Recipe Variations

Incorporate more protein: Add chickpeas (garbanzo beans), white beans, lentils, diced chicken, salmon or tuna.
Use different grains: Instead of quinoa, try regular or Israeli couscous, pasta, farro, or rice.
Add different vegetables: Sun-dried tomatoes, diced red peppers, artichoke hearts, spinach or arugula make great additions as well.
Add some fresh herbs: Try fresh parsley, oregano, parsley, mint or dill.

A spoon in a glass bowl of the Greek quinoa salad.

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A large bowl of Greek quinoa salad with a wooden spoon.

Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish