18 Delicious Quinoa Salad Recipes to take to your Next Potluck

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byJanice Smith, B.Sc. Kinesiology updated on:

Let’s go keen-wah crazy with this tasty round-up of easy quinoa salad recipes to take to your next potluck! These delicious quinoa salad recipes are gloriously gluten-free with lots of vegetarian options too.

Collage of quinoa salad recipes for potlucks. Text: 17 Delicious Quinoa Salad Recipes to Take to Your Next Potluck.

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Let’s go keen-wah crazy with this tasty round-up of easy quinoa salad recipes to take to your next potluck! These delicious quinoa salad recipes are gloriously gluten-free with lots of vegetarian options too.

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Collage of quinoa salad recipes for potlucks. Text: 17 Delicious Quinoa Salad Recipes to Take to Your Next Potluck.

I’ve been all about quinoa salad recipes for a LONG time. I love quinoa because it’s is so easy to prepare, incredibly versatile, high in protein and fibre and can be served for just about any meal! Quinoa salads are also great for meal prep because most of them can be made ahead of time!

Naturally, I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to quinoa recipes, many of which are quinoa salad recipes that I think you’ll enjoy so I created a roundup here with over 15 healthy quinoa salad recipes. Hopefully you’ll like them as much as I do and decide to make one (or two) for your next potlick. First thing first, let’s cover a few quinoa basics!

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How to cook quinoa in an Instant Pot for a salad:

I prefer to make quinoa in my Instant Pot because it cooks it perfectly every time! It’s never dry, over cooked, or wet and mushy, or under cooked.

  1. Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold running water in a fine mesh strainer. (See why below.)
  2. Spray the Instant Pot liner with cooking oil and add the rinsed quinoa (still damp), 1.5 cups of water and a pinch of salt.
  3. Lock the lid and set the steam valve to its “sealing” position. 
  4. Select the “MANUAL” button and cook for 1 minute on high pressure. It will take about 5 minutes for the pressure to build, then the countdown timer will start. 
  5. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then release any remaining pressure. Fluff quinoa with a fork and serve.

Why do you need to rinse quinoa?

  • Rinsing your quinoa helps remove quinoa’s natural coating, called saponin, which can make it taste bitter. Note: There are a few quinoa brands some come pre-rinsed. If you’re looking to save time or don’t own a mesh strainer, look for one of these brands.

Potluck Quinoa Salad Recipes

Now that we have the basics covered, let’s hop right in to these awesome quinoa salad recipes. I can’t wait to hear which ones you’ll make first!

Janice Smith is the creator and food blogger behind Salads for Lunch, a healthy recipe website dedicated to easy, delicious salads, soups, and wholesome family meals. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and a certificate in Athletic Therapy, Janice combines her passion for nutrition, fitness, and simple home cooking to inspire readers to live healthier lives. She began blogging after transforming her own lifestyle through healthy eating and exercise, and now shares approachable recipes that make it easy for busy families to enjoy fresh, seasonal ingredients. When she's not developing recipes, Janice enjoys running, staying active, and spending time with her three daughters. Through Salads for Lunch, she encourages readers to embrace healthy living one meal at a time.

More recipes to enjoy:

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    A fresh, no-mayo Tuscan tuna salad with creamy cannellini beans, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs and a lemon-garlic dressing. Ready in 15 minutes and perfect for an easy, high-protein lunch.

  • Healthy Sweet Potato Chili with Ground Beef

    This healthy sweet potato chili with ground beef is an easy one-pot dinner loaded with sweet potatoes, black beans, kidney beans and smoky spices. Hearty, freezer-friendly and even better the next day.

  • Kale, Apple, Pecan and Pomegranate Salad with Pomegranate Balsamic Dressing

    A fresh kale salad with juicy pomegranate, crisp apple, toasted pecans and creamy goat cheese, tossed in a tangy pomegranate balsamic dressing. Sturdy enough for the holiday table and easy enough for a weeknight.

  • One-Pot Chicken Parmesan Soup

    A cozy Chicken Parmesan Soup with tender chicken, tomatoes, pasta, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan in every bowl – all the flavor of chicken parm, ready in about 45 minutes.

  • Creamy Tuna Macaroni Salad

    This creamy Tuna Macaroni Salad comes together in about 25 minutes with pantry staples like canned tuna, elbow macaroni, and a tangy mayo-Dijon dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or a quick make-ahead lunch.

  • Easy Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup Recipe

    This creamy roasted cauliflower soup gets most of its flavor from caramelized vegetables, so it tastes rich even with just a small amount of cream, or none at all.

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