Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad

This Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad is packed with delicious flavors. It’s a fresh summer side dish that’s quick and easy to make!

Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad

One of the best part about summer is enjoying cool summer salads. Don’t think I am crazy now, this one is really good and is so great to have in the refrigerator to snack on throughout the day.

I love quinoa and it’s great in this recipe but you can substitute couscous if you’d like. This salad is dressed in a light lemon dressing that is perfect on about any salad. I use it all of the time. I have added peppers, broccoli, chicken and avocado, but the sky’s the limit, use whatever vegetables or meat you have in the refrigerator.

Hope you enjoy!

Image of Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad Ingredients

How to Make This Easy Summer Salad

Here’s my line-up of ingredients:  broccoli florets (no you don’t use the entire bag you see :), cooked chicken, quinoa, parmesan cheese, sweet peppers, avocado, lemon juice (I usually have fresh lemons and prefer them, but when you are out, the bottled stuff works too), and olive oil.

Image of Broccoli in a BowlStart with some nice broccoli florets.

Image of Adding Cooked Chicken to the SaladAdd your sweet peppers and cooked chicken.

Image of Adding Parmesan CheeseAdd a touch of Parmesan cheese.

Image of Quinoa in a BowlAdd your cooled cooked quinoa.

Image of AvocadosDice up a ripe avocado.

Image of Making the Salad DressingWhisk together your dressing ingredients, pour over salad and gently stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Image of a Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad in a Small PotHow pretty is that? It’s equally as refreshing and delicious. Enjoy!

Image of a Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad in a Dish

Image of a Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad in a Bowl

Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad

This Chicken and Avocado Quinoa Summer Salad is packed with delicious flavors. It's a fresh summer side dish that's quick and easy to make!
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 338kcal
Author: Jenny
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Equipment

  • Stove

Ingredients

  • 2 cups uncooked quinoa rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast cut into cubes
  • 1/2 cup diced sweet peppers or bell peppers
  • 1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 avocado diced

Instructions

  • ook quinoa according to package directions. Transfer to a large bowl, stirring every 5 minutes to break up. Let cool for 15 minutes.
  • Place broccoli, chicken, peppers, and parmesan cheese into a large bowl. Add quinoa and stir to combine.
  • To prepare dressing, place olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper into a medium bowl, whisking to combine. Pour over quinoa, stirring then gently stir in cubed avocado.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 379mg | Potassium: 542mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 502IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 3mg
Keywords: avocado salad recipe, best chicken salad recipe, chicken avocado salad, easy chicken salad recipe, quinoa salad, quinoa salad recipe, summer salad recipe

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Have a great new week, come back soon!

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32 Responses
  1. SharonS

    My mom is here visiting and I made this for dinner this evening! It was amazing! I’ve never had quinoa and it was wonderful! Thanks for another great recipe.

  2. Cookin' Canuck

    We eat a lot of quinoa and I’m always excited to find a new recipe for it. This is perfect for those dog days of summer.

  3. Russ

    Jenny-

    Quick comment. This looks great! I have one suggestion…replace the packaged food with fresh. Whole broccoli, fresh lemon juice and peppers. Good time to buy from your local farmers market.

    Cheers

  4. Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker

    Looks delicious! I really want to try eating more quinoa, this is a great recipe to save!

  5. Heather of Kitchen Concoctions

    Yum I have been obsessed with couscous and quinoa lately so this salad is right up my alley! Also where did you get that adorable little red pot/bowl?? Too cute!

  6. Chris @ TheKeenanCookBook

    These pictures look so pretty! We got into Quinoa last year but over did it and burnt out, haven’t touched it in months. Sad because it’s so good for you compared to alternatives. But this recipe looks too good to not try!

  7. Lori @ RecipeGirl

    Funny, we were just talking about Quinoa yesterday. It’s something that my Mom can eat (gluten free), and she’s living w/ us for a while. Will have to give this recipe a shot! For some reason I was looking at the yellow in your pics and thinking it looked like mango. Wouldn’t mango be good in this too??

  8. Holly

    Hey there! This loos so yummy but why not cook the broccoli? Have you tried it like that? Just curious b/c I know my little people will struggle with the raw stuff 🙂
    Thanks for the great recipes!

  9. Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray

    Mmm, you had me at avocado, Jenny. This looks like a perfect summer lunch for me to pack for work!

  10. marla {family fresh cooking}

    Jenny, it is fun to see you with a savory! This quinoa must be tried. It is one of our favorite grains 🙂

  11. Kelly

    Ooohh, this looks fabulous. You’re making me hungry for lunch and it’s only 7:37am where I live!

  12. chelsey @ clean eating chelsey

    I am a major quinoa lover. I cook it so much during the summer because it’s great in cold salads too!

  13. Heather (Heather's Dish)

    it’s all about simplicity and letting the ingredients shine…i love that!

  14. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga

    It looks wonderful, Jenny! Last week I saw like 7 quinoa salad recipes in a 24 hr period on blogs…not exaggerating. I seriously MUST make one and get with the program. It’s been too long since I’ve made any quinoa.

    It’s all about desserts, not quinoa, lately 🙂

    1. Jenny

      Averie, I know, I have been all about the desserts lately too. Have to sneak a healthy recipe in from time to time 🙂

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