This Salmon Quinoa Salad is perfect for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. Make it during your food prep session and enjoy all week long!
*Originally published June 2013. Updated 3/2024*
Hi Friends!
If you’re anything like me and struggle with new ideas for lunch, this salmon quinoa salad is perfect for you! It’s quick and easy and you can prep all the components ahead of time so it comes together in a flash.
If you’ve missed any of the other quinoa recipes I’ve shared lately, check them out here:
- Broccoli Chicken Quinoa Casserole
- Slow Cooker Chicken Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
- Quinoa Risotto
- Easy Sheet Pan Shimp Quinoa Bowl
- Greek Quinoa Salad with Feta
- Tuna Quinoa Cakes
Easy Meal Prep Salmon Salad
I love this salmon as a meal prep option because you can prep all the components ahead of time.
- Cook your salmon in the oven, on the grill or in the air fryer while your quinoa is cooking on the stove.
- Once the quinoa cools, mix it with the corn, peppers, tomato, onion and arugula.
- Mix the dressing in a mason jar so you can store it separately.
- When you’re ready to eat, toss the salad in the dressing and top with salmon and avocado!
Since arugula is pretty hearty, you could even mix it in the morning and it would still be fine at lunchtime.
Healthy Salmon Quinoa Salad Recipe
It uses just a few simple ingredients that I pretty much always have on hand. Here’s what you need:
PrintSalmon Quinoa Salad
This Salmon Quinoa Salad is perfect for a protein-packed lunch or dinner. Make it during your food prep session and enjoy all week long!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1 pound salmon, cooked and flaked
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 cup corn
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 medium avocado, cubed
- 1/2 cup diced onions (I use sliced green onions but you could use red or white)
- 2 cups arugula (or baby spinach)
For the dressing:
- 3 Tbsp oil (I use avocado oil)
- 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice (juice from one medium lemon)
- 2 – 3 tsp honey or maple syrup (to desired sweetness)
- Optional – crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Cook the salmon. I season mine with paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper and bake in the oven. Then flake it apart.
- Cook quinoa according to package directions. (1/2 cup dry will give you about 2 cups cooked)
- Combine tomatoes, corn, avocado, onions, quinoa and arugula in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl or mason jar, combine dressing ingredients and mix well.
- Pour dressing over salad.
- Top with salmon and serve.
Easy enough, right?
Salmon Quinoa Salad FAQs
Is this a gluten-free salmon salad?
Yes! Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, along with all of the other ingredients.
Can I use canned salmon instead of fresh?
Yes! If you’d prefer to use canned salmon you can. Feel free to season it however you’d like!
What color quinoa is best for this salad?
Any kind is find. I typically use white quinoa but multi-color/tri-color is fine too.
How do I store leftovers? How long does this salad last in the fridge?
Store the components separately as mentioned above and assemble when ready to eat. Components should be good in the fridge for about 4 days.
Can I use a different type of dressing?
Yes! You can skip the homemade dressing and just use your favorite store-bought variety if you’d prefer.
Can I add nuts or seeds for extra crunch?
Yes! Try adding slivered almonds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for a little crunch in each bite.
Gluten-Free Salmon Salad
Summer Quinoa Salad Ideas
Looking for more quinoa salad ideas? Here are a few to try:
Let’s chat: What’s your favorite way to eat salmon?
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
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This looks delicious Lindsay! Definitely going to make this. Looks so easy!
Salmon is my main squeeze! My best friend. My boyfriend. Oh my, I am sad! LOL!!!!!
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How delicious this salad looks!!! I bet it would be great as filling for a wrap – perfect lunch to go.
exactly!!! enjoy!
That is such a good idea Lindsay. I’ve become really busy picking up a second job and like salmon a lot. I don’t know why I never thought to cook a big batch of it up and make it for the week.
yes! it’s super easy to just bake some ahead of time!
Im making salmon on Friday but ive never made it this way. Im not sure how i’ll do it yet. this salad looks so good though. I have recently turned my husband onto quinoa so i think I should try this sometime!
I love blackened salmon! I could literally eat it every meal.
This looks delicious…love the combo of salmon & avocado! Some of my favorite ways to eat salmon include smoked salmon sandwiches, grilled in the oven with a bit of sesame oil, and salmon avocado maki!
Just found your blog and love it, Lindsay 🙂
that sounds amazing!!! thanks so much for reading!
Ok YUM!!! I love salmon…I really like it grilled with a lemon drizzle but this looks awesome!
This sounds wonderful. I was actually thinking about what I could do with a can of tuna last night, and ended up adding it to a spinach salad (boring!). This would have been better 🙂 Loving avocados lately (who isn’t?!)
right?! pretty much addicted to avocado!
ok i very rarely make salmon at home… cooking fish intimidates me (i know i know!) but i do love ordering it while i’m out. this one restaurant makes an awesome cranberry sauce to go on top and another place stuffs it with a crab mixture!
yum! you should try baking it! super easy!
Yum, it’s like a salad entree & dip (with the chips)! My fav way to eat salmon would be on a spring mix salad with an spicy thai salad dressing . . . . but I am going to have to try yours!
LOVE thai chili sauce on salmon. that’s my go to!
So simple! What a great idea to pre-cook salmon during Sunday prep 🙂
yep! it’s super easy to just defrost some from the freezer over the weekend and then bake it on sunday!
We have salmon at least once a week. If there’s leftover I usually will put it in a salad or over quinoa. Salmon doesn’t need a lot of spices -simple is best in my opinion!
i agree! that’s what i love about it!
Ironically I have salmon defrosting for dinner tonight … now I know what to do with leftovers 😉
enjoy, friend 🙂
I LOVE SALMON. In every way possible.
salmon on the grill is definitely my favorite.
I have some leftover quinoa .. time to add salmon!
i’ve been wanting to try some cedar plank salmon on the grill!
I love super simple recipes! This looks perfect!
yum!
my favorite way to eat salmon is probably in a quesadilla 🙂
agreed. that’s delicious!
Looks great! I am having trouble with the tweet thing again – not just yours so not sure if it is me or the tweet part of wordpress – I hate when this happens! 🙂 Comment luv has been mean to me too! 🙂
I absolutely love salmon in salads! Mmm Mmm!
I love salmon. There is a river upstate further that my son frequently fishes in the fall for salmon. Currently we are all out here but this has me calling my sister to see if she has any (son fishes with her husband and she doesn’t like fish).
Also, I have a great smoked salmon dip recipe. Love it!
awesome! hope you like it!
Sounds super YUMMY!!
Yum! Great idea to use salsa as the dressing- so much faster than making one!
I love salmon with mango and avocado salsa all home made 🙂
This looks delicious but I can’t eat quinoa as I’m allergic otherwise I’d be making it for sure.
Yum! I love the combo of salmon and avocado! I think a little diced apple may be good in that as well! Or maybe some grapes!
oooh apples would be great i think!
Salmon Quinoa Salad offers a vibrant medley of flavors and textures. Tender flakes of salmon mingle with nutty quinoa, crisp vegetables, and zesty dressing, creating a satisfying and nutritious meal. It’s a refreshing option for those seeking a light yet filling dish packed with protein and wholesome ingredients.”