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Home » Recipes » Lunch and Dinner

Blueberry Chicken Quinoa Salad

Published: Aug 7, 2018 · Modified: Apr 27, 2024 by Tristin Rieken · 7 Comments

Blueberry Chicken Quinoa Salad is a kale quinoa salad recipe with fresh berries and homemade blueberry salad dressing!

Quinoa salad with chicken, herbs, fresh blueberries, kale and almonds on a large white platter.
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Jump to:
  • Summer salad recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step by step instructions
  • How to store
  • 📖 Recipe

Summer salad recipe

This summer quinoa salad recipe is made quickly with grilled chicken and leftover quinoa. No need to heat the kitchen with this recipe! It’s a perfect light and delicious grilled summer salad recipe.

Chilled quinoa salad on a large serving platter.

Using blueberry juice as a base for a delicious blueberry dressing that’s used as both a marinade and a salad dressing. The homemade blueberry dressing recipe is light, flavorful and juicy.

Mixed with fresh mint, kale and chopped almonds this blueberry quinoa salad is perfect for road trips, picnics and potlucks because there’s no heavy creamy coating. And the fresh fruit and mint it makes this cold quinoa salad recipe totally at home at brunch, too!

This post has been sponsored by Bai®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ingredients

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – or substitute any cut of chicken you prefer. Or substitute chicken for steak, fish or shellfish like salmon, tuna or shrimp. If you have leftover grilled meat like grilled chicken or grilled steak this recipe comes together so quickly! Or you can make a vegan quinoa salad feel free to leave out the meat or substitute with tofu.
  • Quinoa – uncooked, or substitute leftover cooked quinoa
  • Kale – washed and dried
  • Fresh blueberries – or substitute any fresh in season berries or other fruits into your salad. Blackberries, pomegranate, avocado, mangos, segmented oranges, and grapes are all delicious.
  • White onion – to saute and add flavor to the quinoa while cooking
  • Red onion – chopped in the salad
  • Chicken stock – or water, vegetable stock, mushroom stock, to cook the quinoa
  • Blueberry juice – or substitute with pomegranate, cherry or cranberry juice
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Olive oil
  • Dijon mustard
  • Garlic
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh mint
  • Roasted almonds – or substitute any other nut or seed like walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, or even toasted coconut.
Blueberry quinoa salad with chicken and kale ingredients.

Step by step instructions

  1. Start by making the blueberry marinade that will be used as both a grilled chicken marinade and a salad dressing. Mix blueberry juice with 1 clove grated garlic, a good amount of chopped mint, vinegar and a dash of olive oil.
Blueberry Grilled Chicken Quinoa Salad with torn kale, fresh blueberries and homemade Blueberry Marinade and Dressing made with Brasilia Blueberry Bai® for a quick kick of fresh juicy flavor and antioxidants! @DrinkBai #FlavorLife #ad quinoa salad for summer | quinoa salad for lunch | quinoa salad with fruit | quinoa salad easy recipes
  1. Place chicken a shallow dish or large plastic storage bag and pour ½ the blueberry marinade over. Marinate chicken for at least 20 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours. Reserve the other half of the blueberry marinade for later.
Blueberry juice marinated chicken.
  1. Meanwhile, cook quinoa and spread out on a baking sheet to cool quickly. Or simply use leftover cooked quinoa if you have it.
  2. Then grill chicken until lightly charred on the outside and evenly cooked throughout. Set chicken aside.
  3. Meanwhile, turn the remaining blueberry marinade into a homemade blueberry salad dressing. Whisk remaining olive oil into the reserved blueberry marinade until completely combined.
    Blueberry Grilled Chicken Quinoa Salad with torn kale, fresh blueberries and homemade Blueberry Marinade and Dressing made with Brasilia Blueberry Bai for a quick kick of fresh juicy flavor and antioxidants! @DrinkBai #FlavorLife #ad quinoa salad for summer | quinoa salad for lunch | quinoa salad with fruit | quinoa salad easy recipes
    1. Placed chopped red onions, blueberries and torn kale in a medium bowl and pour half the blueberry dressing over to season and toss the blueberry mixture into the cooled quinoa in a large bowl. Reserve the remaining dressing for later. Soggy quinoa is not a problem with this quinoa salad recipe.
    2. When ready to serve pour the chilled quinoa salad onto a large platter and top with almonds, mint and sliced grilled chicken. Place remaining blueberry dressing on the side for drizzling.
    3. Enjoy!
    Chopped almonds, chicken, fresh blueberries and seasoned kale tossed with chilled quinoa.

    How to store

    Quinoa salad can be made ahead of time. It keeps well combined together for at least 2 days. But for the best texture and flavor store quinoa salad, almonds, chicken and mint separately for up to 5 days and combine before serving.

    Homemade blueberry salad dressing can be stored refrigerated for up to 7 days.

    📖 Recipe

    Quinoa salad recipe with chicken, herbs, fresh blueberries, kale and almonds served on a large white platter.

    Blueberry Chicken Quinoa Salad

    Blueberry Chicken Quinoa Salad is a kale quinoa salad recipe with fresh berries and homemade blueberry salad dressing!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    marinate: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 758kcal
    Author: Tristin Rieken

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves about four pieces
    • 4.5 cups cooked quinoa or 1.5 cups uncooked
    • 1 cup blueberry juice
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ cup olive oil divided
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 1 clove garlic grated
    • ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
    • dash black pepper
    • 1 cup kale washed, dried and chopped
    • 1 cup fresh blueberries ½ pint
    • 1 medium red onion chopped
    • 1 cup fresh mint chopped and divided
    • ½ cup almonds chopped

    Perfect Quinoa

    • ½ medium onion chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1.5 cups quinoa
    • 3 ¾ cups chicken stock
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil

    Instructions

    Blueberry Grilled Chicken Quinoa Salad

    • Make  Blueberry Marinade. Combine Brasilia Blueberry Bai with vinegar, garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and ¼ cup mint. 
    • Pour half the marinade over chicken in a storage bag or shallow pan. Marinate at least 20 minutes but no longer than 2 hours. Remove, pat dry and gril on high until charred and evenly cooked through. Remove, chill and slice. 
    • Meanwhile, make Blueberry Dressing. Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil into the reserved marinade until thick. Pour half over red onions, blueberries and kale in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Reserve the other half of the dressing to pass with the finished dish.
    • Toss cooked quinoa with ½ cup mint and dressed onion/kale/blueberry mix. Serve on a large platter topped with sliced blueberry grilled chicken, almonds and remaining ¼ cup mint. 
    • Serve with reserved Blueberry Dressing on the side.

    Perfect Quinoa

    • In a large saucepan over medium heat add olive oil and heat until shimmering. Add onion and garlic then quinoa. Turn to coat and cook until toasted. 
    • Add stock and increase heat to high. Bring to a boil and reduce to low. Simmer for 25 minutes until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and add lid. Let stand five minutes before fluffing with fork.
    • To quick cool, add to a shallow baking sheet in a single layer and chill until ready to use. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 758kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 614mg | Potassium: 1559mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2220IU | Vitamin C: 37.5mg | Calcium: 151mg | Iron: 5.7mg
    Made this recipe? Please share!Mention @freshflavorful or tag #FreshFlavorfulLife
    Nutrition Facts
    Blueberry Chicken Quinoa Salad
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 758 Calories from Fat 270
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 30g46%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Cholesterol 115mg38%
    Sodium 614mg27%
    Potassium 1559mg45%
    Carbohydrates 64g21%
    Fiber 8g33%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Protein 56g112%
    Vitamin A 2220IU44%
    Vitamin C 37.5mg45%
    Calcium 151mg15%
    Iron 5.7mg32%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Pin for later!

    Blueberry Grilled Chicken Quinoa Salad with torn kale, fresh blueberries and homemade Blueberry Marinade and Dressing made with Brasilia Blueberry Bai for a quick kick of fresh juicy flavor and antioxidants! @DrinkBai #FlavorLife #ad quinoa salad for summer | quinoa salad for lunch | quinoa salad with fruit | quinoa salad easy recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Mindy

      September 11, 2018 at 11:44 am

      Hi there! Looks like a great recipe and am excited to try it! Real quick… I don’t see the amount of blueberries required in the recipe list. Would love to know how much to use. 🙂 Thanks!!

      Reply
      • ONE armed MAMA

        September 11, 2018 at 11:50 am

        Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention!! I accidentally omitted the 1/2 pint or 1 cup of fresh blueberries from the recipe card! Thanks again and I will update asap

        Reply
    2. Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life

      February 28, 2019 at 8:39 am

      5 stars
      Such a beautiful, hearty salad! Love the addition of blueberry flavors to a savory dish.

      Reply
    3. Amy | The Cook Report

      February 28, 2019 at 9:00 am

      5 stars
      This looks so fresh and healthy and I love the flavour combination!

      Reply
    4. Caroline

      February 28, 2019 at 9:09 am

      5 stars
      Love the idea of a blueberry-based marinade. And mint pairs so well with the other flavors too.

      Reply
    5. Veena Azmanov

      February 28, 2019 at 9:29 am

      5 stars
      Love Salads for Dinner and this marinade is unique and surely taste delicious too. Thanks for your recipe.

      Reply
    6. Tawnie Kroll

      February 28, 2019 at 9:34 am

      5 stars
      loving these process shots!!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tristin Rieken, Welcome to Fresh Flavorful where I hope to inspire you with simple seasonal recipes and ideas to eat deliciously, entertain easily and adventure often.

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