Costco Quinoa Salad Recipe for Meal Prep

Name: Quinoa Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup uncooked Red or French Lentils or 1/2 cup cooked; 1/4 cup uncooked long grain brown rice or 1 cup cooked; 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa or 1 cup cooked quinoa; 1/2 of a medium to large red bell pepper chopped; 1 small tomato chopped or half of a large tomato; 1 small cucumber or 1/2 of a large chopped; 3/4 cup baby kale chopped fine or shredded.; 1/4 cup of chopped flat leaf parsely; 1/4 cup chopped cilantro; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar; The juice of one lemon; Sea salt and pepper to taste

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Costco quinoa salad is a fresh, hearty side that’s easy to pull together for lunches or a quick add-on to dinner. It’s made with a mix of quinoa, lentils, rice, and kale, plus crisp vegetables like cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper, all tossed in a bright lemon dressing. It’s the kind of simple, make-ahead dish that holds up well and works in a lot of different ways throughout the week.

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Recipe Highlights

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 45 Minutes
Total Time: 1 Hour
Serves: 4 – Leftovers are great!
Costco-style quinoa salad is vegan, protein-rich, and works as a side dish, light meal, or grain bowl base.

Meal Prep Friendly – You can make parts ahead by cooking the grains and lentils, chopping the vegetables, and storing the dressing separately.
Balanced and Satisfying – combines quinoa, brown rice, lentils, kale, and fresh chopped vegetables in a lemon-based dressing.

Costco Kale Quinoa Salad Ingredient List

Quinoa -white, red, black or a mix of them all
Brown Rice
Lentils – brown, green red or black
Red Bell Pepper – yellow, orange will work too
Tomato
Cucumber
Fresh Parsely
Fresh Cilantro
Garlic
Kale
Olive Oil
Lemon Juice
Apple Cider Vinegar
Maple Syrup
Sea Salt
Black Pepper

Missing an ingredient? Find a substitute with the ingredient swap assistant!

How to make Costco-style quinoa salad

Prepare the ingredients: Cook the rice, quinoa, and lentils according to package instructions. Chop the veggies and whisk together the tangy dressing in a small bowl or jar.
Combine the ingredients: Place the cooked quinoa, brown rice, lentils, and veggies into a mixing bowl.
Add dressing: Pour in half of the dressing and mix it in.
Finish with herbs: Add the fresh herbs and mix everything. Season with sea salt and pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

a collage of photos showing the steps to make costco salad

Tips

This easy quinoa salad recipe is a great way to use up leftover rice or quinoa.
Play around with the ratio of rice, quinoa, and lentils to your preference. There should be about 2 1/2 cups of whole grains and lentils.
Save time, and use pre-chopped veggies from the supermarket.

Make this Quinoa Salad Your Own

This salad is so versatile! Feel free to follow the recipe as-is, or mix things up based on what you have on hand. Here are a few easy ways to change it up:

Veggie Swap – Don’t have cucumbers or tomatoes? Try it with cooked mushrooms, steamed broccoli, shredded carrots, zucchini or chopped asparagus.
Greek Inspired – Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup kalamata olives and a handful (about 1/4 cup) of crumbled feta for a Mediterranean twist.
Spicy: Mix in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a chopped jalapeno for a spicy kick.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this zesty quinoa salad as a main dish or a side dish. It tastes great topped with a dash of lemon zest alongside grilled pork chops, burgers or chicken. It’s also perfect to bring to your next potluck!

How to Store and Use Leftover Quinoa Salad

Leftover quinoa salad will last in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.

Use leftover salad in lettuce wraps, on top of field greens or use as a grain bowl base.

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze quinoa salad?

The finished salad doesn’t freeze well because the fresh vegetables and dressing turn soft and watery after thawing. You can freeze cooked quinoa and rice separately for up to 3 months, then use them later to make a fresh batch.

How long does Costco quinoa salad last in the fridge?

It lasts 3 to 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For the best texture, keep the dressing separate until serving if you’re making it ahead.

Can I use different vegetables or grains in quinoa salad?

You can swap in vegetables like shredded carrots, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, or asparagus. You can also adjust the rice, quinoa, and lentil ratio based on what you have and the texture you want.