Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa

This Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa recipe is a fresh and flavorful dish that’s perfect for any meal. With juicy chicken, crispy quinoa, and a creamy green goddess dressing, it’s a satisfying salad that’s both nutritious + delicious. Whether for lunch or a gathering, it’s sure to be a hit! Completely Dairy-free. Gluten-free + Vegan Option.

I'm a big fan of salads + chicken + crunchy quinoa so I just had to combine them into this Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa. It's the best of both worlds with a delicious green goddess dressing—fully creamy, with every bite perfectly coated. This combo is honestly so irresistible that you'll find yourself sneaking back to the fridge for another bite just minutes after putting away the leftovers.

This salad is perfect for spring + summer dinners, BBQ's + potlucks. It's comfort food in a healthy form, with simple steps! And can totally be personalized based on preferences! Whether you're opting for a meatless meal or following a gluten-free diet, this salad has got you covered!

If you're a salad lover, you've got to give these a try next --- Ultimate Summer BBQ Chopped Kale Salad Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad, Spicy Chipotle Sweet Potato Chopped Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad with Cornbread Croutons, and Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad. And see my roundup of 20 Oh-So-Satisfying Salad Recipes that I absolutely adore making over and over again!

Why You Will LOVE This Green Goddess Chicken Salad

• Best of both worlds ---- Combines the flavors of green goddess salad with the heartiness of crispy, crunchy quinoa!!
• Light yet filling ---- Great for lunch or dinner
• The perfect balance of tangy + savory notes
• Travel-friendly --- Ideal for bringing to BBQs, picnics, or potlucks.
• Totally customizable! Easily made to be gluten-free + meatless.

How To Make Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa

This recipe requires a bit of prep work, but trust me, it’s worth it! You'll need to bake your chicken, make your crispy lemon herb quinoa, and whip up the green goddess salad dressing. After that, it’s just a matter of tossing everything together. Plus, the leftovers are perfect for meal prepping for the week!

Ingredients

CHICKEN:

• Chicken breasts. The chicken gives the salad a nice bite + adds a nice source of protein.
• Extra virgin olive oil. Feel free to use your favorite high-quality EVOO. My fave tried and trusted brand is California Olive Ranch.
• Seasonings. Sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika + Italian seasoning.

SALAD:

• Your favorite greens. Roughly chopped (I used kale + baby lettuce)
• Cucumber. Peeled + chopped.
• Green tomato. Diced.
• Crispy Lemon Herb Quinoa. See the recipe on how to make it HERE!
• Haas avocado. Pitted, + chopped into chunks.
• Parmesan. Freshly-grated.
• Green goddess dressing. See my homemade dressing recipe!

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS CHICKEN SALAD!

Here, I’ve curated a list of baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite dishes, especially with this Green Goddess Chicken Salad. Everything from whisks, blenders, knives, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Meatless Options For Green Goddess Chicken Salad

While this Green Goddess Chicken Salad is perfect as is---I definitely wanted to give options for those of you who don't eat meat or just might make this salad more than once and want to switch things up with a meatless option from time to time! Here are a few great ingredients that you can substitute with the chicken in this delicious salad.

Other meatless ingredient ideas include:

• Roasted chickpeas
• Beans (like White beans, Kidney beans, etc.)
• Mushrooms
• Tofu or Tempeh
• Cauliflower
• Roasted veggies (like Broccoli, Asparagus, Cabbage, etc.)
• Vegan meatballs
• Jackfruit
• Other plant-based meat alternatives (store-bought)

Why + How to Massage Kale

When it comes to massaging kale, it's usually recommended because kale is known for being tough and fibrous, which makes it sometimes hard to chew and digest. However, massaging the kale softens it a great deal and helps the flavors to be more pronounced which works hand in hand with the other ingredients.

My easy method to massage kale is to add the de-stemmed and chopped kale to a large bowl and then drizzling it with 1-2 tsps of lemon juice or Extra virgin olive oil and using your clean hands, rubbing the leaves together gently for about 2-3 minutes. They should look glossy and slightly reduced in volume when massaging is achieved.

What to Serve with Green Goddess Chicken Salad

This Green Goddess Chicken Salad not only makes a delightful spring + summer dinner option with its fresh flavors, but it also shines as a beautiful side dish at potlucks and BBQs. Here are some of my favorite accompaniments to serve alongside it:

• Serve warm slices of garlic bread for a comforting side dish or make your own croutons to add on top!
• Other refreshing salads like regular quinoa salad, cobb salad or corn salad
• Parmesan Herb Crusted Roasted Potatoes ---- Trust me they go with EVERYTHING. Haha.
• For a complete feast, serve it with a meat main like steak or lamb
• And definitely have some Southern Peach Iced Tea or Lemonade on hand to wash it all down!

How To Make Green Goddess Chicken Salad Ahead Of Time?

The crispy quinoa, chicken, and Green Goddess dressing can be made up to 2 days beforehand and stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. The kale can be chopped up to 30 minutes before serving.

Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa Recipe Q + A's

More Healthy Salad Recipes

Now that you've fallen in love with this Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa recipe, put to good use your remaining produce with these great salad recipes:

• Best Lemon Pepper Chicken Chopped Salad
• Ultimate Summer BBQ Chopped Kale Salad
• Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad
• Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad
• Healthy Loaded Kale Salad with Spicy Chickpeas
• Quick + Easy Blood Orange Kale Salad

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa

August 27, 2024 •

By Shanika

No ratings yet

This Green Goddess Chicken Salad with Crunchy Quinoa recipe is a fresh and flavorful dish that’s perfect for any meal. With juicy chicken, crispy quinoa, and a creamy green goddess dressing, it’s a satisfying salad that’s both nutritious + delicious. Whether for lunch or a gathering, it’s sure to be a hit! Completely Dairy-free. Gluten-free + Vegan Option.

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Serves: 4 servings

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

CHICKEN:

• 2 lbs. organic chicken breasts
• 2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

SALAD:

• 2 bucnhes Your favorite greens, roughly chopped (I used kale and baby lettuce)
• 1 organic cucumber, peeled + chopped
• 1 green tomato, diced
• 2 cups crispy Lemon Herb Quinoa
• 1 Haas avocado, pitted, + chopped into chunks
• 1 cup freshly-grated parmesan
• 1-2 cups Green goddess dressing

Instructions

BAKE THE CHICKEN:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
• If you marinate your chicken overnight in the refrigerator, remove and let it sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before adding to prepared baking sheet and baking it for for 30-35 minutes or until fully cooked through. NOTE: When done, the chicken should look "dark" in color from the seasoning and crusted, but juicy + clear on the inside. Remove from oven and slice into "strip-like' chicken or chunks, if preferred.

TO MAKE THE CRUNCHY QUIONA:

• See my recipe for the Crispy Lemon Herb Quinoa!

TO MAKE THE GRREN GODDESS DRESSING:

• To make the Green Goddess Dressing, see the recipe!

CHOP + MASSAGE KALE + GREENS:

• Strip the leaves from 2 large bunches kale and discard the stems if you haven't already. Roughly chop the leaves and add them to a large bowl. Drizzle about 1-2 tsps of lemon juice or olive oil atop chopped kale and using clean hands, rub together the kale gently for about 2-3 minutes to soften the leaves and help to infuse the 'flavors' of the kale.

ASSEMBLE THE SALAD:

• In a large serving plate or salad bowl, add the chopped kale (and/greens) followed by the chopped cucumbers, diced green tomatoes, and avocado chunks. Top with crunchy quinoa, chicken, and grated parmesan. Drizzle with Green Goddess Dressing.
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

• STORAGE: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days, depending on the ingredients. Always determine the ingredients in your salad and keep it no longer than the shelf life of your fastest-spoiling ingredient.
• MAKE AHEAD: The crispy quinoa, chicken, and Green Goddess dressing can be made up to 2 days beforehand and stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. The kale can be chopped up to 30 minutes before serving.
• GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To make this salad GF-friendly, just ensure that ingredients in the dressing are GF-friendly that may be needed.
• VEGAN OPTION: See post for Meatless options for the topping of this salad instead of chicken. Also, check out my Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad recipe!
• GREENS: If preferred, you can always add greens like Romaine lettuce, Arugula, Mustard Greens, Microgreens, Spinach or Collard Greens to this salad for added flavor + texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 1284mg | Potassium: 1012mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 596IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 255mg | Iron: 2mg

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