BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad

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This BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad is great. It will soon be a top choice for you. It combines quinoa’s goodness with tasty BBQ chicken. You will see grilled corn, black beans, avocado, and White Cheddar cheese in every bite. These are all mixed with a tangy BBQ sauce.

Gaby Dalkin made this dish tasty yet healthy. It has lots of protein and fiber.

Exact Ingredients (+ Possible Substitutes)

Creating a tasty BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad needs some quinoa salad ingredients. Let’s see what you need for its unique taste:

• Cooked quinoa (a must-have base for any quinoa meal prep)
• Fresh or frozen corn
• Rinsed and drained black beans
• Shredded BBQ chicken (either store-bought or homemade using your favorite BBQ chicken recipe)
• Chopped avocado
• Shredded White Cheddar cheese
• BBQ sauce
• Chopped scallions
• Cilantro for garnish

If you need to change ingredients for diet reasons, here are some healthy salad substitutions:

• Replace cheese with Greek yogurt for a lighter option
• Experiment with different bean varieties, like kidney or pinto beans
• Use alternative grains such as bulgur or farro if you’re not a fan of quinoa

Pro Tip: Always rinse the quinoa to remove any bitter taste. If you’re making the BBQ chicken from scratch, slow cook it with onions and BBQ sauce for better taste.

Instructions

Toss together cooked quinoa, fresh corn, black beans, and shredded BBQ chicken. Have these in a large bowl. This mix is the base of your yummy salad.

Now, add great flavors to your salad. Put in chopped avocado and shredded cheese. Then, pour a lot of BBQ sauce on top. Finish by adding chopped scallions and cilantro.

Making the BBQ chicken is easy. You slow cook chicken thighs with onions and more BBQ sauce. This keeps the chicken juicy and tasty.

Your salad will be ready in just ten minutes. It is tasty and very easy to make.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

To keep your BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad tasty, follow these storage tips and meal prep hacks. Store the salad without avocado. Only mix the avocado in just before eating. This way, your salad stays fresh and looks great.

Crockpots are great for making BBQ chicken ahead. They make the meat tastier too. After cooking, chill the shredded chicken for your salad. Doing this will make your salad prep easier and the flavors will pop.

For the best storage, keep the salad’s parts separate in the fridge. This helps the salad stay good longer and not get mushy. When it’s time to eat, warm the parts and mix the salad. Then, you’ll have a dish that feels brand new.

Cook your quinoa in chicken broth for a flavor boost. It will make your salad taste better. Just this little change can really make a difference.

These tips and tricks will help you become a salad storage and prep pro. You’ll enjoy fresh and tasty salads every time. It’s all about using these smart strategies.

Recipe Variations & Serving Suggestions

The BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad is super easy to change up. You can make it taste better by adding different cheeses. Feta or blue cheese gives a strong taste. If you like some heat, add peppers like bell or jalapeños.

For a creamier dressing, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Mixing it with BBQ sauce makes a tasty dressing. It keeps the salad light and healthful too.

Looking for new ways to enjoy BBQ chicken salad? Try it in lettuce wraps for a cool, crunchy taste. You can also put it on tortilla chips for nachos that are not messy. Want something warm? Sauté the salad mix quickly – it’s great on cold days.

These ideas help make the salad fit what you like or what you have. By changing up healthy meals like this, you get variety in your food. And it’s never dull!