Make-Ahead Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

This easy Mediterranean quinoa salad is fresh, flavorful, and perfect for meal prep. Made with quinoa, cucumbers, tomatoes, hummus, and crispy pita, it’s a nourishing grab-and-go meal for busy days.
Recipe
A person holds a glass jar with a Mediterranean quinoa salad. Inside, layers of quinoa, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and crumbled feta cheese create a visually appealing dish. A golden fork rests inside the jar, while only the hands and torso, dressed in a dark shirt, are visible.

Why You’ll Love This Make-Ahead Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

This Mediterranean make-ahead quinoa salad is the ultimate grab-and-go meal. Whether you’re heading to work, packing lunch for school, fueling up for soccer games, hitting the road, enjoying a picnic, or having a beachside meal—this salad is your perfect companion.

This is hands down one of the easiest and most nutritious meals to prep in advance. Packed with Mediterranean flavors and wholesome ingredients, it’s fresh, filling, and full of texture. Plus, it’s completely customizable!

The best part? You can prepare it in a jar or a silicone bag, making it a mess-free option for busy days. Just grab, shake, and enjoy!

Ingredients for Your To-Go Salad

Inside a jar, layers of quinoa, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, and crumbled feta cheese create a visually appealing dish.
  • Cooked quinoa – A protein-packed base. Swap with brown rice if preferred.
  • Cucumber – I love English or Persian cucumbers because they’re almost seedless.
  • Red onions or pickled onions
  • Cherry tomatoes – Fresh or roasted
  • Hummus – Use homemade or store-bought for creaminess.
  • Toasted pita pieces or croutons – Adds crunch and texture.

How to Make the Best To-Go Quinoa Salad

  1. Layer it right: Start with a base of quinoa in your container.
  2. Add veggies: Layer cucumber, onions, and cherry tomatoes on top.
  3. Dress it up: Drizzle with lemon juice, olive oil, or a simple vinaigrette.
  4. Top it off: Finish with a scoop of hummus and toasted pita or croutons.
  5. Pack it smart: Keep the bread on top to prevent it from getting soggy.

Home Cook to Home Cook Tips

  • Don’t mix until ready to eat – This keeps everything fresh and crisp.
  • Layering matters – Placing quinoa at the bottom allows it to absorb flavors from the veggies and dressing.
  • Try the bag method – Chop everything into cubes, layer them in a silicone bag, and shake when you’re ready to eat.
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Una persona sostiene un frasco de vidrio lleno de una vibrante ensalada mediterránea de quinoa. Incluye capas de quinoa, pepinos en rodajas, tomates cherry y pollo a la parrilla. Un tenedor dorado está escondido debajo de la tapa. El fondo está difuminado, lo que enfatiza el colorido contenido de esta delicia saludable.

Mediterranean Make-Ahead Quinoa Salad

Alejandra Graf
This easy Mediterranean quinoa salad is fresh, flavorful, and perfect for meal prep. Made with quinoa, cucumbers, tomatoes, hummus, and crispy pita, it’s a nourishing grab-and-go meal for busy days.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course salads
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4 servings
Calories 556 kcal

Equipment

  • 4 jars or airtight containers

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 cucumber thinly sliced (English or Persian cucumbers work best)
  • 1/4 red onion very thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced
  • 4 tablespoons hummus homemade or store-bought
  • 2 toasted pita diced
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions
 

  • Layer the quinoa: Divide the cooked quinoa evenly among the four jars.
  • Add the veggies: In each jar, layer cucumber slices, red onion, and tomatoes on top of the quinoa.
  • Dress it up: Drizzle each jar with olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
  • Finish with hummus and pita: Top with a tablespoon of hummus and toasted pita pieces.
  • Seal and store: Cover the jars and refrigerate until ready to eat.

Notes

  • Do not mix the salad ahead of time. Shake or mix just before eating to keep everything fresh.
  • Placing the quinoa at the bottom allows it to absorb the dressing flavors for a tastier salad.
  • Try the bag method: Chop all the veggies into cubes and layer them in a reusable silicone bag. When ready to eat, shake the bag to mix everything.
  • Customize it with your favorite ingredients—avocado, chickpeas, or feta would be delicious additions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 556kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 17gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gSodium: 211mgPotassium: 750mgFiber: 9gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 381IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 5mg
Keyword quinoa

information

Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe?Tag @piloncilloyvainilla on Instagram and hashtag it #alecooks so we can all see your creations.

This recipe appeared first in 2017.

Alejandra Graf
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