Quinoa and Cherry Tomato Salad (Quick & Easy Side Dish)

Quinoa Cherry Tomato Salad perfect when you need something that is quick and simple to prepare. This gorgeous side dish has vibrant colors thanks to the red cherry tomatoes and bright green fresh cilantro. You’ll love how light this tomato grain salad is.

Written by: Tara Kuczykowski of Unsophisticook

Creating this Quinoa and Cherry Tomato Salad

Spring has finally sprung here, and for our family, it brings with it a dizzying sports schedule, jam-packed with sports practices.

I love that my kids are active, but my talent for getting dinner on the table in a hurry is certainly stretched to its limit by all of these activities!

Dinner becomes a tag team effort, with my husband manning the grill, while, I throw together a quick and simple side and one of our older kids slices up some fresh fruit.

One of our favorite sides for busy nights is quinoa. Have you jumped on the quinoa bandwagon yet?

I was a little iffy on whether my family would take to it, but it’s definitely become a favorite, and I serve it several times a week.

What is Quinoa?

If you’re not familiar with quinoa, not only does it offer a delicious nutty taste, but it packs a fantastic nutritional punch.

Interesting Facts About Quinoa

• Quinoa is prepared similarly to grains, but is actually a seed.
• It is a gluten-free complex carb that’s high in protein.
• Quinoa is a complete protein because it contains all 8 of the essential amino acids
• It is a source of plant-derived calcium.
• Quinoa is rich in fiber and has a low glycemic index.

While we often eat quinoa plain, it’s also a super versatile mix-in ingredient.

Experimenting with adding fresh veggies and greens from our weekly CSA delivery is always a joy, because you really can’t go wrong. We especially love it with fresh summer tomatoes

What’s in this Quinoa Cherry Tomato Salad?

• Quinoa
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Fresh Cilantro
• Lemon Juice
• Lemon Zest
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Sea Salt
• Black Pepper

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make a Quinoa Cherry Tomato Salad

This salad is super simple to prepare! Here’s a quick overview, but make sure to check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. It has all the detailed instructions!

First, you’ll cook the quinoa. I like to use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water for extra flavor, but that’s my personal preference.

While the quinoa cooks, mix up the dressing in a medium bowl. Then, add the cherry tomatoes and fresh cilantro to the mixing bowl.

Once the quinoa is done cooking, stir that into the tomato mixture.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Quinoa cooks up in about 20 minutes on the stove top. If you prefer a more hands-off method to preparing this simple quinoa salad, you can actually cook quinoa in the Instant Pot — my preferred method. This set-it-and-forget-it method is priceless for a busy mom.

Ways to Adapt this Quinoa Cherry Tomato Salad

We’re loving this simple side salad filled with sweet cherry tomatoes and cilantro right now, but feel free to use it as a base recipe and experiment to your heart’s content!

Try swapping using your favorite herbs, adding extra vegetables, or other optional ingredients. Here are some ideas:

• Different Kind of Tomatoes – experiment with different varieties to find out what you like best – grape tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes are great options.
• Balsamic Vinegar – could be substituted for the lemon juice for a different flavor.
• Fresh Herbs – try using different herbs such as fresh parsley, fresh oregano, or fresh basil.
• Cheese – cheese would make a great addition. Try fresh mozzarella (mini mozzarella balls), freshly grated parmesan, or feta cheese.
• Other Veggies – green beans, fresh baby spinach, cucumber slices, or grated zucchini would all taste great alongside the ripe tomatoes.
• Onions – sliced green onion, minced sweet onion or red onion would work well if you love onions.

What to Serve With

Pair this simple quinoa and tomato salad with Grilled Citrus Chicken Kabobs for a quick, yet filling, weeknight meal.

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover quinoa with fresh tomatoes should be cooled to room temperature and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator within 2 hours of serving.

Try this Quinoa and Cherry Tomato Salad!

Next time you’re looking for healthy side dish with fresh ingredients, give this simple cherry tomato salad with quinoa a try!

Did you love the combination of ripe cherry tomatoes with the lemony quinoa and fresh herbs? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this simple salad.

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More Simple Quinoa Recipes

This Coconut Quinoa pairs nicely with any Asian-inspired dish. It comes together in 30 minutes and is packed with coconut flavor!

Roasted Poblano Cilantro Quinoa has tons of flavor from roasted poblano, fresh lime, and cilantro. It is a great side served with Mexican-inspired meals.

Pineapple Chicken Quinoa Salad is an easy to make, hearty and nutritious recipe with crunchy nuts, sweet dried pineapple, and fluffy quinoa. Serve it as a side dish with dinner or a light main course.

Cold Asparagus Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette is a quick and easy salad made with fresh asparagus and quinoa tossed with a flavorful tarragon-mustard vinaigrette.

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

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What’s your favorite way to serve quinoa?