Winter Spinach Quinoa Chicken Salad

Winter Spinach Quinoa Chicken Salad is a satisfying, nutrient-packed meal that’s perfect for winter. Featuring roasted sweet potatoes, leafy spinach, and a creamy almond white balsamic dressing, this spinach and quinoa salad with chicken is a fresh and flavorful way to stay energized throughout the day.

About This Recipe

Lately, salads have been my go-to lunch, especially those packed with quinoa, leafy greens, and protein—like this quinoa chicken salad.

I used to rely on sandwiches, but I found they didn’t give me the sustained energy I needed throughout the day. After switching things up and incorporating more vegetables, whole grains, and heart-healthy nuts, I felt more energized and satisfied.

This salad was born out of one of those “let’s throw in whatever we have” moments. It started with leftover roasted sweet potatoes, shredded chicken, and baby spinach, and soon, I found myself adding in dried cherries, crunchy almonds, and tangy blue cheese.

The final touch? A creamy almond white balsamic dressing that perfectly ties everything together! Now, it’s one of my favorite winter chicken salad recipes—fresh, flavorful, and completely satisfying.

Essential Tools for Making the Recipe

Here’s what you’ll need to make this spinach and quinoa salad with chicken:

• Blender or Small Food Processor – To blend the creamy dressing.
• Baking Sheet or Roasting Pan – For roasting the sweet potatoes.
• Cutting Board & Sharp Knife – To prep the chicken and veggies.
• Salad Spinner – To wash and dry the spinach.
• Cheese Grater – If grating your own carrots.
• Saucepan with Lid or Instant Pot – For cooking the quinoa.

What You Need to Make This Quinoa Chicken Salad

For the Salad:

• Baby spinach
• Shredded carrots
• Shredded or cubed chicken (this citrus roast chicken works great!)
• Roasted sweet potatoes (I love these garlic and sage roasted sweet potato cubes)
• Almonds
• Blue cheese crumbles
• Dried cherries
• Cooked quinoa
• Creamy Almond White Balsamic Dressing (recipe below)

For the Creamy Almond White Balsamic Dressing:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• White balsamic vinegar
• Agave
• Minced garlic
• Sliced almonds
• Salt & black pepper

Ingredient Customization & Substitutions

This quinoa salad with chicken is super versatile! Here are some ways to customize it:

• Swap the greens – Mixed greens or baby arugula work well instead of spinach.
• Try a different protein – Use rotisserie chicken, grilled lemon rosemary chicken, grilled balsamic chicken, or leftover steak for variety.
• Switch up the grains – Substitute farro or brown rice for quinoa.
• Nuts & Seeds – If you’re allergic to almonds or don’t have them on hand, swap them for pecans, walnuts, cashews, pepitas, or sunflower seeds.
• Different dressing options – Try a classic balsamic vinaigrette if you don’t want a creamy dressing.
• Dried fruit swaps – Cranberries can be used instead of dried cherries.
• Sweet potato swaps – Roasted delicata squash or roasted butternut squash can be used instead of sweet potatoes to mix things up.

Storage Instructions

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Dressing Storage: Keep dressing in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to a week.
• Mason Jar Meal Prep: Layer ingredients in a jar to keep them fresh (see tips below).

Meal Prep Chicken Quinoa Salad in a Jar

Want to meal prep your chicken and quinoa salad? Follow this layering order:

1. Dressing
2. Hard vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes)
3. Quinoa & chicken
4. Blue cheese & dried cherries
5. Nuts & seeds
6. Greens (spinach)

Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Quinoa Chicken Salad FAQs

Got questions about how to make this quinoa chicken salad? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll be happy to help!

Can I use a different kind of meat?

Yes! You can use rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, or even steak if you prefer a beef option.

Can I make this salad vegetarian?

Absolutely! Simply omit the chicken and add extra quinoa or other vegetables.

If you’d like to add beans, I recommend chickpeas. You can use them fresh from a can (rinse them first!) or make crunchy, roasted chickpeas.

Can I use a store-bought dressing instead?

Yes! If you don’t have time to make the dressing, blend store-bought white balsamic vinaigrette with almonds for a quick creamy version.

What’s the best way to eat this salad?

Serve it fresh in a bowl, or meal-prep it in a jar for grab-and-go convenience. If eating from a jar, shake everything out into a bowl and toss with dressing.

Try This Winter Spinach Quinoa Chicken Salad!

This quinoa chicken salad is one of my favorite winter chicken salad recipes—it’s fresh, hearty, and packed with delicious flavors. If you make it, I’d love to hear what you think!

Did you try it? Leave a comment below and let me know how you customized it!
On Instagram? Tag me @goodlifeeats with #goodlifeeatsrecipes so I can see your delicious salad creations!

More Quinoa Salads to Try

Rainbow Winter Quinoa Bowls with Maple Dijon Balsamic Dressing features lots of delicious winter produce and hearty Organic Tricolor Quinoa for a filling, satisfying meal.

This simple Mexican Quinoa Salad can be enjoyed as a main dish, or it can be served alongside your favorite Tex-Mex entrees.

Pineapple Chicken Quinoa Salad is easy to make, especially if you have rotisserie or canned chicken on hand. It’s also hearty enough to keep the hunger pangs at bay for the rest of the day. 

Cold Asparagus Salad is the perfect side dish to enjoy during asparagus season! In this easy asparagus salad recipe, you’ll find small pieces of tender crisp asparagus with quinoa and a tarragon 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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