Skinny Protein Salad

Light, nutritious, and bursting with fresh flavors, the Skinny Protein Salad is the ultimate guilt-free meal that doesn’t skimp on taste. Packed with lean protein from tender, skinless chicken breast and nutrient-rich quinoa, this vibrant salad is elevated with a mix of fresh baby spinach, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and creamy avocado. A hint of tangy red onion and optional crumbles of feta cheese add depth, while a zesty homemade dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and honey ties everything together. Ready in just 30 minutes, this high-protein, low-calorie salad is perfect for meal prep or a quick, wholesome lunch. Garnished with fresh parsley for a finishing touch, it’s a healthy and satisfying dish that will energize your day! Keywords: skinny protein salad, high-protein salad, healthy meal, quinoa chicken salad, quick healthy recipes.

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 200 grams skinless cooked chicken breast
• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 large avocado
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 50 grams feta cheese (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse 1 cup of quinoa thoroughly under cold water. In a saucepan, combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 2

While the quinoa is cooking, shred or dice the cooked chicken breast into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

Step 3

Wash and prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely slice the red onion, and chop the avocado into cubes.

Step 4

In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, cooked and cooled quinoa, chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, avocado, and crumbled feta cheese (if using).

Step 5

Chop the parsley finely and sprinkle it over the salad for a fresh burst of flavor.

Step 6

To prepare the dressing, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until well combined.

Step 7

Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all the ingredients evenly.

Step 8

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1190.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1745.0

Total Fat 88.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 18.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.4g
Cholesterol 214.6mg	0%
Sodium 3274.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 139.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.2g	0%
Total Sugars 18.8g
Protein 102.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 451.5mg	0%
Iron 11.8mg	0%
Potassium 2490.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 45.3%

Protein: 23.1%

Carbs: 31.5%