This healthy buffalo quinoa chicken salad is gluten free, ready in minutes and makes about 5-6 servings ! Great meal to prep on a Sunday for those busy weeknights!
Oh hayyyya there! Before we jump into this buffalo quinoa chicken salad, I just wanted to take a second and thank all of you who read my blog. If you make something, tag me on social media or #mealswithmaggie. You can also leave a comment or rating down below 🙂
If you love this buffalo quinoa chicken salad try my other chicken salad that is also gluten free, high in protein and loaded with healthy fats!
Now onto the eats....
This buffalo quinoa chicken salad needs to make it to your plate/bowl/tupperware. Sean and I often argue over whether a dish should go in a plate or bowl. Personally, I think this one deserves a bowl. Thankfully, he agreed with me this time.
In the past few years, I have recently been getting into buffalo flavored foods, like those amazing buffalo flavored pretzel thins (YUM!) or this vegan buffalo dip. Sean loves it too- so it’s perfect that this recipes makes 5-6 servings because it feeds both of us for a couple nights(ish).
Ingredients in Buffalo Quinoa Chicken Salad
I love that this salad is packed with superfoods! High in protein, high in fiber and high in healthy fats. What more could you ask for in a meal?
- quinoa
- chicken ( shred in kitchen aid mixer- makes life SO much easier)
- canned corn (rinsed and drained)
- blue cheese crumbles
- red onion
- Hot sauce (I ❤️ franks!)
- avocado
This buffalo quinoa chicken salad can be eaten hot or cold, but personally I prefer hot ( top with avocado after!). The balance of the blue cheese crumbles and avocado offset the spicy kick from the buffalo sauce. The corn kernels give that little pop of sweetness that gives you allllll the feels of summer (remember summer?)
Easy Buffalo Chicken Salad Meal Prep
If you are meal prepping, prep the chicken and quinoa at once. While they cook, chop up the vegetables and get ready to combine in a big bowl.
Sometimes it's nice to come home and have dinner a 30-second microwave reheat away.
This recipe is great to prep on a Sunday for those busy week nights, plus it's gluten free for those of you who like to steer clear.
Hope you enjoy this easy, delicious buffalo quinoa chicken salad as much as we do!
Print
Buffalo quinoa chicken salad
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
This buffalo quinoa chicken salad is gluten free, ready in minutes and makes about 5-6 servings ! Great meal to prep on a Sunday for those busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (~ 4 large chicken breasts )
- 1 cup dry quinoa (yields about 3 cups cooked)
- 2 cups corn (or a can of corn, rinsed)
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- ½ cup blue cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup Buffalo sauce (I used Franks red hot)
- 1 avocado, diced
Instructions
- Cook quinoa according to package instructions.
- Allow quinoa to cool slightly. Then add the chicken, diced onions, corn and blue cheese together in a large bowl.
- Add quinoa and mix in buffalo sauce.
- Top with diced avocado and eat immediately or refrigerate for later use.
Notes
As stated above, this recipe is great hot or cold!
Use your KitchenAid or standing mixer to shred chicken! It is such a time saver but make sure to keep an eye on it or else it will turn into chicken pâte !
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: Gluten Free
Keywords: Buffalo Quinoa Chicken Salad
Don't forget to 'pin it' for later and follow Meals with Maggie on pinterest!
SaveSave
This was excellent. Simple and delicious. Definitely a rotation recipe now 🙂
Thank you so much!
This is definitely a new favorite! So good, great flavor and textures. I cooked my chicken breast in the instant pot and then shredded it easily just with a couple of forks. Added everything but the red onion. Yum!!
★★★★★
Thanks so much! Glad you loved it 🙂
We made this recipe for a family of 8 the other day. Had some vegetarians in the group so we let everyone assemble their own bowl, adding black beans as well. Made rice as a base in addition to the quinoa. Everyone loved it!
★★★★★
Thanks so much Kathleen! Glad you and your family enjoyed it 🙂
Guys, Thanks For sharing this Great Recipe. My Family Loved it. I am definitely sharing this recipe and this website with my friend. Hope they also love it. Thank you again for sharing such a great recipe.
★★★★★
Does this recipe freeze well?
Hey there! It does freeze well but I would wait to add the blue cheese & avocado until prior to eating!
My husband and I LOVE this dish! I found it when I started eating healthier and make it a couple times a month. It makes enough for four lunches and it great cold as well!
What could you substitute instead of the blue cheese crumbles?
The blue cheese has a specific taste! Gorgonzola cheese would also work but if you don't like blue or gorgonzola I just wouldn't add in any cheese!
Is the 1 cup quinoa 1 cup cooked or 1 cup dry?
Hello Terri! It is one cup dry (or uncooked!) I will be sure to add this in the directions. Thank you!
Shredding chicken in the stand mixer is a game changer! Also, this is one of my favorite recipes. Love to make this for lunch for the week!
★★★★★
Totally! Saves so much time, glad you love it Emily!
Made this for lunches this week, and give this recipe a 10/10. I served mine cold, over a bed of spinach and romaine for lunch today--and LOVED it. So fresh, refreshing, and the flavors balance each other out so well. Highly recommend this recipe 🙂
★★★★★
Thank you so much Amanda! So glad you loved it!!
Love this recipe, it's great for meal prep! Does your calorie count include the avocado?
★★★★★
Thank you Kristin! The calorie count does include the avocado!
Looks great, can't wait to try it. Can you really use the stand mixer to shred chicken?? What attachment do you use. Thanks!
★★★★★
Hi Bailey! Thank you! I use the metal flat beater attachment, works like a charm!
This looks delicious! Could you make this in the crock pot? If so, what would you altar?
★★★★
Hey Danielle! I have not tried cooking this in a crockpot but I know you can cook the chicken with red hot together in a crockpot on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours and add the remaining ingredients at the end. Keep in mind the blue cheese crumbles will melt in there but thats not a bad thing 🙂 hope this helps! Let me know if you try it!