🧾 Ingredients

For the salad:

• 1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
• 2 cups water or broth
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained & rinsed
• 1 cup corn (fresh, frozen, or grilled)
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ red onion, finely chopped
• 1 avocado, diced
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• Juice of 1 lime

🥣 Optional protein boost:

• 1 cup grilled chicken (diced)
  or
• ½ cup shredded cheese
  or
• ½ cup Greek yogurt (mixed into dressing)

🌶️ Creamy Chipotle Dressing:

• ½ cup Greek yogurt (or mayo)
• 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo (minced)
• 1 tbsp adobo sauce (from the can)
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Water (1–2 tbsp to thin, if needed)

🔥 Instructions

1. Cook the quinoa

• Rinse quinoa well.
• Combine with water/broth and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat, cover, simmer 12–15 minutes.
• Let sit 5 minutes, then fluff and cool.

2. Make the dressing

• Blend or whisk all dressing ingredients until smooth.
• Adjust spice (chipotle = smoky heat 🌶️).

3. Assemble the salad

• In a large bowl, combine:
  quinoa + beans + corn + veggies + cilantro
• Toss gently.

4. Add dressing

• Pour dressing over salad.
• Mix well until everything is coated.

5. Finish

• Add avocado last.
• Squeeze fresh lime juice on top.
• Chill for 20–30 minutes (optional, but improves flavor).

🥗 Nutrition (Approx per serving, 4 servings)

• Calories: ~350–420
• Protein: ~15–22g (higher with chicken or extra yogurt)
• Carbs: ~40g
• Fat: ~12–18g
• Fiber: ~10g

💡 Tips for BEST flavor

• Let it sit → flavors deepen over time
• Use grilled corn for smoky taste
• Don’t skip lime—it brightens everything
• Add avocado right before serving to keep it fresh

 Q&A

Can I make it vegan?

Yes!

• Use plant-based yogurt or vegan mayo
• Skip chicken/dairy

How spicy is it?

Mild to medium.

• Use 1 chipotle pepper = mild
• 2+ peppers = spicy 🔥

How long does it last?

• Fridge: 3–4 days
• Store avocado separately if possible

Can I meal prep it?

Absolutely—this is perfect for meal prep. Just:

• Keep dressing separate for best texture
• Add avocado fresh daily

Can I swap quinoa?

Yes:

• Brown rice
• Farro
• Couscous (less protein though)

• Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.

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