Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

This Mediterranean quinoa bowl is a delicious weeknight dinner or healthy lunch! Great for meal prep, it's packed with veggies, chickpeas, and more.

Quinoa bowl recipes are some of my favorite easy meals to toss together for a healthy lunch or weeknight dinner. I love them because

• They’re customizable. You can change up the quinoa bowl toppings based on what you’re craving or what you have on hand.
• They’re great for meal prep. Cook the quinoa and mix up a tasty sauce over the weekend. Then, quickly assemble quinoa bowls all week!
• They’re super satisfying…not to mention tasty! I fill my quinoa bowls with protein-packed quinoa, fiber-rich veggies, and big drizzles of a flavorful sauce. It’s the ultimate combination of healthy and delicious.

You can put almost any vegetable, protein, or sauce in a quinoa bowl, so I encourage you to try to making your own. But to get you started, I’m sharing my go-to Mediterranean quinoa bowl recipe below, plus tips for customizing it and making it ahead. It’s a staple in my kitchen. Whether you follow it to the letter or totally change it up, I hope it becomes one in yours too!

How to Make These Quinoa Bowls

This Mediterranean quinoa bowl starts with simple, fresh ingredients:

• Cooked quinoa, of course! Any type of quinoa works well—white, red, black, or tri-color.
• Spiced roasted chickpeas – Along with the quinoa, they pack this bowl with plant-based protein. They also add delicious crunch!
• Cherry tomatoes and Persian cucumbers – For a veggie punch! If you can’t find Persian cucumbers, English cucumber is a great sub. If regular cucumber (not Persian or English) is your only option, peel and seed it before adding it to the bowls.
• Avocado – For creamy richness.
• Garlic yogurt sauce – This sauce is SO easy to stir together—no food processor or blender required! It’s a bright, creamy combination of Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, and fresh lemon juice.
• Pickled red onions – For a bright pop of flavor.
• Fresh parsley and mint – They make this quinoa bowl super flavorful and refreshing.
• And Aleppo pepper flakes – They add a touch of heat. Can’t find them? Regular red pepper flakes work here too!

To assemble, fill a bowl or meal prep container with a base of quinoa. Then, add the chickpeas, vegetables, avocado, and drizzles of the garlic yogurt sauce. Top with pickled onions, fresh herbs, and pinches of Aleppo pepper. Season to taste, and enjoy cold or at room temperature.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below!

Make-Ahead Tips for This Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

This Mediterranean quinoa bowl recipe is great for meal prep!

Start by cooking the quinoa, making the yogurt sauce, and roasting the chickpeas. Then, assemble bowls in meal prep containers with the quinoa, roasted chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, and pickled onions.

Store them in the fridge for up to 4 days, and store the sauce in a separate container in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, drizzle on the sauce, and add the avocado and fresh herbs. You’ll have the BEST weeknight dinner or quick lunch.

**Wait to add the avocado and fresh herbs until right before serving so that they don’t wilt or brown in the fridge.**

Customize Your Quinoa Bowl

I love this recipe as written, but feel free to make it your own! Here are a few easy ways to change it up:

• Swap out the quinoa. Use another grain like white rice, brown rice, or farro.
• Try a different protein. White beans or grilled halloumi cheese would be delicious.
• Change up the vegetables. Add roasted sweet potatoes or roasted broccoli for a heartier bowl.
• Use another sauce. Tahini sauce, tzatziki, or a dollop of hummus would be great.
• Pile on more toppings. Toss in some kalamata olives for a briny kick. Crumbled feta cheese would be super-tasty too!

Let me know what variations you try!

More Grain Bowl Recipes

If you love these healthy quinoa bowls, try one of these grain bowl recipes next:

• Best Buddha Bowl
• Burrito Bowl
• Sushi Bowl
• Veggie Power Bowl
• Roasted Veggie Grain Bowl
• Adzuki Bean Bowls
• Mango Ginger Rice Bowl
• Or any of these 21 Rice Bowl Recipes!

Crazy for quinoa? Try my Mediterranean quinoa salad, quinoa burger, or quinoa breakfast bowl next.

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

rate this recipe:

5 from 7 votes

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Serves 4

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This Mediterranean quinoa bowl features fresh veggies, creamy avocado, spiced chickpeas, and protein-packed quinoa. A garlic yogurt sauce ties it all together, and fresh herbs and pickled onions take it over the top. It's a delicious weeknight dinner or healthy lunch!

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked quinoa, from 1 cup uncooked
• 2 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 avocados, diced
• Pickled Red Onions
• Fresh mint and/or parsley leaves
• Aleppo pepper
• Garlic Yogurt Sauce, see note

Smoky Chickpeas

• 1½ cups cooked chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and patted dry
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• Pinch of cayenne pepper

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Instructions

• Cook the quinoa according to this recipe.
• Meanwhile, make the smoky chickpeas: Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the chickpeas on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and cayenne. Toss to coat and spread evenly on the baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
• Assemble bowls with the quinoa, smoky chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocado. Top with pickled onions, mint, and pinches of Aleppo pepper. Drizzle with garlic yogurt sauce and serve.

Notes

Substitute tahini sauce to make this recipe vegan.