Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (Fresh & Flavorful)

 

This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is fresh, colorful, and full of bright flavor. Made with crisp vegetables, chickpeas, quinoa, and a lemon herb dressing, it’s the perfect healthy summer salad for meal prep, cookouts, or easy lunches.

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (Fresh & Flavorful)

This is the kind of salad that disappears fast at summer gatherings.

It’s bright, colorful, fresh, and somehow manages to feel both light and satisfying at the same time. The quinoa gives it heartiness, the vegetables keep it crisp and refreshing, and the lemon herb dressing pulls everything together with bold fresh flavor.

I especially love this recipe because it works for almost everything—meal prep lunches, backyard dinners, cookouts, or as an easy side dish alongside grilled chicken or kabobs. It’s one of those versatile recipes that tastes even better after it sits for a little while, making it perfect for warm weather entertaining.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

• Quinoa — adds protein, texture, and makes the salad extra satisfying
• Red bell pepper — brings sweetness and beautiful color
• English cucumber — crisp, refreshing, and perfect for summer salads
• Grape tomatoes — juicy bursts of freshness throughout the salad
• Red onion — adds sharpness and balance
• Chickpeas — hearty, filling, and packed with texture
• Olive oil — forms the rich base of the dressing
• Fresh lemon juice — keeps everything bright and fresh
• Red wine vinegar — adds tang and depth
• Fresh parsley — gives the salad a vibrant Mediterranean flavor
• Garlic — adds bold savory flavor to the dressing
• Salt — helps bring all the flavors together

Equipment

• Medium saucepan
• Fine mesh strainer
• Large mixing bowl
• Cutting board and knife
• Small whisk or fork for dressing

My Go-To Tools

• Fine Mesh Strainer — perfect for rinsing quinoa well
• Large Glass Mixing Bowl — makes tossing salads easier without crushing ingredients

-- Let’s Make It Together

Rinse the quinoa well and cook according to package directions. Let cool slightly while preparing the vegetables.

Dice the bell pepper, cucumber, and red onion, then halve the tomatoes.

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, parsley, garlic, and salt.

Add the quinoa, vegetables, and chickpeas to a large bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss until everything is evenly coated.

Serve immediately or chill for a bit to let the flavors blend together.

-- Perfecting the Cooking Process

The biggest key to great quinoa salad is texture. Rinsing the quinoa well removes bitterness, while allowing it to cool slightly before mixing helps keep the vegetables crisp and fresh instead of softening them.

-- Add Your Touch

This salad is incredibly flexible depending on the season or what you have in the fridge.

Add feta cheese for a creamy salty bite, avocado for richness, or grilled chicken for extra protein. Fresh herbs like basil or dill also work beautifully if you want to change the flavor profile slightly.

Set the Mood 

A good meal deserves a great setting. Here are a few easy ways to set the mood when serving this dish.

If you’re building an easy summer menu, these recipes pair perfectly with this Mediterranean quinoa salad:

• Chili-Lime Chicken Kabobs — bold, smoky, and fresh off the grill
• Easy Greek-Style Turkey Burgers — Quick and easy and bursting with flavor
• Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce — zesty topped tender grilled steak
• Gaucho Beef Kabobs — easy, flavorful, and packed with Latin flavors

Whether you’re meal prepping lunches for the week or planning a backyard dinner with friends, this salad is one of those fresh summer recipes you’ll come back to again and again.

Before You Start 

Do I need to rinse quinoa first?
Yes. Rinsing removes the natural coating that can taste bitter.

Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely. This salad tastes even better after chilling for a few hours.

How long does it keep?
Stored in an airtight container, it keeps well for 3–4 days in the refrigerator.

Can I add protein?
Yes. Grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon work wonderfully.

Can I serve this warm?
You can, but it’s best slightly chilled or at room temperature for the freshest flavor.

 

 

Chili-Lime Chicken Kabobs (Easy Summer Grilling Recipe)

 

These Chili-Lime Chicken Kabobs are fresh, colorful, and packed with bold flavor. An easy summer grilling recipe made with juicy chicken, vibrant peppers, and zesty chili-lime seasoning.

Chili-Lime Chicken Kabobs (Easy Summer Grilling Recipe)

I've always been a little crazy about food on a skewer.  It's so approachable and it it gives me that summer feeling.  

These chili-lime chicken kabobs are one of those easy recipes that look bright and impressive coming off the grill, but come together with minimal prep and simple ingredients. The chicken stays juicy, the peppers get slightly charred and sweet, and the chili-lime seasoning adds just enough smoky citrus flavor to make everything pop.

This is the kind of dinner that works just as well for a casual backyard cookout as it does for an easy weeknight meal when you want something fresh, colorful, and packed with flavor.  This will be a winner at your next cookout.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts — boneless, skinless chicken works perfectly for juicy, quick-cooking kabobs
• Bell peppers — use a mix of red, yellow, and orange for color and sweetness
• Chili-lime seasoning — brings smoky, citrusy flavor with minimal effort
• Canola oil — helps the seasoning coat evenly and prevents sticking on the grill
• Fresh limes — a squeeze of fresh lime at the end brightens everything up beautifully 

Equipment

• Grill or grill pan
• Skewers
• Large mixing bowl
• Tongs
• Meat thermometer

My Go-To Tools

• Metal Skewers — reusable and easy to turn on the grill
• Instant Read Thermometer — ensures perfectly cooked chicken every time. I've had mine for 6 years and it still works perfectly.

-- Let’s Make It Together

Cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks and place in a large bowl. Toss with oil and chili-lime seasoning until evenly coated.

Thread the chicken and bell peppers onto skewers, alternating colors as you go.

Preheat your grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.

Place the kabobs on the grill and cook, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred on the edges.

Finish with fresh lime wedges for serving.

-- Perfecting the Cooking Process

For juicy kabobs, avoid overcooking the chicken and keep the pieces evenly sized so everything cooks at the same rate. A little char on the peppers adds incredible flavor.

-- Add Your Touch

These kabobs are easy to customize depending on what you have on hand.

Add red onion, zucchini, or pineapple to the skewers for extra flavor and color. You can also swap chicken thighs for a slightly richer option or turn the kabobs into bowls served over rice or quinoa.

Set the Mood

Food is about more than just the recipe—it’s about the moment around the table. Here are a few simple ideas to set the mood when you serve this dish.

If you’re building an easy summer menu, here are a few more fresh recipes to pair with these kabobs:

• 5 Ingredient Zucchini Ribbon Salad — fresh, bright, and perfect for warm weather
• Nectarine and Feta Salad with Toasted Almonds — light and flavorful with plenty of summer freshness
• Zesty Mango Corn Salad — colorful, zesty, and great for gatherings

Whether you’re grilling for a backyard dinner, meal prepping for the week, or planning a casual summer get-together, these chili-lime chicken kabobs bring big flavor with very little effort.

Before You Start 

Can I use chicken thighs instead?
Absolutely. Chicken thighs stay extra juicy on the grill.

Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes. You can assemble the kabobs several hours ahead and refrigerate until ready to grill.

What if I don’t have an outdoor grill?
A grill pan works great indoors.

How do I keep wooden skewers from burning?
Soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling.

How do I know when the chicken is done?
Chicken should reach 165°F internally.

 

 

 

Red White and Blueberry Salad

Go patriotic this Memorial Day with my Red White and Blueberry Salad.  It's filled with plump red strawberries, mild feta cheese, and juicy blueberries on a bed of spring greens to make the perfect salad!

 

Red White and Blueberry Salad

Memorial Day is a day for remembrance for those that have died in service to our country.  To many it is the unofficial start of summer and the grilling season.  To honor and celebrate those we tend to have a big outdoor feast, grilling up American favorites such as hamburgers and hot dogs with all the side dishes.  Today's recipe is my Red White and Blueberry Salad which is perfect for Memorial Day, 4th of July, or Labor Day celebrations.

A based of tender spring greens is topped with the most luscious strawberries, blueberries and crumbled feta to represent the red, white, and blue.  They are also accompanied by crunchy walnuts and slices of red onion.  Then we top it off with a creamy balsamic dressing that is to die for!  The flavors blend together so well that this will become a go to salad during the summer months when berries are in season.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

Salad:

• spring greens

• strawberries - buy ripe juicy ones

• blueberries - fresh during the season is best

• walnuts - whole or pieces will do

• red onion

• feta cheese - I always by feta in a block and then crumble it, slice it as I need it

Dressing:

• balsamic vinegar

• extra virgin olive oil

• plain Greek yogurt

• Dijon mustard

• garlic powder

Substitutions and Variations

• Nuts - for allergies, leave them out.  Try pecans or almonds for a change

• Cheese - try goat, white cheddar, or Monterey jack.  

• Greens - spinach, red leaf, or butter lettuce would all be good choices

• Onions - leave them out if you prefer or try green onions, or a sweet Vidalia onion for a change

• Use your favorite store bought dressing

• Add protein - grilled chicken or deli turkey would turn this salad in to a meal

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Great for low carb diets as the berries are low in sugar while being rich in antioxidants

• You'll get healthy fats from the olive oil and the walnuts

• You can toast your nuts in a pan for a few minutes you'll get a deeper flavor.

• Don't care for raw onion?  Soak onion slices in cold water for 5-10 minutes will reduce the pungency

• Meal prep friendly - this would be easy to divide the salad in to containers.  Just leave the salad undressed and then place dressing in a container on the side.  If using a mason jar, place the dressing on the bottom, them place the greens on that and then layer the rest of the salad.

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Red White and Blueberry Salad

serves 4

Salad

10 oz spring greens
6-8 medium strawberries hulled and sliced
1/2 pint blueberries
1/3 cup whole walnuts
1/4 medium red onion, sliced
½ cup feta cheese crumbled

Creamy Balsamic dressing

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, I use full fat
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

In a small bowl or jar make the salad dressing.  Add all the ingredients and whisk or shake vigorously until combined.

In a large bowl or platter add your spring greens and tope with the strawberries, blueberries, walnuts, onions, and feta.  Either drizzle dressing over the salad or allow each person to dress their own.

4th of July Bash on the Grill: Mushroom Stuffed Cheeseburgers

Juicy cheeseburgers stuffed with jazzed up mushrooms are on the grill for the 4th of July celebration!  Made with your choice of meat and topped just the way you like it!

Mushroom Stuffed Cheeseburgers

Time to warm up that grill and get to cooking some burgers for the 4th of July!  After a year in lock-down we are so ready to celebrate!  We go for the "All American" menu for our 4th of July bash.  First up is a juicy hamburger.  This one is special because it's has the addition of cheese and mushroom.  But the best part is they are not on it....they are inside it!  Yes, that's right a burger stuffed with jazzed up mushrooms and cheese.  Doesn't get much better than this.

With a little pre-prep of the mushrooms these burgers will be on your table in no time.  Another plus is that you can pick your meat of choice.  We made both beef and turkey burgers.  Toppings can be anything you choose.  We had a standard burger topping bar or lettuce, onion, tomatoes, mayo and mustard.  One bite and the stuffing flavors explode in your mouth!  This is one great burger.

What Ingredients do I need?

• ground beef sirloin (10%) or ground chicken or turkey
• Worcestershire sauce
• ground black pepper
• provolone cheese
• baby bella mushrooms
• garlic
• white wine
• butter
• olive oil
• Hamburger buns
• Toppings: lettuce, onion, tomato

Substitutions and Variation

• Choose a different ground meat, turkey and chicken are great options

• Choose a different cheese, cheddar, Gouda, or Swiss
• Don't like mushrooms, leave them out!
• Don't want wine in the mushrooms? leave it out
• Kaiser rolls make great buns
• Brioche buns are a treat
• Flavor the meat with steak sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce
• Make this Asian by adding soy sauce and Hosin

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Great for making ahead.  Stuff the burgers early in the day and refrigerate until time to grill

• Kids will love a stuffed cheeseburger!
• I always form the bottom patty a little larger and then pinch the top to the sides to cover all the stuffing 

• I always use 10% fat ground sirloin for the flavor.  If you like a juicier burger go for 15 - 20% ground chuck

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More burgers to choose from:

Grilled Ranch Chicken Burgers

Grilled Santa Fe Burgers

Blue Cheese Stuffed Burgers

The Best Stuffed Grilled Cheeseburgers

Butter Burgers

Mushroom Stuffed Cheeseburgers

serves 4

1 lb. ground beef sirloin (10%) or ground chicken or turkey
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 slices provolone cheese, halved

1 cup baby bella mushrooms, sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons white wine

1 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon olive oil

4 Hamburger buns
Toppings:  lettuce, onion, tomato

In a large skillet, medium high heat, add butter and olive oil.  When hot add the mushrooms.  Cook about 1 minutes until starting to brown and wilt.  Add in minced garlic and the wine.  Continue to cook until mushrooms are brown and tender.  Remove from the pan.  

In a large bowl, combine beef, Worcestershire sauce and pepper, very lightly mixing to combine.  Divide the mixture in half and take one half, forming 4 thin patties.  Top 2 of the patties with 1/2 slice of cheese and 1/2 of the cooked mushrooms.  Top with the other two remaining patties and press edges to seal and make sure that the stuffing is all inside.  Repeat with the remaining half of the ground beef to make two more burgers.  

Grill burgers, uncovered, over medium-high heat 5-6 minutes on each side or until a thermometer inserted in meat portion reads 160 degrees.  Toast your hamburgers buns on the grill and serve.

Roasted Vegetable Farro Salad

This easy, Italian salad features farro, a whole-grain hero. Mixed with roasted zucchini, peppers, and onion, and topped with a lemony dressing this salad pairs perfectly with any entrée.

Roasted Vegetable Farro Salad

Today's salad doubles as a side dish for any entrée.  The star of the dish is farro, a delightfully nutty grain that full of protein and fiber.  Use it as you would quinoa or rice.  When paired with perfectly roasted vegetables you have a winning combination.  This salad is best with a light dressing and my lemony vinaigrette brings a burst of brightness to the dish.  Top this off with some fresh herbs and a crumble of tangy feta and voila, a masterpiece is born!

This salad is served warm or at room temperate, however, it will keeps several days and will taste just a wonderful eaten cold.  This would be a great dish to serve during the summer grilling months.  Perfect for BBQs, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and even picnics in the park! Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• farro
• green onions
• red bell pepper
• orange bell pepper
• zucchini
• onion
• parsley
• feta cheese
• lemon
• garlic
• olive oil

Substitutions and Variations

• Try different roasted vegetables such as broccoli, summer squash, tomatoes, carrots, asparagus, or cauliflower

• Leave out the cheese or use ricotta salata

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• This can be made ahead and served at room temperature

• This salad will keep several days in the refrigerator

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Roasted Vegetable Farro Salad

serves 4

1 cup farro, 
2 green onions, sliced thin, whites and light green parts
1 1/2 bell peppers, orange and red cut into thin strips
2 zucchini, cut into chunks
1 small yellow onion, sliced
extra virgin olive oil to coat
salt & pepper

1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

For the Dressing:
1 garlic clove, minced
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cook farro according to package directions.

While farro is cooking make the dressing: Combine all the dressing ingredients, except parsley, in a bowl, and set aside.

When the farro is tender, drain and let cool a bit. Toss farro and dressing together, set aside to let the flavors combine.

Place vegetables on rimmed roasting pans so they fit in a single layer, toss with olive oil and salt and pepper.

Roast until tender and beginning to brown, about 25 min.  Remove from the oven and toss with vegetables with the farro.  Add parsley and feta and serve.