This shaved Brussels sprout and quinoa power salad features fresh chopped kale, crispy bacon pieces, sweet dried cranberries, creamy goat cheese, crunchy candied pecans, and a homemade citrus vinaigrette.
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It’s easy to make, absolutely delicious, and perfect for keeping in your refrigerator for quick, healthy meals all week long. I love topping it with crispy grilled chicken or steak for even more extra protein!
Have you ever eaten a salad and thought, ‘Wow, I could eat this for every meal, every day, for the rest of my life?’ Well, I did for this one!
Healthier Salad Recipes with Protein!
I am so excited to dive into more healthy recipes after the holidays! I had so much fun with all the treats, but now I’m craving some nutrient-dense meals. And my jeans are so snug (oops!) Yesterday, we had our good friends over for homemade sourdough pizza and this delicious Brussels sprout & quinoa power salad. I can’t believe how many people messaged me asking for the recipe! I’ve got about fifteen recipes ready for the blog, but I decided to share this one first. It’s a perfect dish to kick off the new year—a healthy recipe to get back into a good routine when school and work start back up. I plan to make this over and over again, storing it in the refrigerator with some added protein!
This recipe is gluten-free, can easily be made vegetarian or vegan, and is so versatile if you want to add extra ingredients or leave any out!
Brussels Sprout & Quinoa Power Salad
Ingredients:
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts
- Kale (chopped)
- Quinoa (cooked)
- Goat Cheese (crumbled)
- Dried Cranberries
- Candied Pecans
- Cooked Bacon (crumbled)
Citrus Vinaigrette Ingredients:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice (from 1 small orange)
- 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- Salt & Pepper to taste (Pro Tip: For the best flavor, use Arctic Seasoning—it’s worth every penny! )
More Healthy Salad Recipes:
Turkish Salad Recipe with Gluten-Free Pasta!
Best Tuna Salad Recipe: High Protein, Gluten & Dairy Free
Peach & Prosciutto Kale Salad with Orange Honey Vinaigrette
Kale and Chickpea Pasta with a Honey Basil Vinaigrette
Chopped Italian Salad with Radiatori Pasta!
arugula salad with goat cheese, balsamic glaze & honey almonds
Grilled Chicken Chopped Kale Salad & Honey Dill Vinaigrette
Ultimate Greek Salad with Seasoned Shrimp & Crumbled Feta
Blueberry Pecan Salad with a Honey Citrus Garlic Vinaigrette
Loaded Kale Salad With a Honey Tangerine Vinaigrette
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad & Glazed Angel Food Cake
How to Make Brussels Sprout & Quinoa Power Salad
Step 1: Cook the Quinoa and Brussels Sprouts
- In a pan on medium heat, add a drizzle of olive oil and the shaved Brussels sprouts. Cook until they are partially done, making sure they remain a little crunchy—not soggy.
- For the quinoa: In a separate pot, bring 2 cups of water and 1 cup of quinoa to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Allow both the quinoa and Brussels sprouts to cool down.
Cooking the bacon is important! Bake it at 400 degrees in the oven until extra crispy! You can even coat it in maple syrup after if you want some extra sweetness.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
- In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, Dijon mustard, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Add salt and pepper to taste (or, for extra flavor, use Arctic Seasoning).
Step 3: Assemble the Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled Brussels sprouts and chopped kale. Toss with half of the dressing.
- Add the quinoa, cranberries, chopped candied pecans, goat cheese, and cooked bacon. Toss everything together.
- Drizzle the remaining dressing over the salad and give it one final toss.
Step 4: Store and Serve
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This salad keeps well for several days, making it perfect for meal prep!


Brussels Sprout and Quinoa Power Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
A healthy and delicious salad recipe to enjoy all week long! Packed with nutritious ingredients like Brussels sprouts, kale, protein-rich quinoa, goat cheese, cranberries, pecans, and a healthy citrus vinaigrette dressing!
Ingredients Â
Brussels Sprout & Quinoa Power Salad
- 2 Cups Quinoa Cooked
- 5 Cups Brussels Sprouts Shaved
- 5 Cups Kale Chopped
- 1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries
- 1/2 Cup Bacon Crumbled
- 1/2 Cup Goat Cheese Crumbled
- 1/2 Cup Candied Pecans Chopped
Citrus Vinaigrette
- 1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil organic is best
- 1/4 Cup Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice about 1 small orange
- 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- Pinch of Salt & Pepper or arctic seasoning!
Meal Prep Salad that Doesn’t Get Soggy in the Refrigerator:
This is one of those salads that doesn’t get soggy in the refrigerator—it only gets more flavorful! A few of my favorite ways to enjoy it are with grilled chicken or steak, in a whole grain tortilla wrap with chicken or turkey, on top of some crackers, or just by itself! Between the four of us, this entire salad was gone in less than thirty minutes!
I plan to make more salads for the blog in January for meal prep—ones that you can take out and eat with no work and no sogginess! Things like arugula, spinach, kale, and Brussels sprouts are great leafy greens to use, especially with added quinoa.
Here are ten great protein sources you can add to your Brussels sprout & quinoa power salad:
- Grilled chicken
- Steak or flank steak
- Turkey
- Grilled shrimp
- Hard-boiled eggs
- TofuÂ
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- SalmonÂ
- Cottage cheese
Not only is this salad absolutely delicious (I couldn’t get enough of it), but it’s also so pretty and easy to make for get-togethers! I’m going to host a dinner party for Galentine’s Day this year, and I’m 100% going to make this salad! I plan to have my husband grill chicken to top it, and then I want to make some delicious Valentine’s Day sides and desserts. I’m officially entering my dinner party phase in life!
Healthy Desserts to go with this salad recipe:
Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies | A Healthier Cookie
Healthy Double Chocolate Cookies with Almond Flour Recipe
Healthy Butternut Squash Fudge Brownies: Gluten-Free, Vegan
Healthy Cottage Cheese Chocolate Protein Pudding Parfait
Healthier Peach Crumble | Gluten-Free & No Refined Sugar
Chickpea Peanut Butter Blender Blondies | Toddler Approved
The Best Low Carb Cheesecake Bars | Gluten-Free & No Sugar
The Best Low Carb Cheesecake Bars | Gluten-Free & No Sugar
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies – Gluten Free & No Refined Sugar Recipe
3-Ingredient Fudgy Brownies (gluten-free, vegan, paleo)
I hope you all enjoy this salad recipe as much as we did! I’m making it again today with some grilled chicken and grilled steak! It’s really good with sourdough bread too! This week, I’m getting my bulbs in the garden box, so stay tuned for some refreshing garden posts!Â
Questions for you!
- Are you more motivated to eat healthier in January?
- What do you like to meal prep for the week?
- What do you want to see on this blog in 2025?
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