• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cook Well, Eat Well
  • Shop
  • Meet Shinee
  • Contact
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Sweet & Savory

Cook Well, Eat Well

  • New? Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
      • Dips
      • Meat-lovers
    • Desserts
      • Bars & Brownies
      • Cakes
      • Cheesecakes
      • French Macarons
      • Pastries
      • Pies
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Salads
    • Seasonal
      • Summer Favorites
      • Easter
      • Christmas
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Game Day
      • Halloween
      • New Year’s Eve
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine’s Day
  • Easter
  • Discover
    • Ingredients
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • Baking Basics
    • Cooking Basics
    • Advanced Techniques
    • How-To’s
  • Share
    • Seasonal
    • Party Planning 101
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube
    Subscribe To Updates
Home » Share » Christmas » Warm Quinoa Brussels Sprouts Salad

Warm Quinoa Brussels Sprouts Salad

Skip to Recipe Print Share
Share on:
By: Shinee Published: 11/11/2015Updated: 11/23/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

Sharing is caring!

35838 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Lots of texture and lots of flavor in this festive quinoa brussels sprouts salad. Who said salad can’t be the center of attention at Thanksgiving dinner? 

Lots of texture and lots of flavor in this festive quinoa brussels sprouts salad. Who said salad can't be the center of attention at Thanksgiving dinner?

Why you’ll love this salad:

There’s so much good things are going into this salad.

Let’s start with squash. Roasted squash might be one of my favorite things in the fall. It adds nice warm, sweet and soft element to the salad. You’re welcome to use any kind of winter squash: acorn, or delicata, or butternut squash (my favorite). And no need to go crazy with seasoning here. Olive oil, salt and pepper will do perfect.

Red quinoa adds not only awesome texture and nutrition, but also beautiful festive color! Of course, you can use yellow quinoa, but red ones are so much prettier!! (?? says the girl obsessed with everything red! ?) Don’t forget to rinse the quinoa well before cooking, or you might end up with sandy quinoa. Maybe it’s the brand I buy, but I always have to wash mine really well, so I thought I’d remind you too. Again, no need to season it, other than with some salt.

Ok, onto the star of the show: brussels sprouts. The key is super thinly sliced brussels sprouts! Here’s what I do: wash them thoroughly (not my favorite part), cut them in half, and then cut out the tough core, as pictures below. Then slice them as thin as you can. I say, the thinner, the better. You don’t wanna sit there and chew the salad for 10 minutes, do you?

Lots of texture and lots of flavor in this festive quinoa brussels sprouts salad. Who said salad can't be the center of attention at Thanksgiving dinner?

Once the quinoa is cooked, add shaved brussels sprouts, cover and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to soften. 

Now, add-ons: chick peas for texture, walnuts for crunch, dried cranberries for sweetness.

And all these are tossed with my homemade honey dijon dressing!! Perfection! ??

Warm quinoa brussels sprouts salad - step by step photo tutorial

Make-ahead tip: Since there isn’t any leafy greens, you can prepare everything in advance. I’d mix everything, except for walnuts and dressing, and refrigerate it. And right before serving, warm the salad up a bit and toss with nuts and dressing. 

Lots of texture and lots of flavor in this festive quinoa brussels sprouts salad. Who said salad can't be the center of attention at Thanksgiving dinner?

Hope this recipe inspired you to make a killer salad for your Thanksgiving. ?

Thanks for stopping by!

Warm Quinoa Brussels Sprouts Salad

Lots of texture and lots of flavor in this festive quinoa brussels sprouts salad. Who said salad can’t be the center of attention at Thanksgiving dinner?
5 from 6 votes
serves: 8 servings
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total : 1 hour
Print
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cubed winter squash acorn, butternut, or delicate works great
  • 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • ½ cup 100gr red quinoa
  • 12 oz 350gr brussels sprouts
  • 1 15oz/425gr can chick peas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/3 cup 45gr chopped walnuts
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup honey Dijon dressing
Note: I test all my recipes with both measurements for the most precise and accurate result!

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  • Line a baking sheet with a foil and toss the squash cubes with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 30-40 minutes, or until tender.
  • Place the quinoa in a small saucepan and rinse a few times. Add 1cup water, ¼ teaspoon of salt. Bring it to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and quinoa is tender.
  • Wash the Brussels sprouts thoroughly. Cut them in half, and then cut out the tough core, as pictures below. Then slice them as thin as you can.
  • Once the quinoa is cooked, add shaved brussels sprouts, cover and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to soften.
  • In a large bowl, combine shaved brussels sprouts, squash, quinoa, chick peas, walnuts and cranberries. Toss with honey Dijon dressing and serve warm.

Tips & Notes:

For step-by-step photos and additional notes, read the post above.
Make-ahead tip: Mix everything, except for walnuts and dressing, and refrigerate it. Right before serving, warm the salad up a bit and toss with nuts and dressing.

Nutrition Facts:

Serving: 1serving Calories: 373kcal (19%) Carbohydrates: 42.7g (14%) Protein: 6.5g (13%) Fat: 21.1g (32%) Sodium: 519.5mg (23%) Fiber: 5.7g (24%) Sugar: 25.4g (28%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Author: Shinee
Course:Salad
Cuisine:American
Diet:Gluten Free
Did you make this?Show me your creation! Tag me @shineshka and hashtag it #sweetandsavorybyshinee!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

Related Recipes

  • Chicken Quinoa Salad
  • Quinoa Stuffed Mushrooms
  • Creamy Beet Salad
  • Linda’s Famous Broccoli Salad

Never Miss a Recipe!

Subscribe and receive my FREE Portion Planning Cheat Sheet for Cocktail and Dinner Parties.

Previous Post
Growing a Miracle
Next Post
Orange Cardamom Truffles

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Janet says

    Posted on 16 November 2021 at 11:20 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious, with all the textures and flavors I love. I’m just sad I forgot to take a picture, because it was beautiful as well.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 19 November 2021 at 9:26 pm

      So happy you enjoyed the salad. Thank you for your feedback, Janet!

      Reply
  2. Carley says

    Posted on 17 February 2021 at 6:31 pm

    Do you have to cook the Brussels sprouts?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 18 February 2021 at 2:43 pm

      Hi, Carley. No, you don’t need to cook it. Placing the shaved brussels sprouts over hot cooked quinoa softens it.

      Reply
  3. Vanessa says

    Posted on 9 December 2019 at 12:58 pm

    Thanks for sharing! Does the dressing keep long?

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 10 December 2019 at 8:07 pm

      Yep, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Hope this helps, Vanessa.

      Reply
  4. Suzanne says

    Posted on 9 December 2019 at 12:58 pm

    This is so good! I love all these warm flavors in a hearty salad! 

    Reply
  5. Angie says

    Posted on 8 December 2019 at 7:15 am

    Looks so inviting…. Do you know the nutritional value of this dish ???

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 8 December 2019 at 9:41 pm

      Hi, Angie. Thank you for asking. I just updated the recipe card with estimated nutrition information. Hope that helps.

      Reply
  6. Deborah says

    Posted on 7 November 2018 at 12:20 pm

    Can I put Brussels sprouts in the food processor. 

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 8 November 2018 at 9:48 am

      Yes, absolutely, Deborah.

      Reply
      • Deborah Dacher says

        Posted on 8 November 2018 at 10:10 am

        Made this last night.  Delish 

        Reply
        • Shinee says

          Posted on 8 November 2018 at 3:37 pm

          Awesome. So glad you liked it. And sorry for my late response.

  7. Nina says

    Posted on 24 October 2018 at 1:26 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this with a couple of changes. I only had olive oil so I used that in the dressing.  And added some goat cheese crumbles before serving. Absolutely delish!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 24 October 2018 at 2:21 pm

      Nina, thank you for trying my recipe and sharing your feedback. I love your goat cheese addition!

      Reply
  8. Jackie says

    Posted on 25 November 2016 at 12:21 pm

    5 stars
    I love this dish! Easy, attractive, healthy and so tasty!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 26 November 2016 at 8:50 pm

      So glad you loved the salad. I got the photo, by the way! Thank you, Jackie!

      Reply
  9. Daryl Bonds says

    Posted on 14 February 2016 at 5:00 pm

    5 stars
    This was good change one thing added sweet potatoes  instead of butternut squash . 

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 15 February 2016 at 12:12 pm

      Hi, Daryl! Thanks for your feedback! I’m so glad you enjoyed the salad. Sweet potatoes are perfect sub for butternut squash!

      Reply
  10. Kati says

    Posted on 23 November 2015 at 8:23 pm

    5 stars
    We made this for dinner tonight and my kids devoured it! I think my son would eat cardboard if I put that dressing on it! It was so good, definitely adding this to our regular meal plan.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 25 November 2015 at 9:35 am

      Yay, so happy to hear you and your fam love it. Aww, and what a great way to have your son eat more greens! 🙂 Thanks for your feedback, Kati!

      Reply
  11. Kathryn Doherty says

    Posted on 19 November 2015 at 8:55 pm

    So pretty much you put ALL the amazing flavors of fall into one beautiful salad? Um, yes, I’m so in! This looks divine – I love the squash and the Brussels sprouts (shredded like this is one of my favorite ways to enjoy them) plus the chick peas and walnuts and cranberries and all the honey Dijon dressing (another favorite of mine). Yup, I’m going to make this and NOT share at all!! Pinned and yummed and can’t wait to dive in!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 20 November 2015 at 12:17 pm

      Haha Kathryn, love your thinking. I love this salad all to myself too! Enjoy!!

      Reply
  12. Kati says

    Posted on 19 November 2015 at 6:03 pm

    This look delicious! I a butternut squash from our garden ready to be used right now so I’m going to have to try this! I am super jealous of your awesome ranch, I want a bit more land so i can have some chickens and a few other animals as well as a larger garden, but until then, I will have to enjoy your salad made with just a few things that are homegrown!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 20 November 2015 at 12:10 pm

      Yeah, I lucked out with the ranch situation. ? Hope you enjoy the salad, Kati! Thank you for visiting!

      Reply
  13. Maureen says

    Posted on 19 November 2015 at 6:09 am

    If we didn’t already have 9 sides planned for Thanksgiving, I would make this in a heartbeat!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 20 November 2015 at 12:07 pm

      9 sides?? Wow, you must be having a large family gathering! How awesome. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving, Maureen! Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply
  14. Easypeasylifematters says

    Posted on 14 November 2015 at 11:28 pm

    This would make a perfect healthy side dish for the Holidays! 🙂

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 17 November 2015 at 10:31 am

      It definitely will. 🙂 Thanks!

      Reply
  15. Carlee says

    Posted on 13 November 2015 at 6:53 pm

    Oh yummy!  Now I want this for Thanksgiving too!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 14 November 2015 at 7:37 pm

      It’s a great salad for Thanksgiving for sure. Thanks, Carlee!

      Reply
  16. Joelle says

    Posted on 13 November 2015 at 5:29 pm

    Forgot to mention I found this via your link on I Heart Naptime, so thanks for posting it there! 

    Reply
  17. Joelle says

    Posted on 13 November 2015 at 5:23 pm

    This looks absolutely delicious! It’s going to be my vegetarian dish for Thanksgiving-thank you!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 14 November 2015 at 7:37 pm

      Yay, let me know how you like it, Joelle. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  18. Kim - Liv Life says

    Posted on 11 November 2015 at 10:40 pm

    This salad has my name ALL over it!!!!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 12 November 2015 at 9:34 am

      Glad you like it, Kim! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  19. Laura @MotherWouldKnow says

    Posted on 11 November 2015 at 10:33 pm

    This salad is spectacular – it has color and taste, with varied textures and a lovely dressing. If I don’t make it for Thanksgiving Day, I’ll be sure to try it soon. The only change I might make is to dry toast the quinoa – I’e found that gives it a delicious nutty taste and firms it up a bit. A winner for sure!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 12 November 2015 at 9:34 am

      Do tell me more about dry toasting the quinoa?? Is this something I can find on your site? It sounds so interesting. Thanks, Laura!

      Reply
  20. Medha @ Whisk & Shout says

    Posted on 11 November 2015 at 2:00 pm

    Warm salad is the best salad… love this 🙂

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 12 November 2015 at 9:33 am

      Thanks, Medha!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I’m Shinee! I’m so happy you’re here! I believe anyone can cook restaurant-quality food at home! And my goal is to help you to become a confident cook with my easy-to-follow recipes with lots of tips and step-by-step photos.

New? Start Here

Browse Specialties

Main Dishes Side Dishes Appetizers Salads Breads & Pastries Cakes Macarons Drinks Browse All
Portion Planning 101
Free Dinner Party Cheat Sheet
Download Now

Popular Recipes

Yellow and white macarons.

French Macarons for Beginners

Best Prime Rib Roast (Bone-In)

This is the simplest and moistest banana bread - easy to make and yields 2 breads! #bananabread

Best Moist Banana Bread Recipe

A plate full of chocolate chip cookies.

Egg Yolk Cookies

How to Make Homemade Pistachio Paste

sliced plain sponge cake layers

Easy Sponge Cake (3 Ingredient Cake)

Brunch Recipes

Blueberry muffins on a wire rack.

Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins

a stack of waffles with berries

Waffles Recipe

slices of chocolate banana bread

Chocolate Banana Bread

Strawberry Cheesecake Tart

Smoked salmon quiche with creamy soft custard and fresh asparagus and dill - a perfect brunch for special occasions or a nice light dinner served with fresh green salad. #smokedsalmonquiche #quiche

Smoked Salmon Quiche

Sliced scone with butter and jam.

Foolproof English Scones

Game Day Eats

Cooked bacon jalapeno poppers on a baking sheet.

finger food:

3-Ingredient Jalapeno Poppers

meat:

Beer BBQ Meatballs

Bean dip in a casserole dish with a portion being scooped with a chip.

dip:

3-Ingredient Bean Dip

appetizer:

Bacon Wrapped Cheesy Crackers

sandwich:

Philly Cheese Steak Sliders

dessert:

5-Ingredient Pineapple Cake

Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube

Never Miss A Recipe

Subscribe and receive my FREE Portion Planning Cheat!

  • Discover
    • Recipe Index
    • Tools & Gadgets
    • Ingredients
  • Learn
    • Baking Basics
    • Cooking Basics
    • Advanced Techniques
  • Share
    • Holidays
    • Appetizers
    • Party Planning 101
  • Back To Top
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
© 2013-2023 Sweet & Savory Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Exclusive member of Mediavine Food
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe and Receive My FREE Portion Planning Cheat!