Costco Quinoa Salad Instructions + Review (2024)

This is our 2024 review of the Costco quinoa salad. This review will include what the quinoa salad tastes like, nutrition facts and calories, the price and whether or not we think it’s worth purchasing.

Costco Quinoa Salad Review

I’m continuing on with my Costco meal reviews here on the blog, and today I’m trying the quinoa salad. If you’ve never tried the quinoa salad before I’ll do my best to walk you through what it tastes like and any common questions that people might have.

The quinoa salad comes in a large rectangular plastic container. I picked this up in Canada, and there might be some variations on how it looks depending on where you are located.

Out of all the Costco pre-packaged meals, this one definitely caught my eye because of its naturally beautiful presentation. It reminds me a lot of the homemade easy quinoa salad recipe I made recently here on the blog, but without all the work of chopping up the ingredients. The price wasn’t too bad either considering all the ingredients inside so I knew I had to try it.

This quinoa salad feels quite large and is a good price for what you are getting. I can imagine getting a quinoa salad that is 1/4 of the size at an organic grocery store or coffee shop for the same price, so this is definitely a good deal!

This salad will provide two large servings or three medium servings. It would make a really good healthy side dish for a variety of meals!

What Does Costco Quinoa Salad Taste Like?

Hearty, fresh and lemony! We really liked this salad and found it to be quite healthy tasting. There are a lot of hearty ingredients inside including quinoa, bulgur, onion, bell pepper, cucumber and tomatoes.

Everything is tossed together in a light lemon dressing for a refreshing summer salad. The dressing is quite light but you can definitely taste the lemon flavor.

Some people will like this light fresh taste, others will want a stronger flavor. It’s pretty easy to toss this salad with any of your favorite salad dressings. Just start with a small amount and taste before adding more.

Where Can I Find It In The Store?

You can find this kirkland signature food item in the pre-made meal section that’s near the refrigerated meat and cheese section of your local Costco warehouse.

Costco Quinoa Salad Price

I bought this quinoa salad at a Costco in Canada for $12.09 (Canadian dollars). Pricing is based on the weight. This would convert to about $8.86 USD. The price will vary on the location and may even be cheaper in the USA because things are usually more expensive in Canada (which is unfortunate for us).

However, I still thought this was a great price because of all the fresh vegetables, and salads like this one tend to go for $20 at health food stores for half the amount! This could make about 2 large servings or 4 small servings if you pair it with something else like chicken, steak or burgers.

Costco Quinoa Salad Ingredients

Wondering what’s inside the Costco quinoa salad? Most of the ingredients are fresh and simple as you can see in the image above. I’ve also listed them out nicely for you here as they can be hard to read from the photo.

Quinoa, Mung beans, Cucumbers, Bulghur, Tomatoes, Vegetable oil, Bell peppers, Parsley, Lentils, Concentrated lemon juice, Vinegar, Chives, Water, Salt, Potassium chloride, Sugar, and Spices.

The ingredients may vary from location to location so it’s always important to read the package of the one you purchase personally, especially if you have food allergies!

Important Note: I wanted to point out that because there is bulgur, this salad is not gluten-free. If you want a gluten-free option then try my homemade version.

Costco Quinoa Salad Directions

This salad is ready to eat! You can serve it straight from the container or add it to a salad bowl to serve.

Open the plastic lid and give the salad a quick stir to freshen up.
Serve straight from the container or scoop into a salad bowl for a prettier presentation.

Helpful Tip: You can make a large bowl of it with cooked chicken breasts, marinated tofu or grilled shrimp for added protein then divide it up into smaller portions for weekday lunches.

How To Store Leftovers

The quinoa salad will have a best-before date on the label of the package and can be stored in the fridge until that date. Here’s how to store it:

REFRIGERATE – Leftovers can be kept in the container that it was purchased in. Be sure to seal tightly to ensure maximum freshness. This will keep until the expiry date on the package label.
Can You Freeze It? No, I wouldn’t recommend it. The vegetables will soften and change in consistency. The salad just won’t taste the same.
Tips For Serving Leftovers – Give the salad a quick stir before you plan to serve. You can also drizzle freshly squeezed lemon juice or add your favorite dressing.

Nutrition Facts

You can always request any nutritional facts through customer service at your local Costco. Here’s the nutrition info for the Costco caesar salad:

There are 280 calories per cup. With 9g fat, 39g carbohydrates, and 12g protein.

Topping Ideas

We really liked this salad and didn’t feel like it needed much for toppings or variations. However, it would be so easy to customize and build a bigger salad. Here are a few ideas of what you could add for more flavor:

CHEESE – Add cubes of your favorite cheese including cheddar cheese, Monterey jack, or crumbled feta cheese.
PROTEIN – This would be so easy to add cooked chicken, crispy tofu, shrimp or steak bites for more protein.
CROUTONS – Add 1 cup of croutons for a nice crunch.

What Can You Serve Costco Quinoa Salad With?

This is an easy recipe to serve as a side dish with your main meal. Here are a few ideas of what to serve it with:

CHICKEN – Cook up some marinated chicken in the oven or on the grill, buy a rotisserie chicken from Costco to pair with it, or serve with chicken wings.
BEEF – This would be a great summer salad to serve at a barbecue with grilled steak.
PORK – Our marinated pork chops would be delicious with this salad.
BURGERS – Serve with burgers or black bean burgers.
MASON JAR SALADS – Add this to the base of mason jars and top with protein, cheese and croutons for mason jar salads throughout the week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Costco Quinoa Salad Healthy?

Yes! This quinoa salad is definitely healthy as almost all the ingredients are fresh grains or vegetables.

How Many Calories In a Cup of Costco Quinoa Salad?

There are 280 calories per cup.

Where Is It Located In Store?

You can find this item in the pre-made meal section that’s near the deli and refrigerated meat section of your local Costco warehouse.

Is the quinoa salad gluten-free?

No, it is not due to the bulgur that’s included. It says it “contains wheat” right on the label. This is unfortunate as I think the salad would taste equally as great without the bulgur and more people could enjoy it.

Our Review

My husband and I gave this quinoa salad a flavor Rating of 8/10

Overall, we really liked this salad and thought it was hearty (firm and not mushy), lemony, and fresh.

I really enjoyed how many veggies and fresh herbs are in this salad. You are saving a lot of time with this pre-made meal too! No chopping is necessary. It couldn’t be easier and I love that.

We would definitely buy this salad again for our weekly lunches, to add to dinner as a side dish, and to serve at parties or potlucks.

Have you tried the Costco quinoa salad? What did you think of it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!