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    Home » Recipes » Salad » Fall Salad

    Fall Quinoa Salad

    Updated: Nov 7, 2022 » This post may contain affiliate links » By: Megan » Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This fall quinoa salad is inspired by all the flavors of the season! The star of this salad is the fruit: crispy apple, juicy orange, and tart cranberries give each bite bright, fresh, delicious flavor.

    Fall quinoa salad.

    About This Recipe

    This fall harvest quinoa salad is completely autumn themed! It's tasty, festive, and even uses autumn colors (red + orange).

    We love to pair this salad with chicken as a lunch, dinner, or meal prep. This is also a perfect recipe for Thanksgiving or any fall get-together because it can be made ahead of time and always looks impressive!

    One of the best parts of this salad is that it tastes delicious as leftovers and will stay good in the fridge for about 4-5 days. You can cook it once and enjoy it all week.

    Fall quinoa salad ingredients.

    Ingredients

    Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:

    • Quinoa
    • Apple
    • Orange
    • Green onions
    • Cranberries
    • Pecans
    • Goat cheese

    For the dressing:

    • Olive oil
    • Lemon juice
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Honey
    • Dried thyme

    See recipe card at the bottom of the page for full recipe.

    Fall quinoa salad ingredients in a bowl.

    Instructions

    Step 1: Cook the Quinoa

    Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Add it to 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, cover, and turn the heat to low. Let the quinoa simmer for 15 minutes, until cooked.

    Step 2: Make the Dressing

    While the quinoa cooks, in a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the dressing. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper, or honey as desired.

    Step 3: Mix

    Let the quinoa cool and then add it to a large bowl with the remaining salad ingredients. Drizzle the dressing on top and stir to mix.

    Step 4: Serve

    For best flavor, chill your salad for 10 minutes or more (covered, in the fridge) before serving. You can also make this recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge (covered) overnight.

    Fall quinoa salad.

    Ingredient Notes

    Here's a few popular ingredient additions and substitutions to this recipe:

    Orange: use any type or orange or clementine. If you use a clementine there's no need to cut it into chunks because the pieces are already small.

    Pecans: swap these out for almonds or walnuts.

    Goat cheese: you could also use gorgonzola or parmesan cheese.

    Honey: use pure maple syrup as an alternative.

    Thyme: this is a tasty addition but not necessary. Skip it if you don't have it!

    About The Dressing

    This recipe includes a simple, 5-ingredient homemade vinaigrette that's made with olive oil, lemon juice, honey, thyme and apple cider vinegar. It's sweet, fresh, and light.

    You can also skip making your own dressing and use a store-bought one. This salad would be tasty with an apple vinaigrette or apple cider vinaigrette.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Should this salad be eaten warm or cold?

    I think this salad is best served cold, but you could also eat it warm! This comes down to personal preference. Either way, let it sit for a few minutes before you serve it to let the flavors marinate.

    Can I make this salad ahead of time?

    Yes, this is a great salad to make a head of time. You could make it a few hours ahead of time or the night before. Simply store it in the fridge (covered or in an airtight container) until you're ready to eat it.

    Fall quinoa salad in a white bowl.

    Storage

    Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 - 5 days.

    More Fall Salad Recipes:

    For more fall-inspired favorite salads, check out these top picks:

    • Fall Cobb Salad
    • Autumn Pear Salad
    • Top 35 Fall Salad Recipes

    If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment & rating at the bottom of this page!

    Print
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    Fall quinoa salad.

    Fall Quinoa Salad


    • Author: Megan
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 4-5 servings 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This fall quinoa salad is inspired by all the flavors of fall! The star of this salad is the fruit: crispy apple, juicy orange, and tart cranberries give each bite bright, fresh, delicious flavor.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 cup uncooked quinoa
    • 1 large apple, diced
    • 1 orange, peeled and diced
    • 3 green onions, chopped
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • ⅓ cup chopped pecans
    • ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese

    Dressing:

    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
    • Salt & pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    1. Cook the quinoa: rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer. Add it to 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, cover, and turn the heat to low. Let the quinoa simmer for 15 minutes, until cooked.
    2. Make the dressing: in a small bowl, mix together the ingredients for the dressing.
    3. Mix: let the quinoa cool and then add it to a large bowl with the remaining salad ingredients. Drizzle the dressing on top and stir to mix.
    4. Serve: for best flavor, chill your salad for 10 minutes or more (covered, in the fridge) before serving.
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Salad, Side Dish
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ⅕th of recipe
    • Calories: 386
    • Sugar: 15.8g
    • Sodium: 193mg
    • Fat: 21.4g
    • Saturated Fat: 5.1g
    • Carbohydrates: 42g
    • Fiber: 5.3g
    • Protein: 9.3g
    • Cholesterol: 18mg

    Keywords: cranberry, cranberries, apple, orange, quinoa, salad, fall, harvest, thankgiving, christmas, holidays, autumn, side dish, main dish, lunch, pecans, goat cheese

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @her.wholesome.kitchen — we can't wait to see what you've made!

    More Fall Salads

    • Farro salad.
      Farro Salad
    • Sweet Kale Salad
      Sweet Kale Salad
    • Thanksgiving salad with apples and pears.
      Thanksgiving Salad
    • Leftover turkey salad with dressing.
      Leftover Turkey Salad

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    Hi, I'm Megan! I'm a health coach & I love to share easy salad recipes that taste amazing!

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