Apple Cranberry Quinoa Salad for Fall

Apple Cranberry Quinoa Salad is a fresh, colorful, and easy fall salad filled with crisp apples, chewy dried cranberries, fluffy quinoa, sliced almonds, spinach, and creamy goat cheese. It has the perfect balance of crunchy, nutty, tart, and sweet flavors, making it a beautiful side dish for the holidays or a light lunch for any day of the week.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This apple cranberry quinoa salad is the kind of recipe you will want to make throughout the fall season. It is simple, satisfying, and full of texture. The quinoa makes the salad hearty without feeling heavy, while the apples add a crisp bite and the dried cranberries bring a sweet-tart flavor. Sliced almonds add crunch, and goat cheese gives the salad a creamy, tangy finish.

It is also a great recipe when you want something homemade but do not want to spend too much time in the kitchen. The salad comes together in about 30 minutes from start to finish. If you cook the quinoa ahead of time, the rest of the recipe takes only a few minutes to assemble.

This fall quinoa salad works well as an everyday lunch, a simple dinner side, or a festive holiday dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It pairs nicely with cozy soups, roasted turkey, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, and other seasonal sides.

You can also turn this apple quinoa salad into a more filling meal by adding grilled chicken, roasted chickpeas, or another protein you enjoy. The ingredients are easy to customize, so you can swap the greens, nuts, fruit, or cheese depending on what you have on hand.

If you enjoy adding apples to salads, this recipe is a delicious way to use fresh seasonal apples in a wholesome, flavorful dish.

Ingredients

• Quinoa: Uncooked quinoa is the base of this salad. White quinoa or tricolor quinoa both work well. You can also use another grain, such as couscous, farro, or orzo.
• Broth: Low sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth adds more flavor to the quinoa than water. Water can still be used if preferred.
• Spinach: Fresh baby spinach adds color and freshness. Roughly chop it so it mixes easily with the quinoa and toppings.
• Apple: Use one medium diced apple. A sweet, crisp apple such as Honeycrisp or Fuji works beautifully. For a more tart flavor, use Granny Smith.
• Dried Cranberries: Sweetened or unsweetened dried cranberries can be used. Dried cherries or golden raisins are good substitutes.
• Sliced Almonds: Almonds add a light crunch and nutty flavor. Walnuts, pecans, or pepitas are also great options.
• Goat Cheese: Crumbled goat cheese adds creaminess and tang. Feta cheese can be used instead.
• Maple Cider Vinaigrette: This simple dressing is made with extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and sea salt.

The full ingredient list with amounts is included in the recipe card below.

How to Make Apple Quinoa Salad

1. Combine the quinoa and broth in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed the broth. Remove from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Spread the quinoa on a large plate or baking sheet and let it cool for a few minutes.
2. While the quinoa cools, make the maple cider vinaigrette. Add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and sea salt to a small bowl or jar. Stir or shake until the dressing is well combined.

3. Add the cooled quinoa, chopped spinach, diced apple, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and crumbled goat cheese to a large bowl. Drizzle with the maple cider vinaigrette and toss gently until everything is evenly combined.

Expert Tip: If you are making the salad ahead of time, squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the diced apples before adding them to the salad. This helps prevent browning.

Variations

• Try another grain. Use farro, couscous, or orzo instead of quinoa for a different texture.
• Use pears. Replace the diced apples with fresh diced pears for a softer, sweeter variation.
• Change the greens. Swap spinach for kale, arugula, shredded Brussels sprouts, mixed greens, or another favorite green.
• Add protein. Make the salad more filling with grilled chicken or roasted chickpeas.
• Use different nuts or seeds. Walnuts, pecans, pepitas, or candied pecans all pair well with the fall flavors in this salad.
• Try another dressing. A balsamic vinaigrette would also taste delicious with the apples, cranberries, and goat cheese.
• Make it vegan. Leave out the goat cheese or use your favorite dairy-free alternative.

Serving Suggestions

This apple cranberry quinoa salad is a wonderful fall side dish for weeknight dinners, meal prep, potlucks, Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, or Christmas dinner. It looks beautiful on the table and brings a fresh, colorful contrast to richer holiday dishes.

Serve it with a warm bowl of soup for a light lunch, or pair it with roasted turkey, stuffing, roasted vegetables, or Brussels sprouts for a seasonal dinner. Because it has quinoa, fruit, greens, nuts, and cheese, it is satisfying enough to enjoy on its own, but it also complements a wide variety of main dishes.

Make Ahead and Storage

Make Ahead: Apple Cranberry Quinoa Salad is great for meal prep or entertaining. You can prepare the full salad and refrigerate it for a few hours before serving. To keep the apples looking fresh, toss them with a little lemon juice before mixing them into the salad.

Another easy option is to cook the quinoa ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve, chop the remaining ingredients, make the dressing, and toss everything together. This keeps the salad fresh and makes assembly quick.

The maple cider vinaigrette can also be made in advance. Store it in an airtight jar or container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If the oil thickens or solidifies in the fridge, let the dressing sit at room temperature for a few minutes, then stir or shake well before using.

To Store: Store leftover apple cranberry quinoa salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

More Fall Salad Recipes

• Apple Manchego Salad
• Fall Kale Salad with Sweet Potato
• Sweet Potato and Kale Quinoa Bowls
• Butternut Squash Couscous Salad
• Fall Orzo Salad