If you’re looking for a wholesome and delicious salad for Fall this Apple Quinoa Salad is the perfect choice! It’s packed with healthy ingredients like quinoa, kale and apples and is a filling option that is great for an easy lunch or side dish.

apple quinoa salad in a white bowl

Quinoa salad with apples

Quinoa salads are one of my favourite types of salads to make all year round because quinoa is such a versatile ingredient that is packed with so many health benefits.

This particular salad is filled with protein, whole-grain carbs, healthy fats and plenty of fibre making it a great salad with lots of different textures that you can enjoy for lunch, as an appetizer or a side dish.

This salad is also perfect for Fall and even to serve during the holidays or to bring to your next potluck!

What are the best apples to use for salad?

Generally, when it comes to salads, you want to use a crispy variety of apples to give the salad a nice crunch. Here are a few great apple options to try:

  • Honeycrisp
  • Empire
  • Fuji
  • Pink Lady
  • Cortland
  • Granny Smith

These are just some suggestions for apples you can use. Ultimately you can use any kind of apples you like!

Why you’ll love this quinoa salad

  1. Packed with nutrients: Quinoa is a great source of protein and the apples are packed with vitamins and fibre. The walnuts also add some healthy omega-3s to this salad!
  2. Easy to make: This quinoa salad is easy to make and doesn’t require any fancy equipment. Just a few simple steps, and you’ll have a delicious salad ready to enjoy.
  3. Easy to customize: Feel free to customize this salad any way you like! Add chickpeas or some air-fryer tofu for extra protein, or swap out any ingredients.
  4. Great for Meal Prep: This apple quinoa salad stores well for days! Make a big batch and store it in the refrigerator (undressed) for a quick and healthy salad to have on hand all week.

Apple quinoa salad ingredients and substitutions

ingredients for apple quinoa salad
  • Quinoa: quinoa is of course the start ingredient of this dish! You can use any colour quinoa you like, or use wild or brown rice instead.
  • Kale: I love the heartiness of kale in this salad, but another great option would be arugula or watercress.
  • Apple: any type of apples you love will work! (I like to use Honeycrisp, Empire or Macintosh)
  • Walnuts: if you prefer you can also use pecans or toasted almonds.
  • Red onion: any type of onion will work here, but red onion adds a nice pop of colour.
  • Dried cranberries: these add a sweet and tart flavour to the salad. You can also use dried cherries or pomegranate seeds instead.
  • Feta cheese: for some creaminess to balance out the salad. You can substitute feta cheese with goat cheese or leave this out to make the salad vegan.

*Full recipe measurements and instructions are below in the recipe card.

How to make this apple quinoa salad

Step 1

Add the cooked quinoa, kale, apples, walnuts, cranberries, onion and feta cheese to a large mixing bowl.

two hands holding a bowl with ingredients for apple quinoa salad

Step 2

Make the apple cider vinegar vinaigrette by mixing together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt and pepper. Then pour the vinaigrette onto the quinoa salad.

salad dressing being poured into a bowl of apple quinoa salad

Step 3

Toss everything together and serve right away.

apple quinoa salad in a bowl with two wood spoons

What to serve with this salad

How to store quinoa salad

Store any leftover quinoa salad in an airtight container in the fridge.

If the salad is stored already dressed, it will keep for 1-2 days. If the salad is stored undressed, it will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge and will have a fresher taste.

Expert tips

  • Prepare the quinoa in advance. It’s best to use quinoa that is completely cooled for this salad, so try to prepare the quinoa in advance. You can also use day-old quinoa that is stored in the fridge.
  • Dress the salad right before serving. Preparing this salad in advance? Leave the vinaigrette on the side until you’re ready to serve the salad!
  • Store extra salad undressed. While this salad keeps pretty well in the fridge after being dressed, it will stay fresher for longer if left undressed. If you don’t plan on serving and eating the entire salad, leave some of the salad undressed to store in the fridge for later.
  • Add your favourite protein. Want to make this quinoa salad more of a complete meal? Try adding your favourite protein to it! Lentils, beans, tofu or meats all would work well.

More quinoa salad recipes to try

a bowl of quinoa salad with kale and apples

If you tried this Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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apple quinoa salad in a white bowl

Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad

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  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad is perfect for a simple Fall salad!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Salad

  • 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
  • 3 cups chopped kale
  • 1/4 cup chopped red onion
  • 1 small apple, chopped
  • 1/4 cup crumbed feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries

Apple Cider Vinegar vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the quinoa according to package directions, then let cool completely.
  2. Add the quinoa, kale, red onion, apple, feta cheese, walnuts and cranberries to a large salad bowl.
  3. To make the vinaigrette, mix the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt and pepper together in a small jar.
  4. Pour the dressing onto the salad and toss together. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Notes

This salad is best stored undressed in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Dress the salad right before serving.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
  • Calories: 400
  • Sugar: 8g
  • Carbohydrates: 20g
  • Fiber: 6g
  • Protein: 11g