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This Apple Cranberry Quinoa Salad is the perfect wholesome salad for Fall. It’s ready in just 25 minutes and is packed with protein and fibre for a filling salad everyone will love!
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I love using Apples in a variety of dishes in the Fall. From Apple Overnight Oats to Healthy Apple Crisp or Butternut Squash and Apple Soup, there are so many sweet and savoury ways to use them! Today Apples are being highlighted in this Apple Cranberry Quinoa Salad.
This quinoa salad is packed with whole-grains, protein, and fibre making it the perfect hearty salad or enjoy for lunch, an appetizer or a side dish. As a busy mom I’m always looking for simple healthy recipes that are easy to prepare, don’t take too much time and have minimal cleanup, and this salad has been a go-to!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Wholesome and nutritious: Similar to my Roasted Veggie Quinoa Salad, this salad is packed with quinoa, kale and apples making it a filling option with 11 grams of protein and 6 grams of fibre per serving.
- Easy to make: Ready in just 25 minutes and easy to throw together.
- Customizable: 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.
- Great for Meal Prep: Make a batch and store it in the refrigerator (undressed) for a quick and healthy salad to have on hand all week. Also try this Crunchy Quinoa Edamame Salad for another meal-prep favourite!
Key Ingredients
- Quinoa: White quinoa is my personal preference for this recipe but you can use any colour quinoa you like. You can also substitute with another grain like farro that I use in this Greek Farro Salad.
- Kale: I love the heartiness of kale in this salad, but another great option would be arugula, watercress or spinach.
- Apple: Any type of apples you love will work! (I like to use Honeycrisp, Empire or Macintosh)
*Full recipe measurements and instructions are below in the recipe card.
How To Make Apple Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Step 1: Add the cooked quinoa, kale, apples, walnuts, cranberries, onion and feta cheese to a large mixing bowl.
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.
Step 3:Toss everything together and serve right away.
How To Store
Store leftover quinoa salad in an airtight container in the fridge. If it’s already dressed, it will last 1–2 days. If stored without dressing, it will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
Jess’s Tips
- Cook the quinoa ahead of time: It’s best to use quinoa that is completely cooled for this salad, so try to prepare the quinoa in advance.
- Dress right before serving: If you’re preparing the salad in advance, wait right before serving to dress the salad.
- Store extra salad undressed: The salad will stay fresher longer in the fridge if you store it separate from the dressing.
- Add more protein: Add your favourite protein like marinated chickpeas, vegan baked falafel, chicken or tofu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crisp apples like Honeycrisp, Empire, Fuji, Pink Lady, Cortland, or Granny Smith are great in salads or recipes like my Healthy Apple Crisp, but any apple you like will work!
Yes. For the best taste, store the salad and dressing separately, then toss together right before serving.
Try These Salad Recipes Next!
If you tried this Apple Cranberry 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!
Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad is perfect for a simple Fall salad!
Ingredients
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
- Cook the quinoa according to package directions, then let cool completely.
- Add the quinoa, kale, red onion, apple, feta cheese, walnuts and cranberries to a large salad bowl.
- To make the vinaigrette, mix the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt and pepper together in a small jar.
- Pour the dressing onto the salad and toss together. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Notes
- Cook quinoa ahead of time so it’s cold.
- Dress the salad just before serving.
- Store salad and dressing separately for freshness.
- Add protein like chickpeas, falafel, chicken, or tofu if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 11g
Yum, this is absolutely delicious.
Thanks! Happy you enjoyed it!