I LOVE a good salad. The different flavors and textures and a solid dressing to bring everything together. While summer salads are great with all the fresh produce in season, we can’t overlook fall salads. This harvest salad is light yet satisfying and screams fall.
It has roasted sweet potatoes, shredded chicken, crisp apples, chewy cranberries, crunchy pumpkin seeds, and creamy goat cheese, and is tossed in a warming cinnamon tahini orange vinaigrette.
Besides it being so delicious, there is a good balance of protein, carbs, healthy fats, and fiber to help fill you up and keep you full. It comes together in about 40 minutes but with some meal prep, you can easily make it in 10 minutes!
Why we love this fall harvest salad
- fall flavors in a bowl – sweet potatoes, apples, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and a fall-inspired salad dressing with cinnamon and ginger. It’s the perfect match!
- loaded with protein! – one serving has 38 grams
- customizable – swap out an ingredient or two for what you have on hand or what you enjoy.
- works well for meal prep – prep your ingredients in advance and toss them together when you are ready to enjoy.
Harvest salad ingredients
- olive oil
- sweet potato
- mixed greens – I used a mix of spinach and arugula
- shredded chicken
- apple
- dried cranberries
- pumpkin seeds
- goat cheese
- homemade orange vinaigrette
- salt and pepper
How to make harvest salad
- Roast your potatoes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add diced potatoes, oil, and some salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Roast for 25-35 minutes until browned and fork tender. Once done, let cool for a couple of minutes.
- While the potatoes roast, make your dressing. Mix all ingredients into a jar. Adjust according to taste.
- Prep your salad ingredients. Roughly chop your greens and dice your apples.
- Assemble the salad. In a large bowl or salad bowl, add greens, chicken, roasted potatoes, diced apples, goat cheese, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour over the dressing and toss well to combine.
- Enjoy!
Orange Vinaigrette
What is a good salad without a good dressing?! This orange vinaigrette is light yet full of flavor and pairs well with the salad ingredients.
- orange juice – freshly squeezed if you can!
- extra virgin olive oil
- apple cider vinegar
- tahini – a sesame seed paste that adds a nice nuttiness to the recipe
- cinnamon
- ground ginger
- salt and pepper
Simply add all of your ingredients to a small to medium bowl or jar and whisk well to combine. If using a jar, you can also place the lid on the jar and shake until combined. Adjust it according to taste.
Meal prep
This autumn harvest salad is a great meal prep option. Some of the components can be made ahead of time and then stored separately in the fridge until you are ready to eat. You can either assemble them ahead of time or wait till the day of. If making a few days in advance, I would hold off on adding the seeds and the dressing so it doesn’t get too soggy.
Storage
- fridge – store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. As it sits, the seeds will lose some of their crunch.
Substitutions and additions
- olive oil – any kind of neutral oil will work
- sweet potato – roasted butternut squash would be a great substitute!
- mixed greens – any kind of greens will work (spinach, kale, arugula, romaine…). If using kale, I would suggest chopping it into small pieces and massaging some oil on it to help make it tender.
- shredded chicken – shredded chicken breasts or thighs or rotisserie chicken will all work. You can also substitute another protein if desired. Salmon or even leftover turkey from thanksgiving would be delicious.
- apple – use your favorite kind of apple (green or red).
- dried cranberries – raisins will work instead.
- pumpkin seeds – nuts such as pecans, walnuts, and almonds would be a good sub. Sunflower seeds will also work.
- goat cheese – feta cheese or grated parmesan would work. Leave off the cheese to make it dairy-free.
- orange vinaigrette – the orange vinaigrette really helps to bring out the fall flavors, but you can use any kind of vinaigrette you like.
Here are some additions you can add:
- veggies – add in more veggies if you like. Diced bell peppers, carrots, or roasted brussel sprouts would be delicious.
- avocado – for some creaminess.
- fruit – try pomegranate seeds or fresh figs
More healthy salad recipes
- chicken caesar pasta salad
- roasted carrot and arugula salad
- chicken bacon ranch salad
- burger salad
- chicken cabbage salad
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Fall Harvest Salad
ingredients
- 2 cups diced sweet potatoes (8 ounces)
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cups mixed greens, roughly chopped (180 grams)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded chicken (6 ounces)
- 1 cup diced apple (100 grams)
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds/pepitas (I used roasted)
- 1/3 cup goat cheese (1.5 ounces)
- 1/4 cup orange vinaigrette
- salt and pepper, to taste
instructions
- Roast your potatoes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add diced potatoes, oil, and some salt and pepper to the sheet. Mix well to combine. Roast for 25-35 minutes until browned and fork tender.
- While the potatoes roast, make your dressing. Mix all ingredients into a jar. Adjust according to taste.
- Prep your salad ingredients. Roughly chop your greens and dice your apples.
- Assemble the salad. Once the potatoes are done, let them cool for a couple of minutes. In a large salad bowl or mixing bowl, add greens, chicken, roasted potatoes, diced apples, goat cheese, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour over the dressing and toss well to combine.
- Enjoy!
Nancy says
So good!! Great combos and delicious!!
Kelly says
Happy to hear it! Thanks, Nancy!
Christine Helmer says
Did someone make this recipe in an Instant Pot? I want to make it and would love the directions.
Kelly says
Yes! I haven’t tried it, but here is the post on what they did – https://www.instagram.com/p/BpzoWbjHXnT/
this is what she said – “put your IP on sauté mode with a little bit of avocado oil. When it’s “hot” I place the seasoned chicken breasts in and sear on both sides (2-3min per side). I then removed the chicken + added 1 cup of water + then added a steamer with my largely diced seasoned sweet potatoes + placed the trivet in top of the sweet potatoes + put the chicken on the trivet. I then did Manual – 5min. Then natural release for 5 min. Release the remaining pressure and viola!”
Christine Helmer says
Thank you!
Renee says
Do you eat the cranberries raw?
Kelly says
I do Renee! But they are tart and some people might not like them raw. You could either cook them down a little or use dried cranberries. Hope that helps.
Jamie @ Dishing Out Health says
This seriously sounds like the PERFECT fall salad. I’m also loving those dressing ingredients – definitely giving this a try!
Kelly says
Thanks Jamie, I hope you like it!
Emily says
Wow that’s an unusual salad that will hold for the week; this must be so sturdy. It looks delicious, and I’m thankful that fall weather has really lingered here in Colorado before the snow. It seems like it’s been a huge blessing as we soak in all the last moments of fall before the snow comes.
Kelly says
Yes, it holds up really well! I sure Colorado is beautiful in the winter with the snow! And you always have so much sunshine 🙂
Julie Lichtman says
This looks so beautiful and festive! I haven’t started cooking with cranberries yet this season but can’t wait to start doing so! xo
Kelly says
Thanks Julie! We usually buy them as soon as we see them at Costco haha!
Devonshire says
I love fall flavors and make them last in my kitchen as long as my husband will tolerate them! I will definitely be making your Harvest Chicken and Sweet Potato Salad! It looks so yummy! Your photography is on point too! Question? I just started my blog and was wondering what you use to create the ‘recipe card’ in your blog? I’m going to post recipes here and there and think that’s a great way to showcase the recipe, rather than writing it all out in the post, if that makes sense? Thanks!! <3
Kelly says
Yes fall flavors are so comforting! I use the plugin Easy Recipe and it is really easy to use. There are a few similar options like that out there as well. Congrats on starting your blog!
Allie @ Miss Allie's Kitchen says
There are so many flavors here I love it! I’m obsessed with the fact that you added cilantro!
Kelly says
I love adding fresh herbs to everything! Always adds a nice pop of flavor.
Kelly says
I just made this again and realized it is parsley and not cilantro in the recipe haha! Your comment made me think like wait a second. Oops. At least I caught it haha!