Celebrate Autumn with Roasted Fall Harvest Salad

Introduction

Elevate your autumn dining with a Roasted Fall Harvest Salad—a gorgeous medley of caramelized root vegetables, crisp apples, tangy goat cheese, and crunchy nuts, all tossed over a bed of fresh greens. This salad captures the vibrant essence of the season and offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Ideal as a wholesome lunch or a festive side dish, it’s simple to prepare yet sure to impress at cozy family dinners and holiday gatherings alike.

Why This Roasted Fall Harvest Salad Is a Must-Try

This salad showcases the best of autumn’s bounty and does it all in one bowl. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of vegetables like squash and sweet potatoes, while fresh apples add brightness and a hint of tartness. Topped with creamy goat cheese and toasted nuts, each bite is hearty, satisfying, and packed with seasonal flavor. This dish is equally delicious served warm or at room temperature, making it a versatile and crowd-pleasing option for fall entertaining.

Getting the Perfect Roast

For the richest flavor, roast your vegetables until they’re caramelized and tender. Toss cubed squash, sweet potatoes, and red onions with olive oil, salt, and pepper before spreading them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Don’t overcrowd—the veggies need space to brown beautifully. Roast at a high heat (400°F/200°C) until golden and crisp around the edges. While your veggies roast, slice apples, toast your favorite nuts (pecans or walnuts work well), and prepare the simple vinaigrette.

Assembling Your Fall Harvest Salad

Once the roasted vegetables have cooled just slightly, layer them over a mixture of baby greens or arugula. Add in your fresh apple slices, crumbled goat cheese, and a scatter of nuts. Drizzle with a maple-Dijon vinaigrette to complement the salad’s earthy, sweet notes. Serve immediately to enjoy the contrast of warm veggies and cool greens, or prep ahead for easy entertaining.

Serving Suggestions to Delight Your Table

This salad stands well on its own but also pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, grilled pork, or as part of a festive holiday potluck. For extra color and flavor, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries. A loaf of crusty bread provides the perfect accompaniment to soak up every drop of vinaigrette.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 6 hearty side servings or 4 generous mains. Each serving is approximately 300–350 calories, rich in vitamins, fiber, and healthy fats—a nourishing way to enjoy the season’s best produce.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly create a detailed shopping list, sorted by store section—perfect for streamlined grocery trips and autumn meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, toss the diced squash, sweet potato, and sliced onion with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them in an even layer on the baking sheet.
3. Roast for 25–30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the vegetables are tender and caramelized at the edges. Let cool slightly.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette: whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl or jar.
5. To assemble the salad, layer greens in a large bowl or serving platter. Top with roasted vegetables, apple slices, goat cheese, nuts, and optional pomegranate seeds or cranberries.
6. Drizzle with the vinaigrette just before serving and gently toss to combine.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Roasted Fall Harvest Salad is a smart addition to your weekly meal prep, providing both flavor and nutrition all week long. Save and schedule this recipe to plan when to make it and let automated shopping lists consolidate all your needed ingredients.

Planning Benefits:

– Calculates total ingredient amounts for all your recipes
– Groups shopping list items by store section for faster trips
– Helps you avoid purchase duplicates and missing essentials
– Makes managing healthy, seasonal meals easy and stress-free

Pro tip: Add multiple planned recipes to CookifyAI’s scheduler to see how ingredients like greens or nuts overlap, reducing waste and keeping your grocery budget in check.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes