With the cooler weather, we’re craving heartier meals. But that doesn’t mean we have to eat heavy, cream-laden soups and stews all day. Switching up the components of your summer salads, we’ve rounded up the best fall-inspired salads that will keep you and your waistline happy.
Inspired by the copious amounts of salads we all consume during the hot summer months, we’re trying to bring that healthy habit into the fall season by showing you how to use seasonal produce in a creative and delicious way. These salads are so hearty and packed with so much protein and freshness, you won’t even miss your summer tomato salads (gasp!).
1. Warm brussels sprout salad with bacon, kamut and blue cheese
Blog: The Law Student’s Wife
This warm brussels sprout salad with bacon, kamut and blue cheese is sure to get you excited for the cooler temperatures, the hearty salads and the overall upcoming season.
2. Fall salad with sage and roasted garlic vinaigrette
This fall salad is packed with nuts, sweet potatoes and a gorgeous roasted garlic vinaigrette that would pair deliciously with a grilled chicken breast or salmon filet.
3. Quinoa salad with butternut squash, dried cranberries and pepitas
Blog: Two Peas and Their Pod
A hearty and whole grain salad, this quinoa salad with butternut squash, dried cranberries and pepitas is a great way to use your favorite dried fruits and nuts.
4. Roasted mushroom and romaine salad
Blog: Cookin’ Canuck
A vegan and delicious salad, this roasted mushroom and romaine salad is a quick and easy salad you can make on nights when you have no time to make dinner. Roasting the mushrooms enhances their earthy flavors.
5. Fresh cherry quinoa salad with pumpkin seeds recipe
Once you see fresh cherries popping up in your local markets, it’s time to make this cherry quinoa salad. The quinoa adds some great heartiness to it, and the blue cheese crumbles bring a pop of flavor and pair really well with the tart cherries.
6. Warm apple and fig salad with maple Dijon dressing
Blog: Running to the Kitchen
Change up the temperature on your salads and serve this warm apple and fig salad with maple Dijon dressing — your guests will be delighted, as will you.
7. Roasted butternut squash, pomegranate and goat cheese salad
Blog: Cupcakes and Kale Chips
Try this roasted butternut squash, pomegranate and goat cheese salad when the local squash is in season and you’re able to find gorgeous, jewel-like pomegranates.
8. Lentil salad with grapes and feta
Blog: Crumb Blog
Using lentils like this lentil salad with grapes and feta does provides a great source of protein in such a quick and simple salad. The addition of grapes brings in a hint of natural sweetness to the earthy salad.
9. Forelle pear and blue cheese salad with maple vinaigrette
Blog: Taste Love & Nourish
Try a new pear every week, like using Forelle pears in this Forelle pear and blue cheese salad with maple vinaigrette.
10. Butternut squash cranberry sorghum salad
Blog: Savory Simple
The use of the whole grain sorghum in this butternut squash cranberry sorghum salad is genius. Used as a base for the salad, it’s hearty and tasty, perfect as a complete meal or as a side dish to your dinner.
11. Kale salad with warm cranberry vinaigrette
Blog: Gimme Some Oven
The dressing of a salad becomes just as important as the salad greens themselves, and in this kale salad with warm cranberry vinaigrette, that’s the situation. That vinaigrette is genius and oh so tasty.
12. Roasted fall vegetables salad with maple orange cinnamon dressing
Blog: The Roasted Root
Roasting fall vegetables brings out their natural sweetness, but what we’re really obsessed with is the maple orange cinnamon dressing that goes with it. Gorgeous autumn flavors in one dressing.
13. Detox kale salad
Blog: The Healthy Maven
After a summer of indulgences, we all need to make this detox kale salad at least once a week. Packed with healthy ingredients like kale, sweet potatoes and hearts of palm, it’s bound to become a favorite.
14. Sweet potato, apple and avocado salad
Blog: Savory Simple
Pair the season’s best sweet potatoes with the summer’s best avocados and you’ve got this sweet potato, apple and avocado salad that brings them together. Plus, it’s paleo, gluten free and vegan.
15. Apple-walnut rainbow chard salad
Blog: An Edible Mosaic
Eat a bowl of this apple-walnut rainbow chard salad and you’ll be as healthy as an ox. The salad is packed with fresh apples, walnuts, shredded rainbow chard and celery, all known for their nutritious benefits.
16. Shaved brussels sprout salad
Blog: Running to the Kitchen
Eating the sprouts raw makes this shaved brussels sprout salad a winner for anyone that hates mushy, overcooked brussels sprouts. Apples, pears and cranberries, tossed with a cider Dijon mustard dressing, make this salad come together.
17. Roasted cabbage salad with brown butter croutons
Blog: Simple Bites
Try roasting cabbage and you’ll get the main components for this roasted cabbage salad with brown butter croutons. And brown butter croutons? Why not?
18. Crispy roasted brussels sprout, beet and bacon salad
Blog: Nutmeg Nanny
Textures play a big part in recipes and we’re loving this crispy roasted Brussels sprout, beet and bacon salad. Crispy sprout leaves, roasted beets and salty bacon, all in a mustard and port wine dressing make this a great fall salad recipe.
19. Avocado and roasted yam fall ensalada
Blog: Muy Bueno Cooking
This avocado and roasted yam fall ensalada is served right inside the avocado, making for easy cleanup. The addition of pumpkin seeds, cilantro and apples makes for a very unique fall salad.
20. Sweet potato pomegranate salad
Blog: Two Peas and Their Pod
The combination in this sweet potato pomegranate salad pairs some of fall’s best produce. Gorgeous, ruby red pomegranate seeds with the delicate earthiness of sweet potatoes makes this a winner in our book.
More on salads
Spinach salad with beets and walnuts
Healthy recipe: Raw organic superfood kale salad
10 Gourmet chef-inspired salads
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