This simple Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad combines roasted butternut squash, crispy sweet apples, toasted pecans and spinach for a hearty & delicious meal-sized salad.
I first shared this recipe back in 2011 and as I was looking back through the archives, I realized how badly it needed to be updated. Not only with new pictures (wow, how much my photography has improved since then!), but the recipe also needed a bit more flavor infused back in.
So today here it is my friends, the updated butternut squash quinoa salad.
What You'll Need
It's all about the fall produce with this salad. The sweet and tender roasted butternut squash pairs perfectly with the crisp apples, which as a Vermont girl, I'm happy to say are finally back in season and local.
Our apples are the heart and soul of the fall season. All year I wait patiently for our natural food coop to have locally grown apples. From the day they arrive, my meals are transformed and are instantly inspired by this delightful little fruit. Whichever way they are used, apples are always tasty. The wide varieties bring a unique flavor and texture with each and will distinguish a dish in very interesting ways. Sweet, savory, crunchy or smooth, apples bring complexity to your kitchen that you may never have expected.
Along with the toasted pecans, the apples add a much-needed crunch to this simple fall salad. Plus, with those little specks of red from the skins, it makes the salad pop with color! Doesn't it look festive!?
Serving Suggestions
This is also the type of salad that you can serve in many ways. You can make it as a simple side for your next holiday meal OR you can make the star of your dinner since it's packed with protein, hearty vegetables, leafy greens, and healthy fats. It's got everything you need for a nutritious and balanced meal. Not to mention it makes great leftovers for your lunch the next day!
More Healthy Fall Side Dishes to try
- Simple Fall Salad with Roasted Acorn Squash + Pomegranates
- Butternut Squash & Sage Cornbread
- Fall Harvest Mason Jar Quinoa Salad
- Healthy Spaghetti Squash Fritters
- 5-Ingredient Quinoa Mac and Cheese
- Apple + Pecan Arugula Salad with Herbed Cashew Cheese
Fall Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash and Apples
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- 5 cups chopped butternut squash from 1 small squash, or the neck of 1 medium
- 4 cups spinach or chopped kale
- 1 medium apple
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon dried sage
- Salt + pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Toss the chopped butternut squash in one tablespoon of olive oil in a medium bowl and add pepper for extra flavor. Place the coated squash on a baking sheet and let them roast for 30 – 40 minutes, flipping half way through.
- Once you flip the squash, start your quinoa. Bring 2 cups of water to boil, add your dry quinoa and let simmer for 8 – 10 minutes.
- While the squash and quinoa are cooking, prepare your apple and pecans. Core the apple first then chop it into mini bite size pieces. Chop your pecans and toast them in a toaster over or small fry pan.
- Allow the squash and quinoa to cool for 15 minutes before assembling the salad. Add quinoa, squash, spinach, apple, chickpeas and pecans into a large bowl and toss together.
- Whisk together the remaining ingredients, pour over the salad and toss again to coat. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Yummy! And easy weeknight dinner.
Love this recipe. So good. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so happy to hear that!
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I made this tonight and loved it. I am so excited because it’s just me (I am vegetarian!) and I have a lot of leftovers. Yum!!
So glad you enjoyed it!! xo
I made this last night and it was awesome! Even better the next day!
Glad you enjoyed it, Cindy! I’m bringing it to Thanksgiving this year 😉
This come out great! I grilled chicken with a little pesto and put it on top of the salad. It made for a great dinner 🙂
Mmm love the addition of chicken! Glad you enjoyed it, Tara 😉
I don’t necessarily want to see a recipe from the archives updated; although, the two you mentioned seem like they would be great to update. I would please like to be able to access any recipes in the archives that you have on the Balanced Platter. I’m not sure what they all are, but one is for the Mini Gluten-Free Pumpkin Donuts. When I click on the Balanced Platter link for the recipe, it does not come up. Thank-you!
I’ve had some issues finding those recipes since they’re old and stored on a computer that crashed. I’m still trying to dig them up and will certainly update the posts when I find them!
OK; great! If I come across any more, I will email them to you.
PS….my son who I can’t get to eat quinoa loved it…guess he didn’t realize there was quinoa in it!!! 🙂
This is delightful! Just finished making it and will use leftovers in my salad for lunch this week….I like it cold as well as hot! Thanks again for another amazing recipe!
So happy you ladies are enjoying! This is definitely one of my favorite recipes 🙂 super healthy, sweet and so delicious. Enjoy!
Eating this as we comment. Delicious and easy to make for a great lunch or dinner! Amazing lunch for work, just make and reheat for the work week. Mmmm…scrumptious!