Apple Walnut Quinoa Salad

By Maria Lichty

Updated September 04, 2024

Quick Summary

Quinoa Apple Salad- this hearty salad is made with quinoa, spinach, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and a simple maple mustard dressing. It’s the perfect salad for fall. Serve as a side dish or enjoy as a light lunch or dinner.

quinoa apple salad with spinach, walnuts, dried cranberries, and goat cheese in bowl. - 1

Apple season is one of my favorite seasons. I love apple picking and cooking and baking with apples. A few of my favorite apple recipes include: apple crisp , applesauce , apple bundt cake , and apple cobbler .

I also love using apples to make this hearty and healthy Apple Quinoa Salad . The flavors scream fall! The salad is made with nutty quinoa, fresh spinach, crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, creamy goat cheese, and sweet dried cranberries. The salad is tossed in a simple maple mustard dressing that is tangy and sweet!

This salad is perfect for a light lunch or as a side dish for dinner. I love making during the fall months when apples are in season, but it is good year-round. I also love making it for Thanksgiving. It always gets rave reviews from family and friends.

Apple Walnut Quinoa Salad is the perfect side dish for fall and Thanksgiving! - 2

Ingredients

This easy salad recipe has all of my favorite ingredients:

  • Spinach
  • Quinoa
  • Apples
  • Walnuts
  • Dried cranberries
  • Goat cheese

The quinoa salad is finished with a maple mustard dressing that pulls all of the fall flavors together. Don’t skip the dressing, I promise it is easy to make. You can whisk it up in just a few minutes.

Apple Walnut Quinoa Salad with maple mustard dressing is an easy side dish for the holidays! - 3

How to Make Apple Quinoa Salad

  • First, make the maple mustard dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, add the spinach, cooked quinoa, apples, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and walnuts. Toss until salad is combined. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
  • Drizzle with dressing and toss again. Serve and enjoy!

Salad Variations

  • Greens – instead of spinach use kale, arugula, or mixed greens.
  • Grains – if you don’t care for quinoa, you can use farro, couscous, or orzo.
  • Nuts – instead of walnuts use pecans, candied pecans , or almonds.
  • Cheese – use feta cheese or white cheddar instead of goat cheese.
  • Dried Fruit – currants, dried cherries, or golden raisins would also work nicely in this salad.
  • Protein – add chicken, chickpeas, or white beans for a boost of protein.
Apple Walnut Quinoa Salad with spinach, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and a simple maple mustard dressing is the perfect salad for fall. - 4

More Fall Salad Recipes

  • Simple Kale Salad
  • Easy Spinach Salad
  • Apple Pecan Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing
  • Favorite Pear Salad
  • Beet Salad

Check out more SALAD RECIPES !

Apple Walnut Quinoa Salad - 5

Salads

Apple Quinoa Salad

Ingredients1x2x3x

For the maple mustard dressing:

  • 1/3 cup olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

  • 3 cups fresh spinach leaves

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji are my favorite)

  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries

  • 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese (can use feta cheese)

  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • First, make the maple mustard dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, add the spinach, cooked quinoa, apples, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and walnuts. Toss until salad is combined. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
  • Drizzle with dressing and toss again. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Have you tried this recipe?

Apple Walnut Quinoa Salad - 6

Apple Quinoa Salad

Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod

Ingredients

For the maple mustard dressing:

  • 1/3 cup olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

  • 3 cups fresh spinach leaves

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji are my favorite)

  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries

  • 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese (can use feta cheese)

  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • First, make the maple mustard dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, add the spinach, cooked quinoa, apples, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and walnuts. Toss until salad is combined. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
  • Drizzle with dressing and toss again. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition