Quinoa Spinach Salad with Apples, Bacon & White Cheddar

By Maria Lichty

Published on October 21, 2024

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If you are looking for a DELICIOUS fall salad, you’ve come to the right place. This quinoa salad with spinach, crisp apples, smoky bacon, white cheddar, salty pepitas, red onion, and a simple maple mustard dressing is a fall favorite!

The maple balsamic dressing brings warmth and depth to the salad, balancing the flavors perfectly. It is easy to whisk up and is so much better than store bought dressing.

This salad not only looks vibrant with its rich colors but also offers a delightful mix of textures and tastes that celebrate the season!

Enjoy for a light lunch or serve along side any meal. It is the perfect salad for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any fall day!

Ingredient Notes

• Quinoa: For the salad you need cooked quinoa. You can make it in advance and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and water or broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the quinoa is fluffy and liquid is absorbed. Let it cool to room temperature.
• Bacon: you can also cook the bacon in advance and chop it up. To make the salad vegetarian, omit the bacon.
• Spinach: I love spinach in this salad, but arugula, kale, or mixed greens are other good options.
• Apples: I like to use Honey crisp apples, but any variety will work! Look for crisp, juicy apples!
• Cheese: I use white cheddar, but feta or goat cheese would also be good.
• Pepitas: Pepitas are pumpkin seeds and add a nice salty crunch to the salad. Pecans, candied pecans, walnuts, or pistachios would also work!

How to Make Quinoa Spinach Salad

• In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cooked quinoa, apples, bacon, white cheddar, pepitas, and red onion.

• In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Pour the dressing over the salad and stir until the salad is well coated. Serve.

More Fall Salad Recipes

• Apple Pecan Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing
• Easy Spinach Salad
• Apple Walnut Quinoa Salad
• Roasted Butternut Squash Orzo Salad
• Roasted Delicata Squash Salad
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
• Favorite Pear Salad

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Salads

Quinoa Spinach Salad with Apples, Bacon & White Cheddar

Quinoa Salad with spinach, crisp apples, bacon, white cheddar, pepitas, red onion, and a simple maple mustard dressing. This hearty salad is perfect for fall or any day!

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

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For the salad:

• 5 ounces spinach
• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 cups chopped Honeycrisp apples, about 2 medium apples
• 6 strips cooked bacon, chopped
• 1 cup cubed white cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup pepitas
• 1/4 cup diced red onion

For the dressing:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

 

• In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cooked quinoa, apples, bacon, white cheddar, peptias, and red onion.
• In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Pour the dressing over the salad and stir until the salad is well coated. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 504mg, Potassium: 401mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 2436IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 184mg, Iron: 2mg

Keywords apple, bacon, quinoa

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