Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad

This Harvest Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad with feta cheese and fresh apples recipe is packed with flavor and healthy whole food ingredients that will leave you feeling satisfied all day.

Not only downright delicious eaten warm or cold but, perfect for weeknight dinners or packed up for a picnic lunch at the pumpkin patch.

This nutritional rockstar can easily be meal prepped ahead of time so you aren’t sacrificing healthy eating when life gets busy.

Caramelized roasted sweet potatoes and carrots

Roasted sweet potato recipes are my go-to comfort food during the Autumn season. This recipe combines the natural sweetness of oven-roasted sweet potatoes, oven-roasted carrots, fresh apples, a tangy honey mustard vinaigrette, tender quinoa, and salty feta cheese.

Roasting vegetables is such a great way to get more veggies in your diet + they're so yummy! And, let's be honest, it's hard to beat those crispy, caramelized brown edges of roasted vegetables.

QUINOA SALAD HEALTHY INGREDIENTS

SWEET POTATOES

I love roasted sweet potato recipes! And, their natural sweetness makes them both versatile and delicious in sweet or savory recipes.

Aside from being super yummy, sweet potatoes are a great addition to your diet. They're a great source of vitamins, minerals, beta-carotene, and fiber.

To learn more about the health benefits of sweet potatoes, check out this article.

CARROTS

Roasted carrots are a crunchy, slightly sweet root vegetable that has a good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants.

This vibrant veggie has many health benefits such as:

Reduced risk of some cancers (source, source, source, source)
They’re great for eye health (source)
Heart and cholesterol health (source, source)

QUINOA

Quinoa is one of the world's most liked health foods. And, since it's naturally gluten-free, it can easily replace rice and other grains in most recipes.

Quinoa is also a whole-grain carbohydrate and a whole protein-meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. In addition, quinoa is a good source of fiber, B vitamins, and iron.

Learn more about the health benefits of quinoa in this article.

APPLES

You know what they say, "An apple a day...". Apples may be one of the most popular fruits, and for a good reason. Who doesn't like to snack on these sweet, crunchy, and juicy fruits?

Aside from being delicious, they are a good source of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, and a wide range of other nutrients.

Read more about the health benefits of apples in this EatingWell article.

HOW TO ROAST CARROTS & POTATOES

Cut the sweet potatoes with the skin on. Try to get each piece close to the same size.
Peel carrots then cut then similar in size to the sweet potatoes.
Toss the cut sweet potatoes and carrots with the oil and seasonings.
Lay the sweet potatoes and carrots out in a single layer on a roasting tray.
Cook at 425 degrees Fahrenheit, turning the vegetables over with a spatula every 10-15 minutes. This prevents one side from burning and allows evenly cooked and perfectly caramelized roasted vegetables.
Roast vegetables for 20-30 minutes until fork tender.

HOW TO COOK QUINOA

There are many different suggestions for the water to quinoa ratio. I've found 1 ¾ cups of water for every one cup of quinoa works best to prevent too mushy or too dry quinoa.

Combine the quinoa and water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat.
Simmer quinoa for 15 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and let the quinoa sit, covered, for at least 10 minutes.
Fluff quinoa with a fork.

This Harvest Roasted Vegetable and Quinoa Salad with feta cheese and fresh apples recipe is packed with flavor and healthy whole food ingredients that will leave you feeling satisfied all day. Not only downright delicious eaten warm or cold but, perfect for weeknight dinners or packed up for a picnic lunch at the pumpkin patch.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAN I USE THE AIR FRYER TO ROAST VEGETABLES?

I find it easier to roast mine in the oven, but feel free to air fry your carrots and potatoes. Follow the recipe instructions below and place them in an even layer in the air basket fryer. Be sure not to pile them on top of each other causing mushy vegetables. Air fry them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. For evenly cooked vegetables, give the air fryer basket a good shake about halfway through cooking.

HOW TO STORE QUINOA SALAD

Cooked quinoa salad with roasted vegetables should be refrigerated in an airtight container to keep out moisture and contamination. It can last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator and eight to twelve months in the freezer. If you choose to use the optionally mixed greens as a base for the quinoa salad, you'll want to store it in a separate container in the refrigerator.

MORE ROASTED VEGETABLE RECIPES YOU'RE SURE TO LOVE

Twice-Baked Loaded Cauliflower

Crispy Baked Carrot Fries

Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Stuffed Sweet Potato Casserole

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📖 Recipe

Roasted sweet potatoes and carrots tossed with feta cheese, fresh apples, quinoa, and served over a bed of mixed greens.

Roasted Vegetables Quinoa Salad with Feta and Fresh Apples

Jessica Stroup

This Harvest Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad with feta cheese and fresh apples recipe is

5 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 343 kcal

Ingredients

½ cup dry quinoa
¾ cup water
2 medium carrots peeled and cut into ½ inch pieces
1 large sweet potato cut into ½ inch pieces (strictly personal preferance to peel or not peel)
4 cloves garlic minced
½ teaspoon rosemary
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
3 oz feta cheese
4 cups salad greens optional
2 medium apple

Honey Mustard Vinegrette

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 clove garlic minced

Instructions

For the Vinegrettte:

Combine all ingredients. Mix until blended then set aside until ready to use.

For the Roasted Vegetables and Quinoa Salad

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
Place peeled & chopped sweet potatoes and carrots in a single layer on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, seasonings. Once vegetables have roasted for 10 minutes, add garlic to the sheet pan, gently toss and return to oven. Roast vegetables until tender and golden brown occasionally tossing gently while roasting. This should take 20-30 minutes.
Combine quinoa and water in a saucepan and place over high heat. Bring to a boil then lower heat to low. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed. When the quinoa is cooked, fluff with a fork.
Toss roasted vegetables and garlic with quinoa, fresh apples, feta cheese, and a third of the vinaigrette.
Serve on top of salad greens (optional) and remaining vinaigrette as desired.

Notes

ROASTING VEGETABLES

Potatoes and carrots roast beautifully and get that awesome caramelized goodness when roasted directly on an unlined sheet pan.

HOW TO STORE

Store salad greens and quinoa salad separately in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

FETA CHEESE SUBSTITUTE

Goat cheese can be used in place of feta cheese or omitted for a dairy-free salad.

ADDITIONAL ADD-INS

Toasted pecans or walnuts are both delicious and nutritious add-ins.

CAN I USE THE AIR FRYER TO ROAST CARROTS AND POTATOES?

I find it easier to bake mine in the oven, but feel free to air fry your vegetables. Place carrots and potatoes in an even layer in the air basket fryer. Being sure not to pile them on top of each other or they won't crisp up! Air fry them 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes. For evenly cooked vegetables, give the air fryer basket a good shake about halfway through cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 7gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 545mgPotassium: 502mgFiber: 5gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 10971IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 2mg

Keyword quinoa salad, Roasted Vegetables

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Nutritional Disclaimer

The nutritional information provided here is approximate and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. We strive to give you accurate information, but many factors can cause this data to vary widely. For more information, please read our full Nutritional Disclaimer.