Quinoa Spinach Salad with Apples, Bacon & White Cheddar

By Maria Lichty

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Quick Summary

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!

Apple, Bacon & White Cheddar Quinoa Spinach Salad in bowl.

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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!

ingredients to make Apple, Bacon & White Cheddar Quinoa Spinach Salad.

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!
spinach, quinoa, apple, pepitas, white cheddar cubes, bacon, and red onion in serving bowl.

How to Make Quinoa Spinach Salad

  • In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cooked quinoa, apples, bacon, white cheddar, pepitas, and red onion.
maple mustard dressing in bowl with whisk.
  • 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.
Apple, Bacon & White Cheddar Quinoa Spinach Salad in bowl with wooden salad servers.

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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

Ingredients
  

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:

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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Maria

I'm Maria and my husband is Josh. We share a love of cooking, baking, and entertaining. We enjoy creating recipes that are simple, fresh, and family friendly. We love sitting around the table with good food, good conversation, and good friends and family! Our kitchen is always open!
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5 from 3 votes

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  1. I made this delicious recipe tonight just as written, but with only one cup of quinoa because I was shy of the 5oz amount of spinach. I love everything about it as well as the delicious dressing!! Bravo Maria! Another great dish from you!!!

  2. 5 stars
    I liked this salad a lot! I did have to put more maple syrup in the dressing as it tasted strongly of olive oil to me though.

  3. 5 stars
    Lots of great flavours and textures. I think my garlic clove was a bit on the large side but hey, nothing like garlic to keep the vampires away!