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Home By Meal Lunch and Dinner

Fall Harvest Salad

★★★★★ 39 Reviews Recipe Print
gf
By: Erin11/2/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Fall Harvest Salad
Fall Harvest Salad

Embrace all of the autumn vibes with this tasty Fall Harvest Salad. Made with sweet potato, chicken breast, cranberries, and pecans, it’s a delicious meal sure to leave you full and satisfied for hours.

A rich and delicious autumn salad

I’m a firm believer that no meal should be boring, not even salads. In fact, salads should be exciting! When created correctly, they pack in so much flavor and can serve as super filling, satisfying, and delicious meals.

On my quest to create the perfect autumn-inspired salad, I knew that I somehow needed to include cranberries, chopped pecans, and sweet potatoes. After all, those are total fall-approved ingredients!

So I combined those with chicken, honeycrisp apple (another great fall staple), goat cheese, and a delicious balsamic vinaigrette to create the fall harvest salad to end all fall harvest salads.

It includes so much flavor in each and every bite and is the perfect combination of sweet and savory!

Ingredients in this autumn chicken salad recipe

For this dish we have four parts: the salad base (with the bed of kale and various toppings), the sweet potatoes, the chicken and seasonings, and the balsamic vinaigrette! Each portion of this recipe is easy to prepare.

Salad Base:

  • Kale
  • Honeycrisp apple
  • Goat cheese
  • Chopped pecans
  • Dried cranberries

Sweet Potatoes:

  • Sweet potato (diced into cubes or thin slices)
  • Avocado oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Chicken & Seasoning:

  • Chicken breasts
  • Paprika
  • Chili powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Avocado oil (or olive oil)
  • Honey
  • Dijon mustard
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Pepper

What you’ll need to create a fall harvest salad

To prepare this recipe you’ll need a number of kitchen tools. Gather the following items and dive right in!

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Large mixing bowl
  • 2 small mixing bowls
  • Stirring utensil
  • Measuring cups: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 cup

How to make homemade fall harvest salad

This fall harvest salad is as simple to make as any other. We’ll start by baking the sweet potato, as this is the most time consuming portion of the recipe. Then we’ll move onto seasoning and cooking the chicken, creating the vinaigrette, and assembling the dish on a fresh green bed of kale!

To begin, preheat the oven to 425F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Then, in a large mixing bowl, toss the sweet potato with the avocado oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes.

Mix the seasoning for the chicken, and then sprinkle it onto the the chicken breasts.

Next, take the sweet potatoes out of the oven, toss, and then add the chicken to the same (or separate) pan, and place everything back in the oven.

Bake for another 16-18 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.

While baking, prepare the vinaigrette by mixing all of the dressing ingredients together.

Add vinaigrette to the kale and toss until fully coated. I massage the kale with my hands to make sure the leaves break down and everything is coated.

Then, layer on the sliced apples, cooked chicken, sweet potatoes, goat cheese, pecans, and cranberries.

Finally, toss to coat it all and enjoy!

Just in case you aren’t convinced…

I could come up with 1,005 reasons why must try this salad, but for the sake of time I’ll give you three:

  1. Pecans, cranberries, and goat cheese: Need I say more? The combination of these three ingredients is absolutely unbeatable. Make sure to grab these with your fork for each and every bite, and your taste buds will be happy.
  2. It’s simple: This recipe is very easy to whip together. It takes about an hour to prepare, but that’s only because the sweet potato and chicken like to take their sweet time in the oven. The prep itself is very quick!
  3. It’s über filling: Salads that leave you craving more are the worst! This salad, however, is very filling and satisfying because it covers the protein, carbs, and healthy fats.

How to store fall harvest salad

If you find yourself with leftovers, that’s a-okay! It just means tomorrow’s lunch will be extra exciting when you can whip out these leftovers to enjoy for a second time.

To store, keep the different ingredients separate if possible. You may want to assemble only what you’re guaranteed to eat so that this is possible. When stored separately, the kale won’t get so soggy!

However, if you want to store the salad in just one container that’s fine too. Securely seal the container, and enjoy within 1-2 days.

More filling and satisfying salads to try

Craving some more nutritious salads that will leave you feeling nice and full? I have a ton of options for you. Choose from a yummy cranberry quinoa salad, an avocado corn dish, and more!

  • Zucchini Noodle Caprese Salad with Walnut Pesto
  • Thai Noodle Salad with Walnut Butter
  • Cranberry Quinoa Salad
  • Pear Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
  • Avocado Corn Salad

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

fall harvest salad
★★★★★ 5 from 39 reviews

Fall Harvest Salad

Embrace all of the autumn vibes with this tasty Fall Harvest Salad. Made with sweet potato, chicken breast, cranberries, and pecans, it’s a delicious meal sure to leave you full and satisfied for hours.

Prep: 45Total: 45 minutes
Yield 8 servings 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

Salad

  • 4–6 cups shredded kale
  • 1 sliced large honeycrisp apple
  • 4oz goat cheese
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Balsamic Vinaigrette

  • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup avocado oil (or olive)
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp dijon
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp salt 
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Sweet Potatoes:

  • 1 large sweet potato, about 3 cups, diced into cubes or thin slices
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt 
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Chicken:

  • 3 small breasts chicken
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. Start by preheating your oven to 425F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Toss together sweet potato with avocado oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes.
  3. Mix together seasoning for chicken, then sprinkle it on the breasts.
  4. After 20 minutes, take sweet potatoes out of the oven, toss, and then add the chicken to the same pan as the sweet potatoes. Bake both for another 16-18 minutes or until chicken reaches 165F.
  5. While baking, prepare vinaigrette  by mixing all ingredients together. 
  6. Add vinaigrette to kale and toss till full coated. Let sit at least 15 minutes. I use my hands to massage the kale and break down the leaves, the more you do this, the easier it is to eat.
  7. Layer on sliced apples, cooked chicken, sweet potatoes, goat cheese, pecans, and cranberries. 
  8. Toss to coat! Enjoy
Author: Erin MorrisseyCategory: dinner, lunch, salad, gluten-freeCuisine: AmericanDiet: Gluten Free
fall harvest salad

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

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There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

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  • cranberry quinoa salad
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Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Ashlen Leonard says

    Posted on 10/5 at 7:21 pm

    This is my favourite fall salad, hands down! Love the flavour combinations. I could eat this most days of the week!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/6 at 4:29 pm

      Hi Ashlen, so happy you love it so much!!

      Reply
  2. Alyssa says

    Posted on 6/13 at 1:14 pm

    Usually I’m not a salad for a meal kind of person (I find I’m not left satisfied). HOWEVER, this salad had so many components and was so tasty and delicious that it filled me up and I wasn’t craving a snack or different meal afterwards.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/13 at 7:57 pm

      Hi Alyssa, so glad you loved it so much!!

      Reply
  3. Daniela says

    Posted on 3/28 at 9:59 pm

    I have been making this salad for months. It is my husband and It’s favorite. It’s SO GOOD!!! And so filling!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/28 at 10:06 pm

      Hi Daniela, so glad you both love it so much!!

      Reply
  4. Alexandria says

    Posted on 3/22 at 11:48 am

    The most delicious salad! I love the version of this at a salad chain and was so excited to make my own. The dressing is so worth making from scratch – I thought about using bottled but I’m glad that I didn’t! I made this salad with honey infused goat cheese and it was delicious. SO good, you must make this!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/22 at 11:56 pm

      Hi Alexandria, I am so happy you enjoyed making the dressing and the salad as a whole!!

      Reply
  5. Ellie says

    Posted on 3/10 at 6:06 pm

    This is how I get my BF to eat salads. He requests it now! It’s so so good!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/10 at 9:47 pm

      Hi Ellie, so glad you both enjoy it!!

      Reply
  6. Jill says

    Posted on 1/14 at 9:31 am

    The perfect harvest salad! Made this earlier this week and loved every bite of it. Had it for lunch yesterday and added some baked butternut squash instead of apple and it was, yet again, delicious. Thank you Erin!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/14 at 11:40 pm

      Hi Jill, I am so happy you loved it and great substitution!

      Reply
  7. Megan J says

    Posted on 1/13 at 3:32 pm

    This is my most favorite salad in the whole world! I can’t even describe how much joy it brings me to eat! & the homemade dressing 🤤

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/14 at 11:40 am

      Hi Megan, I am so happy you love it!!

      Reply
  8. Sarah Samuels says

    Posted on 1/4 at 9:47 pm

    One of my go tos at least every other week! I have made for fiancé, friends and family and they are all obsessed.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/5 at 2:40 pm

      Hi Sarah, I am so happy everyone enjoys the salad!!

      Reply
  9. Sandy says

    Posted on 1/4 at 12:55 pm

    So delicious! My go to salad during the work week. The dressing that goes along with it has become a staple for me. Highly recommend!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/4 at 3:49 pm

      Hi Sandy, thank you for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Alexx says

    Posted on 1/3 at 3:12 pm

    This is my favorite salad ever!!!! I make it ALL the time for lunch or dinner!! Everything just tastes so good together!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/4 at 1:14 pm

      Hi Alexx, thanks for sharing! I am so happy you love it!

      Reply
  11. Sara says

    Posted on 11/28 at 3:06 pm

    Top tier salad with all of my favorite ingredients, makes me wish it was fall year round!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 11/30 at 4:01 pm

      Hi Sara, I am so happy you enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  12. Lo says

    Posted on 11/17 at 10:37 am

    This salad is AMAZING. For dinner, my boyfriend and I generally prefer to eat our greens on the side with our main instead of reaching for a salad, but this salad looked compelling. We’re SO glad we made it. The flavors complement each other perfectly, and the salad was hearty and satisfying with an optimal combination of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Thank you for the fantastic recipe, Erin!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 11/18 at 8:21 pm

      Hi Lo, I am so happy you both liked it so much!!

      Reply
  13. Allie says

    Posted on 11/2 at 8:07 pm

    Absolutely delicious and so simple to make as well! I subbed sweet baby greens and arugula for the kale since I am not a huge fan of kale.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 11/3 at 10:27 am

      Hi Allie, thanks for your kind words! I am so happy you enjoyed it and made it your own!

      Reply
  14. Kellen says

    Posted on 10/26 at 4:20 pm

    This salad was SO good! A perfect fall salad for meal prep last week. My husband and I both enjoyed eating it day after day!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/27 at 1:51 pm

      Hi Kellen, thanks for sharing! I am so glad you both enjoyed it!

      Reply
    • Paige says

      Posted on 9/22 at 5:37 pm

      This salad is almost exactly what I would typically build at Sweetgreen — for like 1/5 of the price. Absolutely delicious, I could eat this everyday (minus the dried cranberries, but my boyfriend loved it with them!). Super easy prep, perfect to have as leftovers the next day. Make this!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin says

        Posted on 9/25 at 8:57 am

        Hi Paige, so happy you love it and can make it yourself now!!

  15. Kari says

    Posted on 10/20 at 10:16 pm

    Love this recipe! The dressing is amazing, and I normally don’t care for balsamic dressing. I’ve already made it at least four more times. And the chicken came out so moist and perfect.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/21 at 3:59 pm

      Hi Kari, thank you so much for sharing! I am so glad that you liked it and made it your own!

      Reply
  16. Kelly says

    Posted on 10/15 at 3:42 pm

    Love this salad! Great as a side salad with your fall apple burger as well!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/16 at 12:26 pm

      Hi Kelly, thanks so much and love that you made the two recipes together!

      Reply
  17. Ethan says

    Posted on 10/10 at 6:23 am

    Whether you aren’t a writer your recipe certain an artwork. This Fall harvest salad evenly colorful, provides balance starch, meat, vegetable, and fruit. What sauce will be suitable for this salad?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/14 at 11:18 am

      Hi Ethan, thank you so much for the kind words! I am so glad you liked it. You can use the balsamic dressing! It’s delicious! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Carrie says

    Posted on 10/9 at 5:44 pm

    Love this! Can you leave the dressing at room temperature?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/12 at 2:06 pm

      Hi Carrie, yes that’s fine. Let me know how it comes out for you!

      Reply
  19. Olivia Porcello says

    Posted on 10/7 at 6:53 pm

    the best harvest salad I have had this season! everything pairs so nicely together, the dressing was GREAT and my dad said “this chicken is phenom”

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/9 at 11:44 am

      Hi Olivia, thank you so much for the kind words! I am so glad you both enjoyed it!

      Reply
  20. Ani says

    Posted on 10/7 at 3:45 pm

    I didn’t get it, so after 20 min take the potatoes out of the oven toss , add chicken to sweet potatoes and put it back to the oven? or take the sweet potatoes and put the chicken instead?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 10/7 at 4:44 pm

      Take the sweet potatoes out, toss, then add the chicken to the pan WITH the sweet potatoes (they need more time).

      Reply
      • Ani says

        Posted on 10/9 at 2:25 am

        okay great, that’s what I thought thank you 🙂

      • Erin says

        Posted on 10/9 at 11:51 am

        Hi! You’re welcome!!

      • Emily Kuechenmeister says

        Posted on 10/5 at 10:46 pm

        Hi! Do the sweet potatoes need to be warm on salad (deciding if I can
        prep ahead of time).

      • Erin says

        Posted on 10/6 at 4:32 pm

        Hi Emily, no they don’t need to be. You bake them in the oven as the first step, but personal preference if you want them warm in the salad!

    • Peyton payne says

      Posted on 10/20 at 7:28 pm

      Cannot wait to make this!! Salivating just looking at it

      Reply
      • Erin says

        Posted on 10/21 at 3:53 pm

        Hi Peyton, yay! Let me know how your salad comes out!

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