Description
A delightful autumn salad featuring roasted butternut squash, Honeycrisp apples, and feta cheese, perfect for a seasonal side or light main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 small butternut squash (about 2 lb), peeled and cubed
- 2 Honeycrisp apples, cored and thinly sliced
- 5–6 cups mixed greens (arugula, spinach, or spring mix)
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds), toasted
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (optional)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1½ tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss cubed butternut squash with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 22–25 minutes, turning once, until tender and lightly browned. Let cool slightly.
- In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk together olive oil, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, salt & pepper until smooth and emulsified.
- In a large bowl, combine roasted butternut squash, mixed greens, Honeycrisp apple slices, crumbled feta, dried cranberries, toasted pepitas, and green onions (if using). Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is coated.
- Serve immediately as a fresh fall side salad or light main dish. Pair with roasted chicken, turkey, or grilled salmon for a complete meal.
Notes
- Sweet Swap: Use roasted sweet potatoes or delicata squash instead of butternut.
- Nut Options: Try toasted walnuts, pecans, or almonds in place of pepitas.
- Cheese Options: Goat cheese, blue cheese, or shaved parmesan are great alternatives to feta.
- Fruit Add-Ins: Pears, pomegranate seeds, or sliced grapes enhance fall flavors.
- Store leftover salad undressed in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Keep dressing separate and toss right before serving to prevent sogginess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Roasting, Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Autumn Harvest Apple Feta Salad, fall salad, healthy salad, seasonal recipe