Autumn Harvest Grain Salad with Cranberries

Introduction

The Autumn Harvest Grain Salad with Cranberries is the ultimate celebration of fall’s vibrant flavors and colors. Featuring hearty grains, sweet-tart cranberries, roasted vegetables, and a lively vinaigrette, this salad is a satisfying dish that works beautifully for a cozy lunch, elegant dinner party, or your next meal prep lineup. The harmony of satisfying textures and autumn-influenced tastes delivers comfort while keeping things fresh and light.

A Cozy Grain Salad Bursting with Fall Flavor

What makes this autumn salad indispensable for your weekly table? The blend of nutty, toothsome grains, roasted cubes of butternut squash, crunchy pecans, crisp apples, and the jewel-hued sweetness of cranberries creates a festive medley in every forkful. Easy to prep in advance and equally delicious at room temperature, it’s a crowd-pleaser fit for family gatherings, holiday tables, or make-ahead work lunches.

Selecting and Preparing the Best Grains

Hearty grains are the backbone of this salad. Farro, barley, wild rice, or quinoa all work beautifully—choose your favorite or use a blend for extra dimension. Cook the grains until just tender (but not mushy), then spread on a baking sheet to cool quickly and keep them from sticking. This step ensures each grain remains distinct and ready to absorb the flavors from the vinaigrette and roasted veggies.

Layering Autumn’s Bounty

Toss your cooled grains with roasted butternut squash, red onion, and a handful of fresh greens for color and crunch. Add in dried cranberries, diced crisp apple, and toasted pecans to complete the fall melody. The sweet-tart cranberries and juicy apple play beautifully against earthy roast vegetables and grains, while pecans add satisfying bite.

Vibrant Dressing for Maximum Flavor

A maple-Dijon vinaigrette brings all the ingredients together. Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Drizzle just enough over the salad to moisten and bring out each ingredient’s natural flavors. Taste and adjust—the brightness of the vinaigrette should enhance, not overpower.

Serving Suggestions & Creative Add-Ins

This Autumn Harvest Grain Salad can be served chilled or at room temperature. For extra protein, top with grilled chicken, roasted turkey, or a sprinkle of goat cheese. Pomegranate seeds or roasted pumpkin seeds add indulgent color and crunch for special occasions. Pile it high in a serving bowl as a seasonal main event, or serve as a hearty side dish at your next gathering.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 6 generous servings. Each serving is packed with fiber, complex carbs, healthy fats, and vitamins—estimated at around 320 calories per portion (without added cheese or protein). It’s a flavorful, nutrient-dense dish that will keep you satisfied and energized throughout the day.

Autumn Harvest Grain Salad with Cranberries (Recap)

Brimming with hearty grains, sweet-tart cranberries, and roasted autumn vegetables, this salad delivers unmatched flavor and nutrition with every bite. Whether you’re looking for a stunning potluck dish or a weekday lunch to look forward to, this recipe gives you the best of fall in a bowl.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Toss butternut squash and red onion with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20–25 minutes, stirring once, until golden and tender. Let cool.
2. Meanwhile, cook grains according to package directions in salted water until tender. Drain, spread on a rimmed baking sheet, and let cool completely.
3. For the dressing: Whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine cooled grains, roasted squash and onion, baby greens, apple, cranberries, and toasted pecans. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to coat.
5. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Top with goat cheese or pomegranate seeds, if desired.
6. Serve immediately, or chill for up to 2 days—the flavors get even better with time.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Autumn Harvest Grain Salad is a fantastic component for weekly meal prep—it packs well, holds up beautifully in the fridge, and stays fresh for days. Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to seamlessly plan your meals, consolidate shopping lists, and see how it fits alongside other planned dishes.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across all saved recipes
– Organizes your shopping list by grocery store section for speed and efficiency
– Ensures you never forget a key ingredient or buy more than you need
– Helps streamline your weekly meal prep routine

Pro tip: When preparing multiple recipes, schedule your dishes to see overlaps in ingredients—making shopping and prepping smarter, not harder. For example, if multiple recipes include apples or greens, CookifyAI tallies the total needed and keeps your pantry organized.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes