The BEST Fall Salad Recipe w/ Chicken, Butternut Squash, Bacon & Apples

This easy fall salad recipe incorporates butternut squash, apple, bacon and chicken and a red wine vinaigrette for the best fall dinner.

Salads are often associated with the summer season but fall flavors make such an amazing addition to salads. Apples and butternut squash bring a hint of the autumn season to this simple salad while bacon and chicken add plenty of savory protein.

With a bit of meal prep, this easy fall salad is perfect for a weeknight dinner. To prep ahead, you can cook both the bacon and the chicken breast. I personally love cooking bacon in the oven for a no-mess method that results in crispy bacon every time. You'll also make the simple red wine vinaigrette ahead of time and store in thee fridge. If you haven't purchased pre-chopped butternut squash, you can also go ahead and chop your squash during meal prep time.

With these steps done, this fall salad recipe comes together quickly on the night you're planning to serve (“dish day” in Prep Dish lingo). You'll roast the butternut squash prepare the final ingredients while it's roasting. All this entails is crumbling the bacon, chopping the apples re-warming the chicken if you like. All that's left is assembling the salads and enjoying!

Is this easy fall salad recipe good for meal prep?

Yes! We specifically designed this easy fall salad with meal prep in mind. I understand that you don't have time to make a from-scratch meal from start to finish on weeknights – neither do I! That's why I'm such a strong proponent of meal prep. I truly believe it's the key to getting homemade, healthy meals on the table without the stress. If you'd like to try our meal prep meal plan system for free, check out our free trial!

To prep this salad ahead, start by making the vinaigrette. Store in the fridge and then bring to room temperature while you're prepping the final ingredients and assembling the salad.

Next, cook the bacon and chicken and store. Chop the butternut squash if you didn't purchase pre-chopped. That's all you need to do to meal prep this easy fall salad!

On the night you'd like to serve the salad, remove the vinaigrette from the fridge and bring to room temperature. Next, roast the butternut squash, crumble the bacon and chop the apples. You can re-warm the chicken if you like, or enjoy it cold on the salads. Assemble and dress the salads and you're good to go!

What’s the nutrition like for this fall salad recipe?

Olive Oil (Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Monounsaturated Fats, Antioxidants)

Due to the type of fat it contains, olive oil may reduce inflammation. It also reduces the risk of Alzheimer's, stroke and heart disease. Make sure to get high quality extra virgin olive oil, as it retains more antioxidants and nutrients.

Red Wine Vinegar (Acetic Acid, Antioxidants)

Made from fermented red wine, red wine vinegar may help with blood sugar control, help with weight loss, fight skin damage and benefit your heart.

Butternut Squash (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, B Vitamins, Magnesium, Potassium, Folate)

Butternut squash has an extraordinary amount of vitamin A, which makes it excellent for your eyes, bones and immune system. It's also high in antioxidants which can help decrease inflammation and risk for disease. The type of antioxidants found in butternut squash and other yellow and orange fruits and veggies are particularly promising for preventing heart disease.

Mixed Greens (Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Folate, Phytonutrients)

Mixed greens are an excellent choice for salad because each type of lettuce offers unique nutritional benefits. With mixed greens, you get a variety, upping the nutritional goodness of your meal! Greens are particularly good for brain health, eyesight, strong bones and healthy blood vessels. Due to its phytonutrients, lettuce is also great for reducing inflammation. Red leaf lettuce, which is often included in mixed greens, is particularly high in these powerful plant compounds.

Apple (Vitamin C, Antioxidants, Fiber)

Apples contain vitamin C and lots of antioxidants like flavonoids that may protect against cancer. They're also a great source of fiber, which helps with healthy digestion.

Chicken (Selenium, Zinc, B Vitamins)

In addition to being packed with protein, chicken is a good source of several vitamins and nutrients. Selenium is beneficial for both your immune system and your thyroid. B vitamins promote a healthy brain and high energy levels. Chicken is also considered a good food for weight loss due to its high protein content and relatively low calories, depending on the cut of chicken.

Tips & Variations for the Best Fall Salad

This fall salad recipe is so delicious as-is, I highly recommend trying the recipe as written. That said, salads naturally lend themselves to creativity. Feel free to mix up the ingredients based on what you have in your fridge or your personal favorites.

Here are a few ideas on how to mix it up:

• Sub balsamic vinegar for red wine vinegar. For more homemade salad dressing ideas, check out my favorites!
• Sub crumbled blue cheese for mozzarella.
• Use whatever type of squash you want! Roasted pumpkin would also be delicious.
• Make a vegetarian version with white beans instead of chicken and bacon.
• Add toasted walnuts of pecans.
• Sub pear for apple.

If you come up with a variation you love, I want to hear about it! Share with me on Instagram @prepdish.

I want more fall salad recipes!

You've come to the right place! Here are a few of my favorite fall salad recipes.

FAQ – Everything you Need to Know about Fall Salad Recipes

What autumn salads can you make with seasonal ingredients?

In addition to the above salad recipe with butternut squash, apple and bacon, I recommend my Harvest Cobb Salad, Fall Caesar Salad with Salmon and my Pear, Goat Cheese & Lentil salad. All four are perfect for the autumn season!

What else goes in a salad with butternut squash?

Toasted walnuts or pecans, crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese and diced apples or dried cranberries are all delicious accompaniments to butternut squash in a fall salad.

What salad dressing is best for a fall salad recipe?

I love apple cider vinaigrette, red wine vinaigrette or balsamic vinaigrette with a fall salad recipe. Check out my favorite DIY salad dressings for more ideas!