Apple Almond Quinoa with Maple Sausage is the perfect side dish, light lunch, or dinner recipe. Packed with sweet and savory fallĀ flavors!
New fall side dish obsession alert!
Apple Almond Quinoa with Maple Sausage is a riff on a Whole Foods hot bar side dish I spotted earlier this year that’s a cinch to whip up at home, and packed with crispy, crunchy textures and delicious flavors. No matter the time of year, this little quinoa salad will be a hit!
Whole Foods’ combination of apple, dried cranberries, almonds, quinoa, green onions, with my addition of maple sausage, is SO FALL, that I can hardly even stand it. This is the perfect light dinner paired with baked or Air Fried chicken, or scooped and served as a gorgeous, flavorful side dish.
Not only are the textures and flavors spot on, but the recipe can be made in just 30 minutes, and enjoyed warm or cold. This is a must try!
Start the Apple Almond Quinoa with Maple Sausage by simmering quinoa in chicken broth until tender, about 15 minutes.
Fluff the quinoa with a fork then scoop it into a large mixing bowl and set it aside to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, brown maple breakfast sausage (I like Johnsonville brand) in a skillet over medium heat. You could use any type of sausage, but I love the hint of maple this particular flavor adds to this fall-inspired dish.
Add the sausage to the quinoa cooling in the bowl, then add the rest of the salad ingredients:
Chopped green onions, and a chopped red apple.
Plus chopped or sliced almonds, plus dried cranberries. Dried cherries would be divine as well.
Toss everything to combine then serve — that’s it!
Whole Foods drizzled a curry-infused orange and lemon dressing on top of their quinoa salad. I actually don’t think this dish needs a dressing, but my Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette would be an absolute dream drizzled on top if you want the dish to be a little saucy.
However you serve it, enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup quinoa, pre-rinsed
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 oz maple breakfast sausage, I like Johnsonville brand
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 1 small apple, chopped
- 1/4 cup almonds, sliced or chopped
- 2 Tablespoons dried cranberries
Directions
- Bring chicken broth to a boil in a small saucepan then add the quinoa, place a lid on top, and simmer until the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender, 12-15 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork then add to a large mixing bowl to cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage then brown and drain, if necessary. Add cooked sausage, green onions, apple, almonds, and cranberries to the slightly cooled quinoa then toss to combine. Serve warm or chilled.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Hello Iowa Girl, Love your site and your inspirational recipes & pictures, especially the ones with quinoa. Thanks for what you do!
I’m ob-sessed with quinoa. I make some kind of quinoa dish every Sunday to bring for lunch 2-3x that week…And I’m always looking for new ways to dress it up. This sounds awesome! (plus, no added oil from a dressing! Score.)
Your “twss” parentheticals crack me up every time! :P
I made a very similiar salad, but with chicken and an apple cider dressing. Love the addition of sausage and you’re right this would be a great addition to the Thanksgiving menu!
I wonder if this would work as a Turkey stuffing. Any thoughts on how the quinoa would hold up if cooked again?
I think it would be fine! Whenever I make mini quinoa muffins I cook the quinoa on the stove top then bake for 15-20 minutes, and it turns out great!
I’m teaching an Economically Organic class tomorrow night at New Bo City Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and I just pulled the quinoa salad I was going to make out of the line-up in favor of this. It’s awesome. It’s perfect for fall. Hooray. Good Job! :)
Awesome! I hope it worked out!
Looks fabulous – I love that you photo’d the ingredients tag at Whole Foods for inspiration – genius for the food obsessed :)
Looks good..that is a great go to salad for potlucks!
This recipe is bookmarked and I will be making it ASAP!
xo Rach
rachiecakes-rachael.blogspot.com
That looks absolutely delicious! I love the idea of using sweet apples in a “salty” dinner meal. So creative.
Kind of surprised not to see any dressing on this, especially with the tasty one from the Whole Foods photo! Still looks very yummy. I’ll have to try.
I know! I had all the ingredients ready to make a lemon-orange dressing to drizzle on top, but it didn’t need it at all!
I love the addition of sausage to quinoa – most recipes I see with quinoa are vegetarian but sausage with it sounds so good!
Thanks for the recipe, looks great! In your opinion is there a huge taste difference between plain quinoa and wheat quinoa? I saw the wheat quinoa at Trader Joe’s and wasn’t sure if that was the only option.
I’ve actually never seen wheat quinoa – I wonder what the difference is? I can’t imagine the taste is much different though!