Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Walnuts & Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette

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Perfect for dinner parties or jazzing up a weeknight meal (try topping it with steak, salmon, or chicken for a complete dish), my roasted beet salad looks as amazing as it tastes.

roasted beet salad on platter

This beet salad with goat cheese and walnuts is my go-to dinner party salad. I don’t think I’ve ever served it without sending a few people home with the recipe. Years ago, I would roast my own beets, but high-quality vacuum-packed roasted beets, such as Love Beets, are now available in the produce section of most supermarkets, which makes the salad a breeze to prepare. Be sure to dress the greens at the last minute so they don’t get soggy, and top the salad with the beets as opposed to mixing them in, as tossing the beets with the salad will turn everything pink! Want to make the salad a complete meal? Try topping it with steak, grilled chicken or pan-seared salmon.

“Absolutely delicious 💯 The dressing is superb. I follow the recipe to the T, I’ve made this 3x already this week. YUM!”

Naly R.

What You’ll Need to Make Roasted Beet Salad with Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette

beet salad ingredients
  • Honey: Adds subtle sweetness to the dressing and balances the acidity of the vinegar.
  • Dijon Mustard: Provides a tangy flavor and helps emulsify the dressing.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: Adds acidity and depth of flavor.
  • Shallots: Infuses a subtle onion flavor into the vinaigrette.
  • Salt and Pepper: Enhances the overall taste of the dressing.
  • Vegetable Oil: Provides a smooth texture and helps bind the ingredients together.
  • Mixed Greens: Serve as the base of the salad, providing freshness and color.
  • Vacuum-Packed Roasted Beets: Offer earthy sweetness and vibrant color to the salad. I use store-bought but if you’d like to roast them yourself, see the note at the bottom of the recipe.
  • Walnuts: Add a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
  • Goat Cheese: Adds creaminess and tanginess, complementing the sweetness of the beets and the crunchiness of the walnuts.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-by-Step Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the honey, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, shallots, salt and pepper.

vinegar, mustard, honey, shallot, and seasoning in bowl

Whisk to combine. Then, whisking constantly, slowly add the oil in a steady stream. (Alternatively, add all the ingredients to a jar, cover with the lid, and shake vigorously to blend.)

adding oil to whisked vinegar mixture

Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

vinaigrette for beet salad

Place the greens in a large bowl, drizzle with about half of the vinaigrette, and toss to combine. Add as much of the remaining vinaigrette as desired and toss again. Arrange the greens on a large platter or divide onto plates, then top with beets, walnuts, and goat cheese. Serve immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the dressing for the roasted beet salad ahead of time?

Absolutely! The dressing can be prepared up to 5 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Just give it a good shake before using it on the salad.

What are some variations I can try with the roasted beet salad?

This salad is really flexible so you can tailor it to your preferences or to what you have on hand. Swap out the beets for strawberries or sliced apples, use crumbled feta instead of goat cheese, and pecans, almonds, or pistachios in place of the walnuts. Each tweak will bring its own unique flavor and texture to the salad.

Can I cook the beets ahead and can I freeze leftover beets for future use?

Yes, you can definitely make the beets ahead of time. Roasted beets keep nicely in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. And if you’d like to freeze leftover beets, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw them in the refrigerator before using. If you’re a big beet fan and looking for other ways to use them, you’ll love (and maybe even obsess over) my balsamic-glazed roasted beets.

roasted beet salad on platter

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Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese & Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette

Perfect for dinner parties or jazzing up a weeknight meal (try topping it with steak, salmon, or chicken for a complete dish), my roasted beet salad looks as amazing as it tastes.

Servings: 6 to 8
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients

For the Vinaigrette

  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1½ tablespoons minced shallots
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the Salad

  • 10 ounces mixed greens
  • About ½ lb vacuum-packed roasted beets, cut into wedges (see note)
  • ½ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
  • 3 ounces goat cheese

Instructions

For the Vinaigrette

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, shallots, salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, slowly add the oil in a steady stream. (Alternatively, add all the ingredients to a jar, cover with the lid, and shake vigorously to blend.) Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

For the Salad

  1. Place the greens in a large bowl, drizzle with about half of the vinaigrette and toss to combine. Add as much of the remaining vinaigrette as desired and toss again. Arrange the greens on a large platter or divide onto plates, then top with beets, walnuts and goat cheese. Serve immediately.
  2. Note: If you'd like to roast your own beets, you'll need 1 bunch of medium beets (about 3). Preheat oven to 425°F and set an oven rack to the middle position. Wipe or scrub the beets clean, then trim stems down to one-inch (leave "tails" on). Place the beets on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then wrap foil around the beets to form a neat packet. Roast directly on a rack in the middle of the oven until tender, about 1 hour. Test for doneness by piercing the largest beet with a knife. If it enters easily, it's done. Unwrap the beets and let sit until cool enough to handle. Use your hands or a paring knife to peel the skin, then cut into wedges.
  3. Make-Ahead Instructions: The vinaigrette can be made up to 4 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Before serving, let sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes, and then shake to re-emulsify.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (6 servings)
  • Calories: 242
  • Fat: 21g
  • Saturated fat: 3g
  • Carbohydrates: 11g
  • Sugar: 9g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Sodium: 322mg
  • Cholesterol: 7mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Gluten-Free Adaptable Note

To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.

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Comments

  • Delicious! I bought the beets with greens on. I added green apple slices, toasted walnuts and the beet greens to the spring mix. My PT asked me for the dressing recipe! Thank you!

    • — Kelly on January 24, 2023
    • Reply
  • Really looking forward to making this! Can I use pickled beets instead of roasted beets?

    • — SG00 on January 21, 2023
    • Reply
    • They’ll have a slightly different taste, but they’ll work. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on January 21, 2023
      • Reply
  • This was outstanding! Found the precooked beets at Wegmans..so easy. And I used a tip I read in the comments section…put all ingredients for the salad dressing into a wide mouth mason jar and used an immersion blender to mix. Thanks for another great..and healthy recipe!

    • — Marybeth on December 30, 2022
    • Reply
  • Great recipe. I made it yesterday. Did not have shallot, so I eliminated it. Also used extra virgin olive oil, and it was wonderful. Will make it again.

    • — Monna on December 26, 2022
    • Reply
  • The salad was great and was very easy to make. The vinaigrette was delicious!

    • — Susan on December 9, 2022
    • Reply
  • 5 star recipe! I make this all the time! Tastes like something from a fancy restaurant. If you like beets, this is a must try! I make the beets in my instant pot. I make the dressing in my mini chopper. So good! So good! *****

  • Jen, I made this salad a few days ago. We really enjoyed it! We like the salad ingredients a lot; the greens, goat cheese, beets, and walnuts really go together. The vinaigrette is special….unique and delicious!

    I used to cook beets for salads. It was a little bit of trouble, so we didn’t have that type of salad often. Then, a few weeks ago I made a salad with beets in it (not this one), and discovered “Aunt Nellie’s Baby (whole pickled) Beets at our local Publix grocery store. We’ve had a few salads with Aunt Nellie’s Baby Beets since then, including your recipe. I recommend them.

    Thanks for another delicious recipe!

    Richard

    • — Richard Wilson
    • Reply
  • I ended up using honey goat cheese, as the supermarket was out of regular; but it came out wonderful! Love this recipe!

  • Jen,
    As with all of your salads (and recipes for that matter) this was absolutely delicious! I recently made a grilled romaine salad from a recipe I found on Food Network and it made me wonder if you’d ever experimented with a recipe for it? If so I’d love to try your version as your salad dressings are always spot on! Thanks for all that you do for us home cooks to keep our families happy and healthy! 🥰

    • Glad you enjoyed, Candice! I’ll add the grilled romaine salad to my list. 🙂

  • What do you think about adding quinoa to this salad to make it a bit more hearty?

    • Love that idea 🙂

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