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This gorgeous Harvest Bowl has all of the delicious fall flavors packed into one easy salad. It’s filled with creamy sweet potatoes, kale, Brussels sprouts, wild rice, grilled chicken, sweet apple, cheese, crunchy candied pecans, and pepitas with the best balsamic vinaigrette dressing. You’ll be craving it all season long!
Sweet potatoes are just the best this time of year, and I can’t get enough of them, especially in this cozy Sweet Potato Chili and classic Sweet Potato Casserole. Crispy Sweet Potato Fries never go out of style!
Harvest Bowl Recipe
Get ready to fall in love with the textures and flavors in this Harvest Bowl. Every bite is better than the last, from the tender sweet potatoes and juicy apples to the crunch from the pecans and pumpkin seeds. The combination of sweet and savory makes this harvest bowl recipe so special! The perfect finishing touch is a drizzle of incredibly tasty homemade balsamic vinaigrette. You are going to want to make this again and again!
This dish is super delicious. The ingredients are nutrient-rich and come together for a satisfying meal. The chicken adds plenty of protein, while the fruits and veggies fill this bowl with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. I love filling my salads with meats, grains, vegetables, cheese, and all the toppings to make it a complete meal.
Harvest Bowl Ingredients
This Harvest Bowl recipe is full of tasty ingredients, like juicy chicken, fresh greens, flavorful apples, and crunchy pecans! Let’s take a closer look at each ingredient and how it comes together to make this wonderful dish. Note: exact measurements are in the recipe card below.
The Salad
- Sweet Potatoes: For this recipe, we roast one medium sweet potato in olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Kale: Nourishing kale is the base for this bowl. See the recipe tip below! You could also use spinach if you prefer.
- Brussels Sprouts: Mixing in sliced Brussels sprouts adds even more nutrients and texture. They’re just so tasty!
- Wild Rice: Naturally gluten-free, a good source of protein, and rich in antioxidants and essential minerals. Wild rice makes this harvest bowl really filling. You could also use brown rice, which is another option packed with great vitamins and minerals.
- Chicken: Use pre-cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken for easy prep. I love this shredded chicken recipe! You could also use this boiled chicken recipe to prep the chicken.
- Apple: Use a sweet, tart, perfectly crisp apple. I love using Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, or Ambrosia apples!
- Cheese: Sprinkle on crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese for creamy tanginess.
- Pecans: Candied pecans are sweet and crunchy and add lots of texture and subtle sweetness to the salad. If preferred, use regular toasted pecans or another type of nut. Sliced almonds are another great option!
- Pepitas: With a smoother skin than pumpkin seeds, pepitas are great for adding texture and crunch to salads.
Recipe Tip
Many recipes with kale call for massaging it (it’s naturally a bit tough). I find it works just as well to remove the leaves from the stems and then chop the kale finely. This is how I like to prepare most of my kale salads. The salad dressing and other ingredients will also help soften the kale.
Dressing
- Olive Oil: Smooth, mild oil for the base of the dressing.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Has a unique flavor that is balanced in both sweetness and acidity.
- Dijon Mustard: Works as an emulsifier in this recipe to keep the oil and vinegar from separating and also adds zippy flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds just enough sweetness to contrast the savory tastes.
- Salt: Just a dash helps season the dressing and balance the other flavors.
How to Make a Harvest Bowl
Just three simple steps to make your bowl and dressing! Harvest bowls taste amazing and are really simple to whip up, making them the perfect lunch or light dinner! Here’s how to bring everything together:
- Roast the Sweet Potato: Prepare the sweet potato by peeling and dicing it, then tossing it lightly with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through and golden brown. Let cool.
- Assemble the bowl: Add the kale and Brussels sprouts first, then layer on the remaining ingredients.
- Mix the Dressing: Add all the ingredients to a small container or bowl with a lid. Add the lid and shake until fully combined. Pour over the salad, using as much as desired.
Tips and Variations
One of the many things I love about homemade salads is that you can change them up to use whatever ingredients you like best. Here are several ways to make your harvest bowl your own:
- Prep Tip: Roast the sweet potatoes in advance and use rotisserie chicken or pre-grilled chicken. This is a great way to use up leftovers of either ingredient!
- Use a Different Green: If you don’t like kale or Brussels sprouts, substitute for a green of your choice. Spinach, arugula, or spring mix would be a great substitute.
- What Apple to Use: Choose a very crisp, sweet apple for this bowl. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, and Ambrosia apples are all excellent varieties.
- Make it Dairy-Free: You can easily make this dairy-free by leaving out the cheese.
- Try Butternut Squash: Mix things up and swap roasted butternut squash instead of the sweet potato.
Storing Leftovers
While this Harvest Bowl is best eaten fresh, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a day. The ingredients will wilt as they sit, especially if you use a lot of dressing. I don’t recommend eating it after more than 24 hours.
More Hearty Salad Recipes
I absolutely love sitting down to a salad that’s hearty enough to be a whole meal on its own. It’s so satisfying when everything you need is right there in one bowl! Here are a few of my favorite recipes where I can just dig into the salad, and that’s all I need to prepare.
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Harvest Bowl
Ingredients
Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 dash salt
Instructions
- Prepare the sweet potato by peeling and dicing it, then tossing it lightly with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through and golden brown. Let cool.
- Assemble the bowl by adding the kale and Brussels sprouts first, then layering on the remaining ingredients.
Dressing
- Add all the ingredients to a small container or bowl with a lid. Add the lid and shake until combined. Pour over the assembled bowl, using as much as desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
