Roasted Beet and Kale Salad

There’s so much to love about this roasted beet salad. Sweet and tender beets, creamy goat cheese, crunchy walnuts, dried cranberries, and hearty kale are all tossed together with an easy balsamic vinaigrette. 

If you’re looking for a hearty, delicious, and nutritious plant-based salad, look no further than roasted beets as your star ingredient. They’re incredibly easy to prep ahead of time and have so much to give when it comes to nutrients. 

And while there are many different ways to make a roasted beet salad recipe, this one with massaged kale is the recipe I default to every single time. It gives major winter vibes, which is why it’s become a holiday favorite with my family. But honestly, I’ll whip this up any time I can get my hands on fresh beets!

Roasted Beet Salad Ingredients

Just a few ingredients go a long way in this salad. Here is what you’ll need. 

• Leafy Greens: I love to use dinosaur kale as it gives hefty base to this salad. But you could also use spinach, arugula, or spring mixed greens – the choice is yours!
• Beets: Since you’ll be roasting the beets, grab the freshest bundle of beets you can find. If it’s not really beet season where you are, pre-cooked packaged beets will work just fine. 
• Balsamic Vinaigrette: There’s just something so magical about how the balsamic flavor pairs with the rest of the ingredients. Plus, it’s so easy to make with my homemade balsamic vinaigrette recipe!
• Toppings: The toppings are what really elevate this salad. So grab some goat cheese crumbles, chopped walnuts, and dried cranberries.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below

How To Make Roasted Beet Salad

Prep and roast the beets. Trim about 1 to 2 inches of the stem off the beets, gently wash them, and place them in a small Dutch oven or casserole dish with a lid. Bake them covered for 1 hour at 400°F (200°C). 

Slice the beets. Once they’re done roasting, let them cool completely. Slice the rest of the stems off and gently rub off the skins under running water. Then, you’re ready to slice the beets in quarters, or however you’d like to enjoy them in your salad. 

Toss the salad together. In a large mixing bowl, toss together the kale, sliced beets, cranberries, walnuts, goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette! Alternatively, you can toss the kale and beets first with the vinaigrette, then add on the rest of the toppings. 

More Healthy Salad Recipes

A hearty bowl of salad always completes the dinner table. So, here are some tasty salad recipe ideas to try next time!

Roasted Beet and Kale Salad

There’s so much to love about this roasted beet salad! Especially the homemade balsamic vinaigrette it’s tossed with.

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Trim the tops off the beets, leaving about 1 to 2 inches of stem, and then gently wash the beets.

• Place the beets in a small Dutch oven or a casserole dish with a lid. Bake them covered for 1 hour, or until the beets are tender and pierced easily with a fork. Let them cool to the touch.

• Slice the remaining stem completely off, then place the beets under running water, and use your fingers to gently rub off the skin. You can use gloves to prevent staining your fingers, or alternatively, you can use a paper towel to remove the skin. Then slice each beet into smaller pieces.

• In a large mixing bowl, add the kale, sliced beets, cranberries, walnuts, and goat cheese. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and toss together.

• Transfer the salad to a serving bowl, and if you’d like, top it with a little extra sprinkle of goat cheese (as the tossed goat cheese turns pink) or chopped walnuts before serving.

• If you’d like to soften and reduce the bitterness of kale, make sure to massage it with your hands before adding it to this salad! 

Calories: 259kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 229mg, Potassium: 282mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 2261IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 97mg, Iron: 1mg

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Originally posted August 2015, but updated to include new information and photos.