Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese and Honey Balsamic Dressing (2024)

This gorgeous showstopping Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese and Honey Balsamic Dressing is perfect for any occasion! Once the beets are roasted (which you can do well ahead of time), the salad comes together quickly. Sit back and enjoy the accolades from your guests!

“We eat a LOT of salads at our house but this one is always at the top of our list! …The dressing is always in the fridge!”

Why This Recipe is a Keeper:

Here’s a super simple, showstopping salad with beets recipe that’s perfect for any occasion! Serve as part of a holiday buffet and your guests will ooh and aah!

Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese and Honey Balsamic Dressing is perfect any time you’re entertaining, need something to take to a get-together or want to up your side salad game for a dinner at home.

This dressing is our go-to salad dressing and we always have some in our refrigerator. It’s sooogood!

Best of all, if you don’t want to go through the trouble of roasting the beets, cooked unflavored beets are now readily available in the produce department. Yay for when you need something impressive but are short on time.

How to Make Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese and Honey – Balsamic Dressing:

Recipe Ingredients:

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this salad with beets recipe along with how to prep. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

• Beets: I prefer to roast my own beets because I feel the flavor is superior. However, packaged, unflavored roasted beets available in the produce department can be used in a pinch. Use small to medium beets and a variety of colors if available.
• Walnuts: Do toast the walnuts if you have time. Toasting adds another layer of flavor.
• Goat Cheese: Because a log of goat cheese is difficult to crumble, I like to use pre-crumbled goat cheese in the plastic container because it’s easy to sprinkle over the salad.
• Arugula: Arugula has a lightly bitter, peppery flavor. If you’re not a fan of arugula, you can use mixed baby greens or baby spinach.
• Balsamic Vinegar: We love the Kirkland brand from Costco but as long as you’re using a good balsamic vinegar from Modena, Italy, you’re in good shape.
• Oils: I combine canola oil and extra-virgin olive oil. Just using canola oil is a bit too light while only EVOO will be too heavy. You can also use vegetable or grapeseed oil in place of the canola.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

• Gather and prep all the ingredients for the beet salad recipe.
• Trim the tops from the beets and scrub them well. (Save those tops for a salad or a quick saute!)

• Place in a roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil then pour a little water in the bottom of the pan.

• Cover with foil and roast for at least 45 minutes to an hour. Depending upon their size, they may take longer.
• The beets are cooked when you can easily pierce them with a paring knife.
• Let cool and peel.

• While the beets are roasting, whisk together the honey balsamic dressing. The recipe makes more than you’ll need for the salad but you’ll love having extra for another salad. Refrigerate the dressing until needed.
• MAKE AHEAD: Beets can be roasted and peeled 2-3 days in advance. Refrigerate until needed. Dressing can be combined 3-4 days in advance and refrigerated but will keep for up to a week.

• Combine the beets and red onion with some of the dressing and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes. You don’t have to do this, but letting the onion sit in the dressing will soften it up and take away some of the bite.

• Assemble the beet salad recipe:
  • Place the fresh arugula on a platter.
  • Top with the marinated beets and onion followed by the walnuts and goat cheese.
  • Drizzle with additional dressing.

That’s it! Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts, Goat Cheese and Honey Balsamic Dressing is super elegant and perfect for your next dinner party, holiday dinner or special dinner at home!

Chef Tips and Tricks:

• Toasting nuts can be tricky because they burn quickly so keep an eye on them. Toast on parchment paper in a 350-degree oven for 5-7 minutes if chopped and 7-10 minutes if whole. This can also be done in a nonstick skillet on the stovetop. It’s direct heat so won’t take as long. When you can smell the toasted nuts, they’re probably done!
• I always have disposable gloves in my kitchen for handling things like chicken or hot chiles so wearing them while peeling and slicing the beets will keep the color off your hands.
• Eco-friendly alternatives to gloves is to use a cut lemon rubbed over your hands or baking soda and water as suggested by Sunset Magazine.
• To get the stain off your cutting board, sprinkle a little coarse salt over the stain and rub with a lemon half.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Make it a meal with:

• Deviled Crab-Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms
• Braised Beef Short Ribs with Cauliflower Leek Puree
• Asparagus Cordon Bleu
• Chocolate Avocado Mousse

For more delicious beet and beet salad recipes, be sure to try my:

• Kale Beet and Blueberry Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing
• Quick Pickled Beets with Dill
• Roasted Hasselback Beets with Dill Dressing
• Roasted Beets with Red Wine Glaze

Be sure to check out all my salad recipes at Side Dish Salad Recipes – From A Chef’s Kitchen. Get more great beet salad recipes at 25 Best Beet Salad Recipes.