Old Town Fort Collins Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
Earthy roasted beets paired with creamy goat cheese, toasted walnuts, and a honey-balsamic vinaigrette inspired by Colorado’s local farm produce. This american-inspired salads (vegetarian) ready in about 75 minutes pairs medium, trimmed and scrubbed beets, crumbled goat cheese, roughly chopped toasted walnuts into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 medium, trimmed and scrubbed beets
- 4 oz, crumbled goat cheese
- 1/2 cup, roughly chopped toasted walnuts
- 6 cups mixed salad greens
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap 4 medium trimmed beets individually in aluminum foil and roast on a baking sheet for 50-60 minutes until tender when pierced with a knife. Let cool, then peel and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
- Step 3: In a large salad bowl, combine 6 cups mixed salad greens, the cubed roasted beets, 1/2 cup toasted and roughly chopped walnuts, and 4 oz crumbled goat cheese.
- Step 4: Drizzle the honey-balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Old Town Fort Collins Beet and Goat Cheese Salad take to make?
Total time is about 75 minutes (15 min prep + 60 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Old Town Fort Collins Beet and Goat Cheese Salad?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep crumbled goat cheese from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Old Town Fort Collins Beet and Goat Cheese Salad?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Old Town Fort Collins Beet and Goat Cheese Salad for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Old Town Fort Collins Beet and Goat Cheese Salad vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.