This chicken harvest salad is a quick and easy meal that is packed with the best fall flavors. It is made with apple maple chicken sausage and crispy garlic sweet potatoes.
The air fryer chicken sausage salad is a perfect fall salad because it features seasonal produce, such as sweet potatoes and apples. This salad uses in season produce. Both sweet potatoes and apples are in season in the fall.
If you’re as obsessed with using potatoes in salad like I do, make sure to add this BBQ chicken salad recipe and this buffalo chicken caesar salad to your menu this week!
why you’ll love this recipe
- This chicken harvest salad is a great recipe for people with dietary restrictions. It’s naturally gluten-free and can be easily adapted to be dairy-free and vegan.
- You can preare this salad ahead of time and bring it with you to school or work. Just add the dressing when you are ready to eat.
- It’s easy to make: This salad comes together in just 30 minutes or less, with minimal steps and ingredients.
- I like to use pre-cooked gluten free chicken sausage to save time so I dont need to make or grill the chicken myself. I definitely don’t want to spend 2 hours in the kitchen just to make a salad. Save yourself the time!!
- Air Fryer Does the Work: Sweet potatoes cook fast in the air fryer, plus its such an easy clean up. The less dishes the better!
- Meal Prep: Assemble the salad (minus dressing) and wedges in advance for grab-and-go lunches. I love bringing this salad with me when I need a quick on the go lunch.
ingredients & substitutions
Chicken sausage: For this recipe I used an apple maple flavored chicken sausage but you can use any flavor you want. The apple maple is fall themed but not overwelming. You can also use garlic flavored chicken sausage or a spicy one!
If you don’t have chicken sausage, you can substitute any other type of chicken such as grilled chicken or gluten free chicken cutlet. You can also use any sausage, such as pork sausage, turkey sausage, or beef sausage.
Lettuce: Any type of leafy green vegetable, such as spinach, kale, or arugula would work great in this chicken harvest salad.
Hard-boiled egg: No hard-boiled eggs? Use another source of protein or fat, such as nuts or avocado. If you are vegan or vegetarian or don’t eat eggs you can skip it!
Tomato: If you don’t have tomatoes, you can substitute another type of fruit or vegetable, such as cucumber, carrots, or apples in this chicken harvest salad.
Sweet potato: If you don’t have sweet potatoes, you can substitute another type of starchy vegetable, such as air fried white potatoes, air fried butternut squash, or air fried acorn squash. If you don’t have an air fryer you can use your oven and bake it.
Dressings Variations that you can use for this salad include:
- Maple vinaigrette
- Apple cider vinaigrette
- Cranberry vinaigrette
- Pumpkin vinaigrette
- Balsamic vinaigrette
- Honey Mustard
- Mustard vinaigrette
directions
Step 1
Make the chicken sausage. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the chicken sausage into bite-sized pieces. Place the sausage pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until the sausage is cooked through and browned. Remove from air fryer and set aside.
Step 2
Make the sweet potatoes. On a cutting board, cut the sweet potato into bite-sized cubes. Toss the sweet potato cubes with a drizzle of olive oil, garlic powder, and onion powder. Place the sweet potato cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, or until the sweet potato is tender and browned.
Step 3
Throw the chicken sausage back in with the sweet potaotes when there is 1 minute left to warm them.
Step 4
Assemble the salad. Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Top with the chicken sausage, hard-boiled egg, tomato, and roasted sweet potato. Drizzle the chicken harvest salad with dressing of choice to taste.
expert tips & tricks
- If you don’t have an air fryer, I suggest browingn the chicken sausage in a skillet over medium heat and roasting the sweet potato in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Chop all of your vegetables ahead of time. This always saved me time and makes assembling the chicken harvest salad a breeze.
- If you are serving the chicken harvest salad to a group, you can make a large batch and place it in a serving bowl. I like to set up a toppings bar with different types of dressings, vegetables, and nuts.
- To make this chicken sausage salad recipe vegan, you can substitute vegan chicken sausage for the chicken sausage. You can also use a vegan dressing or make your own by combining vegan mayonnaise, mustard, vegan honey or maple syrup, and vinegar.
how to serve & store
Serving: I serve this chicken harvest salad immediately after it is made. It can be served as a main course or a side dish. If you are not serving it right away just keep your dressing on the side until you are ready.
Storing: This chicken harvest salad can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. To store the salad, I it in an airtight container. I keep the dressing on the side until I am ready to eat.
Meal Prep: To meal prep the chicken harvest salad, I make the salad and divide it into individual containers. The salad can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. I keep the dressing on the side until you are ready to eat.
you may also like
15-Minute Chicken Harvest Salad (Gluten free)
Ingredients
- 2 cups leafy green lettuce
- 1 precooked apple maple chicken sausage
- 1 hard-boiled egg
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 1/2 sweet potato
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Salt + pepper to taste
- Dressing of choice
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut the chicken sausage into bite-sized pieces. Place the sausage pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until the sausage is cooked through and browned. Remove from air fryer and set aside.
- On a cutting board, cut the sweet potato into bite-sized cubes.
- Toss the sweet potato cubes with a drizzle of olive oil, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Place the sweet potato cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, or until the sweet potato is tender and browned.
- Throw the chicken sausage back in with the sweet potaotes when there is 1 minute left to warm them.
- Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Top with the chicken sausage, hard-boiled egg, tomato, and roasted sweet potato. Drizzle with dressing of choice!
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