September 21, 2015

Apple Cheddar Meal Bowl

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This apple cheddar meal bowl makes for a fantastic fall dinner! Simple and easy to make, it’s packed with roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, pecans and a honey dijon vinaigrette. Gluten free and vegetarian.

Two white dishes filled with Apple Cheddar Meal Bowls.

Note: This recipe is NOT dairy free. It was published before Cook Nourish Bliss transitioned to dairy free recipes and remains popular with long time readers. You can try using substitutions to make it dairy free, however I have not tested this myself and can’t say how it will turn out.

Meal bowls are just so practical. Easy, filling, simple. And! No side dish required. 

And we all know how I feel about having to think up side dish ideas for dinners during the week. Bane of my existence.

Although, if we are being honest, I’ll sometimes serve these bowls with some crusty bread. Because, hellooo, carboholic. But that doesn’t count. Bread is easy, I can do bread.

So do you want to know why else I love these apple cheddar meal bowls? Actually, I have two more reasons for you.

  1. Apple + cheddar = fall. Cozy sweaters, pretty leaves. And apple and cheddar.
  2. This is a perfect make ahead meal. For dinner, for lunch. Whatever floats your boat. You can assemble the whole thing in advance and then just let it come back to room temp before serving.

Perfect for on the go … or picnics even. A fall picnic? Goodness, me. Too much excitement.

A tray of roasted veggies, chopped pecans, cubed cheddar and two apples.

How To Make Apple Cheddar Meal Bowls

First, we’ll roast up some veggies. A little red onion, a few sweet potatoes, a touch of garlic.

Next, we’ll whisk together a simple vinaigrette with some honey, dijon and apple cider vinegar. A perfect pair. Wait, triplet? We’ll just stick with pair.

And lastly, we’ll toss it all together with some chickpeas + pecans for protein and some arugula for a bit of freshness. And of course, the apple + cheddar.

I suppose this would also make for a killer side dish. But I’m going to go ahead and keep calling it dinner.

Meal bowls for the win.

Two white dishes filled with Apple Cheddar Bowls.

Additional Meal Bowls You Might Enjoy:

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Recipe for apple cheddar meal bowls. A simple dish filled with roasted sweet potato, chickpeas, pecans and a honey dijon vinaigrette!

Apple Cheddar Meal Bowl

Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

This apple cheddar meal bowl makes for a fantastic fall dinner! Simple and easy to make, it’s packed with roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, pecans and a honey dijon vinaigrette. Gluten free and vegetarian.

Ingredients

For the veggies:

  • 1 medium red onion, chopped
  • 2 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 medium sweet potatoes, cut into ½ inch chunks
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

For the dressing:

  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • pinch of pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil

For assembling:

  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 medium apples, cored and chopped (I like a sweet, crisp apple here!)
  • 6 to 8 ounces sharp cheddar, cubed
  • ½ cup raw pecans, chopped
  • 3 cups lightly packed baby arugula

Instructions

For the veggies:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
  2. Add the red onion, garlic and sweet potatoes to a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread in an even layer.
  3. Bake for about 25 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the potatoes are tender. Set aside to cool slightly (about 5 to 10 minutes).

For the dressing:

  1. While the potatoes are cooling, make the dressing. Add the mustard, honey, vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil to a small bowl. Whisk vigorously until combined.

To assemble:

  1. Add the chickpeas, apples, cheddar, pecans and arugula to a large bowl. Add in the sweet potatoes and toss gently to combine. Pour in the dressing and toss again to coat. Serve.

Notes

This dish keeps well in the fridge for a few days. Just let it come back to room temp before serving. You can heat it back up but then the cheddar cubes melt! So just keep that in mind if you choose to go that route.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 507Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 735mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 9gSugar: 20gProtein: 13g

Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.

© Ashley / Cook Nourish Bliss
Cuisine: American / Category: Main Dish
Apple Season, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Lunch, Main Dish, Meatless, Recipes (ALL), Side Dish, Soy Free, Vegetarian, Weeknight
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