FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook
- Why You’ll Love This Beet Salad Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Beet Salad
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Beet Salad
- More Easy Fall Salad Recipes
- Tools To Make Beet Salad
- Beet Salad Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
This roasted beet salad recipe with goat cheese is one of my all-time favorite fall salads ! Inspired by maybe one-too-many restaurant orders and a staple slavic veggie I grew up eating, I love it even more than my favorite butternut squash salad and sweet kale salad . The big autumn flavors are the best. Plus, even with roasting the beets, it takes less than 30 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Beet Salad Recipe

- Tender, earthy roasted beets
- Creamy, tangy goat cheese
- Crunchy walnuts
- Sweet honey balsamic dressing
- Common pantry ingredients
- Fast prep time with hands-off roasting
- On the table in less than 30 minutes
- Easy fall side dish for holidays — or any day!

Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the ingredients for the best beet salad recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .
Roasted Beets:
- Beets – Peel and cut into 1-inch cubes. You could also change it up and use mixed root vegetables (including beets) instead. Use any leftover beats in a comforting beet soup .
- Olive Oil – You can substitute avocado oil or even melted coconut oil if you like.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
Honey Vinaigrette Dressing:
- Olive Oil – This makes up the base of the dressing in this recipe for beet salad. Avocado oil also works.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Adds a tangy and slightly sweet flavor to the dressing, but you can also use red wine vinegar, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar.
- Honey – I prefer to use natural zero sugar honey , but regular works as well, or you can omit it altogether for a simple balsamic vinaigrette.
- Dijon Mustard – Adds flavor. You can use regular mustard or whole grain mustard as substitutes if you want to.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
VARIATION: Try a different dressing.
You can use a variety of salad dressings for your beet salad. For a savory twist, try green goddess dressing instead.
- Arugula – Brings a peppery bite to the beet goat cheese salad, or you can also use baby spinach or mixed greens instead.
- Goat Cheese – Adds a creamy tang. You can also make roasted beet salad with feta cheese or blue cheese, or omit the cheese altogether for a dairy-free option.
- Walnuts – You can also use pecans or almonds, or pepitas for a nut-free alternative.
VARIATION: Add a protein!
Make this salad a complete meal by adding a protein such as a baked chicken breast , ham cubes, sliced top sirloin steak , or garlic butter shrimp .

How To Make Beet Salad
This section shows how to make a beet salad with goat cheese with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .
- Season the beets. In a large bowl, toss cubed beets with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Roast the beets. Arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer. (You can line it with aluminum foil for easy cleanup if you like.) Roast in the oven, tossing halfway through, until soft and caramelized.
TIP: Don’t crowd the pan.
Ideally, each piece should be touching the pan. This will ensure that the beets roast quickly and evenly, and get a little caramelized on the edges.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Toss the beet salad. In a large bowl or on a serving platter, combine the arugula, roasted beets, goat cheese, and walnuts. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

Storage Instructions
- Store: Place the beet and goat cheese salad in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. It will keep for 1 day with the dressing added, or 2-3 days with dressing stored separately.
- Meal prep: You can roast the beets and prepare the dressing ahead of time. Store them separately in the fridge until you’re ready to combine the ingredients for the salad.

What To Serve With Beet Salad
I love beet salad recipes as a light lunch, but they make a great side dish:
- Salmon – Serve this salad alongside baked salmon or broiled salmon for a nutritious and elegant meal.
- Chicken – For the simplest meal that everyone will love, try baked chicken legs or oven baked chicken thighs . If you want to get fancy, spinach stuffed chicken breast looks impressive and is still so easy while cornish hens or an oven roasted chicken are perfect for a small gathering. And when I’m in the mood for something a little different this salad is perfect with Hasselback chicken .
- Pork – Enjoy this beet salad recipe with fast air fryer pork chops or a juicy baked pork tenderloin .
- Casseroles – When I want a simple side for complete meals like shepherd’s pie or a simple cabbage roll casserole , this is my go-to salad.
- Holiday Meals – Serve the salad recipe for Thanksgiving or Christmas with a turkey breast recipe (or a whole spatchcock turkey ), sweet roasted acorn squash , and a crustless pumpkin pie to finish off your dinner.
More Easy Fall Salad Recipes
Looking for more easy and flavorful salads to serve with your mains? Here are a few I think you’ll love:
Tools To Make Beet Salad
- Baking Sheet – My go-to baking sheet for beet goat cheese salad — or any dish where I need to roast on a sheet pan. It’s durable and non-stick.
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
Roasted Beets:
- 2 lb Beets (peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes; ~4 1/2 cups or slightly more than 2 lb before peeling, not including greens) ▢
- 2 tbsp Olive oil ▢
- 1/2 tsp Sea salt ▢
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
Dressing:
1/4 cup Olive oil ▢
1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar ▢
1 tbsp Honey (optional; either regular or zero sugar honey, or omit altogether) ▢
1 tsp Dijon mustard ▢
1/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
1/8 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢
4 oz Arugula (~6 cups) ▢
3/4 cup Goat cheese (crumbled) ▢
3/4 cup Walnuts ▢
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, toss the cubed beets with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Arrange the beets on a baking sheet in a single layer ( this one is the perfect size ), with space between most of the pieces.
- Roast the beets in the oven for 25-30 minutes , tossing halfway through, until soft and caramelized on the edges.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
- In a large bowl or a serving platter, combine the arugula, roasted beets, goat cheese, and walnuts.
- Add the dressing to the salad and toss to coat.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 1/2 cups
Nutrition info does not include optional honey.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
Add Your NotesYour Notes
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Beet Salad Recipe

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- The Basic Keto Meal Formula
- Understanding Macros
- Keto Food Swaps
- Keto Food List
- Electrolyte Basics
- Keto Diet Types
- Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
- Recipe Reviews
Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.
You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.
Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.
Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.
| Pick A Protein | Pick A Veggie | Add Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison | Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery | Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil |
Understanding Macros
Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.
Carbs Are A Limit.
Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.
A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.
“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.
A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.
Protein Is A Goal.
Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].
“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.
Fat Is A Lever.
Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.
A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).
Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.
Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.
“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.
Keto Food Swaps
One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.
So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .
Keto Swaps For Breakfast
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Pancakes | Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes |
| Oatmeal | Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds |
| Cinnamon rolls | Fathead cinnamon rolls |
| Cereal | Keto nut granola |
| Muffins | Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins |
| Donuts | Almond flour donuts |
| Scones | Almond flour scones |
| High-sugar smoothies | Smoothie with berries or avocado |
| Hash browns | Cauliflower hash browns |
| Breakfast casserole | Breakfast casserole with no potatoes |
| Egg whites | Whole eggs |
| Turkey bacon | Bacon |
| Waffles | Chaffles |

Keto Swaps For Bread
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Bagels | Fathead bagels |
| English muffin | Almond flour English muffin |
| White bread | Keto white bread |
| Multigrain bread | Coconut flour bread with seeds |
| Tortillas for wraps | Coconut flour tortillas |
| Corn taco shells | Cheddar cheese taco shells |
| Burger buns | Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps |
| Breadsticks | Cauliflower breadsticks |
| Biscuits | Almond flour biscuits |
| Cornbread | Almond flour cornbread |
| Croutons | Parmesan crisps |
| Rice | Cauliflower rice , konjac rice |

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Breaded wings | Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded) |
| Low-fat meat & poultry | High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat |
| Mashed potatoes | Mashed cauliflower |
| Roasted potatoes | Roasted or fried radishes |
| Tacos | Taco salad |
| Pizza | Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza |
| Lasagna | Eggplant lasagna |
| Potato salad | Cauliflower “potato” salad |
| French fries | Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries |
| Tater tots | Cauliflower tots |
| Wraps | Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas |
| Sushi | Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi |
| Breaded chicken or fish | Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds |
| Spaghetti | Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles |

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Nachos | Cheese crisps |
| High-sugar fruit | Berries & other keto fruits |
| Crackers | Almond flour crackers |
| Hummus | Cauliflower hummus |
| Soft pretzels | Fathead pretzels |
| Popcorn | Puffed cheese |
| Granola bars | Grain-free granola bars |
| Jam | Sugar-free berry chia jam |
| Sweet fruity yogurt | Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries |
| Sweet salad dressing | Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette |
| Ketchup | Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup |
| BBQ sauce | Sugar-free BBQ sauce |
| Sweetened peanut butter | Natural, sugar-free nut butters |
| Light mayo | Avocado oil mayo |
| Maple syrup | Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup |
| Potato chips | Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds |

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Sugar | Monk fruit or allulose |
| Powdered sugar | Powdered monk fruit or allulose |
| White flour | Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes) |
| Making baked goods soft/chewy | Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder |
| Breadcrumbs | Pork rinds or almond flour |
| Margarine | Butter, coconut oil, or ghee |
| Vegetable oil | Olive or avocado oil |
| Bananas | Banana extract |
| Chocolate chips | Sugar-free chocolate chips |
| Cornstarch or flour roux | Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end) |
| Simple syrup | Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat |

Keto Swaps For Drinks
| Instead Of This… | Eat This |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | Water with lemon |
| Soda | Flavored sparkling water |
| Milk | Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream |
| Latte | Butter coffee |
| Coffee creamer | Heavy cream |
| Sweet wine | Dry wine |
| Beer | Ultra light beer |
| Mixed drinks | Hard liquor with soda + lemon |
If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List
When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.
The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto
- Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
- Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
- Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
- Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
- Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
- Avocados
- Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
- Almond flour and coconut flour
- Eggs
- Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.
Foods To Avoid On Keto
- White flour & sugar
- Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
- Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
- Cereal
- Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
- Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
- Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
- Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
- Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
- Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.
That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)
Electrolyte Basics
Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.
For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .
The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.
Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:
| Sodium | Magnesium | Potassium |
|---|---|---|
| Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles | Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens | Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork |
Keto Diet Types
People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.
Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.
Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!
- Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
- Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
- Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
- Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.
For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:
- Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
- Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
- Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
- Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
- Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
- Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
- Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
- Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
- FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)
Beet Salad

An easy roasted beet salad recipe with goat cheese, fresh arugula, crunchy walnuts, and honey vinaigrette. Fall flavors in just 30 minutes!
Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/beet-salad/
Ingredients
Roasted Beets:
- 2 lb Beets (peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes; ~4 1/2 cups or slightly more than 2 lb before peeling, not including greens)
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1/2 tsp Sea salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
Dressing:
1/4 cup Olive oil
1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp Honey (optional; either regular or zero sugar honey, or omit altogether)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
1/8 tsp Black pepper (to taste)
4 oz Arugula (~6 cups)
3/4 cup Goat cheese (crumbled)
3/4 cup Walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
- In a large bowl, toss the cubed beets with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Arrange the beets on a baking sheet in a single layer ( this one is the perfect size ), with space between most of the pieces.
- Roast the beets in the oven for 25-30 minutes , tossing halfway through, until soft and caramelized on the edges.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
- In a large bowl or a serving platter, combine the arugula, roasted beets, goat cheese, and walnuts.
- Add the dressing to the salad and toss to coat.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 1/2 cups
Nutrition info does not include optional honey.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)