📝 Description
This Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing is a refreshing blend of crisp apples, crunchy pecans, sweet dried cranberries, and fresh leafy greens tossed in a tangy homemade honey Dijon vinaigrette. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and crunchy, making it an ideal side dish for holiday dinners, potlucks, or a light and healthy lunch.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce or mixed greens
- 2 crisp apples (Honeycrisp or Gala), diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ¾ cup pecan halves, toasted
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)
For the Honey Dijon Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1½ tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
👩🍳 Instructions
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, diced apples, celery, dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and red onion.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle with crumbled feta or goat cheese, if using.
- Serve immediately, or chill for 10–15 minutes before serving for extra freshness.
💡 Tips
- Toast the pecans for 5–7 minutes at 350°F (175°C) to enhance their flavor.
- Add grilled chicken or turkey for a complete meal.
- Swap pecans for walnuts or sliced almonds if preferred.
- Toss the apples with a little lemon juice to keep them from browning.
- Store the dressing separately and combine just before serving for the freshest texture.
⏱️ Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (for toasting pecans)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Calories: Approximately 280 kcal per serving
