🍎 Apple Harvest Salad
Crisp • Sweet & Savory • Crowd-Favorite
Why Everyone Loves This Salad
Crunchy apples + creamy cheese
Sweet fruit balanced with tangy dressing
Works as a side or light meal
Easy, affordable, and impressive
🧾 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
🥗 Salad
6 cups mixed greens (romaine, spinach, or spring mix)
2 crisp apples, thinly sliced (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji)
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup candied pecans or walnuts
½ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
¼ small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
🍯 Apple Cider Vinaigrette
¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1½ tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt & black pepper, to taste
👩🍳 Instructions
Prepare the dressing
In a small bowl or jar, whisk (or shake) olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon, salt, and pepper until smooth.Assemble the salad
In a large bowl, add greens, apples, cranberries, nuts, cheese, and onion.Dress & toss
Drizzle dressing just before serving. Toss gently to coat.Serve immediately
Fresh, crisp, and bursting with flavor.
⭐ Optional Add-Ins (Turn It Into a Meal)
Grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken
Sliced turkey
Roasted sweet potatoes
Quinoa or farro
❓ Q & A
Q1: How do I keep apples from turning brown?
Toss slices lightly with lemon juice or add them right before serving.
Q2: Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Prep ingredients separately. Store dressing and apples separately until serving.
Q3: What’s the best apple to use?
Honeycrisp is ideal—sweet, juicy, and crunchy. Gala and Fuji work well too.
Q4: Can I make it dairy-free?
Yes. Skip the cheese or use dairy-free feta.
Q5: Can I use fresh fruit instead of dried cranberries?
Absolutely. Try pomegranate seeds, pears, or sliced grapes.
Q6: How long does the dressing last?
Up to 1 week refrigerated in a sealed jar.
🍁 Flavor Variations
Fall Harvest: Add roasted butternut squash
Autumn Chicken Salad: Add warm grilled chicken
Holiday Version: Add pears + blue cheese
Lighter Version: Use plain toasted nuts instead of candied
🌟 Pro Tip
Toss apples in dressing first, then add greens—this coats them evenly and boosts flavor.
If you want, I can also share:
Panera-style Apple Harvest Salad
Weight-loss version
Holiday potluck version
Creamy apple salad dressing
