This apple pecan salad is the ideal side salad for any meal, or served alone as a light refreshing lunch. You'll love the combined sweetness of Honeycrisp apples with the richness of pecans, and then tossed with a tangy apple cider dressing.
In the perfect world, eating healthy would always be convenient. Unfortunately, most food options that are quick and easy are also the most unhealthy. That's why we love this apple salad, because it's easy to toss together, creating a satisfying and nutritious side dish or meal.
Why We Love This Recipe
Here are the top three reasons we love this apple pecan salad recipe:
- Not only is it delicious, but it is incredibly easy to make.
- It uses simple ingredients that still elevate the dish.
- There is a combination of textures that keeps each bite interesting.
Ingredients
From crisp apples to crunchy pecans, to a homemade dressing that pulls everything together, this recipe uses simple ingredients that are readily available. Here's what you need:
Ingredients for the Dressing:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Ingredients for the Salad:
- 1 lb Honeycrisp apples (about 3 medium), thinly sliced
- Splash lemon juice
- 12 oz mixed salad greens
- 1 cup raw pecan halves
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 4 oz crumbled feta
The vibrant mix of fresh greens, juicy apples slices, sweet dried cranberries and earthy pecans creates a satisfying and nutritious salad, while the homemade sweet and tangy dressing ties it all together.
How to Make Apple Pecan Salad
There are two simple steps to this recipe. The first involves whisking the dressing ingredients into a bowl. The second is layering the salad ingredients in a large bowl. That's it!
How to Keep Apple Slices from Browning
For many recipes, you can save time by prepping ingredients ahead. I do not recommend prepping this more than a few hours ahead of time in order to prevent the apple from browning. The apples are tossed with a splash of lemon juice to help prevent any browning, but it's not foolproof for a long period of time.
What to Do With Leftover Dressing
This recipe makes more dressing than you probably need, but I like having the extra dressing on hand for future salads. I also am never sure how much dressing guests like to use, so instead of drizzling the dressing over the entire salad, I serve them separately and allow my guests to use their desired amount.
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Photos by Lindsay Evers Photography
Recipe Card
Apple Pecan Salad
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Dressing:
- ½ cup EVOO
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Ingredients for the Salad:
- 1 lb Honeycrisp apples about 3 medium, thinly sliced
- Splash lemon juice
- 12 oz mixed salad greens
- 1 cup raw pecan halves
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 4 oz crumbled feta
Instructions
To make the dressing:
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Whisk vigorously to combine; set aside.
To make the salad:
- Place apple slices in a medium bowl and toss with a splash of lemon juice. In a large bowl, layer salad greens, apple slices, pecans, cranberries and feta. Toss evenly with dressing right before serving. (Use desired amount of dressing. Reserve leftover dressing in a sealed container in the fridge.)
Notes
- Nutrition information is an estimate only.
Lisa says
This salad is terrific. Highly recommended!