Enjoy a crisp green salad with apples and pecans—a perfect way to welcome the flavors of fall. This simple, elegant salad comes together quickly and features a creamy maple Dijon vinaigrette. Serve it as a side with soups, pastas, or roasted mains, or present it as a crowd-pleasing starter. With candied pecans, dried cranberries, and tangy blue cheese, it’s memorable enough to share the recipe with guests.
Apple Pecan Salad – Complete With Best Dressing!
Although apples are a hallmark of autumn, this salad is popular year-round because the ingredients are easy to find and it adapts to many occasions—weeknight dinners, holiday gatherings, or potlucks. The combination of fresh greens, crisp apples, toasted candied pecans, creamy blue cheese, and chewy dried cranberries creates a satisfying mix of textures and flavors that keeps people coming back for seconds.
This salad pairs especially well with soups, casseroles, and creamy pastas, and it’s a great choice when you want a side that feels special without a lot of fuss.
Star With 5-Minute Candied Pecans
Candied pecans lift this salad from everyday to extraordinary. A quick stove-top recipe with only a few pantry ingredients creates warm, crunchy pecans that add sweetness and texture. They’re also great leftover for snacking, yogurt, oatmeal, or as a topping for baked goods.
The Dressing That Brings It All Together
The maple Dijon vinaigrette is effortless: combine ingredients in a jar, shake until creamy and emulsified, and you’re done. The dressing balances tang and sweetness with pantry staples—maple syrup, oil, mayonnaise, mustard, apple cider vinegar, a touch of brown sugar, and salt and pepper—making it a versatile go-to for many salads.
What About Make-Ahead Prep?
For entertaining, assemble the salad without apples and dressing, then cover and refrigerate. Make the vinaigrette up to three days in advance and chill. When it’s time to serve, add the sliced apples, shake the dressing, and toss everything just before presenting. Alternatively, keep the dressing on the side so guests can dress their own portions, which prevents wilting if the salad sits for a while.
More Yumminess To Add!
This salad already covers sweet, salty, crunchy, and creamy, but it’s easy to customize to turn it into a main dish or to suit different tastes:
- Sliced pears for a different fruit note
- Pepitas or sunflower seeds for extra crunch
- Protein: grilled chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey or ham, or crumbled bacon
- Cheese variations: goat cheese, brie, or feta
- Grains: quinoa, farro, or couscous to make it heartier
- Pomegranate seeds for bright color and pops of tartness
- Roasted vegetables such as butternut squash, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts
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Apple Pecan Salad (Quick Maple Dijon Dressing)
Melissa ErdelacPin
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Ingredients
Maple Mustard Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup oil, any preferred
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
- 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
Harvest Salad
- 8 ounces spring mix
- 2 small apples, cored and thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup blue cheese crumbles
- ⅓ cup candied pecans
Instructions
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Place all dressing ingredients in a lidded jar. Shake vigorously until the dressing is creamy and emulsified. Refrigerate until ready to use.
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When ready to serve, place the greens in a large bowl and top with sliced apples, dried cranberries, blue cheese, and candied pecans. Drizzle the desired amount of dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Serve immediately.