This Apple Salad Recipe comes together quickly with greens, apples, pears, chicken, cherries, pecans, and cheese, tossed in a delicious apple cider vinaigrette.
author’s note
Not Just Any Apple Salad… THE Apple Salad!
I’ve been obsessed with my pear salad for a while now. It even made an appearance on my Thanksgiving table last year, and it was a total hit. The sweet pears, candied pecans, and tangy vinaigrette worked so well alongside all the holiday dishes.
After the holidays, I started playing around with it, adding crisp apples for extra crunch and some rotisserie chicken to make it more of a meal. That little twist completely changed the game. Suddenly, this apple salad recipe wasn’t just a side. It was hearty, filling, and flavorful enough to stand on its own. That’s when I knew I had to write up a whole new recipe to share here.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swap or Tip |
|---|---|
| Apples & Pears | Use crisp, firm apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Pink Lady. Drizzle cut fruit with lemon juice to slow browning. |
| Rotisserie Chicken | Swap with grilled chicken breasts, shredded turkey, or leftover roasted chicken in this apple salad recipe. |
| Dried Cherries | Use dried cranberries or even golden raisins for a different flavor twist. |
| Candied Pecans | Buy them in the “salad topper” aisle or make your own at home. Walnuts or almonds also work. |
| Goat Cheese | Swap with feta for more tang or gorgonzola for a stronger bite. |
| Apple Cider Vinaigrette | A simple mix of olive oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon, and seasonings. |
Quick Tip
When adding apples to salad, always go for crisp, crunchy varieties that hold up after slicing. My favorites are Honeycrisp and Pink Lady, but Fuji, Jazz, and Envy are also great picks.
How To Make This Apple Salad Recipe
- Prep: Add greens to a bowl. Thinly slice an apple and pear; add them to the bowl.
- Add Protein: Mix in shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Toss in Extras: Sprinkle on dried cherries, candied pecans, and crumbled cheese.
- Dressing: In a jar, combine oil, honey, vinegar, mustard, and seasonings. Shake.
- Finish: Toss salad with most of the dressing, then add a little more on top with extra cheese and pecans. Serve right away.
More Salad Recipes:
Apple Salad Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 cups spring mix lettuce blend
- 1 large apple such as Pink Lady or Honeycrisp
- 1 large pear
- 2-1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 cup dried tart cherries or dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup candied pecans coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta or gorgonzola cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
Instructions
- Place salad greens in a large bowl. Core and thinly slice apples and pears (peel if desired). Chop the chicken and add to greens. Add dried cherries.
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a mason jar and shake to combine. Taste and adjust to personal preferences.
- Toss salad with 80% of dressing, then add chopped candied pecans. Top with crumbled cheese, drizzle remaining dressing, sprinkle sea salt if desired, and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Storage
- Store greens, chicken, fruit, cheese, and nuts separately in airtight containers. Slice apples and pears just before serving.
- The dressing keeps well for up to 5–7 days in the fridge. Shake before using.
- Only dress as much of this apple salad recipe as you’ll eat right away; leftovers don’t store well once tossed.
Variations
- Autumn Apple Salad Recipe: Add roasted butternut squash and pumpkin seeds.
- Holiday Salad: Toss in pomegranate arils like in this pear pomegranate salad.
- Summer Vibes: Use strawberries or blueberries instead of dried fruit.
This is a fabulous salad. The flavors blen well and the dressing is amazing!
Thanks so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed! 🙂
Oh wow! I need to make this immediately. Thanks for posting such a great recipe – can’t wait to try it????
Hope you enjoy! Thanks! 🙂
Made the Apple Salad it was fantastic!
Everyone from teenagers, to grandparents raved about it.
THANKS!
Viv
YAYY!! I’m soo happy to hear this!! Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
Great salad recipe, salad is everyone’s favorite thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Awesome recipes with Awesome pics very useful recipe info. I totally recommended this whenever you made APPLE SALAD. Thank you.
You’re welcome! 🙂
Thank you for always sharing such amazing beautiful yummy easy to follow recipes
Apple salad is the winner
Thank you so much Lallie 🙂 Appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment!
Awesome recipes. Awesome pics
A really marvelous effort at sharing tried and tested recipes
Hey Chelsea
The pictures are really tempting and saying me to try it today.
I hope you love it! 🙂