Easy Winter Salad Recipe
Earlier this year, I shared my favorite quick salad recipe—the one I make all the time because it’s easy and works with what’s in the fridge.
Now, here’s a winter version! It has a simple dressing that goes great with winter fruits, nuts, or seeds. Keep it simple with greens and one fruit, or use what you have.
For a festive twist, add maple-cinnamon pecans from the recipe card below—they’re so good!
Winter Salad Ingredients
- Mixed greens: Use a store-bought mix of different greens for great texture and flavor.
- Pomegranate: Save time with ready-to-eat arils from the store.
- Dried cranberries: Sweetened cranberries add the perfect tart-sweet balance.
- Pears, apples, or oranges: Use firm fruit for easy slicing and crunch—pick your favorite or what you have on hand.
- Feta or goat cheese: Use your favorite, or skip for a dairy-free option.
- Pepitas or candied pecans: Toasted nuts or seeds add the best crunch and flavor.
Quick Tip
Roasted, salted pepitas add crunch and a sweet, nutty flavor. Look for them in the bulk aisle or near salad toppings. For a homemade choice, make Maple-Cinnamon Pecans (recipe below)—they’re quick, simple, and great with the salad!
Winter Salad Dressing
Making your own dressing is quick, flavorful, and lets you know exactly what’s in it. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Olive oil: Use extra virgin for the best flavor.
- Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup, not to be confused with pancake syrup, adds natural sweetness.
- White wine vinegar: Balances the sweetness with a slight tang.
- Mayo: Full-fat mayo makes the dressing creamy and rich.
- Minced garlic: Jarred garlic works great if you’re after easy!
- Salt & pepper: Adjust to taste for the perfect finish.
Winter Salad Variations
- Make it a main dish: Add blackened chicken on top or on the side.
- Swap the fruit: Use pears, apples, or oranges. Try varieties like Blood Oranges, Bartlett Pears, or Honeycrisp Apples.
- Add veggies instead: Roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, or butternut squash are great alternatives to fruit.
- Make it vegan: Skip the cheese and use vegan mayo in the dressing.
What To Serve Alongside Winter Salad
- Soup: Pair with a warm bowl of tomato basil soup or butternut squash soup.
- Bread: Serve with crusty French bread or soft dinner rolls.
- Protein: Add grilled chicken, salmon, or steak for more protein.
- Pasta: Complement with a hearty pasta dish like baked ziti.
Storage
Storage
Winter Salad doesn’t store well once dressed. Only dress what you’ll eat, and keep toppings and dressing separate for leftovers.
If the dressing clumps in the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, then shake it up—it’s just the olive oil hardening.
More Delicious Salad Recipes:
- Winter Fruit Salad with a simple poppy seed dressing
- Beet Goat Cheese Walnut Salad with a honey-Dijon dressing
- Ambrosia Salad with a creamy yogurt dressing
- Chicken Salad with Apples and a delicious dressing
- Spinach Salad with bacon and apples
Winter Salad
Equipment
- Jar or other sealable container
Ingredients
Salad
- 8 cups mixed greens
- 1 ripe pomegranate or 1 cup arils
- 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- 2 large oranges, pears, or apples whatever you have on hand or like best!
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
- Pepitas or maple-cinnamon pecans, see note 1
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup see note 2
- 1-1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons mayo
Instructions
- If making maple-cinnamon pecans, prepare them first (see note 1).
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar with a lid. Add salt and pepper to taste (start with 1/4 teaspoon each). Shake well and refrigerate. Shake again before using.
- This salad doesn’t keep well with dressing as it quickly wilts the toppings and greens. If you aren’t eating the entire salad in one sitting, dress only the portion you’ll eat, and store the rest separately.
- In a large bowl, add the mixed greens. Toss with about half the dressing until nicely coated. Add the pomegranate, cranberries, and thinly sliced or chopped fruit (oranges, pears, or apples). Drizzle with the remaining dressing, or to taste. Sprinkle with candied nuts or pepitas and the crumbled cheese. Serve promptly.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this for Thanksgiving because I didn’t feel like making a hot vegetable side. It was a big hit. Everyone loved the garlicky dressing. I loved the fruit with the feta. I will definitely keep this for future meals because it was pretty easy to put together. We prepped everything early and dressed and assembled right before we ate.
I’m so thrilled this was a hit! Thanks Elizabeth!
I made this salad for my one year old’s birthday party (it was a lunch!). Served with chicken salad croissant sandwiches and chips. Everyone loved it! It felt very seasonal (January) with the citrus and so fresh. The dressing is really unique, the mayo gives it a nice creaminess. I’ll definitely make this again!
YAY! So happy to hear this! Thanks so much Leanne! 🙂
I absolutely LOVE your salad recipes and this turned out to be quite a hit for our family’s Thanksgiving. However, the dressing tasted way too garlicky to my husband and me… to the point where I ended up eating seconds of the salad without dressing. Maybe I made a mistake in my measurements so I will try giving it another try, but in the meantime, do you have any other recommendations of dressings from your website I could pair with this salad in place of the creamy dressing listed? Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Thanks so much Claire! I would just leave out the garlic in this dressing; it will still be delicious! That or reduce it to taste 🙂 You could also make this poppyseed dressing: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/poppyseed-dressing/
This salad is delicious! We enjoyed it alongside breakfast sandwiches for dinner tonight. 🙂
Delish! I’m so glad you enjoyed! 🙂