Enjoy a fresh green salad with apples and pecans as a delicious way to welcome in fall. This easy salad recipe is quick to throw together, complete with a simple maple dijon vinaigrette dressing. Enjoy it as a side salad for soups or dinners, but with candied pecans, dried cranberries, and tangy blue cheese, it’s impressive enough for guests. Be prepared to hand out the recipe!

an overhead shot of harvest salad on a blue plate with a wine class and container of dressing next to it

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Apple Pecan Salad – Complete With Best Dressing!

Even if apples are synonymous with the autumn season, this recipe has been served countless times year round. The ingredients are always readily available and this easy, gourmet salad fits the bill for quick weeknight dinners, holiday entertaining, or potlucks.

The explosion of flavors and textures with fresh greens, crisp apples, toasted candied pecans, creamy blue cheese, and chewy dried cranberries always yields rave reviews. When guests come back for second and third helpings, you know it’s no ordinary salad.

This salad comes in clutch when I’m serving soups, casseroles, and pastas. (We love it with quick and creamy Alfredo pasta.) What will you be serving it with? Let me know in the comments below! 👇

maple vinaigrette being poured from a white dressing container onto the harvest salad

Star With 5-Minute Candied Pecans

Yes, here is yet another way I put my easy stove top candied pecans to use. They only use four simple ingredients, but take this salad from delicious to extraordinary. Besides using them on salads, I store the leftovers for a tasty snack, sprinkled on yogurt, oatmeal, and my favorite way? This epic “Piecaken” Pumpkin Pie Cake.

The Dressing That Brings It All Together

It couldn’t be simpler. Measure the ingredients into a lidded mason jar or a secure container, shake to mix, and voilà – homemade dressing in minutes!

The maple dijon vinaigrette combines a simple list of pantry staple ingredients, such as pure maple syrup, oil, mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper.

This is my go-to salad dressing for practically everything! I always have the ingredients on hand and the combination of tangy and sweet compliments pretty much any green salad.

the ingredients for maple dressing in a glass ball jar

What About Make-Ahead Prep?

For entertaining, assemble salad without the apples and dressing, then cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Prepare the dressing and store in refrigerator up to 3 days. When ready to serve, add sliced apples, give the vinaigrette a quick shake, and toss all together with the salad.

Alternately, serve the vinaigrette on the side and allow guests to dress their own salad. This will prevent the salad from becoming wilted while sitting.

an overhead shot of maple vinaigrette with a plate of harvest salad next to it

More Yumminess To Add!

Of course with apples, pecans, cranberries and blue cheese with hit all the essential flavors – sweet, salty, crunchy, and creamy. But this salad can easily be adapted for different tastes and to make it as meal on its own.

  • Sliced pears
  • Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) or sunflower seeds
  • Meats – chicken breast, rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey or ham, crumbled bacon
  • Cheeses – goat cheese, brie, or feta
  • Grains – quinoa (gluten free), farro, or couscous
  • Pomegranate seeds
  • Roasted vegetables – butternut squash, sweet potatoes, or brussels sprouts
an up close shot of maple vinaigrette being poured from a white dressing container onto the harvest salad

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maple vinaigrette being poured from a white dressing container onto the apple pecan salad
4.43 stars (19 ratings)

Apple Pecan Salad (Quick Maple Dijon Dressing)

Melissa Erdelac of MamaGourmand headshot in patterned dress.Melissa Erdelac
Yield: 5
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Enjoy a fresh green salad with apples and pecans as a delicious way to welcome in fall. This easy salad recipe is quick to throw together, complete with a simple maple dijon vinaigrette dressing. Enjoy it as a side salad for soups or dinners, but with candied pecans, dried cranberries, and tangy blue cheese, it's impressive enough for guests. Be prepared to hand out the recipe!
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Ingredients
 

Maple Mustard Vinaigrette

Harvest Salad

Instructions
 

  • Place all dressing ingredients in a lidded jar. Shake vigorously until dressing is creamy and emulsified. Refrigerate until ready for use.
    ¼ cup oil, 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
  • When ready to serve, place the greens in a large serving bowl and place remaining ingredients on top. Pour desired amount of dressing over salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
    8 ounces spring mix, 2 small apples, ⅓ cup dried cranberries, ⅓ cup blue cheese crumbles, ⅓ cup candied pecans
Calories: 268kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 7mg, Sodium: 353mg, Potassium: 182mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 615IU, Vitamin C: 13.3mg, Calcium: 70mg, Iron: 0.5mg
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review below. It helps others when searching for recipes and I LOVE feedback!