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Topped with a poppyseed dressing, fresh apple pecan salad is a delectable combination of flavors and textures.
Top this salad with our sweet Poppy Seed Dressing or a Strawberry Vinaigrette!
We Love a Fresh Salad
Salads are one of my favorite foods!
I order them at restaurants and frequently make them at home. Wendy’s apple pecan salad is a favorite so I figured I’d create my own variation and I’m so glad I did. It tastes even better than the fast food version.
Top it with our fresh Poppy Seed Dressing or any of our favorite homemade salad dressings!
Why we love it:
- Make it your own. Easily customize it to your taste and texture preferences. You can also adjust the ingredients for it to be a light side dish or a heartier main dish.
- Ready in minutes. We love easy salad recipes and this one fits the bill! It’s ready in minutes and is packed with texture and flavor.
- Meal prep. Apple pecan salad can easily be prepped ahead of time and stored for a quick lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- spinach – Romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, or a spring mix will also work.
- Fuji apple – we like Fuji apples, but Honeycrisp apples and Gala apples work well. Or combine a sweeter apple with Granny Smith apples.
- Feta cheese – Similar cheeses include Blue cheese crumbles, and goat cheese but shredded mozzarella cheese also works.
- pecans – walnuts or sliced almonds taste delicious as well
- mayonnaise
- milk
- sugar
- apple cider vinegar
- poppy seeds
- dry mustard
- garlic powder
- salt
Made in Minutes!
- SALAD. Place salad, apple pieces, pecans, and feta cheese in a large salad bowl.
- DRESSING. Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk.
- SERVE. Toss the salad and drizzle with the dressing.
Recipe Tips
- Candied pecans. All you need are pecans sugar, cinnamon, salt, egg white, and vanilla. Coat the pecans and bake at 250°F for 15-20 minutes. See this Candied Pecan Recipe for more details.
- Other toppings include chopped pears, sliced chicken breast, cucumbers, bacon crumbles, red onion, dried cranberries, and some black pepper for a bit of extra flavor.
- Dressing. Top with our homemade Poppyseed Dressing or another creamy dressing, balsamic dressing, or vinaigrette.
- Prevent apples from browning. Create a barrier between the exposed apple flesh and oxygen. Sprinkle it with Ball’s Fresh Fruit powder, spritz the apple slices with lemon juice, or soak the apples in a cold water & lemon juice mixture. The apples will eventually start to brown so chop as close to the serving time as possible.
Storing Info
- Make ahead of time. Prepare the different elements of the salad a couple of days in advance and keep them stored separately. Combine the salad ingredients the day before and keep it covered in the fridge. Add the dressing right before serving.
- STORE. Keep leftover salad in a single container or divided into individual serving sizes and stored in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- Salad dressing can be stored in an airtight container or mason jar for up to a week.
For More Recipes:
Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
10 mins
Strawberry Vinaigrette
5 mins
Strawberry Spinach Salad
1 hr 15 mins
Arugula Salad
10 mins
Apple Pecan Salad
Topped with a poppyseed dressing, fresh apple pecan salad is a delectable combination of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
- 6 cups spinach
- 1 Fuji apple, cored and diced
- ½ cup Feta cheese, or Bleu cheese
- ½ cup pecans
Poppy Seed Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup milk
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Place salad, apple pieces, pecans, and feta cheese in a large salad bowl.
- Make dressing by adding all the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisking together.
- Before serving, toss the salad and drizzle with dressing.
Notes
Make ahead of time. Prepare the different elements of the salad a couple of days in advance and keep them stored separately. Combine the salad ingredients the day before and keep it covered in the fridge. Add the dressing right before serving.
STORE. Keep leftover salad in a single container or divided into individual serving sizes and stored in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Salad dressing can be stored in an airtight container or mason jar for up to a week.
Nutrition
Calories: 344kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 349mg, Potassium: 283mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 2922IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 136mg, Iron: 1mg
I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. It sounds delicious.
I sure hope you like it!!