Apple pecan salad with raspberry vinaigrette is one of my all-time favorite meals for the cooler months! Fresh greens are topped with delightful Michigan apples, grilled chicken, honey-roasted pecans, cranberries and gorgonzola cheese for an absolutely mouth-watering salad that is bound to become a quick favorite!

This post is sponsored by NOW Foods.

Just because summer is over doesn’t mean you have to say, “bye, bye!” to salads on your menu! If you’re searching for a fall-inspired healthy salad to make on a cozy night this autumn, you’ve come to the right place. As the season shifts, I love using seasonal ingredients to create new recipes for my family. This time of year in Michigan, we have an abundance of fresh apples, especially in our area as we are surrounded by so many apple orchards. We absolutely love visiting the different orchards in our area and enjoying all the hand-picked apple goodness we can in fall-inspired recipes.

This apple salad features grilled chicken, fresh sliced apples, NOW Foods honey-roasted pecans, cranberries, red onion and gorgonzola on a fresh bed of romaine and spring mix. It’s delicious when served with a generous drizzle of raspberry vinaigrette that helps to bring all the flavors together. While it may look like a lot of work, it’s honestly a pretty simple recipe to throw together for a quick meal.

It’s one of those dishes that are great for a weeknight, but so tasty and gorgeous looking that it’s worthy of serving for a special dinner or during the holidays as well. It makes a wonderful side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. This salad recipe has the perfect combination of flavors and texture and comes together so wonderfully.

A few tips when making Apple Pecan Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette:

Chicken:

Season chicken liberally with a blend of salt, pepper and garlic. I love grilling chicken on the grille or with a cast iron pan. You get all that delicious flavor from the searing.

Apples:

Stick with a sweet and crispy variety of apples. I love honeycrisp or gala variety for this dish. You can slice or dice your apples depending on your preference. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on the cut apples to keep them from browning.

Nuts:

Honey-roasted pecans add the perfect crunch to this recipe, while the rich caramelized honey coating complements the salty chicken and rich gorgonzola cheese. Don’t skip it! My favorite variety is NOW Foods Honey-Roasted Pecans. They’re crafted in small batches and coated with a delicious rich caramelized honey coating. Perfect for salads, for snacking and my favorite, as a topping on ice cream.  Use code AMBER at nowfoods.com to save 20% on your entire order.

Cheese:

Gorgonzola is my number one pick, but you can also use crumbled blue cheese too.

Dried Cranberries:

I usually take a few minutes to plump the cranberries prior to adding them to this salad to really bring out the flavor. To do so, add boiling water to small bowl with cranberries and let sit for 5 minutes. Drain water from bowl and add cranberries to salad.

Dressing:

I love dressing this recipe with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. I prefer a balsamic based dressing over creamy, but both would pair great with this. If you’re looking for a homemade option, this is a great recipe with simple ingredients (I do halve the sugar though).

If making for a large group or event, simply double or triple the recipe! When making ahead, keep the following tips in mind.

Tips for Making Ahead

  • When making ahead, I recommend storing the ingredients separately until right before serving to keep the lettuce and spring mix from wilting or getting wet. You can shop up the ingredients and store in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to serve, toss with all the ingredients and drizzle with dressing.
  • Storing: This recipe is best eaten immediately after serving. If saving for leftovers, use within 24 hours if dressing has already been added. Without dressing, the salad will last in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Apple Pecan Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

Fresh greens are topped with fresh Michigan apples, grilled chicken, honey-roasted pecan, cranberries and gorgonzola for an absolutely mouth-watering salad that is bound to become a quick favorite!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Holiday
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 2 heads of romaine coarsely chopped
  • 6 oz spring mix
  • 3 to 4 cooked chicken breast sliced or chopped
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup red onions sliced
  • 2 apples sliced or chopped
  • 1/3 cup gorgonzola cheese crumbles
  • 1/3 cup NOW Honey-Roasted Pecans
  • raspberry vinaigrette

Instructions
 

  • In large bowl, add salad greens, chicken, cut apple, red onion, cranberries, gorgonzola cheese and honey-roasted pecans. Mix well.
  • Toss with raspberry vinaigrette immediately prior to serving.

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