Apple Salad
Posted Sep 05, 2025
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This apple salad recipe is a fresh and healthy fall salad. Spring mix, apples, walnuts, goat cheese and green onions are tossed in a homemade apple cider vinaigrette dressing.
In our house, we are year-round salad eaters. I love making light and fresh salads every month of the year, and this apple salad recipe is perfect for the fall.
This simple apple salad is a delicious combination of flavors and textures. Spring mix is mixed with crunchy candied walnuts, crisp apples, tangy goat cheese and green onions. Then, it’s tossed with the most delicious apple cider vinaigrette!
It’s a delicious, nutritious addition to any meal. It can even be served as a main dish with baked chicken breasts or pulled chicken!
Apple Salad: Ingredients & Substitutions
One thing I love about this recipe is that it’s very customizable to your personal taste preferences.
- Spring mix. Any lettuce works well – baby spinach, chopped romaine, etc.
- Green onions. I prefer the milder taste of green onions over other varieties. However, red onion is a great substitute.
- Goat cheese. feta is a great substitute.
- Candied walnuts. Choose your favorite candied nut as a substitute such as candied pecans, candied almonds, etc.
- Dressing. Feel free to use your favorite dressing recipe -store bought or homemade (such as this balsamic vinaigrette).
- Honey. maple syrup is a great substitute.
How to Make Apple Salad
Lets’ walk through how to make this delicious apple salad step-by-step. You can also watch the video for additional guidance.
Prepare the Apples
Begin by dicing two apples into ¼” cubes.Then, slice one apple into thin slices to use for garnishing the top of the salad in the serving bowl.
Then, combine lemon juice and water in a small bowl.
Next, place the diced apples in the lemon juice mixture and stir. Let the apples sit while you make the salad.
When ready to assemble, drain the apples in a colander and shake off excess moisture. You can even pat them dry with a paper towel if you’d like.
Make the Dressing
While the apples are soaking in lemon juice, make the dressing by combining the ingredients together in a small bowl or glass jar.
Whisk or shake to combine. Chill the dressing for at least 2 hours before serving (if desired for a cold dressing – or you can serve it right away).
Assemble the Apple Salad
Once the apples and dressing are ready, assemble the apple salad. Arrange the spring mix in a large serving bowl. Then add the diced apples (save the sliced for garnishing), green onions, goat cheese and walnuts.
Reserve about 2 tablespoons each ingredient: cheese, onions, and walnuts, to garnish the top of the salad.
Next, toss the salad with the dressing.
Then garnish the top of the apple salad with the remaining ingredients, including sliced apples and serve immediately.
Or, you can serve the salad with the dressing on the side. In this case, assemble the salad directly in a serving bowl/platter and let guests dress their salad portions individually.
Serve
Serve with your favorite dinner recipes such as pistachio chicken, butternut squash mac and cheese, and pumpkin pasta!
We also love baking a delicious loaf of no knead bread or homemade french bread to serve with this apple salad!
Store
This salad stays fresh longer if it isn’t dressed. Dressed salad lasts one day in the refrigerator. Undressed will last 2-3 days.
Apple Salad Recipe FAQS
This recipe calls for soaking the apples in a mixture of water and lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
I suggest the following apple varieties:
Pink Lady
Honeycrisp
Gala
Jazz Apples
Braeburn
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Apple Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 apples (about 1 pound)
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 cup water
- 10 ounces spring mix
- 4 green onions (sliced thin (½ cup))
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- 2 cups candied walnuts (8 ounces)
Apple Cider Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Honey
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
Prepare the Apples
- Dice two apples into ¼” cubes.
- Slice one apple into thin slices (for garnish).
- Combine lemon juice and water in a medium bowl and put the sliced and diced apples in it.
- Stir and let sit while you make the salad.
- When ready to assemble, drain the apples in a colander.
Make the Dressing
- Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl or glass jar. Whisk or shake to combine. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving (if desired, you can serve the dressing room temperature).
Assemble the Apple Salad
- Put spring mix, diced apples, green onions, goat cheese and walnuts in a large serving bowl. Reserve about 2 tablespoons each of cheese, onions, and walnuts to garnish the top.
- Toss with the dressing.
- Then garnish the top with the remaining ingredients, including sliced apples and serve immediately.
- Alternatively, you can serve the salad with the dressing on the side. In this case, assemble the salad directly in a serving bowl/platter and let guests dress their salad portions individually.
Video
Notes
- Spring mix. Any lettuce works well – baby spinach, chopped romaine, etc.
- Green onions. I prefer the milder taste of green onions over other varieties. However, red onion is a great substitute.
- Goat cheese. feta is a great substitute.
- Candied walnuts. Choose your favorite candied nut as a substitute such as candied pecans, candied almonds, etc.
- Dressing. Feel free to use your favorite dressing recipe -store bought or homemade (such as this balsamic vinaigrette).
- Honey. maple syrup is a great substitute.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
