This Fall Salad with apples and pecans is perfect for autumn! This salad, made with delicious honey mustard dressing, is a great holiday side dish or just a hearty lunch.
I am so excited to share this amazing Fall Salad Recipe with you. It has the perfect combination of flavors and textures and then is topped with delicious Honey Mustard Dressing. It is a great savory recipe for your apples from apple picking.
Made with some simple ingredients, this is a reader favorite recipe. It is delicious enough to entertain with at a holiday or a party, but it is simple enough that you could take it with for lunch. And, I have lots of variations listed below so you get the exact flavors you are looking for.
Just took this to a Christmas party last night of 14 women and everyone loved it! Never thought they would eat the whole thing! Will probably make for the family Christmas dinner.
How to Make a Fall Salad
If you can dice fruit and whisk dressing, you can make this salad. Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients with measurements.
- Make the salad dressing. Whisk together the ingredients. This dressing will keep well in the refrigerator if you want to make it the night before. Just let it come to room temperature before serving and give it a good shake.
- Combine the remaining ingredients. In a large bowl combine the mixed greens, diced fruit, craisins, blue cheese and pecans. You may find that it is better to leave the cheese on the side if you are serving guests.
Honey Mustard Dressing
As mentioned, I made my own salad dressing for this recipe. It comes together simply with ingredients that I always have on hand. Like most salad dressings it is a balance of oil and an acid. Here we are using lime juice.
- Olive Oil
- Lime Juice
- Honey
- Mustard
- Salt & Pepper
Substitutions and Variations
- Swap out the blue cheese. Not everyone is a fan of blue cheese. You can easily take that out and add in feta cheese instead.
- Change the pecans. If you can’t find walnuts or they don’t appeal to you, use walnuts instead.
- Kick the pecans up a notch. This recipe is great with salted pecans, but even more festive with candied pecans.
- Mix up the apples. I love Gala Fuji and Jonathan apples in this, but you can use what you have.
- Add in bacon. Looking for another great flavor to add to this salad? Pop in some bacon like we do in my Apple Salad with Bacon.
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers of this salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. My suggestion would be to serve the dressing on the side. Then lightly toss any leftovers with a little dressing. This will keep the fruit from browning in the refrigerator.
FAQ
This isn’t a great salad to prepare ahead of time because the apple and pear will brown. The dressing can be made ahead, which will save you a little time. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature and give it a good shake before serving.
Feta, goat cheese, or slices of Parmesan (like in my Brussel Sprout Salad) are all good substitutes. I also have other swaps listed above.
What to Serve with Fall Salad
This salad makes a great Thanksgiving salad. At other times of the year, you can round this recipe out with a few other dishes, and it can be a meal to entertain with! Try serving it with:
If you make this great salad recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Apple Pecan Fall Salad
Ingredients
For Salad
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 apple I love Jonathan, Fuji, or Gala for this salad, diced
- 1 pear diced
- 1/3 cup craisins
- 1/2 cup blue cheese read about substitutions here
- 1/2 cup salted pecans
Honey Mustard Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a mason jar, combine all the ingredients for the dressing and then shake to combine.
- In a large bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients. Toss to combine. Serve with the dressing on the side.
Notes
Vera says
This was great. My husband loved it too, he doesn’t normally like salad.
This is so great to hear, thank you Vera!
Judy Waters says
I think you salad is very good I really appreciate you for sharing it
You’re welcome!
Sally DuPerron says
Not really much of a salad eater but found it hard to not eat a lot. It was delicious. Used feta instead of blue cheese.
I’m so happy you liked it and gave it a try anyway!
Lois says
I just love receiving your emails!
I’ve never made a recipe I didn’t care for!!!
❤️
I’m so happy to hear that! I live for comments like this.
Katherine Lundin says
You failed to mention about the rst salted pecan as an ingredient in the salad.
Katherine Lundin says
I am sorry I re-read your recipe and I did see the pecan as last ingred.
Suzen says
This salad and the variations!!! Try with either Feta or Goat Cheese, just great. So many ways to change this up. Thanks
You’re welcome!
Sandi says
Thank you so. much for sharing all your delicious recipes.
You are very welcome, Sandi!
Vickie Steele says
The Apple Pecan fall salad sounds great except for the honey mustard dressing. What other dressing would work?
A balsamic vinaigrette would be really great here too.
Gamma 2 E&C says
I’m doing an early Thanksgiving with my grandchildren ages 9 & 7. This Apple Pecan salad is right up their alley! I will pick up pears in the morning… sounds delicious, can’t see any reason for it not to compliment our old fashion Thanksgiving. Thanks for the recipe!
You are very welcome!