Get your spinach on with this delicious Apple Spinach Salad topped with sweet candied pecans, tart dried cranberries, and creamy feta.
I love a good spinach salad and this apple-feta-cranberry-pecan combo is absolutely delicious! After experimenting with a bag of baby spinach last week, it instantly became a new favorite.
I could wax poetic about random things or how much I love this salad but I’m simply going to dive right into the details so you can make this scrumptious spinach salad ASAP, mmk?
Let’s do this!
Spinach Salad Ingredients
- 3-4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 honey crisp apple
- 1/4-1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta
- 3 TBSP chopped candied pecans (store-bought or recipe below)
- maple dijon vinaigrette (recipe below)
No spinach? No problem! You can absolutely make this salad with massaged kale, spring mix lettuce, or even baby arugula.
When it comes to feta cheese, I need to let you in on the most delicious secret: buying your feta packed in brine is a total game changer! Seriously! Since trying it last year I haven’t been able to go back to any other type of feta.
When the block of feta is packaged in brine it stays creamier inside (it reminds me a little of burrata) and you simple crumble up what you need and pop the package back in the fridge. It’s glorious and the best feta I’ve ever had. The brand I buy is Odyssey and there a few other varieties as well.
Optional Extras
- roasted sunflower seeds or pepitas
- microgreens or sprouts for extra vitamins + nutrients
- crispy roasted chickpeas
- chicken or turkey (for my t-rex friends)
- fluffy cooked quinoa
- thinly sliced red onion
- fresh blueberries or pomegranate
For the dressing, I whipped up a super simple (and uber flavorful) maple dijon vinaigrette. It’s perfect for spinach!
Maple Dijon Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 1 TBSP pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
To make this delish dressing, simply combine ingredients in a mason jar and shake well. You can also use a bowl and a whisk if preferred or even an immersion blender!
Love garlic? For extra flavor you can add a small clove of fresh garlic (finely minced) to the dressing. It’s delicious!
For the candied pecans, you can buy them at the grocery store already made (they’re usually stored by all the salad toppers and nuts/seeds) or make them yourself at home in just a few minutes.
They’re a breeze to make and you can even opt for candied walnuts or a mix of both walnuts and pecans if you’d like.
DIY Candied Pecans
- 1 cup chopped pecans (the smaller the better)
- 1 TBSP unsalted butter
- 2 TBSP brown sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
To make the candied pecans, heat a small skillet or saucepan to medium heat and butter to melt. Next add in your pecans, brown sugar, and the teeniest bit of salt. Sauté for 5-6 minutes and pour over parchment paper, using a spatula to separate the nuts. Otherwise you’ll have yummy pecan brittle that you’ll want to break apart over your salad, which is no big deal either! Yum!
Allow to cool for several minutes until the coating hardens and your pecans have officially been candied!
Apple Spinach Salad with Candied Pecans and Feta
This rockin’ recipe yields 4 servings and can easily be adjusted to 2 servings, 6 servings, or more!
Need a single lunch-sized salad for one?
I always do during the workweek! You can easily eyeball your salad ingredients (basically add 2 cups spinach and top with desired amounts of apple, feta, cranberries, and candied pecans) and add as much or as little of the dressing your heart desires.
Leftover dressing will keep 4-5 days in the fridge so I always make the full amount in the recipe card below. To add some protein to your meal-sized salad, you’re welcome to add chicken or turkey (for my omnivores) or roasted chickpeas as a delish vegetarian option.
Ready to eat? Let’s get our salad on!
Apple Spinach Salad with Candied Pecans and Feta
Ingredients
- 3-4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 medium honey crisp apple
- ¼-⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup crumbled feta
- 3 TBSP chopped candied pecans (store-bought or homemade)
MAPLE DIJON DRESSING
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 1 TBSP pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- First make the dressing. Combine ingredients in a mason jar and shake well or add ingredients to a bowl and whisk well until emulsified. Love garlic? For extra flavor you can add a small clove of fresh garlic (finely minced) to the dressing. It's delicious!
- Next make the salad. Apples can be thinly sliced (for fancier presentation) or sliced then chopped into bite-sized pieces. Add spinach to a large bowl then add half the dressing. Mix well to coat, then add apples, feta, dried cranberries, and candied pecans.
- Toss to combine and feel free to add extra of any ingredient, to taste. You can also season with extra salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with remaining dressing and enjoy immediately while it's fresh and delicious! Enjoy!
Notes
- 1 cup chopped pecans (the smaller the better)
- 1 TBSP unsalted butter
- 2 TBSP brown sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
Nutrition
Hungry for More?
- Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Quinoa Spinach Salad with Tomatoes and Feta
- Cranberry Apple Cider via The Recipe Rebel
- Kale Apple Salad with Bacon and Cheddar
- Pumpkin Apple Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar Streusel
- LOVE these Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
If you get a chance to try this tasty apple spinach salad recipe, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
Delicious and so easy
I have made this salad so many times that I have it committed to memory. It is a slam dunk winner – delicious, colorful, healthy, and so easy to make. Great reviews when I make it and no leftovers!
Yay! I’m so honored the recipe has become a staple in your kitchen. Thank you Sheila!