Apples aren’t just for pies, crisps and cakes! Fresh apples add sweetness, crunch and plenty of fall flavor to salads too. These 25 Best Apple Salad Recipes include everything from simple green salads and hearty chicken salads to crunchy slaws, creamy Waldorf salads and beautiful salads for the holidays.
One of the things I love most about adding apples to salad is how well they work with both sweet and savory ingredients. Pair them with cranberries and pecans for a classic fall combination, toss them with chicken for an easy lunch, or combine them with blue cheese, goat cheese or sharp cheddar for a salad that’s anything but boring.
And while I especially love making apple salads in the fall, there’s really no reason to limit them to one season. Crisp apples are available year-round, making these recipes just as useful for an easy weeknight dinner as they are for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Be sure to check out my 50 Best Apple Recipes for Fall!
What Are the Best Apples for Salads?
For salads, I like to choose apples that are crisp, flavorful and firm enough to hold their texture after they’re sliced or chopped.
- Honeycrisp is probably my favorite all-around choice. It’s wonderfully crisp, juicy and sweet with just enough tartness.
- Granny Smith is perfect when you want a more tart apple. I especially like Granny Smith apples in creamy salads and recipes with sweeter ingredients like dried cranberries or candied nuts.
- Pink Lady apples have a nice sweet-tart flavor and plenty of crunch.
- Fuji apples are crisp and quite sweet, so they’re delicious paired with stronger cheeses and tangy vinaigrettes.
- Braeburn apples are firm and have a nice balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Gala apples are a little sweeter and milder but work well in many salads too.
Don’t be afraid to use two different varieties in one salad. Combining a tart Granny Smith with a sweet Honeycrisp can give you the best of both worlds.
Apple Salad Recipes from RecipeGirl
We’ll start with apple salad recipes right here on RecipeGirl. There are quite a few to choose from—from leafy green salads and chicken salad to apple slaw and some really delicious combinations with blue cheese, walnuts and cranberries.
1. Apple Walnut Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
This is such a good salad for fall. Crisp Fuji or Honeycrisp apples are tossed with mixed greens and toasted walnuts, and you can add goat cheese if you’d like. The homemade cranberry-balsamic vinaigrette is what makes this one especially good for Thanksgiving and other fall dinners.
2. Autumn Apple and Spinach Salad
Fresh spinach and tart Granny Smith apple are paired with red onion and blue cheese in this easy fall salad. A homemade orange-lime dressing with honey and Dijon adds just the right amount of sweetness.
3. Autumn Salad
This colorful fall salad combines red and green leaf lettuce with apples, blue cheese and toasted pecans. It’s all tossed with a maple-cider vinaigrette for a salad that’s perfect for the season.
4. Apple Cole Slaw
This isn’t your average coleslaw. There are actually more apples than cabbage! Crisp red apples and shredded cabbage are tossed with a creamy lemon and poppy seed dressing. It’s a great one for potlucks and barbecues.
5. Chicken Apple Crunch Salad
This easy chicken salad has plenty of crunch from Granny Smith apple and celery, along with a little sweetness from dried cranberries. Serve it in lettuce cups, make a sandwich with it or simply eat it straight from the bowl.
6. Pear and Apple Salad with Gruyere and Toasted Pecans
This is definitely a salad I’d serve for a special dinner. Apples, pears and grapes are combined with greens, Gruyère cheese and toasted pecans, then tossed with a simple balsamic and whole-grain mustard dressing.
7. Apple Endive Salad
For something a little different, try this combination of julienned Golden Delicious and Braeburn apples with crisp Belgian endive. Blue cheese and toasted walnuts make it special enough for a dinner party.
8. Apple Bacon Salad
This is one of my favorite salad recipes ever! There are very few ingredients in this salad, but that doesn’t seem to matter at all. It’s really delicious with a simple, homemade lemony dressing.
9. Asparagus Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
This one is a little unexpected, which is exactly why I like including it in this collection. Tender-crisp asparagus, butter lettuce and Gala apples are paired with a homemade blue cheese vinaigrette.
10. Spinach and Quinoa Salad with Apple
This salad is packed with flavors and textures. We’ve got sweet-tart apple slices and cranberries, creamy goat cheese, and toasted pecans. We’re tossing it all in a bright and tangy homemade honey-lemon vinaigrette. The quinoa will absorb a bit of the dressing, soaking up delicious flavor along the way.
11. Classic Waldorf Salad
No collection of apple salads would be complete without a Waldorf Salad. Crisp apples, celery and toasted walnuts are tossed in a creamy dressing for this classic recipe.
12. Chicken Apple and Smoked Gouda Salad
This salad is super easy to make and delicious. There is a lot of crunch and flavor in this salad, and it’s tossed with a simple, store-bought fat-free honey mustard dressing. So easy!
More Apple Salad Recipes to Try
There are so many creative ways to add apples to salad. These recipes from other favorite food sites bring even more ideas to the collection, including Brussels sprouts, kale, roasted butternut squash, chicken and a twist on classic Waldorf salad.
13. Apple Pecan Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing — Two Peas & Their Pod
Crisp apples, candied pecans and white cheddar are paired with a creamy lemon dressing. This is another beautiful salad for a fall dinner or Thanksgiving table.
14. Kale Salad with Apples and Walnuts — Reluctant Entertainer
The crunch of the crisp apples and toasted walnuts pairs perfectly with the tender kale, while the maple vinaigrette brings a subtle sweetness that ties it all together. Finished with crumbled feta, this salad is not only delicious but also visually stunning.
15. Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples — Tidy Mom
Combined with juicy apples, toasted pecans, tart cranberries, and maple dijon vinaigrette there’s no doubt why this shredded Brussels sprouts salad is all the rage.
16. Celery Slaw with Blue Cheese and Apple — Foodiecrush
Savory and a little sweet, this celery slaw gets extra crunch from apple and carrot with a tangy flavor bump from fresh crumbles of blue cheese.
17. Hearty Roasted Butternut Squash & Apple Salad — Cookie and Kate
Wheat berries make this apple and roasted squash salad hearty enough for lunch or a light dinner. Arugula and a gingery dressing add plenty of flavor.
18. Broccoli Apple Salad — Spend With Pennies
In this broccoli salad, there are additions of crunchy, colorful veggies, fruit, and nuts. It’s all tossed in a 4-ingredient light and tangy dressing!
19. Raw Beet Salad with Apples and Carrots — Skinnytaste
Crunchy, bright and sweet, this healthy beet salad with apples is a delicious way to eat beets! Just 5 ingredients not counting salt.
20. Chicken Apple Salad — RecipeBoy
I love the lemon zest added to the salad. It gives it a bit of bright flavor. And the crunch of the apples and pecans is delicious too.
21. Apple Dijon Kale Salad — Budget Bytes
Another good way to use sturdy kale! Apples, walnuts and raisins add texture and sweetness, while Dijon vinaigrette gives the salad a tangy finish.
22. Chicken Waldorf Salad — Food Network
Adding chicken turns the classic Waldorf into a more substantial lunch or dinner salad. Apples, grapes, celery, golden raisins and walnuts add lots of texture.
23. Creamy Cinnamon Apple and Walnut Fruit Salad — Cooking Classy
The perfect autumn fruit salad is loaded with crisp, sweet apples, cranberries and walnuts and covered in a rich, cinnamon cream cheese dressing.
24. Apple Salad with Grapes, Walnuts and Creamy Dressing — The Kitchn
Apples, grapes, celery, dried cranberries and walnuts are tossed in a creamy honey-lemon dressing. This is a good one for a potluck or holiday buffet.
25. Fennel and Apple Salad with Hazelnuts — Food & Wine
Tucked in among the tender lettuce leaves, fragrant fennel, sweet-tart Granny Smith apple, and toasty hazelnuts add a refreshing crunch to this fall salad.
How to Keep Apples from Turning Brown in a Salad
Apples begin to brown after they’re cut and exposed to air. If you’re serving your salad right away, this usually isn’t much of a problem.
When you need to cut the apples ahead of time, lightly toss them with a little fresh lemon juice. You don’t need much—you don’t want the apples to taste strongly of lemon.
You can also prepare all of the other salad ingredients first and wait to slice the apples until you’re ready to assemble everything. If your salad has a vinaigrette, tossing the freshly cut apples with the dressing right away can help too.
Tips for Making Apple Salads
- Choose firm, crisp apples. Softer apples can become mealy in a salad, especially if the salad is sitting for a while.
- Leave the peel on. Unless a particular recipe tells you otherwise, there’s usually no need to peel apples for salad. The peel adds pretty color and texture.
- Balance sweet and savory flavors. Apples are naturally sweet, which is why they’re so good with salty or tangy ingredients like blue cheese, feta, goat cheese, sharp cheddar and bacon.
- Add some crunch. Toasted pecans, walnuts, almonds, pepitas and sunflower seeds are all great additions.
- Toast the nuts. It takes only a few minutes and makes a noticeable difference in flavor.
- Cut the apples last. This gives them less time to brown before the salad is served.
- Don’t dress leafy salads too early. Wait until shortly before serving so your greens stay crisp.
More Favorite Apple Recipes
Looking for something specific? Be sure to browse my collections of Apple Bread Recipes, Apple Cake Recipes, Apple Dessert Recipes and Apple Breakfast Recipes too. They’re filled with even more ideas for making the most of apple season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can apple salad be made ahead of time?
It depends on the type of salad. Chicken salads, creamy Waldorf-style salads and many slaws can be prepared in advance and refrigerated. Leafy green salads are generally better assembled closer to serving time so the greens stay fresh.
Should you peel apples for salad?
Usually, no. I like leaving the peel on because it adds color and texture. Of course, you can peel them if that’s your preference.
What cheese goes best with apples?
Apples are delicious with blue cheese, Gorgonzola, goat cheese, feta, Gruyère, sharp cheddar and Parmesan. Tangy and salty cheeses are especially good because they contrast with the sweetness of the apples.
What nuts go well with apples?
Pecans and walnuts are probably the most classic choices. Almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios are delicious too. Toast the nuts first for the best flavor.
What dressing is good on an apple salad?
Apple cider vinaigrette is an obvious choice, but balsamic, maple-Dijon, honey mustard and cranberry vinaigrettes all work beautifully. Apples are also delicious in creamy salads with mayonnaise- or yogurt-based dressings.
What goes well with apples in a fall salad?
Some of my favorite combinations are cranberries, pecans, walnuts, blue cheese, goat cheese, roasted butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, kale, pomegranate and maple. You can mix and match these ingredients to create all kinds of fall salads.
Are apple salads only for fall?
Not at all. Apples are easy to find throughout the year, so many of these salads are perfect for spring and summer too. But the combination of apples, nuts, cranberries and hearty greens makes them especially appealing in the fall.
