The crunch of fresh apples, the sweetness of dried cranberries, savory chicken and cheese, and fresh greens come together in this great salad that helps bridge the seasons when you still want something light but fall flavors are calling your name! The homemade dressing is perfect for all kinds of salads as well!
This time of year is always interesting to plan dinners for. I have eaten my weight in fresh tomatoes from the garden and I am ready for something different. There is a nip in the evening air that makes you think fall, but it is still too warm to actually make casseroles and braises.
Besides we are still busy taking advantage of daylight, so I am not yet ready to spend the time assembling lasagnas after work. The time for apple cider pulled pork and chicken enchiladas will come soon enough.
Those warm, comforting meals will start hitting the table as soon as the cooler weather is here to stay and really I can’t wait!
In the meantime, a nice fresh salad that incorporates some fall flavors is a perfect way to bridge the seasons. If you have some leftover chicken, they come together in no time.
The dressing only takes a couple of minutes to assemble and it keeps well. Just out the ingredients in a jar and shake them up.
Store it in the refrigerator and shake it again before your next use. Easy peasy!
Now I served the first salad with some leftover smoked chicken breasts I had and that was amazing! I am always a bit nervous serving something like this to my husband as he is kind of your classic meat and potatoes (preferably with plenty of cheese) kind of guy.
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He gobbled it up and told me I could make it again anytime. That’s his way of saying he likes something.
So you know what I did? I made them again the very next weekend and every day that week for my lunches as well! This time I just quickly cooked up some boneless skinless chicken breasts and chopped them up.
The sweet apples and dried cranberries paired perfectly with the savory chicken and nutty pecans. The dressing has a nice balance of sweet and acid that jazzes everything up a bit.
We love the flavor the blue cheese adds to a salad like this, but if you aren’t a fan I’m sure feta, cheddar or gruyere would work as well.
Spiced pecans are a great addition to the salad. Spiced candied walnuts are sweeter and would be wonderful as well.
More Great Dinner Salad Recipes
If you are a big fan of salads like this that are loaded with fruit, nuts and cheese you are going to love some of my other salads as well. The fruit and chicken poppy seed salad is stuffed to the gills with goodies and a homemade poppy seed dressing brings it all together.
Or there’s the red, white and blueberry salad which is all berries, chicken, cheese and a homemade honey mustard vinaigrette.
Check out my collection of green salad recipes for more tasty inspiration.
Dinner Salad With Apples
Ingredients
Salad
- Mixed greens
- 1 chicken breast cooked and sliced or chopped
- ½ apple sliced or chopped
- ⅛ cup pecans
- 2 Tablespoons dried cranberries
- 2 Tablespoons blue cheese or cheese of your choice
Dressing
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Dressing
- Mix all ingredients in a jar. Close lid securely and shake.
- Store in refrigerator and shake before use.
Salad
- Load your plate up with greens, top with remaining ingredients.
- Drizzle with dressing and enjoy!
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What a delicious fall salad!
It's definitely my go to salad right now! Thanks, Val!
Thank you!
Mmmm… This is my kind of salad!! Sounds so good!
Mine too! I had it an embarrassing number of days in a row for lunch!
Wait, no dessert? You just gave me a hard time about it, LOL. But I like the way you're thinking. Great minds… 😉
I love all the ingredients in your salad, especially the chicken and of course those amazing apples!!! Loving the crunch!
It is funny that we both switched to salad on the same day. Thanks, Jas!
Pops is grilling some chicken for my birthday dinner this weekend. I don't eat the sides I'm making so this will make a perfect meal to celebrate. I got my Craisins and honey crisp apples today. I'm all set and can't wait!
Then you are all set and ready to go!
This salad includes everything I love (well, not chocolate, but everything else). Cranberries and bleu cheese together make me swoon!
The good thing is if you have a salad for dinner you can have some chocolate guilt free for dessert. I am pretty sure that's how the math works!
Fresh apples, savory blue cheese and chicken….what is not to love?!
Those are my favorite salad toppers! Thanks, Wendy!
My salad all the way! You know I LOVE honey crisp! So my husband is begging me to make your apple cake from this week! He saw it in Twitter, lol!! Can't wait!
Well have this salad for dinner so you can have an extra big piece of cake!! Or little dude and I can come claim the bunk beds for a weekend in the new house when it's done and we can all have cake!