Autumn inspired apple walnut salad that comes together super quickly. It’s tossed in a delicious tangy balsamic vinaigrette and you can serve it with just about any of your favorite weeknight dinners!

apple walnut salad recipe this recipe
Jump to:

I have an easy weeknight salad for you all today! A recipe I’ve been making for years, this apple walnut salad is the perfect combo of sweet and savory. Made with crisp fall apples and the most delicious tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

Bonus…it’s made with a few staple ingredients. So you can easily whip it up for a simple weeknight side or bring a bowl to your next holiday gathering.

This is also a great salad to pair with a cozy soup, such as Sicilian Chicken Soup . The soup and salad combo is so comforting.

Reasons to Love this Apple Walnut Salad

One of the oldest and tastiest recipes on the site, this apple and walnut salad is the definition of easy! Made with sweet crisp apples that are tossed with crunchy walnuts and salty feta. I went with Gala apples for their mild and sweet flavor.

Feta adds the right amount of saltiness. Feel free to substitute goat cheese or even blue cheese. For the base, I used red-leaf lettuce. It’s insanely beautiful and the colors remind me of fall.

As far as the balsamic vinaigrette, it has only four ingredients: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey. It’s creamy, SO full of flavor, and pairs amazingly with this apple walnut salad. 

Don’t just take my word for it though, with a five-star rating, readers love it, too! Take a look at some of their reviews: 

“Seriously. THE BEST SALAD DRESSING. WOW. Will never buy bottled dressing again.”

“This is the salad I am always requested to bring to gatherings. Thank you! It’s just delightful. And it makes me seem like a rock star chef LOL”

This is also a great salad to pair with a cozy soup, such as Sicilian Chicken Soup . The soup and salad combo is so comforting.

side view apple feta salad recipe

Apple Salad Recipe Ingredients

  • Lettuce – I love red leaf lettuce in this salad. It’s soft, yet slightly crunchy. But green leaf lettuce, spinach or romaine are all good substitutes.
  • Apples – you can use your favorite type of apples. I love Gala apples for their crunch and mild flavor. Make sure to slice them right before serving so they don’t brown.
  • Red Onions – shallots is a good substitute. They’re a little milder in taste but still work.
  • Walnuts – don’t like walnuts? Try pecans, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.
  • Feta – buy feta in a block and crumble it yourself. It’s so much tastier. Also goat cheese is a great swap for feta.
  • Balsamic Vinaigrette – olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey.
Ingredients for Apple Walnut Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Best apples for salad

To be honest, just about any variety of apples are going to work in this salad but certain varieties are more crunchy and don’t brown too quickly.

I personally love Gala apples for their crisp sweet taste but Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, Piñata, Jazz, Envy, and Empire are all great for adding to salads.

How to Make Apple Salad with Walnuts

This apple feta salad is best when served immediately. The balsamic vinaigrette can be prepared in advance and refrigerated.

Step 1: Prepare the vinaigrette – in a small bowl combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey. Whisk until blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You can also do this in a mason jar.

Balsamic vinaigrette in white bowl

Step 2: Assemble the salad – make sure all of your salad ingredients are ready to be assembled (chopped, sliced, etc). In a large bowl, layer the lettuce, apples, red onions, walnuts, and feta. Drizzle with desired amount of vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Apple feta salad in white bowl

How Do You Easily Cut Apples?

My go-to method for cutting apples is incredibly easy, quick, and does NOT involve an apple corer. All you need is a sharp knife, a cutting board, and of course the apples.

  • Place the apple in an upright position on a cutting board.
  • Starting on one side of the apple, slice down as close to the core as possible. Continue to slice through all the sides of the apple until only the core remains. Discard the core.
cut up apples on a board
  • Place the flat side of each large slice face down and then cut it into thin slices.
sliced apples on brown board

How to Serve This Salad with Apples

You can easily enjoy this recipe as a light main course. However, it serves best as a side with recipes like: 

How to Store This Recipe for Apple Salad

This salad is best enjoyed right away. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. 

If you think you’re going to have leftovers, try to only dress individual servings instead of the whole salad. Then, you can store the salad dressing in a separate airtight container in the fridge for at least a week, and prevent the salad from becoming soggy. 

When you’re ready to eat, add the dressing, toss the ingredients, and enjoy! 

More Fall Salads with Apples

close up walnut salad with apples

Want to add this salad to your holiday table? Serve it alongside our:

More Favorites from Little Broken

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
apple walnut salad recipe

Salad with Apples and Walnuts

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 21 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Chop
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

Autumn inspired apple walnut salad that comes together super quickly. It’s tossed in the most delicious tangy balsamic vinaigrette! 

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 8 cups chopped red leaf lettuce, about 1 large head
  • 1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced (I used Gala apple)
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onions
  • 3/4 cup walnut halves, toasted + roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

Vinaigrette

  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp. honey or maple syrup
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the vinaigrette: in a small bowl, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, and honey. Whisk until blended. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  2. Assemble the salad: in a large bowl combine the lettuce, apples, red onions, walnuts, and feta. Drizzle with desired amount of vinaigrette and serve immediately. You’ll have leftover vinaigrette, which can be refrigerated in an airtight container for at least one week, if not more.

Notes

  • Lettuce: Red leaf, green leaf, romaine, or spinach are all good greens to use in this salad.
  • Apples: I used Gala apple for this salad but pretty much any crunchy variety of apples work.
  • Walnuts: don’t like walnuts? Try pecans, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.
  • Make Ahead: prepare the vinaigrette and assemble the salad without the apples. Refrigerate separately and right before serving, add the apples and vinaigrette. Once the salad has been drizzled with the vinaigrette it does not hold up well in the fridge. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 270
  • Sugar: 7.4 g
  • Sodium: 115.5 mg
  • Fat: 24.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 11.9 g
  • Protein: 4.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 7.4 mg

You May Also Like…

Harvest Salad 

Kale Apple Salad

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad