Crisp Apple Feta Salad
This crisp apple feta salad is the ultimate fall salad — made with arugula, sliced apples, canned pecans, creamy feta, and a simple honey apple cider vinaigrette. It’s light, fresh, and perfectly sweet and tangy.
Creator: Leslie Stokes
Crisp Apple Feta Salad — Fresh, Cozy, and So Easy
This Crisp Apple Feta Salad is my go-to when I want something light, fresh, and still totally fall. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and crunchy — everything you want in a quick lunch or side salad. The arugula gives it that peppery base, the apples add crisp sweetness, and the feta ties it all together with a little creamy tang. Then you’ve got the pecans (I used canned — easy and still delicious!) for crunch, and if you toss in some dried cranberries, it’s absolute fall salad perfection.
The Simple Apple Cider Vinaigrette
I kept the dressing super simple — olive oil, honey, and apple cider vinegar with a little salt and pepper. That’s it. It’s light, fresh, and ties all those fall flavors together. You can double the batch and store it in a jar in your fridge for the week — it’s great drizzled over grain bowls, chicken wraps, or roasted veggies, too.
Why You’ll Love This Salad
Ready in 10 minutes — perfect for busy weekday lunches.
Wholesome & gluten-free — made with real ingredients you likely already have.
Totally customizable — add cranberries for sweetness or swap pecans for walnuts.
Great for meal prep — keep the dressing separate and toss before serving.
Make It a Meal
If you want to make this a little heartier, add grilled chicken, salmon, or even quinoa for a high-protein lunch bowl. You could also pair it with a cup of butternut squash soup or your favorite fall dinner — it’s the kind of salad that feels fancy but takes minutes to make.
Final Thoughts
This salad is the perfect example of how fall flavors don’t always have to be heavy or complicated. Sometimes, it’s just about layering simple, high-quality ingredients — crisp apples, creamy feta, a drizzle of honey vinaigrette, and of course, that hint of sweet-tart apple cider vinegar that makes everything pop.
It’s bright, fresh, and just feels like fall.
Storage Tips
Crisp Apple Feta Salad
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 6 cups arugula or mixed greens
- 1 large Honeycrisp or Fuji apple thinly sliced into sticks
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup canned or toasted pecans
- ¼ cup dried cranberries optional but delicious
For the dressing:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Let's Make It
- In a large bowl, add arugula, apple slices, feta, pecans, and cranberries (if using).
- In a small jar or bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad just before serving and toss gently to coat.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the crunch, sweetness, and tang in every bite.
Nutrition Facts
Nutritional Information (per serving)
(Estimated, based on 4 servings)
Calories: 230
Protein: 4g
Carbohydrates: 17g
Fat: 17g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 12g
