Fall Apple Salad w/ Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

If you think salads are plain, boring and only for the summer months, wait until you try this apple salad with warm bacon vinaigrette, perfect for the season of fall.

A bed of greens is loaded with crunchy chopped apples, crispy bacon pieces, protein-rich quinoa, pecans, cranberries, and creamy goat cheese.

The homemade warm bacon vinaigrette can be drizzled over the assembled salad, or served separately for your family and friends to indulge, as desired.

It’s a deliciously savory way to make use of the mountain of apples during fall!

Why You’ll Love This Fall Apple Salad w/ Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Recipe

Sweet and savory deliciousness – the crispy sweet apples with salty bacon creates the perfect sweet and savory contrast.

Loaded with texture and flavor – the crunchy and crispy texture of fresh salad ingredients combined with the rich homemade dressing makes this salad truly memorable.

Easy to adapt – with just a few of your favorite add-ins or ingredient swaps, you can customise this fall-inspired salad to suit your preferences or make for a specific season, holiday, or occasion.

Appetizer, side dish, or light meal – enjoy this apple salad with warm bacon vinaigrette as an appetizer, side dish or a light lunch paired with crackers or soup.

Fall Apple Salad w/ Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Ingredients

Salad Ingredients:

• 4 cups spring mix
• ½ cup cooked quinoa
• 4 slices bacon
• 2 honeycrisp apples
• 1/4 cup goat cheese
• 1/4 cup glazed pecans
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries

Dressing Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp bacon grease
• 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• Salt and pepper to taste

More healthy apple recipes to try:

• Mini Apple Hand Pies
• Apple Almond Butter Snack
• Apple Pie Oatmeal
• Easy Apple Snacks
• Caramel Apple Dumplings

How To Make Fall Apple Salad w/ Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Cook the quinoa according to the package directions and pan fry the bacon slices.

Chop the apples into bite-size pieces.

Place the cooked bacon a paper-lined plate so that any excess grease is absorbed.

Add all of the dressing ingredients into a small bowl and whisk to combine. Taste the mixture and season with salt or pepper, as desired.

Assemble your fresh salad ingredients in a salad bowl to serve alongside a small pouring jug filled with homemade dressing. Enjoy!

What To Serve With This Apple & Bacon Salad

Why not serve this delicious fall-inspired salad as a side to the following:

• Healthy Chicken Sausage Soup
• Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets
• Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cheese And Mushroom Quiche
• Hidden Veg Ground Turkey Burger Sliders

Storage Instructions for Fall Apple Salad w/ Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

This salad is best enjoyed immediately after assembling. I’ve never had any leftovers to worry about, but if you do, here’s how I would store them for maximum freshness:

In The Fridge

Store this fresh salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days at most. The longer the salad sits, the softer the ingredients will get, loosing that irresistible crunch factor.

I also recommend that you leave the dressing off for others to pour over their individual servings. That way, the leftover fall apple salad will retain its freshness for as long as possible.

Store the bacon vinaigrette in a separate airtight container or jug in the fridge for up to 1 week. Since the bacon grease in the dressing will start to solidify, you will need to reheat it in the microwave and then allow it to cool slightly before drizzling over the salad.

More salad recipes to try:

• Grilled Chicken & Strawberry Salad
• High Protein Salad