Spinach Salad with Apples and Cranberries

This simple cranberry apple spinach salad is one of my favorites for winter! Hearty spinach, fresh apples, dried cranberries, creamy goat cheese, tangy red onions, and crunchy walnuts combine with a simple vinaigrette for an easy meal.

I’m a huge salad fan, and they’re on my meal plan every week once spring comes. They’re fast, easy, and can be made with almost anything you have on hand!

Cooler temperatures are a little trickier though…we’re limited on produce and bright greens aren’t as easy to come by.

That’s when this cranberry apple spinach salad makes an appearance. It’s just as easy as the spring salads but tailored to fit what’s in season in colder weather!

CRANBERRY APPLE SPINACH SALAD

This cranberry apple spinach salad is one of my absolute favorite salads to make, and I actually look forward to cooler temperatures just so I can make it! Besides being DELICIOUS, this salad is:

• Fast
• Super easy
• Pantry-friendly
• Uses seasonal produce
• Super versatile and substitution-friendly

Plus, it’s naturally vegetarian, includes a vegan option, and tastes great with some grilled chicken too!

EASY SPINACH SALAD RECIPE INGREDIENTS

This healthy spinach salad recipe comes together pretty quickly with a few ingredients:

• Spinach. I love spinach as the base of this salad, but you can also use chopped romaine or mixed greens. I’ve made this using arugula, romaine, and green leaf lettuce before and it’s STILL really good!
• Apples. I usually find the best deals on Gala or Pink Lady apples, but any variety can work. You can also use sliced pears instead.
• Dried Cranberries. Did you know you can make your own? Dried cranberries are also a great thing to stock up on during holiday sales. Raisins or golden raisins are a good substitution or try pomegranate seeds.
• Walnuts. The crunchy component in this spinach salad. Chopped pecans, sliced almonds, or sunflower seeds would work too.
• Red Onion. Red onion has just the right tanginess, but you can use white or yellow onions if you have those instead.
• Goat Cheese. Don’t usually buy goat cheese? Try feta cheese or Gorgonzola, or skip the cheese altogether to make this a vegan spinach salad.
• Apple Cider Vinaigrette. Whip up this simple salad dressing with pantry staples. You’ll need:
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Apple cider vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
  • Spicy brown mustard (or dijon mustard)
  • Maple syrup (or honey)
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt and ground black pepper

You can also add sliced cucumbers or diced avocado for a fuller salad, but they’re not necessary.

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY SPINACH SALAD RECIPES

Making spinach salad recipes is so easy! Simply assemble all the ingredients together and toss with a pair of tongs or salad hands (I used my Swagbucks for this set and use them ALL THE TIME.)

Step 1. Make the vinaigrette. Add all the ingredients to a glass jar, cover, and shake well.

Step 2. Make the salad. Combine the spinach, apples, onion, walnuts, cranberries, and half of the goat cheese in a large bowl. Toss with a pair of tongs or salad hands.

Step 3. Drizzle half of the dressing over the salad and toss again. Add additional dressing as desired and serve immediately, topping with the remaining goat cheese.

This salad does not store very well, although you could probably keep it for a day or so in the refrigerator in an airtight container. The spinach will soften, and the apples may turn a bit brown. Still edible, but not as pretty to look at. Luckily, it only takes a few minutes to toss together!

If you want to save a bit of time, you can prepare the dressing ahead of time and store it in the fridge. For easy pouring out of a mason jar, try one of these reCAP mason jar lids! The pour-spout one is perfect for homemade salad dressing!

SPINACH SALAD IDEAS FOR SERVING

You have several options for serving this salad. Use these spinach salad ideas to get you started.

If you want this salad to be a main meal, add some protein. We like crumbled bacon, chickpeas, hard boiled eggs, grilled chicken, or thin-sliced steak, and call this one done!

If it’s a side dish, we’ve served this with Whole Roasted Chicken, at the Thanksgiving dinner table, and we’ve brought it to potlucks as well.

For a meatless meal – that doesn’t feel meatless – we serve this with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Baked Potatoes, or a hearty soup like Minestrone.

Try another flavor– a strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing and Candied Pecans is delicious!

SALAD BABY SPINACH FAQS

MORE DELICIOUS SALAD RECIPES

• Waldorf Dinner Salad
• Wedge Salad
• Panzanella Bread Salad
• Strawberry Kale Salad with Pecans and Blue Cheese
• Kale Caesar Salad