• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Grits and Pinecones
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Memorial Day
  • Father’s Day
  • 4th of July
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Recipes

    Simple Spinach Salad with Apples & Pecans

    February 6, 2023 by Sharon Rigsby 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin showing a spinach salad topped with sliced apples, pecans and feta cheese.

    My Simple Spinach Salad with Apples and Pecans, plus feta and dried cranberries, will satisfy your cravings for a delicious, quick, and nutritious meal.

    This easy and flavorful salad is the perfect blend of crisp, juicy, tart apples, crunchy pecans, tender spinach, tangy dried cranberries, and creamy feta cheese. A zesty homemade poppy seed dressing seals the deal and enhances the flavor and texture of this dish. 

    Spinach salad topped with apples, pecans and feta in a white bowl.

    Like my Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Pecans, this spinach salad is packed with flavor. Because spinach is a superfood, it’s also a great source of vitamins and minerals, making it a healthy option for any meal. 

    This delicious and hearty salad is perfect for serving at brunch, as a light lunch, or as a side dish for dinner. It can also be served as a main dish dinner salad with the addition of a protein such as grilled chicken or roasted shrimp.

    With its unique combination of flavors and textures, this colorful dish will satisfy even your pickiest eaters. In addition, it is the perfect way to incorporate more fruit and vegetables into your family’s diet.

    Ingredient notes:

    A large bowl of spinach leaves, apples, pecans and other ingredients to make a spinach salad.

    (Specific measurements can be found in the recipe below.)

    • Baby spinach – with its dark, leafy green leaves, provides a tender yet crisp texture and forms the base of this dish. It has a slightly earthy flavor that complements other ingredients.
    • Dried cranberries – not only do the cranberries provide a beautiful garnet color, their sweet and tart taste is a great addition.
    • Granny Smith apples – provide texture, flavor, and crunch. You can substitute other apples if you like but stick with firm ones such as Honeycrisp. 
    • Feta cheese – adds a creaminess and a tangy, salty flavor. Crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese would be suitable substitutes, but they will change the taste.
    • Roasted pecans – with their buttery richness, add crunch and great flavor. You can substitute walnuts or almonds.
    • Honey – adds a bit of sweetness to the dressing.
    • Lemon juice – adds a beautiful fresh citrusy taste. 
    • Onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper enhance all flavors and make the dressing extra tasty.
    • Olive oil – extra virgin olive oil provides a delicate fresh taste and, along with the lemon juice, forms the base of the dressing.
    • Poppy seeds – add a nutty taste and a slightly crunchy texture. Without the poppy seeds, you would have a vinaigrette. 

    How to make Spinach Salad and Poppy Seed Dressing:

    1. Place the rinsed and dried spinach leaves in a large bowl. Thinly slice the apples and add them to the spinach. Next, add the cranberries, crumbled feta, and roasted pecans. 
    2. Add all of the dressing ingredients to a large jar and shake well. 
    A mason jar with poppy seed dressing.
    1. Before serving, top the salad with a bit of dressing and gently toss.
    Pouring dressing out of a mason jar onto a spinach salad.
    1. Serve immediately.
    Two bowls full of spinach salad topped with apples and pecans.

    Recipe variations and substitutions:

    As you might imagine, a bowl of spinach leaves is a blank slate and can be changed up in various ways by adding different ingredients. Here are some other topping ideas:

    • Mandarin oranges, strawberries, blueberries, pears, pomegranate arils, or dried blueberries
    • Mushrooms, avocado, tomato, cucumber, roasted cubed sweet potato, hearts of palm, or sliced red onions
    • Bacon, hard-boiled eggs, croutons, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, candied pecans, fried onion rings, crumbled blue cheese, or goat cheese
    • For the dressing, you can change things up with a warm bacon dressing, greek yogurt dressing, blue cheese dressing, honey mustard, or balsamic vinaigrette.
    • To transform it into a main-dish salad, consider adding grilled chicken, salmon, or cooked shrimp.

    Serve this salad with:

    When serving this salad at brunch or for lunch, it would pair well with my Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche, Spinach and Bacon Quiche with Tomatoes, or Roasted Tomato Quiche with Goat Cheese. A slice of my Sausage Cheese Bread or a piece of Cheesy Texas Toast Garlic Bread would be an excellent addition.

    For dinner, it pairs well with just about any main dish, and it is especially nice when served with pasta dishes such as Chicken Marsala Pasta with Mushrooms, Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake, Baked Spaghetti Pie, Roasted Shrimp Pasta Salad, or Cheesy Hamburger Noodle Casserole.

    Recipe FAQs:

    What’s the difference between baby spinach and regular spinach?

    They are the same vegetable; baby spinach leaves are immature, it has a milder flavor, and is more tender. Regular spinach has a more robust flavor and fully matured leaves.

    Do you have to wash spinach?

    If your bagged spinach is labeled “washed” or “ready to eat,” it does not need to be washed.

    If not, place the leaves in a colander or salad spinner and rinse thoroughly with cold running water. Allow to drain and spread the leaves out on a paper towel or dish towel to dry before using it.

    Can this recipe be made ahead?

    For the best results, this salad is best when made right before serving it. However, you can make the dressing ahead and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.

    Leftovers and storage?

    Only add the dressing to the salad right before you plan to serve it. Once it had dressing added to it usually doesn’t stay fresh for more than an hour or so.

    If you have a leftover salad without dressing, it will still be okay to eat if stored covered in the refrigerator for about 24 hours, although the apples may start to discolor.

    Top tips and tricks:

    • You will have extra dressing. Simply cover, refrigerate, and use it on another salad.
    • If your pecans aren’t already roasted, place them in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate and microwave in one-minute increments until they are fragrant and lightly roasted. Start tasting them at the three-minute mark.
    • Whether you cut the stems off of the spinach leaves is purely a matter of personal preference. I usually do, but most folks don’t.
    • Feel free to use purchased dressing if you are in a time crunch.

    More easy salad recipes:

    • Southern Broccoli Salad in a white metal bowl with a blue rim.
      Southern Broccoli Salad with Craisins
    • A bowl of chicken salad with cranberries on lettuce.
      Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Pecans
    • A large white bowl full of chopped salad topped with apples and pecans.
      Apple Pecan Salad Recipe with Dressing
    • Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey Lime Dressing in a white bowl and ready to serve
      Mexican Chopped Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

    Looking for other delicious salad recipes your family will love? Check out my Easy Broccoli Slaw with Ramen Noodles, Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Salad, Southern Cucumber and Tomato Salad, Tomato Avocado Feta Salad with Corn, Southern Corn Salad, Wild Rice Chicken Salad with Cranberries, and Watermelon Feta Salad.

    For even more menu ideas, check out all of my salad recipes.

    ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ If you make this dish, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

    Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones; I hope you come back soon!

    📋 Recipe:

    Spinach salad topped with sliced apples, pecans and feta cheese in a white bowl.

    Simple Spinach Salad with Apples and Pecans Recipe

    Sharon Rigsby
    This easy and flavorful salad is the perfect blend of crisp, juicy, tart apples, crunchy pecans, tender spinach, tangy dried cranberries, and creamy feta cheese. A zesty homemade poppy seed dressing seals the deal and enhances the flavor and texture of the salad. 
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 287 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Salad Ingredients

    • 6 ounces fresh baby spinach, if not already washed, rinse the leaves thoroughly and dry
    • ⅔ cup dried cranberries
    • 2 Granny Smith apples, medium, unpeeled and sliced
    • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
    • ½ cup roasted pecans

    Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh squeezed
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons water
    • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

    Instructions
     

    • Place the rinsed and dried spinach leaves in a large bowl.
    • Thinly slice the apples and add them to the spinach. Next, add the cranberries, crumbled feta, and roasted pecans. 
    • Add all of the dressing ingredients to a large jar and shake well. 
    • Before serving, top the salad with a bit of dressing and gently toss. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    You will have extra dressing. Simply cover, refrigerate, and use it on another salad.
    To easily roast your pecans, place them in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate and microwave in one-minute increments until they are fragrant and lightly toasted. Start tasting them at the three-minute mark.
    Whether you cut the stems off of the spinach leaves is purely a matter of personal preference. I usually do, but most folks don’t.
     Feel free to use a purchased poppy seed dressing if you are in a time crunch.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 287kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 6gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 309mgPotassium: 436mgFiber: 6gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 4125IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 165mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

    More Recipes recipes

    • Smoked Baked Beans in a cast-iron skillet.
      Best Smoked Baked Beans
    • Smashed truffle potatoes on a bronze plate with a sprig of rosemary.
      Easy Parmesan Truffle Potatoes
    • Two biscuit halves topped with tomato gravy.
      Old-Fashioned Southern Tomato Gravy
    • A white bowl full of creamed corn garnished with a sprig of thyme.
      Southern Homemade Creamed Corn

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Pamela Anne

      October 02, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      I think the carb nutritional listing is obviously wrong – 173 carbs?

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        October 02, 2022 at 5:01 pm

        Good grief! Thanks so much for letting me know. I’m not sure what happened originally, but I reran the nutritional analysis, and while the carb count still looks high, it is because the total carbohydrate count for dressing ingredients is divided by four which is the total number of servings for the salad. However, most likely there will be dressing left over which would reduce the total carb count. I hope that helps!
        Sharon

        Reply
    2. Carrie

      July 21, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      This salad was simple and delicious. I only made a serving size for myself but like you said, I can keep making it with the extra dressing!

      Reply
    3. Lina

      January 07, 2021 at 8:39 pm

      5 stars
      It was delicious.

      Reply
    4. MARY

      October 31, 2016 at 10:59 am

      This looks so delicious and healthy!! Will try soon. Thanks for another great recipe.

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        October 31, 2016 at 3:32 pm

        Thanks so much Mary! I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    5. Linda Larsen

      October 31, 2016 at 10:01 am

      Your pizza with artichokes made with a can of crust was the best pizza I’ve had in years and so easy to make. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        October 31, 2016 at 10:34 am

        Thanks so much for letting me know Linda! I’m so glad you liked it!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

    Celebrate Father's Day with these easy recipes:

    • Sliced baby back ribs on a cutting board.
      Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs and Dry Rub
    • Three scoops of bourbon ice cream in a glass dessert dish.
      Bourbon Ice Cream
    • Chili Rubbed Ribeye Steak topped with three pats of Maple Bourbon Butter on a white plate.
      Chili Rubbed Ribeye Steak with Maple Bourbon Butter
    • Two hamburgers topped with pimento cheese, fried onion rings, and a fried green tomato.
      Best Southern Pimento Cheese Burgers
    • Three oysters Rockefeller on a bed of rock salt.
      The Ultimate Oysters Rockefeller Recipe
    • A bowl of cocktail sauce next to fried oysters on a plate.
      Best Southern Crispy Fried Oysters

    More Father's Day recipes:

    Most popular recipes:

    • A white bowl full of creamy potato salad topped with paprika.
      Classic Southern Potato Salad
    • A clear glass trifle dish with layers of angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream.
      Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake
    • Six hoecakes or fried cornbread on a white plate.
      Quick and Easy Hoe Cakes (Fried Cornbread)
    • Broccoli cheese casserole on a blue kitchen towel.
      Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers
    • Rich and cheesy Easy Au Gratin Potatoes and Ham ready to serve
      Easy Au Gratin Potatoes and Ham
    • Blackened Grouper

    More popular recipes:

    Featured in Parade, The Today Show, Better Homes & Gardens, Greatist, and more.

    Footer

    More Recipe Categories

    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Condiments, Jams, Jellies, Sauces, and Salad Dressings
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Game Day and Tailgating Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes

    More…

    • Lunch Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • Southern Peas (Cowpeas) Recipes

    Grits and Pinecones

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal Disclaimer

    Copyright © 2023 Grits and Pinecones® · Privacy Policy · Legal Disclaimer

    • 359Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Email
    67509 shares