This Healthy Green Apple Salad is a light and delicious fall recipe that is sure to impress your friends and family! The base of the salad is a mix of greens topped with chopped balsamic chicken, thinly sliced tart apples, and homemade candied pecans.
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Why you'll love this recipe!
Serves a crowd - This healthy green salad is great for special occasions, family dinners, or meal prep for the week!
Easy - Although this recipe may seem fancy, it's actually a very easy salad to make! It requires some minor prep work but tastes like it came from a restaurant!
Holiday Salad - This is the perfect way to add in greens during the holidays! When I serve this dish on Thanksgiving or Christmas, I do not add any chicken. It makes the perfect side dish!
Healthy - I love this simple salad recipe because it's made with wholesome ingredients. Each serving is packed with dark leafy greens, protein, and good fat!
Similar salads that contain candied nuts are loaded with sugar - this recipe is refined sugar free and made with only one tablespoon of maple syrup! (Even the dressing is made without added sugar.)
🍴Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Chicken Breast - I love using Butcher Box chicken breast. You can cook the chicken on a frying pan or in a grill.
- Spring Mix - Most stores carry a variety of brands that have spring mix! It's just a mix of dark leafy greens.
- Green Apples - I love using tart Granny Smith Apples. They pair well with the candied pecans. You can also swap for Honey Crisp apples or any "crispy" apple variety. (Keep in mind they're much sweeter.)
- Balsamic Dressing - I used Primal Kitchen Balsamic Dressing for this recipe, but you can easily make your own by combining balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper! Any vinegarette salad dressing will work though.
Candied Pecans
- Raw Pecans - Make sure you're using raw pecans with nothing added to them. You can also swap for walnuts.
- Coconut Oil - Do not swap for any other oil. Measure the coconut oil first and then melt it before adding to the bowl.
- Maple Syrup - I prefer using maple syrup, but you can swap with honey. (It's just a bit thicker!)
- Seasoning - I love using the combination of cinnamon and salt to give these pecans a delicious fall flavor!
🍴Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Marinate Chicken Breast
Start by adding chicken breast into a bowl with balsamic dressing. Stir until chicken in fully coated in dressing. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 2: Mix Pecans
Next, add pecans into a bowl with maple syrup, melted coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt. Stir together until pecans are evenly coated.
Step 3: Prepare Pecans for Baking
Pour the pecans onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Spread out evenly.
Step 4: Baking Pecans
Bake the pecans at 325° for about 12-14 minutes. Keep an eye on them because they can burn easily! When they're done, remove the pan from the oven and let them cool completely.
Step 5: Cooking Balsamic Chicken
Next, add chicken breast into a pre-heated frying pan. Cook for about 6-8 minutes on each side. (Depending on how thick the chicken is.) To lock in moisture, cover the pan after you flip the chicken.
Step 6: Cutting Green Apples
Then, thinly slice green apples. I like to cut the apple around the core and then slice each quarter the long way.
Step 7: Assembling Salad
To assemble the salad, add spring mix to a large bowl. (You can also make small individual bowls.) Top the spring mix with cooled candied pecans, green apple slices, and chopped balsamic chicken. Serve with balsamic dressing!
Recipe Variations
- Toppings: You could also try adding in dried cranberries, thinly sliced red onion, kalamata olives, or walnuts.
- Meat: Swap the chicken for steak if you're in the mood for something heartier. You can also shred rotisserie chicken on top to save time! I have also served this salad vegetarian style as a side dish!
- Apples: Use a different variety of apples if you would like a sweeter flavor!
- Cheese: Try adding in your favorite dairy-free cheese! If you are not dairy intolerant, you could add Feta Cheese, Creamy Goat Cheese, or Gorgonzola Cheese.
- For an extra crunch, add some storebought or homemade gluten-free croutons!
- Dressing: I personally love using a balsamic vinegarette for this recipe, but you can also make your own with red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar! If I add kalamata olives, sometimes I'll pour a bit of the brine in too!
Expert Tips
- To prevent apples from browning, do not cut until you're ready to serve the salad.
- Use fresh produce when making any salad! They will be fresh, crisp, and flavorful.
- To save time, just toss chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken in a vinegarette dressing!
- Do not pour salad dressing over the entire salad unless you plan to eat it all in one sitting. If you are planning to toss the entire salad in dressing, do not add dressing to salad until you're ready to serve! This prevents the lettuce and nuts from getting soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
For this particular recipe I like using Tart Granny Smith Apples, but Honeycrisp, Empire, and Pink Lady apples are also crispy and delicious varieties.
Restaurant salad is usually thoughtfully created and has a variety of toppings and flavors. This salad tastes just as good as a restaurant salad, and it's most likely made with even better ingredients!
How to store leftovers
Leftover salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
If you plan to serve individual salads, keep all toppings in separate containers and assemble each salad when you're ready to eat!
Any leftover candied pecans can also be stored in the refrigerator.
More salad recipes!
After you make this Healthy Green Apple Salad, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe!
Recipe Card
Healthy Green Apple Salad
Equipment
- 1 Large Serving Bowl
- 1 Frying Pan
Ingredients
Candied Pecans
- 2 Cups Raw Pecans
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil, Melted
- 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
- ½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
Salad
- 1 Pound Chicken Breast
- 11 Ounces Spring Mix
- 2 Green Apples, Sliced Thinly
- ⅓ Cup Balsamic Dressing I used Primal Kitchen Balsamic Dressing, but any balsamic dressing will work.
Instructions
- Start by adding chicken breast into a bowl with balsamic dressing. Stir until chicken in fully coated in dressing. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Next, add pecans into a bowl with maple syrup, melted coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt. Stir together until pecans are evenly coated.
- Pour the pecans onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Spread out evenly.
- Bake the pecans at 325° for about 12-14 minutes. Keep an eye on them because they can burn easily! When they're done, remove the pan from the oven and let them cool completely.
- Next, add chicken breast into a pre-heated frying pan. Cook for about 6-8 minutes on each side. (Depending on how thick the chicken is.) To lock in moisture, cover the pan after you flip the chicken.
- Then, thinly slice green apples. I like to cut the apple around the core and then slice each quarter the long way.
- To assemble the salad, add spring mix to a large serving bowl. (You can also make small individual bowls.) Top the spring mix with cooled candied pecans, green apple slices, and chopped balsamic chicken. Serve with balsamic dressing!
Notes
Expert Tips
- To prevent apples from browning, do not cut until you're ready to serve the salad.
- Use fresh produce when making any salad! They will be fresh, crisp, and flavorful.
- To save time, just toss chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken in a vinegarette dressing!
- Do not pour salad dressing over the entire salad unless you plan to eat it all in one sitting. If you are planning to toss the entire salad in dressing, do not add dressing to salad until you're ready to serve! This prevents the lettuce and nuts from getting soggy.
How to store leftovers
Leftover salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you plan to serve individual salads, keep all toppings in separate containers and assemble each salad when you're ready to eat! Any leftover candied pecans can also be stored in the refrigerator. **See FULL POST for more information and step by step photos.Nutrition
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