Easy Cranberry Salad With Pecans 10 Minute Recipe

This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you’re in a rush, please use the “Jump to Recipe” above!

💭 Why you’ll love this recipe

Easy to assemble. All you need to do is combine the salad ingredients, whisk together the dressing (skip if you have store-bought dressing!), top the salad with goat cheese, and serve! This easy recipe takes 10 minutes or even less! Full of nutrients. This salad is made with fresh ingredients that are packed with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and essential vitamins to get you through the day. Perfect Thanksgiving salad, holiday side dish, or light lunch for busy days anytime of the year!

Variations & Substitutions

Mixed salad greens. Use store-bought mixed salad greens or buy fresh greens of your choice: arugula, spinach, lettuce, and kale. Goat cheese. You can substitute goat cheese with cotija cheese or feta cheese. Dried cranberries. Substitute with other dried fruit like raisins or currants. Fresh cranberries tend to be very tart, so the flavors of your salad will be different if you use fresh instead of dried cranberries. Pecans. For a more flavorful crunch, toast the pecans lightly before adding them to the salad. You can also use candied pecans for a sweeter taste. Dressing. I used lemon Dijon dressing for this recipe, which complements the sweet and tangy flavor of the salad. Another great dressing for this recipe is balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

📖 How to make cranberry salad with pecans

Step 1:Add salad greens, pecans, and dried cranberries in a salad bowl. Step 2:In a small bowl, add the dressing ingredients, olive oil, golden syrup, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper and whisk until well combined. Step 3:Drizzle your desired amount of dressing, crumble the goat cheese on top and serve.

👩🏽‍🍳 Tips for the best cranberry salad with pecans

⭐ Allow the goat cheese to come to room temperature. This enhances its creaminess and makes it easier to crumble evenly.

Prepare all the salad ingredients before making the dressing. Consider toasting the pecans in a dry pan for a few minutes! This adds a nice nutty flavor and crunch to the salad. You can add chickpeas, tofu, or quinoa to make this a complete meal with protein. Refrigerate the goat cheese and dressing before adding to the salad.

🍴 How to serve cranberry salad with pecans

The best way to have this easy cranberry salad recipe is to serve it fresh. Assemble the ingredients just before serving to maintain the fresh and crisp texture of the greens and prevent them from becoming soggy. Serve cranberry salad with a crusty bread, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or your favorite main dish!

🍴Storage and reheating suggestions

Store the salad ingredients in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for longer, about 3-4 days. Place paper towels at the bottom of the mixed green container to help absorb extra moisture. Store the dressing separately, preferably in a sealed mason jar, and refrigerate it.