Everyone should have a “go-to” green salad recipe. This is mine. I’ve made it on countless occasions – ranging from quick weeknight meals to Christmas dinner. The flavors all pair so well together with a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and, tangy. And the textures as well, with the crunch of the pecans and the creaminess of the goat cheese that coats every bite. I usually make this recipe with my creamy maple balsamic dressing. But you can use store-bought dressing to make this salad recipe extra fast and easy.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Mixed Baby Greens – I used spring mix. You can use mesclun greens, baby arugula or baby spinach, or chopped up lettuce if you like.Red onion – very thinly sliced so it’s not overpoweringDried cranberries – you can use another dried fruit, such as raisins or currants, or even a fresh sweet and tart fruit like chopped apples if you prefer. Fresh chopped cranberries can be used however they are very tart, so expect the flavor to be different.Candied pecans or walnuts – any kind you like (here’s a homemade cinnamon candied walnut recipe).Soft Goat Cheese – also known as chèvre. You can use crumbled feta or queso fresco as an alternative.Creamy Maple Balsamic Dressing – you’ll need balsamic vinegar, mayo, olive oil, salt, pepper, and maple syrup for this. Or, you can use a store-bought dressing (more below on this).
How to make Cranberry, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Salad
Can I use store bought dressing?
Sure! Anything with a sweet and tangy flavor would be great, and using store-bought dressing is a good way to save time. A store-bought balsamic vinaigrette, poppyseed dressing (I like Briana’s), or one of my favorites: Marie’s White Balsamic Shallot.
How to make this salad for meal prep
It’s easy to make this salad for meal prep. Just assemble individual portions with all the ingredients EXCEPT the dressing. Pack the dressing in portions separately and add the dressing on top just before eating. You’ll need about 1.5 – 2 tablespoons dressing per serving. If you dress the salad too early, it will become soggy quickly. So leftovers aren’t great for this reason.
Other green salad recipes
Authentic Greek SaladMassaged Kale Salad with Apples and Goat CheeseDeconstructed Wedge SaladHealthy Cobb SaladSalmon, Goat Cheese, and Arugula SaladMixed Greens Salad with Egg and AvocadoStrawberry Arugula Salad
Did you know commenting and rating recipes is one of the best ways you can support your favorite food bloggers? If you made this recipe or have a question, please click the stars below to comment and Rate this Recipe and/or share photos on social media using the hashtag #bowlofdelicious or tagging @bowlofdelicious!
