Crunchy and Refreshing Fall Salads

Apples add a great crunch and nutrition to these savory salads, and when freshly picked during apple season these dishes are simply wonderful. Apples are great additions to your diet, as they are packed with vitamins and fiber and promote proper gut health. Rich in polyphenols, a type of micronutrient found in plants, apples help prevent cardio vascular disease.

These easy, healthy ideas for salads make wonderful lunches and can easily be included in your weekday meal planning. From casual meals to celebratory tables, there's a type of apple salad for each occasion.

• Apple, Pecan, and Raisin Salad

  

  Put an autumn spin on the classic Waldorf salad with this refreshing, creamy salad medley. Juicy, Red Delicious apple morsels mingle with crunchy pecans and chewy raisins—in lieu of the walnuts and grapes typically included in a Waldorf. Tossed in a quick and easy mayonnaise dressing, it’s a fantastic all-season salad that pairs well with lunchtime grilled cheeses and pork chop mains. Or stuff some of it in a whole wheat wrap with a few slices of smoked ham, for a sweet and savory treat.

• Apple-Pomegranate Salad With Poppy Seed Dressing

  

  Ideal for Rosh Hashanah celebrations and Christmas dinners alike, this striking red and green salad makes a colorful starter course. Delicious and healthy too, boasting good-for-you green apple slices and anti-oxidant rich pomegranate seeds, it’s a virtuous holiday salad everyone can enjoy. Serve it as an appetizer, as a vegetarian main, or as a side dish to fish.

• Spinach Salad With Apple Vinaigrette

  

  Adding the sweetness of fall apples to fresh, tender spinach leaves is a fabulous way to enjoy this superfood green. It’s easy to assemble this healthy spinach salad in a snap with pre-washed, bagged fresh spinach and finely-chopped fresh apple bits. Make it ahead of time if you like, but do wait until just before serving to add the zingy apple cider vinaigrette, so you avoid soggy greens. Use it as a base to add chicken, fish, or cubed ham, or add a few chunks of your favorite goat’s cheese to make it a vegetarian main.

• Apple and Curried Chicken Salad

  

  Healthy, super-tasty, and satisfying, this curried chicken salad with diced apple is great for meal planning. Nuts, raisins, and celery bits add crave-worthy crunch and flavor, and it’s great for gluten-free diet plans, too. Keep it for up to 5 days in the fridge, sealed in an airtight container, for an instant lunch kids and adults can help themselves to any day of the week.

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• Granny Smith Apple Slaw

  

  Bursting with bright flavor from tart and sweet Granny Smith apples, this lively cabbage and fresh fruit slaw matches wonderfully with holiday ham and pork tenderloin mains. Or pile it atop your Tuesday tacos or pulled pork sandwiches for a fantastic flavor contrast. The fragrant spices make this salad an excellent side to mildly flavored proteins like grilled chicken, poached white fish, or grilled tofu.

• Red Cabbage and Apple Salad

  

  Thinly sliced apples, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans add delightful flavor—and plenty of crunch and chew—to this nutritious red and green cabbage salad. Pair it with pork tenderloin, roast turkey, or baked ham as an inspired first course or side salad. Top pulled pork sandwiches, or serve with ham and cheese crepes or even a special French onion burger.

• Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

  

  Brighten up the weekday lunch hour with this nutritious chicken salad featuring fresh apple chunks, crunchy pecans, and a creamy honey mustard dressing. Make it ahead for your fridge, using leftover cooked chicken or a store-bought rotisserie bird, for an easy, grab-and-go midday meal. Enjoy it piled atop lettuce, stuffed into sandwiches and pitas, or served next to a savory and cheesy slice or broccoli quiche.