5.0 from 102 votes
Apple Pecan and Bacon Salad with Maple Vinaigrette Dressing
This Apple Pecan and Bacon Salad with Maple Vinaigrette Dressing features crunchy candied pecans, sweet, crisp apples, savory bacon pieces, and tart, dried cranberries. Serve with your favorite lettuce and top it off with a simple and delicious 2-minute vinaigrette for the perfect salad to go with any meal!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 300 kcal
Course:
Salad
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups lettuce I used green leaf lettuce and arugula
- 1 cup pecan halves
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup chopped bacon pieces see note for my time-saving tip!
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- 1 apple thinly sliced and halves cut crosswise or chopped
Maple Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup see note
- 5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice or 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely cracked black pepper or 1/8 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
Instructions
- First, prepare the candied pecans. In a small skillet, toast pecans for 1 minute over medium-high eat. Add sugar and stir constantly until sugar dissolves. Sprinkle cinnamon over pecans and stir until pecans are sugar-coated. Immediately transfer to a sheet of parchment or a heat-resistant plate to cool slightly.
- Prepare salad by arranging lettuce on a platter. Top with apples, cranberries, pecans, and bacon.
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar, shake vigorously to combine. Pour over salad immediately if serving right away, or wait until just before serving (shake well just before pouring over salad).
Cup of Yum
Notes
- For the bacon: I love bacon in my salads, but I don't like to take the time to cook and chop bacon just for a salad. To save time I like to use bacon bits. Stay with me here! Add your bacon bits to a small microwave-safe dish. Microwave for 15-20 seconds and you will be amazed how they warm and crisp up! When choosing bacon bits at the store, I look for ones that look a bit "raw" (for lack of a better term), and skip any that are too tiny and look dried out.
- The apples: For flavor and texture, I prefer bright red apples in this salad. Gala, fuji, honey crisp are all good options!
- Maple Syrup: use REAL maple syrup, NOT maple flavored breakfast syrup.
Nutrition Information
Calories
300kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
26g
(9%)
Protein
5g
(10%)
Fat
21g
(32%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
5g
Monounsaturated Fat
12g
Sodium
400mg
(17%)
Potassium
189mg
(5%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
20g
(40%)
Vitamin A
287IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
46mg
(5%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 300
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 300kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 26g | 9% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Sodium | 400mg | 17% |
| Potassium | 189mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 20g | 40% |
| Vitamin A | 287IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 46mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.