Crisp Apple and Spinach Harvest Salad

Celebrate the flavors of fall with this apple and spinach harvest salad. Packed with juicy Honeycrisp apples, tender spinach, and a mix of colorful veggies, this easy salad is perfect for a quick lunch or as a healthy side dish for family dinners.

Fall has finally arrived with its cooler temperatures and gorgeous colors. Well, for those of us in Florida, those are the things we dream of 😉 Every now and then we do get a glimpse of cool air and it’s magical! But enough about Florida…let’s get back to all the amazing flavors of fall! Because we do celebrate those all over 🙂

Apple season is here, with all of those juicy, crisp and delicious apples. Whether you are heading out to the orchard to pick them from the trees yourself or just grabbing some at the grocery store it’s time to stock up on your favorites. 

This crisp apple and spinach salad is an easy and yummy way to celebrate all of your favorite Fall harvest flavors. Tender spinach leaves are combined with honeycrisp apples, and a handful of veggies for a satisfying salad that you will love.

As written, this salad only makes one serving so it would be perfect for a quick healthy lunch for one.  But, you can easily triple or even quadruple the recipe if you would like to use it to feed a crowd or as a side dish for a family dinner.  

Apple and Spinach Harvest Salad Ingredients

For this simple Fall salad you only need a few ingredients that you may even already have at home. 

Apples –  You will need a Honeycrisp apple for this salad. This snappy crunchy apple is juicy, sweet, and snack-sized which makes it perfect for salads. 

Spinach –  The leafy base for this salad is spinach. Packed with flavor and nutrients that your body craves. You can use baby spinach or regular spinach for this salad, whichever you have on hand.

Bell Peppers – Bell peppers will give this salad a nice crunch, and if you use orange or yellow ones a bit of contrasting color too. Remember, we eat with our eyes first so making things look good is important, especially if you are trying to get your family to eat healthy! 

Red onion –  Red onions are mild and sweet, with just a little spice and they pair very well with the sweetness from the apples. 

Pomegranate seeds – Pomegranate seeds are sweet and tangy and they make a delicious addition to this salad and they are good for you too! 

Cinnamon Toasted Almonds – Cinnamon toasted almonds are a crunchy and delicious addition to this salad. They are easy to make and you might even want a few extras because they are a delicious snack too! 

Protein Suggestions

There is some protein in this salad from the cinnamon toasted almonds but you could certainly include more for a heartier meal. Here are some plant-based and non-plant based protein options for you to consider adding to this delicious salad. 

Plant-based Protein Suggestions

If you are following a plant-based diet there are plenty of plant-based proteins that you can add to this simple and delicious salad. 

Lentils, quinoa, tofu, and chia seeds are all delicious plant-based proteins that could be included in this salad. 

Non Plant-based Protein Suggestions

Chicken would be a great addition to this salad to make it more of a meal. You could use grilled chicken, sauteed chicken, or even leftover rotisserie chicken. Thinly sliced steak would also be delicious in this salad if you have some.   If you don’t have chicken or steak, some lunchmeat turkey chopped into pieces would be a quick and easy addition. 

How to Make Crisp Apple and Spinach Harvest Salad 

Making this salad is super easy, just prepare your ingredients and combine them all together in a bowl. Dress the salad with lemon juice and give everything a toss or use your favorite salad dressing. 

Simple Substitutions and Variations

Feta cheese –  Feta cheese crumbles would be a flavorful addition to this healthy salad. You could also use blue cheese, goat cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, or a non-dairy cheese option. Just use what you have on hand! 

Walnuts or Pecans –  Instead of cinnamon toasted almonds you could use cinnamon toasted or plain walnuts or pecans to give your salad a satisfying crunch and a boost of protein. 

Romaine lettuce –  If you don’t have any spinach on hand you could use romaine or any type of lettuce to make this quick and simple fall salad. 

This flavorful Fall salad has all the tastes and textures you would want in a healthy salad. Not only is it perfect for a quick and easy lunch on a busy day, but it would also make an excellent addition to your dinner table. 

So what are you waiting for? Don’t let this fabulous Fall apple harvest season pass you by without making this salad, and all of your other fantastic apple recipes too.