Spinach Cranberry Salad

This Spinach Cranberry and Apple Salad is such a refreshing, and simple salad perfect for any season or occasion. It’s a delicious option for a light lunch, or an easy side dish for dinner.

This spinach salad is as easy as it gets, and it has such a lovely mix of flavors with the tangy cranberries, sharp red onion, salty feta, sweet and crispy apples, and crunchy pecans all tossed with tender spinach and a quick apple cider vinaigrette dressing.

It’s such a great option for a side salad, or toss in some grilled chicken, quinoa, to make it more filling – or enjoy it as is as a quick lunch option. Pair it with this Cranberry Brie for the ultimate holiday meal.

Why make this recipe?

• Fresh and Healthy – Spinach is full of nutrients, and this salad is loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and fiber, making it a great light and healthy.
• Quick and Easy – This salad can be tossed together in just a few minutes, which makes it a great option for a last minute side dish.
• Versatile – Add different mix ins to suit your taste preferences, Some delicious options would be adding bacon, different nuts, or dried cherries. And you can pick your favorite dressing to go on top!

Ingredients Needed

This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Spinach Cranberry Salad Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.

• Spinach leaves – I like using baby spinach for a soft leaf, and so they fit in my mouth in one bite. If using full sized spinach you might want to chop the leaves into smaller bites.
• Apple slices – Choose a crisp, and sweet apple, I like honey crisp, or gala apples.
• Dried Cranberries – they add such a nice tartness and chewy texture. You could also try dried cherries instead.
• Candied Pecans – These add a nice sweetness, and crunch. You can also use walnuts, or almonds too.
• Crumbled Feta Cheese – The salty cheese pairs nicely with the tart and sweet flavors of this salad.
• Salad Dressing – I’ve included the recipe for apple cider vinaigrette, but other delicious options would be a Balsamic Vinaigrette, Poppy Seed Dressing, or Warm Bacon Dressing

Substitutions and Variations

• Add protein – for a heartier salad, add grilled chicken, turkey, or tofu
• Experiment with Dressings – Try other salad dressings that you like, like raspberry vinaigrette, honey mustard, balsamic vinaigrette, poppy seed dressing, or a warm bacon dressing.
• Different Fruit – Try different fruit add ins like strawberries, pomegranate seeds, or oranges.
• Goat Cheese – Instead of salty feta, try adding a creamy goad cheese

How to make Cranberry Spinach Salad?

Step 1: Add the salad ingredients to a large bowl. Add the spinach, apple slices, cranberries, nuts, and cheese.

Step 2: Add the salad dressing. Drizzle your dressing over the top of the salad and toss it all together. Serve immediately.

Storage Instructions

If you aren’t going to eat the salad immediately, store the dressing in one container and the salad in another. Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day. Add the dressing just before serving.

This Cranberry and Spinach salad is a very simple salad, with a delicious mix of flavors of textures. I love making it to add some fresh green to our meals, for a healthy side dish. Let us know if you make the salad and how you customize it to suit your preferences!

More Salad Recipes

• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
• Crispy Chicken Salad
• Pea Salad with Bacon
• Salad with Berries
• Chicken BBQ Ranch Salad

This Spinach Cranberry Salad was first posted on May 2, 2013. The photos and blog text were updated for clarity on April 29, 2024.