This Apple Brie Pecan Salad is a delightful blend of crisp apples, creamy brie, and candied pecans, perfect for a light and tasty meal that’s full of fall flavor.
Apple Pecan Brie Salad is especially popular during the fall and winter months, when apples and pecans are at their peak and brie adds a touch of comforting richness. It’s a favorite for holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas, where its mix of sweet and savory flavors complements festive meals. This salad makes an elegant starter or side dish for special occasions, offering a seasonal twist that’s sure to impress.
This salad was inspired by fall flavors and makes use of seasonal apples, just like this Crockpot Apple Dump Cake. We also love this Sweet Potato and Apple Soup for a delicious way to use up the bounty from apple picking!
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Ingredients For Apple Brie Salad
You can use plain pecans if you prefer, but we just love the sweetness of the candied pecans with the salty brie cheese- YUM!
- baby spinach
- apple
- Brie cheese
- candied pecans
- Dijon mustard
- balsamic vinegar
- olive oil
- salt
- pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
Apple Brie Pecan Salad Instructions
Step 1: Chop toppings into small pieces.
Step 2: Top spinach with apple, brie, and candied pecans.
Step 3: In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together the mustard and the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Pour dressing over salad and use utensils to mix everything together.
Hint: leave a useful hint here, like let the grill run for 4-5 minutes to burn off any remnants, then clean it. I like to use this bristle-free barbecue brush (affiliate link) for cleaning the grill.
Brie Salad Variations
There are plenty of ways to switch up the ingredients in this salad and enjoy even more fall flavor!
Grilled Chicken and Apple Salad: Turn it into a more filling meal by adding slices of grilled chicken or turkey breast, with an optional addition of quinoa or farro for extra heartiness. Use baked brie to make the ultimate comfort meal salad.
Autumn Harvest Salad: Add roasted butternut squash or sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, and sprinkle with cinnamon-spiced pecans for a warm fall twist.
Apple Walnut and Goat Cheese Salad: Substitute brie with creamy goat cheese, and use walnuts instead of pecans for a more earthy flavor combination. Top with apple cider vinaigrette.
Substitutions
Cheese: If brie isn’t your preference, try goat cheese, blue cheese, or feta for a different flavor and texture.
Nuts: Substitute pecans with walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts for a similar crunch, or use seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
Apples: Swap out apples for pears or even dried cranberries if you’re looking for a different fruity note.
Equipment
This cheese knife will save your behind. It’s cheap and makes it super easy to cut soft cheeses. A must-have if you enjoy a charcuterie board.
This mini whisk is an MVP for making perfectly blended dressings.
Storage
If you wish to make in advance, prep the spinach and brie and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. When ready to serve, add the apples, pecans, and adding.
Apple Brie Pecan Salad is best enjoyed the day it is made.
Top Tip
A sweet variety of apple, like honey crisp, pink lady, or gala tastes good in this salad. Avoid sour or bitter-tasting apples.
Apple Brie Pecan Salad FAQ
A simple vinaigrette made with apple cider vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard complements the flavors beautifully.
Crisp, sweet-tart apples like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady balance the richness of the brie and sweetness of the pecans.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Apple Brie Pecan Salad:
Apple Brie Pecan Salad
This Apple Pecan Brie Salad is a delightful blend of crisp apples, creamy brie, and candied pecans, perfect for a light and tasty meal that's full of fall flavor.
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 apple, cored and chopped*
- 4 oz brie cheese, chopped into small pieces
- 1 oz candied pecan halves, roughly chopped
Dressing
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ Tablespoons balsamic or red wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Roughly chop spinach and add to a medium salad bowl.
- Top spinach with apple, brie, and candied pecans.
- In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together the mustard and the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour dressing over salad and use utensils to mix everything together.
Notes
*A sweet variety of apple, like honey crisp, pink lady, or gala tastes good in this salad.
This cheese knife will save your behind. It's cheap and makes it super easy to cut soft cheeses.
Substitutions
Cheese: If brie isn't your preference, try goat cheese, blue cheese, or feta for a different flavor and texture.
Nuts: Substitute pecans with walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts for a similar crunch, or use seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
Apples: Swap out apples for pears or even dried cranberries if you're looking for a different fruity note.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 403Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 1053mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 5gSugar: 16gProtein: 15g
[…] 1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 418 Total Fat: 34g Saturated Fat: 9g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 24g Cholesterol: 64mg Sodium: 1122mg Carbohydrates: 7g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 2g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 21g © Alison Cuisine: American / Category: Side Dish Needing other salad inspiration to balance out the not so healthy choices? Try this Apple Brie Salad. […]