For a refreshing and unique dish, throw together this amazing Apple Walnut Gorgonzola Salad. This recipe can be served as a beautiful side dish or showstopping main course, so you'll always have an excuse to make it!
Crispy apples, crunchy nuts, tart cranberries, and creamy cheese come together on a bed of greens for a harmony of amazing flavors. Bursting with freshness, this will quickly become one of your favorite salad recipes!
Jump to:
- 🩵 About This Recipe
- What readers are saying...
- 🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- 🔪 Let's Make Apple Walnut Gorgonzola Salad!
- 💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- ❔ FAQs
- 📝 Substitutions and Variations
- 🥡 Storage
- ⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
- 🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
- 😋 More Easy Side Salad Recipes You'll Love
- 📋 Recipe Card
- 💬 Reviews and Comments
🩵 About This Recipe
Looking for a refreshing and flavorful salad that's perfect for any occasion? This apple & walnut salad is packed with a unique combination of ingredients for an easy and crowd pleasing side dish!
Thanks to a homemade dressing, crunchy walnuts, and crisp, sweet apples, this salad is great for the summer but also perfect for a holiday feast. You'll love how simple it is to throw together this amazing dish.
And if you can't get enough amazing side dishes, try my Vegetarian Kale Caesar Salad or this yummy Avocado Feta Salad!
What readers are saying...
What a beautiful, fresh salad! I loved the sweet combinations and the walnut and apples crunch. Lovely texture!
- Pris
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- spring mix salad - is a mixture of greens, lettuces with bright fresh crunchy textures and flavors. Instead of purchasing several different types of lettuce, this bag has everything you want, affordably.
- dried cranberries - adds a nice tart bite.
- apples and walnuts - for crunchy texture and flavor.
- gorgonzola cheese - sharp and salty it crumbles nicely on top of the salad. If you need to substitute, feta cheese would be the next best thing.
- red onion - optional, but I enjoy the bite from the onion.
- olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice - for a quick homemade salad dressing.
🔪 Let's Make Apple Walnut Gorgonzola Salad!
(Or click here to jump right to the recipe card with measurements!)
Make Dressing
Mix together the salad dressing. Whisk the olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice in a bowl, or place in a jar and shake well.
Chop Apples
Chop the apples into bite-sized pieces.
Mix
Add the spring salad mix to a large bowl. Top with cranberries, chopped walnuts, thinly sliced onions (optional), diced apples, and gorgonzola crumbles.
Dress Salad
Lightly dress the salad. I always keep in mind I can add more dressing but you can't take it away! Add it just a bit at a time.
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Wait until just before assembling the salad to dice your apples to keep them fresh.
- Similarly, don't add the dressing until you're serving the salad so your greens don't get soggy.
- Be gentle when tossing the salad so you don't bruise or damage your greens.
- You can throw in some additional spring mix to balance things out if you accidentally add too much dressing.
- Skip the red onion if you're serving this salad to kids (or anybody who doesn't enjoy raw onion).
❔ FAQs
Of course any apple will work but I recommend picking bright, crispy apples. Look for honeycrisp, pink lady, gala, or Fuji apples.
If you're looking for a sweet apple, reach for a Fuji. Golden and red delicious are super sweet too, just not as crunchy as what I prefer in this recipe.
Walnuts are the go-to for the salad. However, pecans or pistachios also add a bright delicious crunch!
After you open a bag of walnuts, store them in a sealed bag in the freezer. They will keep longer and stay more fresh.
Store them loose in the crisper in the refrigerator.
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Blue cheese can be used instead of gorgonzola if you prefer.
- Pears can be used in place of the apples, or in addition to!
- Other nuts like pecans or sliced almonds can also be used.
- To make this a main dish, serve with some grilled chicken over top.
- For extra creaminess, mix in sliced avocado.
Kristin's Kitchen Tip
For even easier dressing prep, combine everything in a mason jar, pop on the lid and give it a good shake!
🥡 Storage
If possible, store the salad and the dressing separately for best results. The dressed salad will only last a day or so in the fridge. Undressed salad should be good for 2 days or longer depending on the freshness of your produce.
⏳ Make Ahead Instructions
The dressing can be made a day or two ahead of time. Store in a mason jar or other airtight container in the fridge until it's time to dress your salad.
Keep It Handy
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🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Serve this as a side dish with just about any of your favorite entrees! I've found it pairs especially well with things like chicken, steak, pork, or lamb.
If you're looking to serve a salad and sandwich, then how about a red pepper grilled cheese, spectacular! This apple bacon panini is a great choice too. My favorite is a quesadilla - YUM!!!
😋 More Easy Side Salad Recipes You'll Love
- Bacon Crab Pasta Salad - Seafood fans will love this refreshing pasta salad recipe.
- Quinoa Cucumber Tomato Salad - Thanks to avocado, this quinoa salad is filling and includes a variety of amazing flavors and textures.
- Summer Potato Salad with Corn - Amazing for BBQs and cookouts, this summer side salad features fresh corn and tender potatoes.
- Chopped Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing - This recipe from Hip Foodie Mom is a quick and easy salad with a tangy and zingy homemade dressing!
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Apple & Walnut Salad
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📋 Recipe Card
Apple Walnut Gorgonzola Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Salad:
- 10 ounces spring mix
- 2 cups dried cranberries
- 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
- 2 large apples
- 1 ½ cups gorgonzola cheese
- ½ cup chopped red onion (optional)
Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl, set aside.3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Dice the apples into bite-sized pieces.2 large apples
- Right before serving, combine all the salad ingredients in a large bowl.10 ounces spring mix, 2 cups dried cranberries, 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts, 1 ½ cups gorgonzola cheese, ½ cup chopped red onion
- Pour about ¾ of the dressing over the salad and toss. Keeping adding more dressing and tossing until all of the salad is coated but not soaked.
Notes
Prep Tips:
- Mix the dressing in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well for a quick, easy vinaigrette.
- Dice the apples just before assembling the salad to help keep them fresh-looking.
- Wait until just before serving to add the dressing so the greens stay crisp.
- Toss the salad gently to avoid bruising the spring mix.
- If you accidentally add too much dressing, simply toss in a little more spring mix to balance it out.
- If serving kids or anyone who doesn't enjoy raw onion, feel free to skip the red onion.
Variations:
- You can substitute blue cheese for the Gorgonzola.
- Replace the apples with pears.
- Swap the walnuts for pecans or sliced almonds.
- Add grilled chicken into the salad and serve as a main dish.
- Mix in sliced avocado for extra creaminess.
Serving Suggestions:
- This can be served alongside most any entree, however it works especially well alongside chicken, steak, pork, or lamb.
- You can even use it as a light lunch or dinner with crusty bread on the side.
- Bring it to potlucks or holiday dinners. Add the dressing just before serving so it doesn't get too soggy.
Storage:
- Store any leftover undressed salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Store the dressing separately in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and shake well before using.
- If the salad has already been dressed, it is best enjoyed the same day, as the greens will begin to wilt. (However, it is still tasty the next day, even though it's a little soggy!)
- Freezing is not recommended.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in August 2020, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in July 2026.
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Tasha's Artisan Foods says
This apple walnut salad looks so good. I will definitely try this as it is excellent for immunity in this corona period.
Soniya says
This salad looks amazing! Two of my favorite things are in it apples and walnuts.. can't wait to make it.
Kristin says
Thanks Soniya! Hope you love it as much as we do! 🙂
Angela says
I love everything about this salad. The best part is how quick and easy it is to make.
Kristin says
Me too! 🙂 Thanks, Angela!
Pris says
What a beautiful, fresh salad! I loved the sweet combinations and the walnut and apples crunch. Lovely texture!
Kristin says
The different textures are definitely a highlight of this salad. Thanks! 🙂
Beth says
Yummy! This looks so tasty and delicious! Can't wait to make this! Putting the ingredients on the list now! So excited!
Kristin says
Thanks! I hope you like it!
Dannii says
What a delicious looking salad. This would be perfect for a Christmas buffet.
Kristin says
Thanks! Yes, I agree, I love to take this to holiday potlucks!