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This arugula apple salad recipe is a bright and fresh appetizer or side dish, with arugula greens, sliced apples, walnuts, tossed with a 5-minute honey vinaigrette dressing. It’s both simple and elegant, with a nice flavor combination from the peppery arugula and sweet apples and honey.

I absolutely love making this salad all year long, it makes the perfect starter or light lunch. Serve this salad with some toasted simple sourdough or alongside your favorite protein for a nice meal.

honeycrisp apple salad with arugula rocket greens easy fancy fun salad recipes for guests entertaining fall salads vegetarian gluten free

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I absolutely love the flavor combination of apples and arugula – they balance each other so nicely tossed in this salad. The arugula has a wonderful peppery slightly bitter taste, which is a great vehicle for a sweet dressing and fresh fruit like apples.

I added some goat cheese to this salad too, for a wonderfully deep savory salty flavor in each bite.

Don’t be intimidated by making your own salad dressing, either! This super simple vinaigrette is made with pantry staple ingredients and only takes 5 minutes to make. Once I started making my own salad dressings at home, I haven’t bought any bottled dressings from the store. It’s amazing what a fresh dressing can do for a salad!

This Arugula Apple Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing Is

Bright
Fresh
Sweet & Savory
Easy to Make
Requires No Cooking
Ready in about 15 Minutes
Vegetarian

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Simple Salad Recipes You’ll Make Again & Again

We absolutely love big bright salads, with fresh flavors and bold dressings. This arugula apple salad is the perfect combination of savory with pops of sweetness from fresh fruit and drizzle of honey.

There are NO boring salads here, we load up different toppings for tasty flavors, crunch, and creaminess. Some salads are light and delicate, some are hearty and satisfying. Browse through all our easy salads to find your next favorite.

What’s In This Arugula and Apple Salad Recipe?

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

Arugula – a bright fresh green, also known as rocket.
Apples – I used honey crisp, which were juicy, sweet, and really nice in this salad. You can use any variety of apple you like for this!
Walnuts: for a nice crunch.
Extra virgin olive oil
Goat Cheese – I love the bright, salty flavor of adding plain chevre goat cheese to this salad. If you don’t love goat cheese, you can substitute it for a sharp English cheddar or even a soft tangy brie.
Apple Cider Vinegar: I use apple cider vinegar to give this dressing a bright and fresh flavor! I’d recommend using an organic variety “with the mother.”
Raw Honey

Is There an Alternative to Honey?

Yes, you can substitute out the honey in this recipe for agave nectar or maple syrup. Agave has a similar texture and consistency to honey, while maple syrup is slightly runnier.

apple rocket salad recipe with arugula goat cheese honey and walnuts in a bowl with sliced apples.

How Do I Make This Arugula and Apple Salad Recipe?

Add the arugula greens to a large serving bowl. Top with the sliced apples, goat cheese, and walnuts.
In a small mixing bowl or mason jar (I prefer using a jar), add all the salad dressing ingredients and mix well to combine.
Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss well to every leaf of arugula is coated in dressing.
Add fresh black pepper to the top of the salad, and serve immediately.

A Fresh Side Dish Everyone Will Love

This arugula apple salad is one of our favorite Easy Entertaining Recipes – it’s a crowd-pleaser dish that is always a major hit with company. These delicious recipes are perfect to treat your guests (or treat yourself!) when you have a special occasion for dinner.

Browse through our collection of Entertaining Recipes, that we love making for friends and family. If you’re heading to a party, potluck, or BBQ, check out my list of top host gifts for dinner parties for that next-level gift they will love!

arugula apple salad recipe a bright fresh appetizer with fruit goat cheese and rocket

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Always looking for new salads. This one didn’t disappoint