Autumn Chopped Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
This delicious fall-inspired Autumn Chopped Salad will quickly become your go-to holiday salad. It’s great for large group gatherings or compliments a weeknight meal at home.
This post is sponsored by St. James Winery and Burgers’ Smokehouse. Opinions are all ours though!
Ready to up your salad game? We’ve got you covered.
What Ingredients Do I Need Autumn Chopped Salad?
I’ve been serving this simple, fall-inspired chopped salad at my weeknight and my holiday tables for years. It never sticks around long. The combo of sweet tart apples and dried cranberries, smoky bacon, tangy feta, and crunchy pecans creates a flavor experience in your mouth!
The homemade apple cider dressing perfectly accents the ah-mazing Burgers’ Smokehouse Applewood Smoked Bacon and other autumnal flavors in this salad.
Not only is Burgers’ locally owned and operated in mid-Missouri not far from us, but they produce some of the most flavorful bacon I have ever had. They developed their dry cure method (no water added, very few ingredients) over 50 years ago and have been serving it up the same since. The applewood flavor is subtle but is a very special touch to this apple-infused salad.
Now, let’s talk salad dressing. Friends, I’m just going to say it: I wanted to drink this vinaigrette right from the bottle! This might be my favorite homemade dressing to date.
In our Apple Cider Vinaigrette you’ll pick up sweetness from the maple syrup, plus tartness and apple notes from the cider vinegar. The addition of the Apple Pie Wine from St. James Winery brings it all together–the sweet, the tart, the apple.
Bonus: Drink the rest of your bottle with dinner! With a hint of cinnamon spice, we were pleasantly surprised at how delicious and nostalgic this sweet wine is. Apple Pie Wine would work nicely after dinner as a dessert wine or paired with the meal, as well.
Pour a glass and stick your nose in it. No lie, you will experience the feeling of apple pie. (Yes, apple pie is a feeling.)
As a seasonal wine, Apple Pie Wine is only in stores for a limited time. So, be sure to pick up a few bottles to enjoy for the holidays before they are gone. It’s surprisingly affordable, coming in at around $10 a bottle.
One last look at the Autumn Chopped Salad, friends. Just gaze upon that goodness. Every bite is a burst of flavor.
Wondering where to grab these great products? Snag Apple Pie Wine online here and Applewood Bacon online here or at mid-Missouri Hy-Vee stores.
How to Make Autumn Chopped Salad
Check out this short tutorial and see for yourself just how easy it is to make this chopped salad…
What to Serve Alongside This Salad
Be sure to serve this salad alongside our favorite holiday side, Ultimate Bacon and Cheddar Twice-Stuffed Baked Potatoes…
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PinDescription
Crisp greens are topped with tart apples, sweet dried cranberries, feta cheese, toasted pecans, and Burgers’ Smokehouse Applewood Bacon. Finish off with our delicious Apple Cider dressing and serve alongside Apple Pie Wine by St. James Winery.
Ingredients
Dressing:
- ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Apple Pie Wine (optional)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Salad:
- 8 cups crisp Romaine or Green Leaf lettuce, chopped (approximately 1 head of lettuce)
- 2 medium tart red apples, cored and diced (do not peel) (recommended: Fuji or Honeycrisp)
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 8 slices Burgers’ Smokehouse Applewood Smoked Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 4 ounces feta cheese
Instructions
- Add all the dressing ingredients to a jar with a lid, seal, and shake. (You can make ahead and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.)
- Add all the salad ingredients to a large bowl, lightly drizzle the dressing over the top (add less than you think you need), and toss. Serve with extra dressing and Apple Pie Wine on the side.
More About Applewood Smoked Bacon from Burgers’ Smokehouse
Applewood Smoked Bacon is dry rubbed with a recipe of salt, cane sugar and spice. The slow curing allows the mixture to absorb into the slab. Next, the country bacon goes to a smokehouse where it is naturally smoked with applewood. The smoke produces a golden brown finish. The result is a mellow flavor, with a nice balance of spice, applewood smoke, and sweetness that is slightly milder than our Original or Pepper Coated Country Bacon. This Regular Cut bacon is sliced 1/8 inch thick. Swing by your local Hy-Vee to snag some of this delicious bacon today!
More About Apple Pie Wine from St. James Winery
Apple Pie Wine is a seasonal treat. It is sweet and delicious, with a hint of cinnamon spice, like apple pie in a bottle. Swing by Hy-Vee to pick up your bottle today!
Have you ever substituted blue cheese crumbles instead of the feta? If not how do you think it would taste?
Gorgonzola (a milder blue cheese) would be delicious on this salad!!
This salad was so easy! I did find applewood smoked bacon at my Hy Vee but could not locate the apple pie wine (of any brand). However, this was an absolutely DELICIOUS salad! It was SO GOOD, my husband volunteered to take all of the leftovers (there wasn’t much) to work the next day –WOW!
★★★★★
Thanks for sharing, April! We are so glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing! Does the dressing keep long?
It keeps for a few days “as is”. If you leave out the wine (which is totally fine to do), it will stay good for 2 weeks.
I live in California. Where in the world would I find Apple Pie Wine??? I’ve never heard of it.
Hi Ann Marie. You can order the Apple Pie Wine when it’s in season from St. James Winery. It’s absolutely delicious and a fun local Missouri sweet wine to enjoy. But, since it’s out of stock at this time, you can just omit that ingredient. I’ve tested the dressing that way and it’s still delicious.
What would you sub for the Apple Pie Wine?
I’ve actually tested it without it. It works just fine and still tastes yummy!
I used a sparkling apple cider I came across at the store. The dressing is delicious!
★★★★★
Awesome, sounds delicious. Glad it was a hit.