Autumn Chopped Salad with Creamy Poppyseed Dressing Recipe
Autumn Chopped Salad with Creamy Poppyseed Dressing is a vibrant fall salad featuring crisp chopped apples and pears, crunchy pecans, bacon, dried cranberries, and feta cheese all tossed in a luscious creamy poppyseed dressing that perfectly balances sweet and tangy flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 diced Bartlett pear
- 1 diced crisp red apple (such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji)
- 5 pieces cooked and chopped thick-cut turkey bacon
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup chopped toasted pecans
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Creamy Poppyseed Dressing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup milk
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce, 1 diced Bartlett pear, 1 diced crisp red apple, 5 pieces cooked and chopped thick-cut turkey bacon, ¼ cup dried cranberries, ¼ cup chopped toasted pecans, and ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese. Toss them together gently to mix all the ingredients evenly.
- Make the creamy poppyseed dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup milk, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, and 2 teaspoons poppy seeds until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Toss the salad with dressing: Pour half of the prepared dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly until the salad ingredients are evenly coated. Add more dressing according to your preference or serve the remaining dressing on the side. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute turkey bacon with smoked tempeh or omit it entirely.
- Use crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Fuji for the best texture and sweetness.
- To toast pecans, heat them lightly in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant.
- Adjust the sweetness of the dressing by modifying the amount of sugar to taste.
- This salad is best served immediately to maintain the fresh crunchiness of the ingredients.