Best Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing – Fresh, Festive & Bursting With Holiday Flavor

🎉 Introduction

This Best Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing is the perfect balance of freshness, crunch, sweetness, and bright seasonal color — everything you could want from a festive holiday salad.

It combines crisp mixed greens, ruby-red pomegranate jewels, sweet crunchy apples, creamy feta, toasted pecans, and a silky homemade honey mustard dressing that ties everything together with the perfect sweet–tangy balance.

This salad isn’t just “healthy” — it’s GORGEOUS.
It brings color to the table, cuts through rich holiday meals, and pairs beautifully with turkey, ham, beef roast, chicken, or any Christmas spread.

With minimal prep and maximum flavor, it’s the kind of salad guests go back for seconds of — the one they request every year.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Cutting board & knife
• Large salad bowl
• Small bowl or jar for dressing
• Whisk
• Measuring spoons & cups
• Optional: skillet for toasting nuts

🛒 Ingredients

For the Salad

• 6 cups mixed greens (spring mix, arugula, or baby spinach)
• 1 large Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apple, thinly sliced
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (or goat cheese)
• ½ cup toasted pecans or walnuts
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• Optional: thinly sliced red onion
• Optional: sliced pears for extra sweetness

For the Honey Mustard Dressing

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
• Optional: ½ teaspoon minced garlic

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Nuts

Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until fragrant.
Set aside to cool.

Step 2: Make the Honey Mustard Dressing

In a jar or small bowl, whisk together:

• olive oil
• Dijon mustard
• honey
• apple cider vinegar
• salt
• pepper

Taste and adjust:

• more honey for sweetness
• more mustard for tang
• more vinegar for acidity

Set aside.

Step 3: Assemble the Salad

In a large serving bowl, add:

• mixed greens
• sliced apples
• pomegranate seeds
• dried cranberries
• feta cheese
• cooled toasted pecans

If using, add thin red onion slices for contrast.

Step 4: Dress & Serve

Drizzle with honey mustard dressing right before serving.
Toss gently to coat everything without crushing the greens.

For presentation: sprinkle extra pomegranate seeds + feta on top.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 4–6
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 3 minutes (for nuts)
• Total Time: 13–15 minutes

🧊 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

Store Dressing: up to 5 days in the fridge
Store Salad (undressed): 1 day

Avoid sogginess:
Only add dressing right before serving.

To prevent apples from browning, toss slices in lemon water.

🥄 Variations

1. Christmas Pear Salad: Swap apples for pears.
2. Cranberry Walnut Salad: Add candied walnuts & dried cranberries.
3. Orange Poppyseed Version: Add mandarin segments + poppy seeds.
4. Goat Cheese Variation: Swap feta for creamy goat cheese.
5. Maple Twisted Dressing: Replace honey with maple syrup.
6. Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken or roasted turkey.
7. Savory Version: Add crispy bacon pieces.
8. Roasted Veg Upgrade: Add roasted sweet potatoes.
9. Nut-Free Option: Replace nuts with pumpkin seeds.
10. Holiday Deluxe: Add pistachios + shaved parmesan.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I make this salad ahead?
   Yes — assemble everything except the dressing and apples.
2. How do I keep apples fresh?
   Toss slices in lemon water: 1 cup water + 1 tbsp lemon juice.
3. Can I use goat cheese instead of feta?
   Absolutely — it’s delicious.
4. Can I replace pomegranate?
   Cranberries, strawberries, or dried cherries work well.
5. Do I have to toast the nuts?
   No, but it enhances flavor and crunch.
6. Can I use a store-bought dressing?
   Yes, but homemade honey mustard tastes much better.
7. What greens work best?
   Arugula, spring mix, baby spinach, or a combination.
8. How do I make the salad more filling?
   Add chicken, turkey, quinoa, or roasted squash.
9. Can I make a bigger batch?
   Easily — double all ingredients.
10. What proteins pair well?
    Roasted turkey, glazed ham, beef tenderloin, salmon, or chicken.

🏁 Conclusion

This Best Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing is fresh, festive, colorful, and bursting with seasonal flavor. It’s the perfect holiday side dish — refreshing yet satisfying, beautifully balanced, and stunning on any Christmas dinner table.

With crisp apples, juicy pomegranate, creamy feta, crunchy toasted nuts, and a silky-sweet honey mustard dressing, every bite is vibrant, bright, and unforgettable.

A truly must-make holiday salad.

Best Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing – Fresh, Festive & Bursting With Holiday Flavor

This Best Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing is the perfect balance of freshness, crunch, sweetness, and bright seasonal color — everything you could want from a festive holiday salad. It combines crisp mixed greens, ruby-red pomegranate jewels, sweet crunchy apples, creamy feta, toasted pecans, and a silky homemade honey mustard dressing that ties everything together with the perfect sweet–tangy balance. This salad isn’t just “healthy” — it’s GORGEOUS. It brings color to the table, cuts through rich holiday meals, and pairs beautifully with turkey, ham, beef roast, chicken, or any Christmas spread. With minimal prep and maximum flavor, it’s the kind of salad guests go back for seconds of — the one they request every year.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4 Servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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Ingredients

  

For the Salad

• 6 cups mixed greens spring mix, arugula, or baby spinach
• 1 large Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apple thinly sliced
• ½ cup pomegranate seeds
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese
• ½ cup toasted pecans or walnuts
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• Optional: thinly sliced red onion
• Optional: sliced pears for extra sweetness

For the Honey Mustard Dressing

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
• Optional: ½ teaspoon minced garlic

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Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

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Equipment

• Cutting board & knife
• Large salad bowl
• Small bowl or jar for dressing
• Whisk
• Measuring spoons & cups
• Optional: skillet for toasting nuts

Method

 

Step 1: Prepare the Nuts

1. Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until fragrant.
2. Set aside to cool.

Step 2: Make the Honey Mustard Dressing

1. In a jar or small bowl, whisk together:
2. olive oil
3. Dijon mustard
4. honey
5. apple cider vinegar
6. salt
7. pepper
8. Taste and adjust:
9. more honey for sweetness
10. more mustard for tang
11. more vinegar for acidity
12. Set aside.

Step 3: Assemble the Salad

1. In a large serving bowl, add:
2. mixed greens
3. sliced apples
4. pomegranate seeds
5. dried cranberries
6. feta cheese
7. cooled toasted pecans
8. If using, add thin red onion slices for contrast.

Step 4: Dress & Serve

1. Drizzle with honey mustard dressing right before serving.
2. Toss gently to coat everything without crushing the greens.
3. For presentation: sprinkle extra pomegranate seeds + feta on top.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

Store Dressing: up to 5 days in the fridge
Store Salad (undressed): 1 day

Avoid sogginess:
Only add dressing right before serving.

To prevent apples from browning, toss slices in lemon water.

🥄 Variations

Christmas Pear Salad: Swap apples for pears.

Cranberry Walnut Salad: Add candied walnuts & dried cranberries.

Orange Poppyseed Version: Add mandarin segments + poppy seeds.

Goat Cheese Variation: Swap feta for creamy goat cheese.

Maple Twisted Dressing: Replace honey with maple syrup.

Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken or roasted turkey.

Savory Version: Add crispy bacon pieces.

Roasted Veg Upgrade: Add roasted sweet potatoes.

Nut-Free Option: Replace nuts with pumpkin seeds.

Holiday Deluxe: Add pistachios + shaved parmesan.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I make this salad ahead?
Yes — assemble everything except the dressing and apples.

How do I keep apples fresh?
Toss slices in lemon water: 1 cup water + 1 tbsp lemon juice.

Can I use goat cheese instead of feta?
Absolutely — it’s delicious.

Can I replace pomegranate?
Cranberries, strawberries, or dried cherries work well.

Do I have to toast the nuts?
No, but it enhances flavor and crunch.

Can I use a store-bought dressing?
Yes, but homemade honey mustard tastes much better.

What greens work best?
Arugula, spring mix, baby spinach, or a combination.

How do I make the salad more filling?
Add chicken, turkey, quinoa, or roasted squash.

Can I make a bigger batch?
Easily — double all ingredients.

What proteins pair well?
Roasted turkey, glazed ham, beef tenderloin, salmon, or chicken.

🏁 Conclusion

This Best Christmas Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing is fresh, festive, colorful, and bursting with seasonal flavor. It’s the perfect holiday side dish — refreshing yet satisfying, beautifully balanced, and stunning on any Christmas dinner table.

With crisp apples, juicy pomegranate, creamy feta, crunchy toasted nuts, and a silky-sweet honey mustard dressing, every bite is vibrant, bright, and unforgettable.

A truly must-make holiday salad.