Classic Waldorf Salad: Crisp, Creamy, and Ready in Minutes
Make this timeless Waldorf Salad recipe that balances crisp apples, crunchy celery, and walnuts in a light, tangy dressing. It is a refreshing side dish perfect for any gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups mixed greens or butter lettuce leaves
- 2 large crisp apples (like Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and chopped
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 1 cup seedless red or green grapes, halved
- 1 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Toast the walnuts: Place walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the chopped apples, celery, grapes, and cooled toasted walnuts.
- Dress the salad: Pour the dressing over the apple and nut mixture. Gently toss everything until all ingredients are lightly coated.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. This step helps keep the apples crisp.
- Serve: Arrange the mixed greens on a platter or in individual bowls. Spoon the Waldorf salad mixture over the greens. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For maximum crunch, toss the chopped apples with a teaspoon of lemon juice immediately after cutting before adding them to the main bowl.
- If you prefer a lighter dressing, substitute all the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
- Toast the walnuts ahead of time to save a few minutes during assembly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 210
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 23
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 15