Name: Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt (dairy or dairy-free); 3 tablespoons mayonnaise; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 tablespoon honey; 2 green apples, diced; 1 cup diced celery; 1 cup grapes, halved; 1 cup whole walnuts or pecans, toasted and roughly chopped; 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; Optional: butter lettuce leaves for serving

If you’re looking for a salad that’s fresh, crunchy, and packs a healthy punch, you’re going to adore this Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe. I absolutely love how this turns out every time — it’s crisp, creamy, and just the right balance of sweet and tangy. When I first tried making this salad at home, I was amazed at how quickly it became a family favorite, especially because it feels indulgent without any guilt. Trust me, you’ll want to keep this recipe handy for lunches, potlucks, or even holiday dinners.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple and Quick: You can whip this salad up in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy days.
Nutritious Ingredients: Loaded with fresh apples and crunchy walnuts, it offers fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
Customizable: You’ll find it easy to swap ingredients or tweak the dressing to suit your taste or dietary needs.
Crowd-Pleaser: Every time I bring this to family gatherings, it’s the first dish to disappear.

A clear glass bowl filled with a fresh salad made of three main layers: light green celery pieces with a smooth texture, green apple cubes showing crisp edges, and halved red grapes with a shiny, smooth surface. Scattered throughout the salad are small light brown walnut pieces with a rough texture and bits of finely chopped dark green herbs on top. The salad is lightly coated with creamy white dressing visible between the ingredients. A silver spoon rests inside the bowl, mixing the salad. The bowl is placed on a white marbled surface with subtle grey veining, and below it, there is a smaller white bowl containing extra white creamy dressing and a silver spoon. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe is all in the fresh, quality ingredients that come together effortlessly. I always look for crisp, tart green apples and fresh celery—these add the signature crunch and brightness. Toasted walnuts bring a rich nuttiness that perfectly offsets the tangy dressing.

Greek yogurt: Adds creaminess with a nice protein boost and keeps the dressing healthy.
Mayonnaise: I use a light mayo or a dairy-free option to add smoothness without overpowering flavors.
Lemon juice: Brightens the dressing and prevents the apples from browning too fast.
Honey: Just a touch to balance the tartness without making it too sweet.
Green apples: I recommend Granny Smith for their crunch and tart flavor, perfect for this salad.
Celery: Adds a refreshing crunch and balances the texture of the softer grapes and dressing.
Grapes: Use seedless, halved grapes for little bursts of juicy sweetness throughout the salad.
Walnuts or pecans: Toasted and roughly chopped to bring out their deepest flavor and add crunch.
Parsley: Finely chopped for a pop of fresh herbaceous flavor and color.
Kosher salt: To season and bring all the flavors together perfectly.
Optional – butter lettuce leaves: Great for serving if you want a pretty, edible base or handy salad cups.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love making this salad my own by switching things up depending on the season or occasion. Feel free to try your favorite nuts or swap mayo for additional yogurt if you want it lighter. The beauty of this Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe is how easy it is to personalize without losing its classic charm.

Nut Swap: Sometimes, I switch walnuts for pecans or even slivered almonds, adding a different crunch and flavor profile.
Dressing Variation: I’ve started adding a teaspoon of Dijon mustard for a slight tang, which my family surprisingly loves.
Fruit Mix-Up: Adding diced pears or dried cranberries offers a fun twist, especially around the holidays.
Vegan Option: Use a plant-based mayo and yogurt alternative to keep it completely vegan without sacrificing creaminess.

How to Make Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe

Step 1: Whip Up the Creamy Dressing

Start by combining Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and honey in a small bowl. Stir these together until your dressing is smooth and creamy. I find using a small whisk helps get it perfectly blended. The lemon juice is key—not just for flavor, but it also keeps the apples from turning brown quickly. Set the dressing aside while you prep the rest of the salad; this also lets the flavors meld nicely.

Step 2: Prepare the Fresh Ingredients

Dice your green apples into bite-sized pieces—no peeling needed, since the skin adds nice texture and nutrients. Toss the celery and grapes (halved for easier eating) into a large bowl. If you’ve toasted the walnuts or pecans ahead of time, roughly chop them and add them in. I like to toast nuts on a dry skillet over medium heat for just a few minutes until fragrant; it brings out so much flavor!

Step 3: Combine and Toss Gently

Add the chopped parsley and kosher salt to the bowl with the fruit and nuts. Pour your dressing over everything, then gently fold the ingredients together. Here, be careful not to mash the apples or grapes; a gentle touch keeps all the textures intact. This step brings all the flavors together—once it’s mixed, you’ll see the beautiful creamy coating binding every bite.

Step 4: Serve or Chill for Later

You can serve this salad right away on a bed of butter lettuce leaves for a lovely presentation. Or, if you have time, chilling it for 30 minutes helps the flavors marry even better. When I make this ahead of time, I always wait to add the nuts until just before serving if I want to keep them extra crunchy.

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Pro Tips for Making Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe

Use Fresh, Crisp Apples: I learned that using apples that are too soft or old can make the salad soggy — always pick apples that snap when you bite them.
Toast Your Nuts: Toasting walnuts brings out an incredible depth of flavor and crunch that really elevates this salad.
Add Dressing Last: To keep the fruits and nuts from getting soggy, toss the salad with the dressing just before serving or store components separately.
Don’t Skip the Lemon Juice: It prevents apple browning and brightens every bite — a little goes a long way!

How to Serve Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe

The image shows a creamy salad with several layers of different ingredients mixed together. There are light green celery pieces cut into small sections, white cheese cubes with bits of green herbs on them, and red grape halves with white creamy dressing covering parts of the salad. There are also whole walnut pieces adding a rough texture, scattered evenly across the salad. Small green herb bits are spread throughout, blending with the creamy white dressing that coats everything. The mixture is shown close up, with a silver spoon partially visible on the left side. The background has a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple here — a sprinkle of extra toasted walnuts on top adds a nice crunch and looks inviting. Sometimes, I toss a few fresh parsley leaves for a pop of color. If you want to get fancy, a drizzle of honey or a tiny squeeze of fresh lemon over individual portions is a lovely touch that enhances brightness.

Side Dishes

This Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe pairs beautifully with grilled chicken or fish for a light lunch or dinner. I also love it alongside a hearty soup or as part of a brunch spread — especially with crusty bread and a mild cheese. Whenever I make it for gatherings, I find it complements so many mains without stealing the spotlight.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve served this salad in hollowed-out apple halves or even in elegant glass jars layered with the ingredients for a visually stunning presentation. Using butter lettuce leaves to create little salad “boats” is also a great way to serve this as a fun appetizer or finger food at parties. It’s all about making it look as good as it tastes!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers, I recommend storing the salad in an airtight container in the fridge. The salad keeps well for a day or two, but after that, the apples can start to soften. To keep it fresh, I sometimes store the salad and dressing separately and mix them when ready to eat.

Freezing

I haven’t tried freezing this salad because the texture would likely suffer—especially the fresh apples and celery. For best results, enjoy this salad fresh or within a couple of days refrigerated.

Reheating

This salad is best served cold or at room temperature, so there’s really no need to reheat. Just take it out of the fridge 10–15 minutes before serving to let it lose the chill and come to its full flavor.

FAQs

Can I make this Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe vegan?

Absolutely! Swap the Greek yogurt and mayonnaise for plant-based versions, like coconut or almond milk yogurt and vegan mayo, and you’ll have a creamy, delicious vegan Waldorf salad without sacrificing texture or flavor.
What type of apples is best for this salad?

I recommend tart, crisp apples such as Granny Smith to give the salad a nice crunch and balance the sweetness of the grapes and honey in the dressing.
How long can I store leftovers?

Stored properly in an airtight container in the fridge, the salad lasts about 1–2 days before the apples and celery start to lose their crispness.
Can I prepare this salad ahead of time for a party?

Yes! Just prepare the dressing separately and toss it with the fruit and nuts right before serving to keep everything fresh and crunchy.

Final Thoughts

This Healthy Waldorf Salad with Apples and Walnuts Recipe has become one of my go-to recipes when I want something light but satisfying—and I’m sure once you try it, you’ll feel the same. It’s reliable, easy to adapt, and always lands well whether it’s a quick lunch or part of a holiday spread. Next time you want to impress with minimal effort, give this salad a whirl—I promise it’ll be a hit with your family and friends.