This Pear Salad makes the perfect side dish to any holiday meal! Ready in under 30 minutes and loaded with tons of flavor and crunch! Made with juicy pears, tangy blue cheese, homemade candied walnuts, salad greens and red onion. Then it’s drizzled with my Easy Honey Mustard Dressing!

Love flavorful salads? You’ll love my Harvest Salad and Italian Chopped Salad.

Pear Salad on a white plate with a gold fork.
Kelley Simmons Kelley’s Tips

Before You Get Started

  • Use ripe but firm pears. You want pears that are sweet and juicy, but still hold their shape when sliced. Bartlett or Anjou pears work great.
  • Let the walnuts cool completely. The candied walnuts will continue to crisp up as they cool. Don’t rush this step—it’s worth the wait!
  • Assemble the salad just before serving. To keep the spinach fresh and prevent it from wilting, wait to add the dressing until right before serving.
  • Add protein to make it a meal. Grilled chicken or salmon are delicious additions that turn this salad into a filling main dish.
Kelley

Pear Salad Ingredients

  • Spinach – Fresh and crisp, spinach is the perfect base for this vibrant salad.
  • Pears – Sliced pears add a refreshing and sweet contrast.
  • Blue cheese – Blue cheese brings a sharp bite that pairs perfectly with the sweet pears.
  • Red onion – Adds a crisp texture and just the right amount of bite.
  • Homemade Candied walnuts – Walnuts add the perfect texture and a touch of indulgence.
  • Honey mustard dressing – This homemade zippy dressing ties everything together with a flavorful finish.

How to Make Pear Salad

  1. Make Easy Candied Walnuts: Preheat oven to 300°F. Whisk one egg white until frothy. Add in brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. Add in 2 cups of walnuts. Toss to coat thoroughly.
Sugar mixture for candied walnuts in a white bowl with a whisk.
Walnuts in the bowl of sugar mixture.
  1. Spread the Mixture Evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone mat.
  2. Bake for 20 Minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely. (They will continue to crisp up as they cool.)
Walnuts spread out on a baking sheet.
Candied walnuts on a baking sheet.
  1. Make honey mustard dressing: Combine dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Cover tightly with lid, and shake for 30 seconds to a minute.
Honey mustard dressing ingredients in a Mason jar.
Dressing ingredients in a Mason jar.
  1. Store in Fridge for up to 3 months.
Spoon holding a scoop of honey mustard dressing.
Hand shaking mason jar with honey mustard dressing.
  1. Assemble the Salad: Add spinach to a large bowl or for single servings divide the spinach between 4 bowls. Top with blue cheese, pear, red onion and candied walnuts. Drizzle with honey mustard dressing on top!

Pear Salad FAQ

What kind of pears work best in this salad?

Bartlett, Anjou, or Bosc pears all work great! Just make sure they’re ripe but still firm so they don’t get mushy.

How do I keep the pears from turning brown?

If you need to add the pears ahead of time, toss them in a little lemon juice to help keep them from browning.

Spoon drizzling honey mustard dressing on top of the pear salad.

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    Recipe

    Pear Salad

    5 from 1 vote
    This Pear Salad is loaded with delicious textures and flavors. It's everything you'd want in a salad! Juicy pear is paired with tangy blue cheese, crunchy candied walnuts, and fresh spinach for a salad that’s anything but boring. A drizzle of homemade honey mustard dressing ties everything together, creating the perfect side dish or a light lunch.
    Author: Kelley Simmons
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Serves 4
    Rate Print

    Ingredients 

    Pear Salad

    • 4 cups spinach or arugula
    • 3 tbsp blue cheese, crumbled
    • 2 ripe pear, sliced
    • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
    • 1/4 cup candied walnuts, recipe follows
    • honey mustard dressing, recipe follows

    Candied Walnuts

    Honey Mustard Dressing

    Instructions

    Candied Walnuts

    • Preheat oven to 300°F Whisk one egg white until frothy. Add in brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
    • Add in 2 cups of walnuts. Toss to coat thoroughly.
    • Spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone mat.
    • Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely. (They will continue to crisp up as they cool)

    Honey Mustard Dressing

    • Combine all ingredients in a mason jar. Cover tightly with lid, and shake for 30 seconds to a minute.
    • Store in fridge for up to 3 months.

    Assemble

    • Add spinach to a large bowl or for single servings divide the spinach between 4 bowls.
      Top with blue cheese, pear, red onion and candied walnuts.
    • Serve with honey mustard dressing drizzled on top!

    Notes

    Pick the best ripe pears: Pears are the star of the show so a ripe quality pear makes all the difference! Use ripe but firm pears. You want pears that are sweet and juicy, but still hold their shape when sliced. Bartlett or Anjou pears work great.
    Assemble the salad just before serving. To keep the spinach fresh and prevent it from wilting, wait to add the dressing until right before serving.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 641kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 13gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 34gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 582mgPotassium: 529mgFiber: 6gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 2887IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 145mgIron: 3mg

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