This crisp romaine salad recipe with apples and feta is light, fresh, and always a crowd favorite. Perfect for family meals or casual entertaining.
I’ll admit it…salads I make at home don’t usually excite me the way restaurant salads do. But this romaine salad recipe changed my mind. The crisp, fresh romaine hearts paired with sweet Honeycrisp apples, tangy feta cheese, and a light homemade dressing create a combination that’s both simple and satisfying. I’ve served this salad many times, and there’s never a bite left in the bowl!
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Why This Recipe Works
This romaine salad recipe is a perfect balance of textures and flavors—crisp romaine, sweet apples, tangy feta, and a simple homemade dressing that ties everything together. It’s easy to make with basic ingredients, and it’s versatile enough to serve alongside just about any meal. Whether you’re hosting a dinner or just want to elevate a weekday lunch, this salad always hits the mark.
Ingredient Notes + Variations
- The simple ingredients that make up this romaine lettuce salad recipe go together beautifully…but any of your favorite vegetables can be substituted.
- Good substitutions for the feta cheese are goat cheese or shredded parmesan.
- Any kind of vegetable or salad oil can be substituted for the olive oil. If you prefer a milder taste, canola or safflower oil are good choices.
- More tasty additions: red onions, garlic, bacon, avocado, cherry tomatoes.
- The apple juice concentrate is found in the frozen food section of your grocery store with the other fruit juice concentrates. Use the full strength, do not add water. If you can’t find the concentrate, substitute apple cider or apple juice.
How to Make
- Prepare & chop the salad ingredients.
- Place the romaine, cucumber, tomato, feta, and apples in a large bowl.
- Place the salad bowl in the refrigerator while the dressing is made.
- Put all the salad dressing ingredients in jar with a tight lid.
- Shake well.
- Drizzle the dressing on the salad, using your preferred amount.
- Toss well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Tips
- Simply add grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, or tuna to turn this side salad into a main course.
- This romaine salad recipe makes four generous side dish servings. It serves two people when used as a main course.
- The dressing can also be prepared using a small bowl. Blend with a whisk.
Homemade vs. Bottled Dressings
I often serve bottled salad dressing because it’s convenient and delicious, but when time allows, making a fresh vinaigrette really elevates a salad. You can adjust the seasoning to your own taste, and it’s incredibly simple to make. A basic vinaigrette uses a 3-to-1 ratio of oil to vinegar, though that can be tweaked depending on how strong the vinegar is. For this romaine salad recipe, I was inspired by Private Selection Crisp Apple Honey Vinaigrette from Kroger. Other bottled options I recommend are Panera Fuji Apple Vinaigrette, Good & Gather Apple Cider Vinaigrette, and Chick-fil-A® Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette Salad Dressing.
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This romaine salad recipe with apples and feta is fresh, flavorful, and easy to make—perfect for everything from weeknight dinners to holiday gatherings. If you enjoy simple salads with a sweet twist, you might also like my Romaine Lettuce Salad with Cranberries and Pears. Both are beautiful options that highlight the versatility of crisp romaine and seasonal fruit.
Romaine Salad Recipe with Apples + Feta
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 romaine hearts, washed and chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber (I used an English cucumber)
- 2 Campari tomatoes, washed and chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup Honeycrisp Apple, chopped
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons frozen apple juice concentrate (Thaw before adding to jar.)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Prepare & chop the salad ingredients.
- Place the romaine, cucumber, tomato, feta, and apples in a large bowl.
- Place the salad bowl in the refrigerator while the dressing is made.
- Put all the salad dressing ingredients in jar with a tight lid.
- Shake well.
- Drizzle the dressing on the salad, using your preferred amount.
- Toss well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!
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Thank you for the recipe….and thank you for figuring out whatever was keeping me from seeing your wonderful posts! So happy to be able to check in with your blog now.
Made this for a casual dinner party and it was a big hit!
Made this salad and dressing and it was delicious, all three of us loved it!
Hi Virginia…thank you so much for the rating. I truly appreciate it!
Ann, this recipe sounds so good! I am going to make this for supper tomorrow!
Thanks for sharing!
Always good to have a simple salad that will go with anything! I cover my apples with lemon or salted water, then rinse, to keep them from browning so quickly in salads.