Bacon Apple Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette

This Bacon Apple Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette is a perfect summertime appetizer or entree. Cook bacon, then set aside the fat. Roast the apple slices, then serve the crumbled bacon and roasted apples over a bed of Tuscan kale. Top with toasted almonds, then toss in homemade Bacon Vinaigrette. Perfect for cookouts, barbecues and fast weeknight dinners!

 bacon apple salad on a glass plate with a fork

Where my Whole30 peeps at?

What week are you on? What day are you on? How do you feel?

Winston and I are DONE! We’ve completed our first round of Whole30, as of yesterday morning, and we’re feeling good.

And while we’re slowly introducing eliminated foods back into our diets, I’d like to think that we are viewing what we eat with new eyes.

Some Whole30 recipes you might want to check out: Whole30 Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas PlatesWhole30 Taco Zucchini BoatsSpinach Pistachio PestoGalia Melon Jamón SkewersBlackberry Ginger Lemon Whole30 TeaSweet Potato BisqueWhole30 Steak Salad with Orange VinaigretteVegan Potato Leek Soup

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    bacon apple salad on a glass plate with a fork

    For me, I’ve always struggled with more vegetables and fruits.

    And this month of the Whole30 proved that I could introduce more fruits and vegetables and that we could eat so incredibly well, even though we weren’t enjoying some of our favorite standbys.

    So in the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing some more Whole30 recipes and eating all the summertime produce because it’s just so good.

    close up of bacon apple salad

    And hey, if you’re not doing Whole30? I can promise this food is gonna be delicious to you, too.

    This salad alone? The stuff dreams are made of.

    A bed of shaved kale. Honeycrisp apples roasted with bacon fat and sprinkled with cinnamon. Homemade (Whole30-approved) bacon bits. Toasted slivered almonds. All tossed in a delicious Bacon Vinaigrette.

    bacon apple salad in a white bowl

    Oh yes. I made a Bacon Vinaigrette to top this salad with. And I feel NO guilt over it because LOOK AT THAT.

    This massive salad is perfect as an entrée for the whole family or an appetizer to get the party started.

    It’s light, but also filling.

    And I might’ve consumed the whole bowl of this goodness over the span of a few days, heating the salad a little bit in the microwave before enjoying a little more.

    bacon apple salad on a glass plate

    Whole30 Bacon Apple Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette Essentials

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    Get the look!

    bacon apple salad on a plate and in a serving bowl

    Now who’s hungry?

    close up of bacon apple salad
    Yield: 4 servings

    Bacon Apple Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette

    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes

    This Bacon Apple Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette is a perfect summertime appetizer or entree. Cook bacon, then set aside the fat. Roast the apple slices, then serve the crumbled bacon and roasted apples over a bed of Tuscan kale. Top with toasted almonds, then toss in homemade Bacon Vinaigrette. Perfect for cookouts, barbecues and fast weeknight dinners!

    Ingredients

    Roasted Apples

    • 3 Honeycrisp apples
    • 1 tablespoon warm bacon fat
    • Black Pepper, to taste
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Bacon Vinaigrette

    • 6 tablespoons warm bacon fat
    • 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon grainy mustard
    • 3 slices roasted apple (about 1/3 of an apple)
    • Kosher salt, to taste
    • Black pepper, to taste

    Salad

    • 10 oz. Tuscan kale, finely shredded
    • 4 slices bacon
    • ¼ cup almonds, slivered and toasted

    Instructions

    Roast the Apples

    1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
    2. Using an apple slicer/corer/divider, prepare the apples. Place the apples on a sheet pan.
    3. Drizzle the bacon fat over the apples, then season with pepper and cinnamon.
    4. Roast for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven.
    5. Turn on the broiler.
    6. While the broiler heats, flip the apples to their other side so that both sides can brown.
    7. Cook in the broiler for 5 minutes.
    8. Remove from the oven, and set aside to cool.

    Make the Vinaigrette

    1. In a blender, measure out the bacon fat, vinegar, mustard and the apple slices.
    2. Pulse until smooth.
    3. Taste, then season with salt and pepper.
    4. Pour into a mason jar, and set aside.

    Make the Salad

    1. Place the finely shredded kale into a large glass bowl.
    2. Pour half the dressing on top of the kale, massaging with your hands.
    3. Add the crumbled bacon, slivered almonds and apples.
    4. Drizzle with the rest of the dressing and toss.
    5. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

    Notes

    Because bacon fat will solidify in the refrigerator, consume this salad as quickly as possible.

    However, if you have leftovers, you can heat the salad in the microwave for 20-30 second spurts until the dressing is a regular consistency. (This is what I did, and it worked like a charm. That said, if you don't like warm salads, this isn't something I would recommend.)

    To make this recipe Whole30-compliant, make sure you're using Whole30-approved bacon and mustard.

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    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    4

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 435Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 368mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 8gSugar: 24gProtein: 7g

    Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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    I think we can all agree that whether or not you’re doing the Whole30, this salad is absolutely delightful.

    Scroll on down to learn how to make it at home!

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    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    10 Comments

    1. I LOVE the roasted apples and bacon! What a delicious combination – I am actually excited to eat salad now!

    2. We’re going to need the Whole 3o after birthday season is over for us! This salad looks perfect!

    3. I am trying to stay on track this summer. I am going to a cookout this weekend and I have been trying to decide what to take. This is perfect!!

      1. You and me both, Dorothy. Staying on track in the summer is hard. I hope you and yours enjoyed this salad at the cookout!

    4. I’ve never done the whole30 but if this is what you get to eat, sign me up! Definitely perfect for summer.

      1. I loved discovering more and more possibilities for the Whole30 as we worked our way through it. And thank you – this is an AMAZING summertime salad!

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