Crisp Apple & Smoky Coconut Bacon Salad + Peanut Dressing
Vegan Apple + Smoky Bacon Salad is a wonderful mix of sweet and savory flavors, topped with a creamy nut butter dressing, for a delicious and healthy lunch or dinner!
As a salad lover, I’ve always believed the best ones are the ones that surprise you in every bite – sweet meets savory, crunchy meets creamy, fresh meets smoky. That’s exactly what this vegan apple coconut bacon salad delivers!
Fresh crisp apples, sweet raisins (or currants), crunchy slivered almonds, smoky coconut bacon, and a creamy ginger peanut (or almond butter) dressing come together for a light and satisfying meal that feels like dessert for lunch.
This healthy salad is quick, nutrient-packed (plant protein, fiber, vitamins), and endlessly customizable. Use your favorite greens, swap nuts for seeds, or go nut-free with tahini. It’s gluten-free, WFPB-friendly, and ideal for solo lunches or scaling up for meal prep.
The homemade dressing is bright, tangy, and irresistible – make extra for drizzling on everything!
Why We Love This Recipe!
- Sweet-crisp apples + smoky coconut bacon = crave-worthy contrast
- Creamy peanut dressing with ginger kick (nut-free option too)
- Ready in 10 minutes – no cooking required
- Balanced, wholesome, and family-friendly
- Great for meal prep – store components separately for freshness
Ready to make your new favorite salad? Let’s dive in!
Coconut Bacon & Apple Salad Ingredients
Fresh crisp apples and flavorful coconut bacon make great additions to salads!
Here are a few key ingredient notes:
- Apple – Use your favorite apples (I used crisp Fuji), but you may prefer tart green apples, honeycrisp, or other red varieties.
- Vegan bacon – I used my homemade coconut bacon, but you can purchase it (see notes) online or at a few select stores. Alternatively, use other plant-based bacon, such as shiitake bacon or crumbled tempeh bacon!
- Leafy Greens – Use your favorite leafy greens. I used 50/50 spring mix, but arugula, baby spinach and kale, oak lettuce, or any mix of these would be great!
- Peanut butter dressing: Adding peanut butter gives you a good dose of protein (about 8 grams) and delicious creaminess. I used ginger powder since it was on hand, but use freshly grated ginger for maximum ginger flavor. Those with nut allergies can use sun butter or tahini in place of peanut or almond butter.
- Extras – Add raisins and slivered almonds for extra texture and flavor!
How To Make Apple & Bacon Salad
Making this sweet-and-savory salad is as easy as can be!
- Start by making the dressing first. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the almond butter, apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup, ginger, garlic powder, salt, and water. Set aside.
- Slice up the apples, either dicing them into small cubes or slicing them thinly.
- Assemble your salad by adding leafy greens to a serving bowl and layering with the apples, vegan bacon, almonds, and currants.
- Lastly, drizzle the dressing over the top.
And now you’re ready to enjoy!
Grab whatever ingredients make you happiest or have on hand and give it a go. Happy repeat salad days ahead!
It’s a delicious and crave-worthy combination!
Adjusting For Dietary Restrictions
- Nut Allergies: Sub with sunflower butter or tahini. Opt to use sunflower seeds or pepitas in place of almonds.
How To Store
Planning to make this apple salad for meal prep or have leftovers? Here are a few tips for storage:
- Salad: The salad can be assembled and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If storing for more than a day, I suggest tossing the apple slices in lemon juice to prevent oxidation and browning.
- Dressing: The peanut dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Give a good stir before using. You can easily double the recipe for multiple salads. I recommend storing the salad and dressing separately until ready to serve if meal prepping.
- Coconut Bacon: Keep the coconut bacon seperate and add at serving to keep it crispy.
More Healthy Green Salads!
- Vegan Caesar Salad (creamy, garlicky, & classic – no anchovies!)
- Crunchy Romaine Salad + Almond-Lime Dressing (crisp, zesty, & refreshing)
- Classic House Salad (simple, fresh, & everyday perfection)
- Southwestern Salad (bold, spicy, & fiesta-ready)
- Berry Quinoa Spinach Salad (sweet-tart, nutty, & super-nourishing)
If you try this easy salad recipe or have a question, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love hearing what you think or any changes you make.
Print Recipe
Crisp Apple & Coconut Bacon Salad + Peanut Butter Dressing Recipe
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 1
Description
Crisp Vegan Apple + Smoky Bacon Salad with creamy ginger nut butter dressing is a wonderful mix of sweet and savory flavors, perfect for a delicious and healthy lunch, dinner, or meal prep!
Ingredients
- 1 Fuji apple (use your favorite apple), cored and diced
- 1/4 cup coconut bacon
- 1 – 2 tablespoons currants or raisins
- 1 – 2 tablespoons slivered almonds (pumpkin, sunflower seeds or hemp hearts would be great too)
- favorite salad mix
Peanut Butter Dressing
- 2 rounded tablespoons natural peanut butter or almond butter
- 1 tablespoon apple cider or rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ginger powder or 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated
- pinch of mineral salt
- 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed to thin
Instructions
Dressing: In a small bowl, mix together the dressing ingredients. Add water, a teaspoon or two at a time, as needed to create the desired consistency. Taste for flavor adjusting as needed. If dressing becomes too thin, add a bit more peanut butter to thicken. Set aside.
Salad: Create your salad by adding a few large handfuls of salad mix to your serving bowl, then top with diced apple, a handful of coconut bacon, currents, and slivered almonds. Drizzle ginger peanut dressing over top and enjoy.
Serves 1
Notes
Adjusting salt and sugar: I used raw almond butter for the dressing. If using other nut butter containing salts and sugars, you may not need as much maple syrup or a pinch of salt – just something to consider.
Packaged coconut bacon: Don’t feel like making coconut bacon, you can purchase pre-packaged from Phoney Baloneys. It’s delicious! Look for it at your local grocery store or order online from participating retailers.
Nut-free option: If you have nut allergies, try using tahini or sunbutter in place of the nut butter.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Category: Entree, Salad
- Cuisine: Vegan
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I’ve never reviewed a recipe before but this is quite possibly the best salad I’ve ever had and I’m shocked it doesn’t have a hundred reviews already. It tasted like I was having dessert for lunch!
Hi!! Can I used agave instead of maple syrup? That’s what I have on hand!
Thank you:)
Absolutely! Agave is a great substitute for pure maple syrup. Enjoy the salad!
This looks soooooooo good!!!!
Thank you!
Your vegan apple bacon salad recipe is awesome. Salads need a little bit of bacon so it just goes well. I can't wait to prepare some for our picnic.
Agreed!! Enjoy :)
My family first had coconut bacon at a restaurant in Montreal. We were immediately hooked and have made it a bunch of times since. Love your recipe for it! And what a brilliant salad, looks scrumptious and satisfying, thanks!!
Thank you! Love coconut bacon and always looking for ways to use it! Cheers :)
I love the combination!!! yumm apple and raisins together are the best :)
Aren't they, so good!! :)