Skip to content

Fresh and colorful pear salad made with mixed greens, juicy pears, pomegranate seeds, feta cheese, candied pecans and topped with a homemade balsamic dressing. Simple and elegant, it’s the perfect side to any fall dinner!

Pear salad in white bowl.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Favorite Fall Salad

This is one of my favorite salads to make for the holidays! It always looks so pretty on the dinner table and tastes delicious. It’s definitely on my Thanksgiving menu this year.

The holidays are filled with lots of heavy side dishes, so it’s nice to have a fresh and healthy option at the table too. This pear pomegranate salad is one of my favorites to make at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, as well as my easy fall salad or apple cranberry spinach salad.

I like to buy enough of the ingredients to make more for the day after. After a day of indulging, my body usually craves a big salad. So this is the perfect way to get in extra fruit and veggies after a day of celebrating. It’s so delicious that you won’t even remember it’s healthy!

Pear Salad Ingredients

Pear and pomegranate on cutting board.
  • Greens: Spinach, arugula or spring mix all taste great.
  • Pears: Use ripe pears for the best result. To test the ripeness, press down on the skin of the pear (near the stem) with your thumb. If it’s soft and slightly gives when pressing down, then it’s ready to enjoy.
  • Pomegranate seeds: Not only do they taste delicious, but these seeds add a beautiful pop of color. You can seed your own pomegranate, or buy prepackaged seeds from the grocery.
  • Cheese: Feta cheese is my favorite when making this pear salad. Gorgonzola or goat cheese will also work too.
  • Candied pecans: You can make your own candied pecans, or buy them premade. Any type of mixed candied nuts would also taste great.
  • Dressing: Balsamic dressing balances out all of the flavors perfectly. You can also make a simple vinaigrette with red wine vinegar.
Easy candied pecans.

How to Make Pear Salad

  1. Assemble the greens in a large bowl.
  2. Add the sliced pears, candied pecans, pomegranate seeds and feta on top.
  3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss until combined.

Tips + Modifications

  • Pears brown quickly, so slice them just before serving.
  • You can use regular pecans if you prefer. Walnuts and almonds also taste great.
  • Dried cranberries will also work in place of pomegranate seeds.
  • For even more fall flavor, add some roasted butternut squash or roasted sweet potatoes.
  • Add leftover turkey or roasted chicken to make a complete meal.
Pear and pomegranate salad.

More Holiday Side Dishes

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!

pear and pomegranate salad

Pear Salad

5 from 9 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
Fresh pear salad filled with mixed greens, juicy sliced pears, pomegranate seeds, candied pecans, feta cheese and topped with a balsamic dressing. This is the perfect salad to serve at your holiday dinner this year! 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 6 to 8 cups spinach, arugula or spring mix
  • 2 pears
  • cup pomegranate seeds (arils)
  • 3 to 4 Tablespoons feta cheese (or gorgonzola)
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette (or red wine vinaigrette, more if desired)
  • ½ cup candied pecans

Instructions

  • Place the spinach in a large bowl. Slice the pear into thin slices and remove the pomegranate seeds. The add on top of greens.
  • Sprinkle the candied pecans, pomegranate seeds and feta cheese on top. Drizzle with the dressing just before serving. Toss the salad until combined.

Notes

Recipe for candied pecans: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/candied-pecans/. You can also find store bought ones. 
Quick tip: For easier prep, buy pomegranate seeds prepackaged.

Nutrition

Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 225mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 760IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Pecans in pear salad.

Let’s connect

Join our community of over 5 million!

Featured on

  • Taste of Home
  • Martha Stewart
  • Country Living
  • BuzzFeed
  • Yahoo
  • Food Network
  • Today