Salad isn’t just for summer! This Autumn Salad with Honey Butter Breadcrumbs is the perfect meal for those warmer fall days!
Happy fall, friends! Even though fall starts at the end of September, I start prepping soon after the 1st of September, even though it still feels like summer most days. Now that it’s here, I’m using all the seasonal produce to make dishes like this Autumn Salad with Honey Butter Breadcrumbs.
If you thought that salads were a summer-only dish, you’d be so wrong. Some of my favorite salad ingredients come from the fall. Apples, figs, pears, winter squash, citrus — all of these things are delicious in a hearty fall salad.
Plus, I love having a salad with soup, and soup is a total cool-weather must. This salad would also be an incredible addition to your Thanksgiving spread! I can’t even believe that we’re saying the T-word, but it’s right around the corner.
What’s your go-to fall salad? I love experimenting with new toppings, dressings, and flavor combos!
Try my Wedge Salad with Candied Bacon, Walnuts, Blackberries & Basil Ranch!
Autumn Salad with Honey Butter Breadcrumbs
Ingredients
- For the Salad
- 4 to 6 cups chopped baby kale or other hearty greens
- 2 bosc pears, thinly sliced
- 3 ounces honey goat cheese
- 2 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped - 2 tbsp drippings reserved
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 2 tbsp chopped pecans
- For the honey butter breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp honey
- For the vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 shallot, diced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/3 cup olive oil + reserved bacon drippings
Instructions
- For the Salad
- Slice the pears and combine with the goat cheese, bacon, raisins, pecans, and baby kale, toss well.
- For the vinaigrette
- Whisk together the vinegar, honey, mustard, shallot, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil and bacon drippings until emulsified.
- For the honey butter breadcrumbs
- Melt butter in a small skillet over low heat. Stir in honey until combined, then add breadcrumbs. Toast until brown and fragrant, 2-3 minutes.
Drizzle vinaigrette over prepared salad and toss until coated. Top with honey butter breadcrumbs and serve immediately