This Healthy Waldorf Salad gives you a crisp and refreshing side dish made with a light Greek yogurt dressing that’s easy to prepare and creamy without mayo.
For more healthy salads, check out our dense chickpea sweet potato salad, healthy broccoli cauliflower salad, coleslaw with Greek yogurt, chickpea cucumber salad.
A Lighter Take on a Beloved Salad
This Healthy Waldorf Salad is our lighter twist on a classic, made with a creamy Greek yogurt dressing and plenty of crisp, fresh produce 🍏. Louise and I love it because it’s fiber-rich, super tasty, and comes together in minutes.
The mix of apples, grapes, celery, and toasted nuts creates a salad that feels wholesome yet still a little special — perfect for Mediterranean-style eating patterns and everyday meals.
It’s quick, refreshing, and ideal for light lunches, potlucks, or healthy holiday side dishes 🥗.
So whether you’re craving a healthy apple salad recipe or simply want something bright and crunchy, this bowl adds instant freshness to your table ✨.
Ingredients
Find complete ingredient list, quantities, and substitutions in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.
- Apples: Tart apples add freshness and natural sweetness. Substitute pears or a mix of apple varieties for more depth in this healthy apple salad recipe.
- Celery: Adds crunch and balance. Substitute thinly sliced fennel or cucumber for a milder flavor.
- Seedless grapes: Red or green grapes keep the salad juicy. Substitute diced oranges or pomegranate seeds for a brighter, Mediterranean-style eating pattern.
- Walnuts: Toasted walnuts give warmth and texture. Substitute pecans, almonds, or pumpkin seeds for a nut-free option.
Dressing
- Greek yogurt: Creates a creamy base without the heaviness. Substitute low-fat Greek yogurt or Skyr for even more protein and less fat.
- Crumbled Feta: A small amount adds texture and flavor. Substitute 2 tablespoons of mayo if you want it extra smooth.
- Dijon mustard: Adds tang and depth. Substitute whole grain mustard for extra texture.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the dressing. Substitute apple cider vinegar for a softer acidity.
- Honey: Naturally sweetens. Substitute maple syrup for a vegan-friendly option.
How to Make a Healthy Waldorf Salad
Step 1: Mix the Creamy Dressing
Add the Greek yogurt, crumbled feta, mustard, lemon juice, honey, salt, and black pepper to a large bowl. Whisk until the dressing looks smooth and creamy. This will be the base that brings the whole salad together, making it a great addition to your light lunch recipes for weight loss.
Step 2: Cut the Apples, Celery, and Grapes
Cut the apples into small cubes, dice the celery, and slice the grapes in half. Add the chopped fruit and vegetables to the bowl with the dressing, then toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
Step 3: Serve and Enjoy
Spoon the salad onto a serving platter or bowl. Add a sprinkle of chopped parsley if you want extra color and freshness. Serve it right away or refrigerate for a cool, crisp salad later.
Tips
- Use tart apples for balance: Varieties like Granny Smith keep the salad bright and prevent it from tasting overly sweet.
- Toast the nuts for more flavor: A few minutes in a dry skillet deepens their taste and adds a warm, crunchy contrast.
- Add the grapes last if very ripe: This prevents them from breaking apart and keeps the salad looking fresh and clean.
- Chill before serving for extra crispness: Ten to fifteen minutes in the fridge makes this one of the best healthy potluck salad recipes.
- Adjust the sweetness to taste: Apples vary, so feel free to add a touch more honey or lemon.
- Serve it as a light meal: With fruit, celery, nuts, and yogurt, it fits perfectly into vegetarian lunch ideas high fiber.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can prep the dressing and chop the veggies ahead, but wait to cut the apples and mix everything together until a couple of hours before serving. This keeps the salad crisp, fresh, and full of flavor.
Toss the diced apples with a little lemon juice right after cutting. It takes seconds and keeps the salad looking bright.
Absolutely. Use low-fat Greek yogurt or Skyr to create a high protein salad dressing that’s extra creamy without adding heaviness.
Pecans, pistachios, almonds, or pumpkin seeds work well. Toasting them adds even more flavor.
You can, but the salad will be sweeter. If you choose sweeter apples, add a little extra lemon juice for balance.
More Easy Salads Recipes
- Mediterranean bean salad
- Greek yogurt cabbage slaw
- Dense white bean salad
- Chopped chickpea salad
- Mediterranean quinoa salad
- Greek pasta salad
- Black bean corn salad
- Lentil beet salad
If you tried this Healthy Waldorf Salad Recipe or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!
Healthy Waldorf Salad (Greek Yogurt Dressing)
Ingredients
- 2 tart apples diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 cup seedless grapes red or white
- ½ cup walnuts or pecans – toasted
Dressing
- 1 cup Greek yogurt we use low-fat
- ½ cup crumble feta sub 2 Tbsp mayo or leave out
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mustard Dijon or yellow
- 1 tablespoon honey sub maple or sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt or more to taste + black pepper
Instructions
- Mix the dressing: Whisk 1 cup Greek yogurt, ½ cup crumble feta, 1 tablespoon mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon honey, ¼ teaspoon salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Cut fruits and veg: Cut 2 tart apples into small bite-sized cubes. Dice 1 cup celery, slice 1 cup seedless grapes in half, and chop ½ cup walnuts. Add everything to the bowl with the dressing and toss gently until all the pieces are coated.
- Serve the salad: Transfer the salad to a serving platter or bowl. Sprinkle a little chopped parsley on top if you like for added color and freshness. Serve right away or refrigerate for later.
Notes
- Apples → Pears, or a mix of apple varieties for deeper flavor
- Celery → Thinly sliced fennel or cucumber for a milder crunch
- Seedless grapes → Diced oranges or pomegranate seeds for a brighter, Mediterranean vibe
- Walnuts → Pecans, almonds, or pumpkin seeds (nut-free option)
- Greek yogurt → Low-fat Greek yogurt or Skyr for higher protein, lighter texture
- Feta → More Greek yogurt for an extra-light dressing or mayo for extra creamy
- Dijon mustard → Yellow mustard or whole grain mustard for added texture
- Lemon juice → Apple cider vinegar for softer acidity
- Honey → Maple, agave, or date syrup.
- Use tart apples for balance: Granny Smith keeps the salad bright, crisp, and not overly sweet.
- Toast the nuts: A quick dry-skillet toast boosts flavor and adds warm, crunchy contrast.
- Add grapes last: Especially if very ripe—this keeps them intact and the salad looking fresh.
- Chill before serving: 10–15 minutes in the fridge adds refreshing crispness and potluck-ready appeal.
- Adjust sweetness: Apples vary—tweak honey or lemon to hit your perfect balance.
- Serve as a light meal: With fruit, celery, nuts, and yogurt, it’s a satisfying, high-fiber vegetarian lunch.
- Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but avoid freezing as the apples and grapes lose their texture.
Nutrition
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Great idea!