Bright, vibrant, and bursting with sweet and tangy flavors, this Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe is one of those dishes you’ll want to make all season long. It’s the perfect balance of fresh baby spinach, crunchy pecans, juicy mandarins, and a zesty homemade dressing that always gets compliments at the table.

A white bowl holds a colorful salad with three main layers. The bottom layer is fresh green spinach leaves, vibrant and smooth. On top of the spinach, bright orange mandarin slices are spread evenly around the bowl. The top layer is mixed with dark red pomegranate seeds, deep brown pecan halves, small dark dried fruits, and small crumbles of white cheese scattered over the salad. The bowl is placed on a white marbled surface with some pecans and pomegranate seeds outside the bowl. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made this Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe for holiday gatherings more times than I can count, and every time it’s a showstopper. What I adore is how it feels light but still indulgent—and those pops of sweetness from the cranberries and mandarins feel so cheerful and seasonal.

Everyday Ingredients, Extraordinary Flavor: Using simple pantry staples combined in a fresh way makes this salad taste special without any fuss.
Perfect Texture Balance: Crunchy toasted pecans, juicy fruit, creamy goat cheese, and tender spinach create a delightful bite every time.
Homemade Dressing Magic: The tangy lime-honey vinaigrette ties everything together, and you can easily tweak it to your liking.
Versatile and Beautiful: Whether served in a big bowl or individual plates, it brightens up your table and your mood!

This dish shows a close-up of a salad with several layers visible: the bottom layer is fresh green spinach leaves with a smooth texture; on top, there are bright orange tangerine segments that are shiny and juicy, scattered evenly; next, there are glossy red pomegranate seeds adding a gem-like brightness; along with dark reddish-brown pecan halves that have a textured surface; and small pieces of creamy white cheese sprinkled lightly across the salad, adding contrast. The salad has a slight glossy dressing that makes the ingredients look fresh and moist, all set against a white marbled texture background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient here brings something unique to the party. The baby spinach lays a fresh, mild foundation, while cranberries add a lovely tart chewiness. Toasted pecans provide crunch and warmth, and goat cheese offers a creamy, tangy contrast. Mandarin oranges and pomegranate arils give that burst of juicy sweetness which feels so festive. When shopping, pick fresh, vibrant produce and good-quality olive oil for the dressing – it makes all the difference!

Flat lay of fresh baby spinach leaves, toasted pecan halves and finely chopped pecans scattered beside them, dried cranberries in a small white ceramic bowl, peeled and segmented mandarin oranges arranged neatly, crumbled goat cheese in a separate small white bowl, bright pomegranate arils in another small white bowl, a small white bowl of extra virgin olive oil, a small white bowl of Dijon mustard, a small white bowl of honey, a whole lime cut in half showing juicy interior, and two whole uncracked brown eggs, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Baby Spinach: Choose fresh, crisp baby spinach — avoid any with wilted leaves for the best texture.
Pecan Halves: Toast them lightly to unlock their rich, nutty flavor, and chop half to sprinkle inside for extra texture variety.
Dried Cranberries: They add just the right tart sweetness and chewy texture contrast.
Mandarin Oranges: Fresh segments bring juicy bursts of citrus that brighten the entire salad.
Goat Cheese: Crumbled goat cheese adds creaminess and subtle tang that complements the nuts and fruit beautifully.
Pomegranate Arils: These jewel-like seeds add a pop of color and juicy sweet-tart flavor—perfect for the holidays.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A good-quality oil makes your dressing smooth and flavorful.
Dijon Mustard: Provides a gentle kick and helps emulsify the dressing.
Honey: Sweetens the dressing naturally balancing the lime juice’s acidity.
Fresh Lime Juice: The bright, zesty acidity lifts all the flavors and keeps the salad refreshing.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love that this Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe invites personalization. You can easily swap in your favorite nuts or fruits, or even add a little crunch with toasted seeds. Play around with the dressing sweetness or acidity until it sings for your taste buds.

Nut Swap: If you’re not a pecan fan, toasted walnuts or almonds work beautifully too—I once made it with candied walnuts for an extra sweet crunch, and it was delicious!
Cheese Variation: Crumbled feta is a great alternative if you prefer a less tangy cheese.
Seasonal Tweaks: In the summer, swap mandarins for fresh orange slices or even sliced strawberries for a fruity twist.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe

Step 1: Whisk Up the Dressing

Start by combining your extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and freshly squeezed lime juice in a mason jar or small bowl. I prefer the jar because you can just pop the lid on and shake vigorously until it’s all emulsified and creamy. Taste as you go—sometimes I add a splash more lime juice to perk it up.

Step 2: Toast Your Pecans

Place pecan halves in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently for about 3–5 minutes, until they smell nutty and just start to brown. Watch closely to avoid burning. Let them cool before chopping half roughly for texture variation in the salad.

Step 3: Prepare the Salad Base

Add the fresh baby spinach to individual bowls for a pretty presentation, or toss everything in a large bowl if you’re serving family style. Then top with dried cranberries, mandarin segments, crumbled goat cheese, and the toasted pecans you prepared.

Step 4: Add Pomegranate Arils & Drizzle Dressing

Scatter vibrant pomegranate arils across the top — they instantly turn this salad into a festive masterpiece. Drizzle with your freshly made dressing just before serving to keep the leaves crisp.

Top Tip

This salad is simple, but small touches make a big difference in flavor and texture. I’ve learned these tips the hard way and they really elevate the final dish.

Toast Your Nuts Fresh: Toasting pecans right before assembling brings out their rich flavor and crunch, which can turn stale nuts into a highlight.
Dress Just Before Serving: Adding the dressing last prevents the spinach from wilting and keeps the salad crisp and fresh.
Adjust Lime Juice To Taste: Lime juice varies in tartness, so start with less and add more gradually to avoid overpowering the other flavors.
Segment Citrus Carefully: Removing the pith and membrane from mandarins helps keep the salad juicy without bitterness.

How to Serve Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe

Festive Spinach Salad - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to finish this salad with a sprinkle of extra chopped toasted pecans and a few extra pomegranate arils for that sparkling holiday look. A light dusting of freshly cracked black pepper adds a subtle kick that balances the sweetness beautifully.

Side Dishes

This salad pairs brilliantly with roasted turkey or baked ham for a festive meal, but I’ve also served it alongside grilled chicken or even a savory quiche for a lighter party spread. It’s versatile enough to complement many mains and adds a delightful burst of color and flavor.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I love serving this salad in clear glass bowls to showcase the vibrant layers or on individual small plates with a delicate drizzle of dressing artistically arranged. For holiday brunches, adding a sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme elevates presentation and adds a festive aroma.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers (they do disappear fast!), store them in an airtight container but keep the dressing separate if you can. This helps the spinach stay crisp longer. When ready to eat, toss with the dressing fresh.

Freezing

I wouldn’t recommend freezing this salad because the fresh spinach, mandarins, and goat cheese don’t freeze well, and the texture would suffer. It’s definitely best enjoyed fresh.

Reheating

This salad is intended to be served cold or at room temperature, so if you do have leftovers, just let them come to room temp instead of reheating. Reheating would wilt the spinach and soften the crunch you worked so hard for!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I prepare the salad dressing in advance?

Absolutely! The dressing can be whisked or shaken together a day in advance and stored in the fridge. Just bring it to room temperature and give it a good shake before drizzling onto your salad.

Can I make this salad vegan or dairy-free?

Definitely! Simply omit the goat cheese or substitute with a vegan cheese alternative or even diced avocado for creaminess. The salad’s core flavors and textures will still shine.

What can I substitute for pomegranate arils if I can’t find them?

You could use extra mandarin segments, red grapes, or even dried cherries to mimic that jewel-like pop of sweetness if you don’t have pomegranate arils handy.

Is it better to toss the salad or arrange ingredients on top?

Both ways work great! Arranging ingredients on top looks lovely for a holiday presentation, but tossing everything together distributes flavors evenly. I usually do a hybrid—toss the base then sprinkle some whole pecan halves and pomegranate arils for garnish.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecan Recipe holds a special place in my holiday menu because it combines so many textures and flavors with ease and elegance. It’s always a joy to share with friends and family because it feels both fresh and festive—like you’re treating yourself without the fuss. Give it a go; I promise it’ll become one of your go-to salads for celebrations big and small!