Harvest Pear Salad Recipe

Sweet ripe pears meet smoky bacon, creamy goat cheese, and roasted pecans — all drizzled with a tangy homemade balsamic dressing. This simple, from-scratch salad celebrates everything we love about fall cooking on the homestead — fast, fresh, and completely delicious.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings: servings

Calories: 331kcal

Author: Carolyn Thomas

Cost: Varies

Equipment

Bowls one large, one small
Whisk
Pairing Knife Learn knife sharpening basics here.
cutting board We love this made in the USA cutting board.

Ingredients

For the Salad

12 cups mixed greens torn
2 whole pears ripe and thinly sliced
6 ounces goat cheese crumbled
4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
½ cup dried cranberries
¾ cup pecan halves roasted
optional protein see recipe notes for examples

For the Dressing

½ cup olive oil
½ cup balsamic vinegar
2 Tablespoons molasses
1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon maple syrup
pinch salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic minced, or ½ teaspoon granulated garlic

Instructions

Whisk or shake together dressing ingredients in a bottle or jar.
Once the ingredients are entirely combined, set the dressing aside.
Wash and dry mixed greens and tear them into bite-sized pieces if necessary.
Place clean greens in a large salad bowl. Top with pears, cheese, crumbled bacon, cranberries, and pecans.
Pour on the desired amount of dressing and toss gently to coat.
Top with any additional protein.
Serve with additional dressing available on the side.

Notes

Recipe Variations:

Don’t overthink it—this salad is flexible. Here are some easy swaps:

Ingredient	Variation
Cheese	Gorgonzola, Bleu Cheese, or Feta
Additional Veggies	Roasted Winter Squash, Beets, Red Onion, Snap Peas, or Cucumbers
Additional Fruit	Pomegranate Arils, or Apple Slices
Protein	Grilled Chicken, Chickpeas, or Hard-Boiled Eggs (Use easy Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs!)
Nuts and Seeds	Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitas), Sunflower Seeds, Walnuts, or Almonds
Dressing	Honey Mustard, or Citrus Dressing

Recipe Tips:

Make Sure Your Fruit Is Ripe – Start with ripe pears. They taste and feel the best. Look for soft spots near the stem to check if they’re ripe. Don’t pick pears that are too soft, or they’ll be mushy and won’t hold up well in the salad.
Use Quality Vinegar – All vinegars are not created equal. Investing in higher-quality balsamic vinegar will make a noticeable difference in your vinaigrette. Use aged balsamic for a deeper flavor.
Don’t Get Too Complicated – Keep your dressing recipes simple. A mix of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mustard, and honey is great. It matches the sweet pears well.
Consider Texture and Flavor – Texture is equally important as flavor in salad preparation. Make sure your greens are crisp, and you combine soft ingredients like goat cheese to balance the crunchy texture of the nuts.

Nutritional Note:

Nutrition facts are calculated with the entire dressing used for the recipe (and no optional protein added). You likely won't use it all, so just keep that in mind when reading the nutrition facts.

Nutrition

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