Crunchy & Refreshing Apple Cranberry Carrot Salad
Sweet, tangy, crunchy, and creamy—this Apple Cranberry Carrot Salad is the ultimate side dish for brunches, BBQs, and snack tables. Featuring crisp apples, chewy cranberries, juicy mandarins, and a dreamy vanilla yogurt-mayo dressing, it’s a colorful salad that’s bursting with flavor and texture. Kid-friendly, make-ahead, and guaranteed to disappear fast!
Ingredients
- 1 red apple cut into matchsticks
- 1 green apple cut into matchsticks
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- ¼ cup finely chopped yellow onion
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup canned mandarin orange segments drained
- ⅓ cup vanilla yogurt
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Pinch of salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep the Apples: Slice apples into matchsticks. Toss with lemon juice and let sit for 5 minutes to prevent browning.
- Build the Base: In a large bowl, combine carrots, yellow onion, and dried cranberries.
- Add Apples: Drain excess lemon juice from apples and add them to the bowl. Toss to mix.
- Make the Dressing: Stir in vanilla yogurt, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper until everything is evenly coated.
- Add Mandarins: Gently fold in the mandarin orange segments.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold.
Notes
- Add chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch.
- Greek yogurt can be used instead of vanilla yogurt for added protein and tang.
- Salad holds well in the fridge for up to 2 days—great for meal prep or potlucks.
- Tastes amazing paired with grilled chicken or stuffed into a pita.