Marry This Carrot Salad recipe is a creamy and crunchy recipe, which is made with matchstick carrots and crisp apples. It’s the perfect side dish, ready in about 15 minutes.
Jump to RecipeCarrot Salad Recipe Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise
- 3 Tbsp. coarse grain Dijon mustard
- 3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tbsp. honey
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 2 (10-oz.) bags matchstick carrots
- 1 red apple, cut into matchsticks
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
How To Make Carrot Salad
- Make the Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Combine and Serve: Add the matchstick carrots, apple matchsticks, toasted pecans, raisins, and fresh parsley to the bowl with the dressing. Toss everything together until it is well coated. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
- How to make this salad ahead of time? This is a great make-ahead salad! In fact, the flavors get even better as they meld in the refrigerator. You can make it up to a day in advance.
- What are the best apples for this salad? It’s essential to use a crisp, sweet-tart apple that won’t get mushy. Varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Pink Lady are all excellent choices that provide a refreshing crunch.
- Can I toast the pecans? Yes, and you absolutely should! Toasting the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until they are fragrant brings out their deep, nutty flavor and makes them extra crunchy.
- How can I save time on prep? Using a bag of pre-shredded or “matchstick” carrots is the ultimate time-saver for this recipe, making it incredibly quick to assemble.
What To Serve With Carrot Salad
This creamy and crunchy salad is a classic side dish for any potluck, picnic, or barbecue. It pairs wonderfully with:
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Grilled Chicken or Burgers
- BBQ Ribs
- A simple deli-style sandwich
How To Store Carrot Salad
- Refrigerate: As the recipe notes, this salad can be refrigerated for up to 1 day. Store it in an airtight container. It’s often even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld.
Carrot Salad Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1/6th of recipe
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Sugar: 22g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, toasted chopped walnuts or slivered almonds would be excellent substitutes for the pecans in this salad.
No. If you’re not a fan of raisins, you can easily omit them or substitute them with an equal amount of dried cranberries for a tarter flavor.
Yes, you can easily make a vegan version of this salad by substituting the mayonnaise with your favorite vegan mayo and using maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing.
Try More Recipes:
Carrot Salad Recipe
Course: SaladsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings15
minutes260
kcalA quick and easy slaw-style salad with crunchy carrots and apples, sweet raisins, and toasted pecans, all tossed in a creamy honey-mustard dressing.
Ingredients
Dressing: 3 Tbsp. each of mayonnaise, coarse grain Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, & honey; 1 tsp. salt; 1/2 tsp. black pepper.
Salad: 2 (10-oz.) bags matchstick carrots, 1 red apple (cut into matchsticks), 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans, 1/2 cup raisins, 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley.
Directions
- In a large serving bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients: mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Add all the salad ingredients to the bowl: carrots, apple, pecans, raisins, and parsley.
- Toss everything together until it is well coated in the dressing.
- Serve immediately for the best crunch, or refrigerate for up to a day for the flavors to meld.
Notes
- The most important tip for this recipe is to use pre-shredded matchstick carrots to make it incredibly quick and easy.
- For the best flavor, toast the pecans in a dry skillet for 3-5 minutes before adding them to the salad.
- This is the perfect make-ahead side dish for a potluck or barbecue, as the flavors get even better after a few hours in the fridge.
- Using a crisp, sweet apple like a Honeycrisp or Gala provides a wonderful textural contrast to the carrots.
