Pork with Cranberry Apple Salad

Here’s a fantastic everyday dinner of pork with cranberry apple salad. You can’t beat this great taste in under 30 minutes.

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Elevate your family dinners with a fall salad that’s destined to become a go-to recipe. Making this delicious side dish doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s the perfect addition to your table, pleasing the whole family with its vibrant flavors and fresh goodness. You can make this great salad ahead of time that brings the perfect combination of sweet apples and tart cranberries.

Have you had a crazy Monday like I have?  If so, then dinner is probably the last thing on your mind.   I usually have a few backup meals in my freezer for days like this.  When I’m tired the last thing I want to do is cook.   I’d have to say that 30 minutes is usually my time limit before I lose it!  🙂

This sounds like a fancy meal, but it’s really not.  It’s so easy, quick and so flavorful! I usually buy a few packs of fresh cranberries this time of year so I can use them throughout the year.  This is served on top of a Smithfield® Marinated Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin Filet I bought at Food Lion on my last grocery shopping trip.

We have pork tenderloin a lot at our house! We have it at least once a week and this cranberry and apple salad is the perfect topper for it!

The full printable recipe card is at the bottom of the article.

Easy Cranberry Apple Salad Recipe

You can serve the cranberry and apple salad right on top of the pork or on the side.  The house smells so good!  You can make this earlier in the day and chill and serve it cold, but I love it warm.  

Luckily, I had a Smithfield Marinated Roasted Garlic & Herb Pork Loin Filet for a quick meal.  I love that these are perfectly seasoned for any night and have Real Flavor Real Fast.  They also carry tenderloins and roasts in many different flavors.

If you are looking for some more great Real Flavor Real Fast inspiration you can click on their website.  You’ll find some delicious-looking recipes that take less than 30 minutes!

Kitchen Tools to make Apple Cranberry Salad

Cutting Board Mats– These are one of my favorite things I have in the kitchen. They don’t take up much space so they’re easy to store. They’re easy to clean and they are great for adding ingredients to mixing bowls and hot pots.

Apple slicer– This kitchen tool isn’t necessary because you can cut an apple with a knife. I bought this years ago at a Pampered Chef party and I was broke so I bought the cheapest thing there! I use this weekly. I love it.

Zester– I didn’t buy a zester for a long time, but as soon as I did I was using it all the time. This is a great one and can be used for all kinds of things.

Air Fryer– I’ve been cooking my pork loins in my air fryer lately and I LOVE it! It’s so easy and the pork stays moist. Here’s the one I have.

To cook the pork loin in the air fryer, you’ll need to preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes. I set mine on the 390F setting. I cook it for 10 minutes, flip and cook for another 10 minutes or until it reaches 145F.

This simple salad is great for a weeknight meal or Thanksgiving dinner. It’s that good. I think it’s even better the next day! It’s the perfect salad for the entire holiday season.

Ingredients for apple and cranberry salad

• Pork loin
• Apples- I normally use a granny smith apple when making this salad. They hold up well in the heat and don’t get mushy. Make sure to peel and then chop them in bite-sized pieces.
• Cranberries- You’ll want to use fresh cranberries, NOT dried cranberries. You can usually find these fresh in the produce department around the holidays. Some stores carry frozen, but I have only seen them a couple of times.
• Apple cider vinegar
• Brown sugar
• Orange zest
• Cinnamon

Instructions

Step 1

Cook pork loin in an air fryer or oven until the temperature reaches at least 145F.

Step 2

While pork is cooking, peel the apples and chop them into pieces.

Step 3

Mix all the ingredients, add to a pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  The cranberries will start popping.  This takes around 5-8 minutes.

Step 4

Once cranberries have popped, turn the heat down and simmer for about 20 minutes to reduce the liquid.

Serve with pork loin and store any leftovers in an airtight container.

More great recipes you’ll like

• Simple Homemade Cranberry Sauce
• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
• Grilled Potato Salad
• Sugared Cranberries
• Easy Apple Pie Pizza

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