14 Creative Ways to Cook and Serve with Apples

Apples can add far more than sweetness to a dish. Their crisp texture and tart flavor bring balance to creamy soups, savory meats, and crunchy salads. This list highlights apple-packed recipes that span every course—from warm, comforting sides to fresh salads and flavor-rich stuffings. Whether baked, simmered, or tossed raw, apples make these dishes brighter and more satisfying.

Baked Sweet Potatoes With Apples & Cranberries

A spoonful of sweet potato slices with apples and cranberries in a white dish. — Baked Sweet Potatoes With Apples & Cranberries. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

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Sweet potatoes, apple slices, and cranberries roast together until tender and caramelized. It’s a warm, colorful side with plenty of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sweet Potatoes With Apples & Cranberries

Apple Cranberry Salad

Crisp apples and tart cranberries add a sweet contrast to greens, nuts, and a light vinaigrette. A fresh, crunchy salad with bold pops of fruit.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cranberry Salad

Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

A bowl of butternut squash soup with a spoon on a colorful blue and white plate. — Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Butternut squash and apples blend into a silky soup that’s slightly sweet and full of depth. Great with a swirl of cream or crusty bread.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Butternut Squash Apple Soup

Quick Cabbage Apple Slaw

Thinly sliced cabbage and apples come together in a tangy dressing for a fast, crunchy slaw that’s fresh and easy to pair with any meal.
Get the Recipe: Quick Cabbage Apple Slaw

Scrumptious Apple and Pear Chutney

Apples and pears simmer with spices and vinegar into a chutney that’s sweet, sharp, and perfect for topping meats or serving with cheese.
Get the Recipe: Scrumptious Apple and Pear Chutney

Apple Sausage Stuffing

Savory sausage and diced apples combine with bread cubes and herbs to make a hearty stuffing that hits both sweet and savory notes.
Get the Recipe: Apple Sausage Stuffing

Apple Cider Instant Pot Beef Stew

Bowl of Instant Pot beef stew with carrots and potatoes. — Apple Cider Instant Pot Beef Stew. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This beef stew simmers in apple cider for a slightly sweet twist on a classic. Apples add a subtle brightness to the rich broth.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Instant Pot Beef Stew

Cabbage Apple Salad

Red cabbage slaw in a wooden bowl with a spoon. — Cabbage Apple Salad. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Simple and crunchy, this salad pairs cabbage and apples with a tangy dressing. It’s light, refreshing, and easy to make ahead.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Apple Salad

Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing

A slow cooker with a baked dish topped with golden brown, crumbly stuffing. — Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Pork chops cook low and slow with apples and stuffing for a hands-off dish that comes out tender and full of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing

Quick and Creamy Broccoli Apple Salad

Broccoli and shredded carrots on a mixing spoon. — Quick and Creamy Broccoli Apple Salad. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Broccoli florets, sweet apples, and a creamy dressing create a crunchy salad that’s great for potlucks or everyday meals.
Get the Recipe: Quick and Creamy Broccoli Apple Salad

Creamy, vegan Jerusalem artichoke soup with apples

A bowl of soup with apples and sprigs of thyme. — Creamy, vegan Jerusalem artichoke soup with apples. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Earthy artichokes and tart apples blend into a creamy plant-based soup that’s smooth and deeply flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Creamy, vegan Jerusalem artichoke soup with apples

Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

A bowl of kale salad on a wooden table. — Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Chopped kale and sliced apples are tossed in a creamy poppy seed dressing for a crisp, balanced salad that’s both hearty and fresh.
Get the Recipe: Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Applesauce Bread

Moist and lightly spiced, this quick bread gets its flavor and texture from smooth applesauce. Great for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
Get the Recipe: Applesauce Bread

Curly Endive Salad with Celery, Apple and Candied Pecans

A fresh salad with sliced apples, pecans, and mixed greens on a white rectangular plate. The apples have a red peel and are thinly sliced, while the greens provide a leafy background, creating a colorful and healthy dish. — Curly Endive Salad with Celery, Apple and Candied Pecans. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Bitter greens, sweet apples, crunchy celery, and candied pecans make this salad complex, crisp, and full of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Curly Endive Salad with Celery, Apple and Candied Pecans