Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese

Name: Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 4 medium ripe peaches (seeded & quartered); 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 cup red onion (thinly sliced); 5 ounces mixed greens; ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese; ½ cup chopped pecans; 2 tablespoons honey; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon unsalted butter; 9 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon honey; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

By: Meiko Temple
Posted: 06/30/2022
Updated: 05/13/2023
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This Grilled Peach & Goat Cheese Salad is basically summer on a plate. Juicy, charred peaches, creamy goat cheese, fragrant honey-spiced pecans, and a tangy lemon vinaigrette all come together in one perfect bite. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and savory, and it makes for a beautiful presentation too. Whether you’re entertaining guests or just looking for a simple summertime meal, this Grilled Peach & Goat Cheese Salad is sure to please.

We have reached the midpoint of our Summer Grilled Salad series and I hope you are basking in the fullness of midyear, smoky, fruit, and foliage fantasies. Don’t go too far off the ledge yet because this new recipe is the real deal. If you are anything like me, summer isn’t complete without a peach recipe binge. This Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese Salad needs to be on your to-do list pronto. Especially while we are in the season of perfectly plump and juicy peaches. And if you haven’t grilled peaches before, then you need to stop what you are doing, turn off all distractions and prepare to have your world rocked! Ok, let’s get into the deets!

Key Ingredients

Peaches: Grab the ripest peaches you can find for this dreamy grilled peach salad! Grilling your fruit is the secret to unlocking the juiciest, sweetest, and best-tasting flavors.
Goat Cheese: Tangy, creamy goat cheese pairs brilliantly with the rest of our salad ingredients and really elevates this dish to the next level. Be sure to use plain goat cheese, not the kind that comes infused with added flavors.
Mixed Greens: I love using mixed greens as the base for my grilled peach salad, but feel free to use any leafy greens you prefer. Baby spinach and baby arugula make great options as well.
Red Onions: The sharpness of thinly sliced red onions beautifully cuts the sweetness of the grilled peaches and candied pecans, making for a well-balanced dish. They also add a wonderful pop of color!
Pecans: We’re going to be transforming your average pecans into a batch of drool-worthy candied pecans in just a few minutes. Trust me, they’re amazing.
Lemon Honey Vinaigrette: The tasty salad dressing we’ll be whipping up requires just a few simple ingredients like olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and honey.

How to Make Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese

Are you ready to make the best-ever grilled peach salad? Follow the simple steps below and be sure to check out the recipe card for exact measurements.

Step 1: Make the Lemon Honey Vinaigrette

To a blender, add all the honey vinaigrette ingredients and blend until smooth. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

Step 2: Grill the Peaches

Clean and oil the cooking grate. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill fire for direct grilling over medium-high heat (450°F). Brush the fresh peaches with butter. Grill the peaches by placing them directly over the heat for 3-5 minutes.

If the fire gets too hot, move peaches to a cooler side of the grill until you see desired grill marks. Remove your grilled peaches from the grill and set aside to cool.

Step 3: Make Candied Pecans

Add a cast-iron skillet to the grill to get hot. Add all pecan ingredients (excluding butter) to the skillet and bring them to a boil. Boil until the pan is dry, about 2 minutes. Transfer the candied pecans to a small bowl and toss them with butter.

Step 4: Assemble the Grilled Peach Salad

To assemble, add salad greens to a large platter and toss in ¼ of the vinaigrette. Layer the grilled peaches, red onions, candied pecans, and goat cheese. Serve with a side of the remaining lemon honey vinaigrette and serve immediately.

How to Prepare Peaches

To prepare peaches for grilling, start by cutting each peach into 1/4ths or 1/6ths and remove the pit (see tips in the FAQ section below). Make sure the peach pieces are thicker than usual to ensure that they can stand up to the grill.

Then, brush them with butter to prevent them from sticking to the grill. Finally, place your peaches on the grill with the cut side facing down and grill to perfection.

grilled peaches and Spiced Honey Pecans in a cast iron skillet on a baking sheet

Recipe Tips and Variations

Here are some of my top tips and recipe variations to help you make the best grilled peach salad:

For the best results, make sure to toss some of the homemade vinaigrette with the salad greens before adding the rest of the ingredients. This ensures that there will be tons of flavor in every bite.
Use fresh peaches that are perfectly ripe, but not overripe. If the peaches are too ripe, they may wind up falling apart on the grill.
If you don’t have or don’t like pecans, swap them out for candied almonds or walnuts. Alternatively, you could add plain nuts instead of candied nuts. Pecans or pine nuts would both work great plain.
Feel free to substitute the goat cheese for another tangy cheese like feta cheese or blue cheese. You could also make it vegan by using a plant-based cheese substitute.
If you don’t have a grill, you can make your sweet grilled peaches on the stovetop with a cast-iron grill pan.
You can easily turn this summer side dish into the star of the show by adding a protein source. Some of my favorite choices include grilled chicken, salmon, and shrimp. Any of these will work great for a light summer meal.
For added flavor, feel free to add herbs like fresh basil or chives.

How to Store the Dish

You can make this summer salad ahead of time by storing the grilled peach salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To prevent the dish from getting soggy, store the salad dressing in a separate container in the fridge for up to a week.

Grilled Peach Salad FAQs

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about this grilled peach salad recipe:

How do you remove the peach pit?

To remove a peach pit, start by finding the natural peach line. Using a paring knife, cut a perimeter around the peach perpendicular to that line. Then, grab each side of the cut peach and twist with both hands. Place a spoon in the cut beneath the pit to help nudge it out until you’ve removed the pit, then discard.

Why do you grill peaches?

Grilled peaches are a summer staple for a reason! By grilling the peaches, you intensify their natural sweetness and make them way juicier. Not only that, but the amazing smoky flavor and charred grill marks on the fruit take this dish to a whole new level. During the summer months, sweet grilled peaches are the way to go.

What to serve with this dish?

Grilled peach salad pairs beautifully with all sorts of summertime dishes. You can serve the dish as a restaurant-worthy appetizer or as a side with other summer staples like grilled chicken, steak, or burgers and dogs. Anything you like will work!

Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese in bowl drizzling Lemon Honey Vinaigrette

More Delicious Summer Salad Recipes

Looking for more vibrant summer salads to try this season? Check these out:

Now it’s your turn!

Grilled Peach & Goat Cheese Salad is a must try light and refreshing summer salad. It’s simple to make, and it’s sure to please everyone at the table. I would highly recommend giving it five stars if you make it. Be sure to take a photo and tag @meikoandthedish on Instagram too! Enjoy!