All the Thanksgiving favorites are here – cranberry, turkey, Brussels Sprouts – but mixed into deliciously different salads! Every recipe is loaded with fall flavors sure to delight family and friends… or whoever’s invited to the feast. And we’re not just talking about mixing up a few leafy greens. Warm salads, cold salads, sweet salads, savory salads – this mouthwatering list of over 20 recipes has it all! Start with an appetizer of acorn squash salad with pepitas and cranberries. Serve up a bowl of pomegranate, kale, and wild rice salad as a hearty side. Finish with a dessert salad of apple and chocolate. And, the next day, you can lighten the mood (and give your belly a break!) with a simple-but-satisfying leftover turkey and cranberry salad or a light melon, prosciutto, and basil salad. Forget limp lettuce, these celebratory salads are the ultimate party-pleasers!
25 Thanksgiving Salads for Your Holiday Table
1. Roasted Sweet Potato Cranberry Salad
This bright and gorgeous salad is crammed with sweet and savory tastes. Filled with soft chunks of roasted sweet potatoes, wheat berries, mixed greens, cranberries, and feta. Those fresh ingredients are tossed in a warming apple-cider and cinnamon dressing for an even more tongue-tingling taste.
2. Bacon Brussels Sprouts Salad
Have a Brussels sprouts hater coming to dinner? Feed them this incredible salad and change their mind about the underrated vegetable forever. Shredded and mixed with smoky bacon, pecans, and cheese, Brussels sprouts will soon become the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table.
3. Arugula Salad with Apples, Cranberries and Pecans
Peppery arugula gets cozy with fresh apples, tart cranberries, and toasted pecans in this gorgeous dish. Tossed in a balsamic dressing, it’s easy to assemble and ready in minutes. The beauty of this dish isn’t just the tangy tastes, it’s also extremely versatile – adding green goodness to any main, whether you’re having a turkey or mixing it up with a pot roast.
4. Cranberry Jell-O Salad
Jam or jello is a traditional Thanksgiving side, adding delightful sweetness to the savory main. This dish doesn’t just give you that hint of tart cranberry flavor, it also looks beautiful – adding some party flair to your table. Made with a classic gelatin mold, it can double as a side or a dessert. If you’re doing the latter, dress it up with a generous dollop of whipped cream!
5. Apple Pecan Feta Spinach Salad
This fresh salad is a great choice if you’re looking for a healthy alternative to the usual Thanksgiving fare. It’s light and refreshing, with tart apple slices nestled among leafy spinach, cranberries, walnuts, and crumbled feta. This makes a great appetizer, but it’s also a hit the day after the feast when you’re very tired of turkey.
6. Autumn Kale Salad with Fennel, Honeycrisp and Goat Cheese
There’s a lot of different tastes and textures going on in this salad. Fennel, apples, and cranberries add delicious sweetness while chewy kale, goat cheese, and crunchy pecans balance it out with savory notes. Everything is dressed in a mustard and maple dressing, doubling down on the sweet/savory theme.
7. Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Fresh and colorful, I’m addicted to this bright salad. It’s made with broccoli, crunchy bacon pieces, nuts, raisins, and onions, all thrown together in a creamy and sweet dressing.
8. Toasted Farro with Pear, Hazelnut and Arugula
This hearty salad can be served warm as a vegetarian main, or chilled and served as a side or appetizer. Either way, it’s gorgeous. Flavored with grains, nuts, pear, and greens, it’s sweet, nutty, and very satisfying.
9. Apple Chocolate Salad
This simple dessert salad may look basic, but there’s nothing basic about how it tastes. Toss chopped apple, dark chocolate chunks, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans into a bowl. Drizzle some maple syrup over it and grab a spoon. Easy, quick, and tasty, this is a great option if you can’t face another cake, or don’t want to fuss over a pudding.
10. Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad is indeed the food of the gods. It’s a heavenly dish, loaded with fresh fruits in a creamy dressing. If you like your salads full of juicy pineapple, oranges, coconut, and tiny marshmallows, this is the dish for you!
11. Cranberry Pecan Cucumber Salad
This fresh and simple salad definitely makes an impression. It’s perfect if you want something a little different on the table this year. It’s a mind-blowing mix of crisp cucumbers, toasted pecans, tart cranberries, and crumbled goat cheese. This fun side is a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, and 100% delicious!
12. Pomegranate, Kale and Wild Rice Salad with Feta
Bright jewels of pomegranate seeds are scattered through this delightful side, adding a touch of festive color. Equally great for Christmas or Thanksgiving, this dish is a filling side that can be easily bulked out into a tasty vegetarian main.
13. Thanksgiving Lentil Salad
The ultimate fall salad, this is a vegetarian-friendly dish that makes the most of the season’s produce. Caramelized butternut squash, toasted pecans, sweet raisins, kale, and red onion are mixed with a hearty lentil base. There are a few steps involved as you prep the ingredients, but you can assemble it a day ahead and drizzle over the dijon dressing just before serving.
14. Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Have an economical Thanksgiving with this tasty salad that transforms day-old turkey into a totally new dish. Dressed in a zest cranberry vinaigrette, this is everything you love about the Thanksgiving feast in a much lighter meal.
15. Autumn Pearl Couscous Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
Couscous is full of healthy fiber, making it a great choice for overloaded bellies on Thanksgiving. It’s also really tasty, especially when stirred together with roasted squash, tart cranberries, and nutty pecans. The zesty dressing, made with dijon mustard, brings the flavors together beautifully for an impressive side salad.
16. Melon Basil Burrata Salad with Crispy Prosciutto
This elegant salad is ideal if you’re serving up a Thanksgiving brunch to fancy friends. It’s a unique mix of melon, fresh basil, cheese, prosciutto, tomatoes, and salted nuts. All dressed in a luscious fig and balsamic vinaigrette.
17. Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with Spicy Pepitas and Cranberries
Soft, sweet, and creamy, acorn squash is a great salad ingredient. Here, it teams up with spicy pumpkin seeds and tart cranberries, providing the perfect subtly sweet base for these louder flavors. Dress with pomegranate seeds and crumbled goat cheese for an extra pop of color and taste!
18. Apple Cranberry Coleslaw
Crunchy and creamy, you’ll have a hard time saving this salad until the guests arrive. Shredded cabbage and carrot are mixed in a simple but delicious creamy dressing, along with apples and cranberries. Surprisingly healthy, this is a great way to get your recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. It’s also very versatile. You can use any dried fruit and adjust the sweetness to taste.
19. Green Bean Salad with Toasted Almonds & Feta
No Thanksgiving gathering is complete without the time-honored green bean casserole. Ditch Granny’s recipe this year (sorry Granny) in favor of this fun twist on the classic. It’s a crunchy, healthy salad that adds nuts and cheese to the beans, making them even more irresistible.
20. Blackberry Honeydew Basil Salad
There are only three ingredients in this refreshing salad, so it won’t take long to get it on the table. Once it’s there, it won’t take long to disappear either! This fruity blend of berries, melon, and fresh basil is the perfect palate pleaser after a big Thanksgiving feast. It’s a must if you’re doing a holiday brunch or light dinner.
21. Buckwheat, Apple, Cranberry Avocado Salad
The best thing about this nutty, fruity salad is the citrus-scented vinaigrette. So good you’ll want to eat it by the spoonful, it’s made with fresh lemons, maple syrup, and dijon. Drizzled over tender buckwheat and crunchy apple slices, it’s heaven on a plate.
22. Sweet Potato Radicchio Salad
Soft sweet potato and crunchy radicchio are an amazing pairing. They’re magic in this festive side. The dressing is made from roasted shallots and it’s sprinkled with roasted pumpkin seeds for a little more bite.
23. Thanksgiving Slaw
If you’re planning a Thanksgiving buffet, this make-ahead slaw is the answer to your prayers. There’s no worry about wilting, this salad will stay fresh and crunchy while you wait for the guests to arrive. And it’s crazy delicious, too! A beautiful blend of cabbage, fresh parsley, cranberries, and almonds, this seasonal slaw will quickly become a year-round favorite.
24. Radicchio, Pear and Pecan Salad
This fun salad plays with flavor, with bitter radicchio, sweet pear, and nutty pecans. It comes together in minutes too. Simply spread the ingredients onto a platter and pour over the mustard dressing.
25. Grape Salad
This luxurious salad is surprisingly simple but very decadent. Grapes and chopped pecans are tossed in a smooth and creamy dressing, made with cream cheese, sour cream, and brown sugar. Serve chilled and don’t be surprised when your guests lick the bowl clean! Click on a star to rate it!
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