Thanksgiving Salads Guests Actually Want to Eat
Thanksgiving usually means turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and apple pie. There’s room at the table for all the classics, but I find a fresh salad full of seasonal ingredients is what I look forward to most.
These Thanksgiving salad recipes are full of fall ingredients and tasty enough to earn a spot right next to the sweet potato casserole. Whether you’re looking for something light and fresh to balance the heavy sides, or need a hearty salad for a vegetarian main dish, this list has something for everyone.
Why Serve Salad at Thanksgiving?
- Balance the meal: A crisp, colorful salad adds freshness next to heavier dishes like white cheddar mac and cheese or cottage cheese dinner rolls.
- Seasonal ingredients: Squash, apples, pomegranate, cranberries, and kale bring all the fall vibes.
- Make-ahead friendly: Many of these salads can be prepped in advance, saving oven space and time.
- Dietary friendly: Salads are naturally gluten-free and easy to adapt for dairy-free, vegan, or paleo guests.
19 Best Thanksgiving Salads
Here are the 19 best Thanksgiving salad recipes! This list covers all of the fresh fall ingredients like squash, apple, pomegranate, brussels sprouts, pumpkin, pears, citrus and more. I know you’ll find one for your Thanksgiving table!
Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
This delicata squash salad effortlessly combines the nutty, sweet flavor of delicata squash with crisp greens and a medley of complementary ingredients like pecans, red onions, and goat cheese. It’s one of the best salads to serve alongside Thanksgiving dinner.
Brie Cheddar Apple Salad
Harvest Brie and Cheddar Apple Kale Salad: Shredded kale, Honeycrisp apples, pomegranates, candied seeds/nuts, and crispy prosciutto are tossed with a brown butter sage and apple cider vinaigrette. Then, wedges of creamy Brie and sharp white cheddar cheese are added—the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and salty fall flavors.
Recipe by: Half Baked Harvest
Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Apple and Dates
This shaved brussel sprout salad is topped with crisp apples, avocado, crunchy walnuts, chopped dates or cranberries and creamy goat cheese. It’s finished with a tangy mustard vinaigrette and makes a great healthy side dish or lunch with chicken on top.
Burrata, Prosciutto and Red Wine Poached Pear Salad
This stunning, sophisticated salad is made with red wine poached pears, burrata, prosciutto, arugula, and a syrup made from the red wine poaching liquid! It’s a beautiful side dish or appetizer for the holidays, or any fall/winter occasion.
Recipe by: Crowded Kitchen
Butternut Squash Orzo Salad
Butternut Squash Orzo Salad with Candied Bacon—Spicy, smoky, sweet, roasted butternut squash is tossed together with orzo pasta, torn kale, salty crisp candied bacon, roasted pumpkin seeds, and creamy goat cheese.
Recipe by: Half Baked Harvest
Roasted Pumpkin and Feta Salad
Roast pumpkin and toss it with feta cheese, pomegranates, walnuts, and a delicious maple vinaigrette. This pumpkin feta salad deserves a spot on your Thanksgiving table, but can easily be the main dish for dinner.
Honeycrisp Apple Kale Salad
Fall Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Kale Salad. All the best produce that fall has to offer combined into one big beautiful salad. I could not love this combo of shredded kale, sweet honeycrisp apples, pomegranate seeds, pumpkin seeds, and crispy prosciutto more.
Recipe by: Half Baked Harvest
Fall Panzanella Salad
Give the classic Italian bread salad an autumn-inspired makeover with my Fall Panzanella Salad! Crispy focaccia croutons and parmesan-crusted delicata squash are the stars of the show, paired with massaged kale, juicy pomegranate arils, and a tangy-sweet maple mustard vinaigrette to create the ultimate seasonal salad.
Recipe by: Plays Well With Butter
Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad
This Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad is a fresh, crunchy take on the classic recipe, featuring finely shredded Brussels sprouts, crispy sourdough croutons, and a creamy homemade Caesar dressing. It's packed with bold flavors, simple to make, and perfect as a side dish or a light meal.
Autumn Caesar Salad with Roasted Squash Croutons
Give classic Caesar salad a fall-inspired twist! This Autumn Caesar Salad recipe has all the familiar flavors of the classic but uses hearty, in-season ingredients to create extra-satisfying textures.
Recipe by: Plays Well With Butter
Butternut Squash, Apple, Cranberry Salad
This is the best Thanksgiving salad! It has everything a fall salad needs like butternut squash, cranberries, and goat cheese. Toss it in a cinnamon-spiced vinaigrette and serve it as a side dish to go with your Thanksgiving dinner.
Citrus Burrata Salad
Arugula, burrata, and a bevy of sliced citrus team up for a delicious, no-fuss salad. Topped with pomegranate arils and pistachio for a little crunch, then drizzled with balsamic on top.
Recipe by: Crowded Kitchen
Sweet Potato Kale Salad
This Sweet Potato Kale Salad combines roasted sweet potatoes, massaged kale, dried cranberries, pecans, and creamy goat cheese, all drizzled with a cinnamon cashew butter dressing. Simple to prepare and packed with fall flavors, it's a perfect holiday side or nutritious lunch!
Apple Pecan Salad
This apple pecan salad has all of my favorite components: crunchy apples, a sweet and salty pecan pumpkin seed brittle, thinly shaved brussels sprouts, leafy greens, tart dried cranberries, feta, and a simple balsamic vinaigrette!
Recipe by: Crowded Kitchen
Kale Apple Salad with Balsamic Dressing
This kale apple salad is a must-try recipe in the fall. It balances so many savory and sweet fall flavors, is light yet filling, and works great as a side or a main course with added protein.
Beet Feta Salad
Roasted beet feta salad is made with yellow and red beets, a zesty, herby dressing, feta cheese, toasted walnuts and fresh greens for a dish that’s full of color and brimming with bold flavors.
Recipe by: Crowded Kitchen
Fall Harvest Brussels Sprout Salad
Harvest Fall Salad with wild rice, roasted sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, and shredded chicken. Tossed in a Caramelized Shallot Dressing, this autumn-inspired salad is nutritious, filling, and make-ahead friendly.
Recipe by: Dishing Out Health
Pear Salad with Goat Cheese
This autumn pear salad is bright and crisp. It’s made with spinach, pears, apples, goat cheese and homemade (healthy) candied pecans for a crunch. The dressing packs a punch and all of the ingredients together make a delicious Thanksgiving salad recipe.
Tips for Serving Thanksgiving Salads
- Dress just before serving: To avoid soggy greens, wait until right before serving to toss with dressing.
- Make ahead: Prep greens, roasted veggies, and dressings separately, then assemble before dinner.
- Serve in a shallow bowl: Layered salads look gorgeous in wide, shallow bowls.
- Offer a variety: Balance hearty roasted veggie salads with one light, crisp option so guests can choose.
Thanksgiving salads don’t have to be an afterthought. With the right seasonal ingredients and a bold dressing, they’ll be one of the first dishes to disappear from your holiday table. Try one (or a few!) of these recipes to bring color, freshness, and flavor to your Thanksgiving feast.
More Thanksgiving Recipes
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