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thanksgiving salad in a serving bowl

Thanksgiving Salad

5 from 4 votes
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.
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Prep Time20 hours
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Molly Thompson

INGREDIENTS

Salad

  • 1 medium butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 12-16 ounces baby spinach
  • 1-2 honeycrisp apples cored and cubed or thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries
  • 4 ounces goat cheese crumbled
  • ½ cup pecans or candied pecans chopped
  • 1 cup dried apple chips optional

Spiced apple cider vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. If you haven't already, peel the butternut squash, slice it in half and use a spoon to scoop out the seedy center. Cut the butternut squash into 1-inch cubes.
  • Roast the squash: Spread diced butternut squash on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Toss to coat the butternut squash. Bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring halfway through. The squash will be fork-tender and slightly golden brown on some sides when it's done.
  • Make the dressing:While the squash is roasting, prepare the spiced apple cider vinaigrette. Place all of the ingredients in a medium sized mason jar and close the lid. Shake well until thoroughly mixed, about 30 seconds - 1 minute. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
  • Assemble: add the spinach to a large serving bowl. Top with the dried cranberries, roasted squash, apples, goat cheese, pecans and dried apples if using.
  • Toss the salad with reserved salad dressing when ready to serve or leave as is and have guests dress individual servings.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.5g | Protein: 9.4g | Fat: 11.7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 81mg | Fiber: 4.9g | Sugar: 12.4g
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