15 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (2024)

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When it comes to epic Thanksgiving dinners, it's all about balance. You have your heavy and filling main dish and an assortment of comforting side dishes, so you need a healthy light salad to balance it all out, right? So if you are wondering what easy Thanksgiving salad to add to your holiday dinner table that takes just minutes to throw together, then you are in the right please. We are sharing over 15 of our most popular and best Thanksgiving salad recipes including butternut squash salads, seasonal apple salads, warm salads with roasted vegetables, everything kale, and more!

15 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (1)

Best Thanksgiving Salads

Butternut Squash Salad

Butternut squash salad is a light meal that's loaded with fall flavors — roasted butternut squash, baby kale, walnuts, dried cranberries, and feta.

Apple Walnut Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Throw together crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, and sweet cranberries for a taste of the holidays in this fall apple walnut salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad

Roasted brussels sprouts salad with creamy potatoes, crispy string beans, tender brussels sprouts, is tossed in a delicious homemade dijon vinaigrette.

Fall Harvest Salad with Butternut Squash and Apple

Fall harvest salad with roasted butternut squash and apple is the only salad recipe you need this fall or winter. It's healthy, wholesome, and nourishing.

Arugula Salad with Apple and Pecan

Arugula salad with apple and pecan is a quick and easy fall salad made with fresh seasonal ingredients in just minutes. Perfect for a holiday dinner table.

15 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (6)

Winter Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette and Spiced Pecans

Cozy winter kale salad with apple cider vinaigrette is easy to make with crispy apples, tangy goat cheese and crunchy spiced pecans in under 10 minutes.

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad is a delicious fall salad packed with fresh sprouts, apples, cranberries, and crunchy seeds, tossed in a homemade vinaigrette.

Thanksgiving Salad

This simple and healthy Thanksgiving Salad is loaded with greens, seasonal veggies, pomegranate seeds, and pecans, all tossed in a homemade vinaigrette.

Arugula and Roasted Carrot Salad

Arugula and roasted carrot salad is one of the best spring salads, packed with a delicious combination of sweet and sour flavours, plus easy to make.

Warm Lentil Salad with Butternut Squash

This warm lentil salad with butternut squash and shiitake mushrooms is the most comforting salad. Add it to your holiday dinner this fall.

Sweet Kale Salad

This Sweet Kale Salad is loaded with hearty greens, veggies, and homemade poppy seed dressing — inspired by the Taylor Farms salad kit from Costco.

Quinoa Spinach Salad

Take a bite into this refreshing, gluten-free quinoa and spinach salad bursting with colourful tomatoes, cucumbers and raisins.

Mandarin Orange Salad

Mandarin orange salad is fresh, vibrant, tangy, and sweet, bursting with flavour, and topped with a delicious orange salad dressing.

Lemon Kale Salad

Lemon kale salad is a simple, flavorful, and healthy meal that’s thrown together in just minutes with fresh ingredients. The perfect quick lunch or dinner.

Goat Cheese and Tangelo Winter Salad

Healthy and light, goat cheese and tangelo winter salad with creamy caesar dressing is flavourful, crunchy and takes just minutes to prepare.

Tips for Storing Thanksgiving Salads

  • Make ahead instructions:Almost all of these Thanksgiving salads can be made ahead of time. When making ahead, I recommend storing the ingredients separately from the dressing, and toss when ready to serve. To prep ahead of time, chop up all the ingredients and store in anairtight containerin the refrigerator.
  • How to store:Most Thanksgiving salads can be stored in anairtight containerin the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Refer to the specific recipe post for complete storing instructions.

More Thanksgiving Recipes

  • 30 Best Thanksgiving Appetizers
  • 50 Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  • 25 Warm and Cozy Fall Soup Recipes
  • 40 Best Thanksgiving Main Dishes
  • 25 Best Thanksgiving Desserts
  • 15 Thanksgiving Bread Recipes

Did You Make Any of These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of these easy Thanksgiving salad recipes at home. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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15 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (17)

15 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes

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  • Author: Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings
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Description

Over 15 popular best Thanksgiving salad recipes including butternut squash salads, apple salads, warm salads with roasted vegetables, kale salad, and more!

Ingredients

  • Butternut Squash Salad
  • Apple Walnut Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
  • Fall Harvest Salad with Butternut Squash and Apple
  • Arugula Salad with Apple and Pecan
  • Winter Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette and Spiced Pecans
  • Warm Lentil Salad with Butternut Squash
  • Arugula and Roasted Carrot Salad
  • Quinoa Spinach Salad
  • Mandarin Orange Salad
  • Lemon Kale Salad
  • Goat Cheese and Tangelo Winter Salad

Instructions

  1. Pick the Thanksgiving salad recipe you want to make for your holiday dinner.
  2. Gather the required ingredients and prep them.
  3. Assemble the salad and serve.

Notes

Make ahead instructions:Almost all of these Thanksgiving salads can be made ahead of time. When making ahead, I recommend storing the ingredients separately from the dressing, and toss when ready to serve. To prep ahead of time, chop up all the ingredients and store in anairtight containerin the refrigerator.

How to store: Most Thanksgiving salads can be stored in anairtight containerin the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Refer to the specific recipe post for complete storing instructions.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Tossed
  • Cuisine: Various

Nutrition

  • Calories: 120

15 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (18)

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15 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What should be included in a salad? ›

leafy greens such as romaine, arugula, kale and spinach. whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice and bulgur. chopped or shredded vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, cabbage, and beets.

Is a salad necessary on Thanksgiving dinner? ›

On a holiday table chock-full of dishes that are rich and richer, something raw and tangy is a welcome contrast. Salad tastes good on its own, but it also makes everything around it taste better. Its crunch peps up silky-smooth mashed potatoes. Its zing brightens gravy-smothered turkey.

How to make a salad better? ›

How to Make a Salad You'll Actually Want to Eat
  1. 1: Think Beyond Lettuce and Greens.
  2. 2: Add Heft with Grains and Nuts.
  3. 3: Add Beans or Other Proteins.
  4. 4: Make Your Own Homemade Salad Dressing.
  5. 5: Make it a Flavor Party.
Jan 18, 2024

What are the 5 salads? ›

The five basic types of salad are green salads (tossed or composed), bound, vegetable, fruit, and combination. The five basic salads that can be served throughout the course of a meal are starter, accompaniment, main course, intermezzo, and dessert.

What not to do as a Thanksgiving guest? ›

The Rudest Things You Can Do During Thanksgiving Dinner
  • Not RSVP-ing.
  • Ignoring The Schedule.
  • Bringing Dishes That Require Cooking.
  • Starting Tense Conversations.
  • Prying Into People's Personal Business.
  • Asserting Yourself In The Kitchen Without Being Asked.
  • Not Letting The Host Know About An Allergy Or Dietary Restriction.
Nov 2, 2023

What not to say at Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Here are five topics that should best be kept to yourself when celebrating the holiday meal.
  • Religion. Religion is a big topic for people, especially if you do not believe in it. ...
  • Politics. ...
  • Finances and Jobs. ...
  • Relationships. ...
  • Weight.
Nov 21, 2023

What can I put in a salad to make it more interesting? ›

Add spices and flavours such as paprika, chilli flakes, curry powder, harissa or parmesan. Add acidity or sourness with vinegar, lemon juice or pomegranate molasses to transform your salad.

What are 5 components of a satisfying salad? ›

There are five elements to a perfect salad: greens, sweetness, creaminess, crunchiness, and dressing.

What are the three keys to a quality salad? ›

The three keys to ensuring a quality salad are:
  • freshness of ingredients.
  • the ingredients blend together in harmony.
  • appealing to the eye.

What is the healthiest salad you can eat? ›

10 Nutrient-Dense Salad Recipes
  • Low-Carb Asian Chopped Salad.
  • Spicy Shrimp, Avocado, and Arugula Salad.
  • Tofu and Kale Salad.
  • Pear, Grape, and Feta Salad.
  • Mediterranean Chicken Salad.
  • Blood Orange and Quinoa Kale Salad.
  • Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad.
  • Roasted Chickpea and Kale Salad.
Jul 20, 2021

How to make salad at home taste good? ›

Do This to Make Restaurant-Quality Salads at Home
  1. Use the freshest ingredients. Pre-bagged salads may make life easier, but they taste kind of blah. ...
  2. Choose the right lettuce. ...
  3. Add some crunch. ...
  4. Add color. ...
  5. Include protein. ...
  6. Give it some bulk. ...
  7. Mix sweet with savory. ...
  8. Add herbs.
Jun 27, 2023

What are the healthiest vegetables to put in a salad? ›

Some of the most nutritious greens include spinach, kale, romaine, watercress, and arugula (see "Salad greens by the numbers"). They are rich in a combination of vitamins A, C, and K; several B vitamins (including folate); and potassium.

What are the 6 guidelines for arranging salad? ›

Guidelines for Arranging Salads
  • Keep the salad off the rim of the plate. Think of the rim as a picture frame and arrange the salad within this frame. ...
  • Strive for a good balance of colors. ...
  • Height helps make a salad attractive. ...
  • Cut ingredients neatly. ...
  • Make every ingredient identifiable. ...
  • Keep it simple.

What fills you up in a salad? ›

Try four ounces of one of the following:
  • Beans like black, chickpeas (hummus), cannellini or adzuki.
  • Chicken.
  • Edamame.
  • Eggs (over easy, soft boiled, or chopped hard boiled)
  • Lean beef.
  • Lentils.
  • Reduced fat cheese.
  • Seafood (sardines, tuna, shrimp, salmon)

What are the 6 major salad categories? ›

6 Classification of Salads
  • Appetizer Salads.
  • Accompaniment Salads.
  • Main course Salads.
  • Side Dish Salads.
  • Separate Course Salads.
  • Dessert Salads.

What are the six categories of salads? ›

Salad is any of a wide variety of dishes including green salads; vegetable salads; long beans; salads of pasta, legumes, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads. They often include vegetables and fruits.

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