21 Beautiful Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (2024)

RECIPES | Salads | Thanksgiving

ByStephanie Wilson

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If you’re looking for festive, beautiful Thanksgiving Salad Recipes that are healthy and delicious, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered some of the best ideas for your Thanksgiving table.

21 Beautiful Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (1)

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If you’re looking for festive, beautiful Thanksgiving Salad Recipes that are healthy and delicious, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered some of the best ideas for your Thanksgiving table.

And if you’re looking for more ideas, you might want to check out our Thanksgiving Recipes and Ideas page.

Thanksgiving Salad Recipes

Ones of the most challenges parts of Thanksgiving dinners is often choosing the sides. And often the salads are easy to leave to the last minute.

Because honestly, the sides like mashed potatoes, casseroles, and cranberry sauce steal the show. These hearty, beautiful Thanksgiving Salad recipes are packed with flavor and a perfect way to begin the feast!

More Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

  • 15 Thanksgiving Kitchen Essential Tools
  • 28 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  • Easy Thanksgiving Desserts That Aren’t Pumpkin Pie
  • 15 Best Thanksgiving Pie Recipes
  • Simple Cornbread Dressing Recipe
  • Easy Roast Turkey Recipe with Apple Cider and Thyme

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21 Beautiful Thanksgiving Salad Recipes

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Beet Goat Cheese Walnut Salad

Photo Credit:www.chelseasmessyapron.com

This Beet Goat Cheese Walnut Salad is topped with a light honey dijon vinaigrette. This salad is so quick & easy to make and the perfect addition to the dinner table."

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Thanksgiving Kale Salad with Cranberry Cinnamon Vinaigrette.

Photo Credit:www.howsweeteats.com

“This is going to be so much more than your Thanksgiving salad. I mean, yes, it totally can be your Thanksgiving salad, but it can also be your weeknight salad for the next three months.”

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Mandarin Orange Salad with Thai Crunch Salad Dressing

This Mandarin Orange Salad with Thai Crunch Salad Dressing may remind you of California Pizza Kitchen. It's an incredibly delicious quick and easy salad with little to no chopping. It comes together in minutes with sweet oranges, greens, and a zingy dressing you will love.

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Pomegranate Avocado Salad with Candied Walnuts.

Photo Credit:www.halfbakedharvest.com

“This pretty salad is my Thanksgiving salad, and it basically includes all the things I love…and is healthy too!”

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Winter Greens Salad with Pomegranate and Blood Oranges

Winter Greens Salad with Pomegranate and Blood Oranges is a sweet and zesty, crispy salad that is perfect for the holidays.

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Shredded Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette.

Photo Credit:www.halfbakedharvest.com

“ It’s quick, festive, and so delicious. Shredded brussels sprouts, nutty manchego cheese, toasted hazelnuts, and juicy pomegranates, all tossed with a warm cider vinaigrette that’s sweet and tangy. ”

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Autumn Chopped Salad with Creamy Poppyseed Dressing

Photo Credit:therecipecritic.com

“Autumn Chopped Salad with Creamy Poppyseed Dressingis all of your fall salad dreams come true! Crisp chopped apples, pears, romaine lettuce, crunchy pecans, bacon, cranberries and feta cheese combine in a creamy dressing to bring you one unforgettable salad!”

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Apple, Fig & Brussels Sprouts Salad

Photo Credit:www.eatingwell.com

“Salad dressing made from sweet and mellow white balsamic vinegar balances out the assertive greens and Brussels sprouts in this healthy winter salad. If you have one handy, a small mandoline makes it easy to slice the Brussels and apple.”

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Butternut Squash Salad

Photo Credit:www.loveandlemons.com

“I created this crowd-pleasing fall salad recipe that I know both friends AND family members will love. It’s the kind of salad that will convert any non-salad lovers because it’s filled with hearty roasted butternut squash (with some yummy spices), pomegranates, goat cheese, and pistachios.”

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Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples and Hazelnuts

Photo Credit:www.thekitchn.com

“The only thing I might like better than Brussels sprouts roasted to a crisp are thinly sliced raw Brussels sprouts dressed with a bright vinaigrette and toasted nuts.”

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Healthy Kale Salad with Quinoa and Lemon Vinaigrette

“Tossed with toasted almonds, cranberries, and Parmesan cheese, it’s as pretty as it is delicious!”

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Recipe: Kohlrabi and Cabbage Salad with Maple Lemon Dressing

Photo Credit:www.thekitchn.com

“This salad is a great make-ahead side dish because the kohlrabi and cabbage are sturdy enough that they won’t wilt very much as they sit, and the flavors just meld together really well.”

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Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dish: Fall Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Goddess Dressing

Photo Credit:www.theseasonedmom.com

“ThisFall Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Goddess Dressingcelebrates the bounty of the season in a beautiful combination of tastes and textures. From crunchy toasted pecans to tender roasted acorn squash, crisp juicy apples totart dried cranberries,it’s a healthy Thanksgiving side dish that won’t weigh you down!”

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Kale Salad with Butternut Squash, Chickpeas and Tahini Dressing

Photo Credit:www.foodiecrush.com

“One of my favorite parts about cooking is gathering inspiration from different sources and then bringing them together into one, big recipe creating party.”

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Recipe: Chopped Brown Rice Salad with Grapes and Pecans

Photo Credit:www.thekitchn.com

“With brown rice, crunchy pecans, and a burst of sweetness from grapes, this salad is a cross between a big bowl of leafy greens and a hearty side dish.”

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Apple Salad with Romaine and Arugula

Photo Credit:www.goodhousekeeping.com

“Mix dressing up to three days ahead, and refrigerate until ready to use; whisk before tossing with apples. Rinse romaine leaves; dry and wrap in paper towels, then in a plastic bag up to a day ahead. Chop leaves at serving time.”

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Recipe: Arugula, Pear & Blue Cheese Salad with Warm Vinaigrette

Photo Credit:www.thekitchn.com

“This salad is notsubtle at all. It has big, strong flavors — bitter, sweet, salty, and pungent — and yet it’s extremely simple to put together!”

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Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Photo Credit:www.chelseasmessyapron.com

“The best hearty and healthy Thanksgiving salad – mixed greens with roasted sweet potato, seasoned wild rice, cranberries, almonds, avocado, and cheese with a creamy lemon balsamic dressing. Plus some shortcuts to make this salad even quicker and tips to make it ahead of time!”

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Roquefort Pear Salad

Photo Credit:www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

“This Roquefort Pear Salad is one of my favorite salads! It full of pears, avocados, blue cheese, and a tasty vinaigrette.”

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Leftover Turkey Salad with Grapes

Photo Credit:sweetandsavorymeals.com

"Made with crunchy celery, apple, pecans, chewy dried cranberries, and fresh sweet green grapes. This salad is perfect to fill a sandwich, in wraps, paninis, and even on a bed of greens."

21 Beautiful Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Should salad be served at Thanksgiving? ›

A Thanksgiving salad is a great way to add color to your holiday plate. Plus, who doesn't appreciate a few bites of something light and refreshing between forkfuls of stuffing?

How to make a salad yummier? ›

Toss on a little something extra.

Try herbs, fruit, grains or cheese. Here the list is truly endless. When it comes to grains, go whole and choose something like quinoa, bulgur, farro, or wheat berries. With cheeses like goat or feta, a little goes a long way to add flavor.

How to make salad fun to eat? ›

In spring, try adding strawberries or grapefruit. In summer, try grilled or fresh stone fruit tossed through it. Apple, mango, pomegranate, watermelon, rockmelon and dried fruits are salad favourites. These create a delicious contrast of sweet and savoury flavours.

Should salad be served first or last? ›

(And yet they eat those, anyway.) Traditionally, the salad follows the main course, but restaurants generally serve salad first, and people have come to believe that the practices of restaurants represent the best service.

Is just a salad enough for dinner? ›

Even when paired with grilled chicken and dressing, a minimal bowl of greens does not contain enough nutrition to sustain the needs of an adult for any given meal. It's very common practice to pair vegetables with protein in an attempt to eat healthier.

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

12 Ways to Make Your Salads More Exciting
  1. Start with what's in season.
  2. Look beyond lettuce.
  3. Add herbs.
  4. Think texture.
  5. Add grains.
  6. Add bread.
  7. Add protein.
  8. Add nuts.
Aug 17, 2023

What are the three 3 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 are the three keys to a quality salad? ›

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

What are 5 components of a satisfying salad? ›

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

How do you pimp up salad? ›

One of the easiest ways to get some flavour in your salad is to mix up your leaves with bright herbs that pack a punch. Plants like parsley, dill, mint and coriander can really kick your salads up a notch and give them some (much needed) depth and can give a great dose of flavour in every bite.

How do you make a salad not to be boring? ›

  1. Tip #1: don't be afraid to mix textures, temperatures, vegetables and fruits! When it comes to salads, mixing is key. ...
  2. Tip #2: the final garnish is the difference between a good and a great salad! Examples? ...
  3. Tip 3: seasoning, seasoning, seasoning! Use anything your heart desires. ...
  4. Tip 4: make your salads unique!

What is the salad that stimulates appetite? ›

An appetizer salad should stimulate the appetite and have fresh, crisp ingredients such as cheese, ham, salami, shrimp, crabmeat, or vegetables lightly coated with a tangy, flavorful dressing (that will 'wake up the mouth').

How do you make salads look attractive? ›

  1. Keep it simple and fresh.
  2. Cut uniformly whenever possible - diced items should be square.
  3. Use lots of white plates - food always looks better on white. Solid plates are better than patterns. ...
  4. When using colors, consider complementary colors and a variety of colors. 12 Salad Presentations.

What is traditionally served for Thanksgiving? ›

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner includes Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing (or “dressing”), and some kind of pie for dessert, typically pumpkin, apple, or pecan. Common sides are green bean casserole, scalloped corn, and roasted sweet potatoes.

When should salad be served? ›

American chefs and etiquette experts point to the filling nature of roughage to defend salad's position as the first course, but in many other cultures, enjoying a salad after the main entree is considered the right move for proper digestion.

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