31 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (2024)

Home Recipes Salads

31 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (1)Christabel Lobo

31 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (2)Amanda BlumUpdated: Feb. 15, 2024

    From leafy green bowls to grain-based dishes, these seasonal sides are bursting with fall flavor. Here are the best Thanksgiving salad recipes to make this year.

    Don’t be fooled, the hero of Thanksgiving isn’t the smoked turkey, it’s the roughage. Sure, we dream about piles of potatoes and marshmallow fluff, but our Thanksgiving salad recipes can yield a welcome moment of lightness among the carbs.

    A colorful bowl of greens will break up the endless sea of beige in your holiday tablescape. Depending on which salad you choose, it can be a welcome nod to your vegetarian guests too. Let’s put those salad spinners and tongs to good use!

    1/31

    Favorite Mediterranean Salad

    A refreshing take on the romaine salad, this salad recipe adds a colorful splash to the holiday table thanks to its cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers, feta and Greek olives. Love to prepare Thanksgiving dinner in advance? This salad can be made ahead of time and dressed just before dinner.

    Go to Recipe

    2/31

    Taste of Home

    Butternut Squash Panzanella Salad

    Making 8 servings, this fall recipe is perfect for serving at any mid-size holiday gathering. The key to its success? Precut chunks of butternut squash. You can also make substitutes depending on what ingredients you have on hand. Pecans are great in place of the almonds, and watercress works well instead of the arugula or spinach.

    Go to Recipe

    3/31

    Taste of Home

    Bacon Caesar Salad

    Bring the reliability and creaminess of a restaurant-quality Caesar salad to your table with a recipe that doesn’t complicate. With crispy bacon for a bit of texture and saltiness, even the salad skeptics at the table will dig in.

    Go to Recipe

    4/31

    Taste of Home

    Roasted Pear Salad

    This fantastical fall salad comes together in a bowl full of color and texture. Sweet roasted pears marry with tart cranberries, crunchy hazelnuts and watercress, bringing tons of sweetness to your bowl. Once everything is dressed in this light vinaigrette, you’ll have a hard time keeping this off of guests’ plates.

    Go to Recipe

    5/31

    World’s Best Kale Salad

    The crunchy, dark green leaves of kale stand up well to the light, olive oil-based dressing for this salad. Parmesan and blue cheese make the salad unbeatable while the cranberries and almonds give us the nutty sweetness we love most in fall salads.

    Go to Recipe

    6/31

    Taste of Home

    Mushroom Panzanella

    Pillows of sourdough meet tomatoes and an assemblage of mushrooms with warmed goat cheese for a dish so comforting you’ll want to curl up and eat the whole thing. Pine nuts, golden raisins and spicy arugula are the high notes in this luxurious flavor gold mine.

    Go to Recipe

    7/31

    Taste of Home

    Boston Lettuce with Roasted Red Onions

    The day before Thanksgiving, you’ll fill the kitchen with the intoxicating scent of roasting red onion, a perfect invitation to the oncoming feast. This salad tucks those magenta layers into a beautiful head of Boston lettuce, and adds dots of Gorgonzola and walnuts into this rich take on the “wedge”. A dose of acid from a refreshing orange and balsamic vinaigrette makes this salad bright and assertive.

    Go to Recipe

    8/31

    Taste of Home

    Pomegranate Splash Salad

    Refresh everyone’s palate with this callback to summer. Cool baby spinach leaves provide a platform for some briny feta cheese. There are so many flavors here to focus on—your tongue popping the juicy pomegranate seeds and sweet raspberries, the earthiness of pine nuts and a surprisingly tart cranberry and rice vinegar dressing.

    Go to Recipe

    9/31

    This might be the classiest salad offering your fork will ever find. Prosciutto and fresh burrata meet spicy arugula for a wonderful textural blend. Sweet red pears and capers add a layer of complexity, and the whole shebang needs nothing more than a light dressing of olive oil and balsamic.

    Go to Recipe

    10/31

    Taste of Home

    Turnip Greens Salad

    To keep things interesting, switch out the greens in your basic garden salad with the dark, vitamin-rich green of turnip leaves. A classic Dijon vinaigrette brings together classic ingredients like cucumber, red onion and tomato, and invites some surprising bites of cranberries and feta. A pinch of cayenne gives this unintimidating salad an unexpected punch.

    Go to Recipe

    11/31

    Taste of Home

    Bacon Pear Salad with Parmesan Dressing

    Hearkening to a summer picnic table, this fall adaptation has a little of something for everyone. Kale, bacon and pepper jack make a hearty base, while pears add a crunch under the dressing of creamy Dijon and mayonnaise.

    Go to Recipe

    12/31

    Taste of Home

    Shredded Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad

    Bursting with vitamins and minerals, this powerhouse salad will ensure you get your daily vegetable intake and then some this holiday season. Make this Thanksgiving salad in advance—letting it chill in the fridge is key to allowing the flavors to meld. In need of some sweetness? A ripe pear can be quite the addition.

    Go to Recipe

    13/31

    Taste of Home

    Full of festive color and flair, this Thanksgiving salad recipe is easy to modify—it works well with just about any nuts or dried fruit you have in stock.

    Go to Recipe

    14/31

    Taste of Home

    Harvest Salad with Cherry Vinaigrette

    If Thanksgiving is a holiday of bounty, nothing will impress like this harvest salad. Piled with color, crunch, flavor and texture, each forkful will yield a bevy of ingredients. Earthy beets and apples bring color before you embark on a rainbow of vegetables: carrots, red and yellow tomatoes and spring mixed greens.

    Go to Recipe

    15/31

    Cran-Orange Couscous Salad

    When it comes to Thanksgiving salad recipes, this contest-winning dish takes the cake. Featuring freshly chopped navel oranges, cranberries and a touch of fennel, it’s the perfect dish to pair with your holiday feast.

    Go to Recipe

    16/31

    Taste of Home

    Grilled Apple Tossed Salad

    A tangy, homemade balsamic dressing pairs well with sweet, tender grilled apples in this quick and filling Thanksgiving salad. Wondering what apple to use here? Check out our guide to the best apples for baking, cooking and eating!

    Go to Recipe

    17/31

    Taste of Home

    Winter Beet Salad

    For fans of roasted beets, this is one of the best Thanksgiving salad recipes. And it’s well worth the time it takes to come together. Take a shortcut by using packaged salad greens—just be sure to wash them.

    Go to Recipe

    18/31

    Pear Harvest Salad

    End up with way too much leftover turkey? Turn it into a delicious day-after-Thanksgiving salad recipe! The addition of cubed avocados, honey-roasted almonds and pears make this harvest salad not only hearty but healthy as well.

    Go to Recipe

    19/31

    Taste of Home

    Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

    For a low-calorie salad for your holiday party, look no further than this flavorful Thanksgiving salad recipe! The key to tender Brussels sprouts is refrigerating the salad for as long as possible before serving.

    Go to Recipe

    20/31

    Roasted Apple Salad with Spicy Maple-Cider Vinaigrette

    You’ll find all the best flavors of fall in this harvest salad recipe, like apples, maple syrup and toasted pecans. It’s also the perfect fall dish to make if you have extra fruit after going apple picking.

    Go to Recipe

    21/31

    Lemon Cranberry Quinoa Salad

    Coming together in 30 minutes, this quick Thanksgiving salad recipe is light and lettuce-free. Don’t like cranberries or parsley? Try using diced fresh mangoes and cilantro instead.

    Go to Recipe

    22/31

    Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Maple Vinaigrette

    Bright colors and bold flavors make this one of our favorite Thanksgiving salads to serve! Don’t skip the crumbled blue cheese topping—it pairs exceptionally well with this dish’s sweet homemade honey-maple vinaigrette.

    Go to Recipe

    23/31

    Taste of Home

    Wendy’s Apple Pomegranate Salad

    A longtime favorite, this tart Thanksgiving salad recipe is sure to create unforgettable memories when served at your next holiday feast. Best of all, it’s ready in just 20 minutes and is only 165 calories a serving!

    Go to Recipe

    24/31

    Taste of Home

    Uncompromising on taste, this flavorful Thanksgiving salad showcases kale, a highly nutritious green and incredible superfood. Not a fan of this leafy green? Use collards, mustard greens or a mix of spinach and arugula instead.

    Go to Recipe

    25/31

    Pomegranate Persimmon Salad

    Add some sunshine to your fall table with this quick fall salad. It’s ready in just 15 minutes, so guests will be able to enjoy how the sweet, bright persimmons interact with the dish’s puckery homemade vinaigrette.

    Go to Recipe

    26/31

    Taste of Home

    Wilted Spinach Salad with Butternut Squash

    The epitome of Thanksgiving salad recipes, this dish feels exactly like fall. A decadent start to your holiday meal, the warm balsamic vinaigrette is key to transforming the salad’s simple ingredients into something special. First time sauteing squash? Here’s how to safely peel and cut winter squash.

    Go to Recipe

    27/31

    Taste of Home

    Roquefort Pear Salad

    Ready in 20 minutes, this seriously quick Thanksgiving salad is perfect for a large crowd—it makes enough for 10 servings and, aside from the dressing, only requires five ingredients! Not a fan of mustard vinaigrette? Try it with this homemade blue cheese dressing instead.

    Go to Recipe

    28/31

    Taste of Home

    Perfect for a holiday potluck, this Thanksgiving salad recipe is light on the calories, but its flavors are through the roof! For an added crunch, roast the chickpeas in the oven alongside the sweet potatoes.

    Go to Recipe

    29/31

    Taste of Home

    This recipe is great if you’re looking to add some color to your holiday table. The roasted beets add a rich earthiness, which is balanced out by the tart pieces of citrus. Want to make this salad more filling? Add some shredded turkey.

    Go to Recipe

    30/31

    Taste of Home

    Hot Spinach Apple Salad

    Six ingredients and 20 minutes are all you need to bring one of our favorite Thanksgiving salad recipes to life. This holiday potluck recipe makes 10 servings of fresh green goodness!

    Go to Recipe

    31/31

    Cranberry-Pecan Wheat Berry Salad

    The addition of wheat berries makes this lettuce-free Thanksgiving salad recipe a filling meal all by itself. Can’t find wheat berries? Instead, use kamut, a high-protein ancient grain.

    Go to Recipe

    Originally Published: October 22, 2021

    31 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes (34)

    Christabel Lobo

    Christabel is a freelance writer and illustrator who specializes in all things food and travel. As a restaurant expert, she always knows the best place to grab a bite wherever she is in the world. Growing up in Dubai as a third-culture kid and then moving to the United States has given her the ability to effortlessly and empathetically write about many cultures and cuisines. She brings that firsthand experience to her food writing at Taste of Home, specializing in sharing recipes, techniques and great dishes from around the world. Her writing has also been published in Allrecipes, EatingWell, Lonely Planet and many more.

    31 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? You'll find 20 of my favorite Thanksgiving salad recipes below.

    How many salads to feed 100 people? ›

    When preparing a tossed salad for a large group of people, the rule is 3 ounces per person, according to the Seattle Times, so 300 ounces of salad would be needed to serve 100 people. That breaks down in different ways, depending on the specific type of greens being used.

    How to make salad the day before? ›

    Salads that stay fresh all week use separate containers for toppings and dressing to keep crunchy foods crunchy. Prep the toppings and dressing so the entire salad will be ready to grab when needed – just mix the containers together before eating. Meal prep salad is a lot like building a salad you'd eat right away.

    What to make to bring to Thanksgiving dinner? ›

    Start with a few Thanksgiving appetizers for all to nibble on. Think: deviled eggs, a cranberry-pecan cheese ball, and creamy caramelized onion dip. Then, divvy up Thanksgiving casseroles like classic stuffing, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole.

    What should you not forget for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

    Use this list to make sure you're prepared to have the feast you planned for.
    • Sweetened Condensed Milk. A number of tasty desserts rely on this often forgotten item. ...
    • Cranberries or Cranberry Sauce. ...
    • Chicken Stock or Broth. ...
    • Simply Done Containers. ...
    • Foil, Parchment Paper, Pastic Wrap. ...
    • Centerpiece. ...
    • Nuts or Dried Fruit. ...
    • Dinner Rolls.
    Nov 25, 2019

    Should salad be served first or last? ›

    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.

    How many ounces of salad do I need for 30 people? ›

    When making salad for a large group, the rule of thumb is about 3 ounces per person. Some greens weigh more than others, however, so you'll need to tailor this figure to the specific recipe.

    How many people does 2 lbs of salad feed? ›

    1 (2 lb. bag) Tossed Salad/Chopped Romaine serves 16 (main course) to 25 (side salads).

    How many iceberg lettuce for 50 people? ›

    According to Pen & Fork, 50 small side salads require approximately 50 cups of lettuce, while 50 entrée salads require 100 to 150 cups of lettuce. A head of Romaine lettuce yields 6 cups of cleaned and trimmed lettuce. Just heads of lettuce sounds like such sad pathetic salads.

    Should you put dressing on salad the night before? ›

    Dress half your salad with half your dressing the night before, and pack the other half of the salad and the dressing for lunch.

    What ingredients to bulk up salad? ›

    The options are endless; black beans, butter beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, has beans, you name it! Try it in this roasted chickpea and buffalo mozzarella salad. Also, why not try Fry's Family Foods Chicken-Style Strips? They're like chicken but, in a veggie kind of way.

    What is the perfect Thanksgiving dinner? ›

    The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

    What to bring to Thanksgiving when they say don't bring anything? ›

    "Some of my personal favorites are paper co*cktail napkins, a tin of Louis Sherry chocolates, or a unique candle," recommends Strait. "It is fun to bring something the host might not pick up for themselves! A gift for a host does not have to break the bank, it just shows you appreciate them for hosting."

    What is traditionally served for Thanksgiving? ›

    The classic Thanksgiving dinner includes old-time favorites that never change: turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, veggies, and pie. But the way these dishes are made or added to is everchanging because of food trends and different dietary requirements.

    Why did they only eat salad for Thanksgiving in the crossover? ›

    Why do the only eat salad for Thanksgiving? They only eat salad for Thanksgiving because their grandmother fell off the porch and was injured, so their uncle cooked.

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Jonah Leffler

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6830

    Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

    Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Jonah Leffler

    Birthday: 1997-10-27

    Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

    Phone: +2611128251586

    Job: Mining Supervisor

    Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

    Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.