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These top Thanksgiving salad recipes are full of big flavor and seasonal produce! They’ll wow everyone around the table.
When it comes to Thanksgiving sides, the star doesn’t have to be the gravy, stuffing or mashed potatoes. These days, another category is king: the Thanksgiving salad! That’s right, the salad can be one of the more delicious things on your plate on this massive food holiday. Because here’s the thing: it’s bright, colorful, vibrant and textured, with sweet tart, savory and tangy ingredients that are the ideal contrast to those mushy brown entrees and sides.
Here are our top Thanksgiving salad recipes that highlight the produce of the season. From apples to pears, sweet potatoes to squash, and pomegranate to beets: there’s something every eater will be excited about.
And now…our top Thanksgiving salad recipes!
Crisp Apple Salad
One of the best Thanksgiving salads: this Crisp Apple Salad! Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy,cinnamon-spiced pecans. Toss them all over fresh greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing, and it’s trulysalad perfection.
Sweet Potato Salad
This sweet potato salad is ideal for Thanksgiving! Make roasted sweet potatoes, then toss with baby arugula, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a little crumbled goat cheese or feta. Honey Mustard or Balsamic Dressing give it a tangy pop. The savory, sweet, tangy, creamy and crunchy contrasts will wow everyone!
Pear Salad with Pecans
Here’s a dreamy Thanksgiving salad if there ever was one: this brilliantPear Salad! It’s a study in contrasts: fresh, juicy pear against funky gorgonzola cheese; bright pomegranate against savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and cover it in tangypoppy seed dressing, and well: it’s absolutelyirresistible.
Brussels Sprout Salad
One of the best Thanksgiving sides of them all: a Brussels Sprout salad! The raw greens of this popular veggie aren’t bitter at all: they’re sweet and feathery, with irresistibly tasty flavor. Combine them with a sweet and tangy Djion mustard dressing, apples, and dried cherries, and they’re pretty darn perfect.
Butternut Squash Salad
Here’s a standout Thanksgiving salad starring everyone’s favorite ingredient:Butternut Squash Salad! This one is a symphony in a bowl: hearty sweet squash pairs with crisp apple, chewy cranberries and a citrusyorange vinaigrette. All the best flavors of fall and winter ingredients sing together in perfect harmony!
Here's a hearty fall and winter side dish that's just begging to jump onto your table: wild rice salad! This mix of rice with crunchy veggies, pecans, cranberries, and feta cheese crumbles is ideal for any occasion, from the holidays to a simple cozy dinner. A maple Dijon vinaigrette dressing infuses a tangy flavor throughout, punctuated by bursts of fresh parsley.
Pomegranate Salad
One of our top favorite Thanksgiving salads? Pomegranate salad! Crunchy pomegranate seeds make a beautiful confetti over the top of leafy greens. Add tart green apple slices, toasted pecans, and goat cheese or feta crumbles, and it’s a true symphony of flavor! Top it with creamyapple cider vinegar dressingorpomegranate vinaigrette.
Here's an easy Thanksgiving salad that comes together quickly, but my does it deliver on flavor! The crunch of the apples, creamy goat cheese, and fluffy arugula are the ideal pair for the tangy sweet dressing. Your guests won't be able to stop eating this one!
Want a fancy Thanksgiving salad idea? Try thisEndive Salad: equal parts refreshing, tangy, bitter, crunchy, and tangy! Bitter endive pairs perfectly with juicy orange and a sweet tartred wine vinaigrette. Top it off with savory Parmesan shavings and crunchy almonds, and the contrasts are divine.
Delicata Squash Salad
Looking for a stunningThanksgiving salad? Enter: delicata squash salad! This is no ordinary green side salad. It stars our favorite squash: thedelicata, which is brilliantly sweet and has edible skin (no peeling necessary!). Roast up that squash in just 20 minutes, and in the meantime prep those refreshing pomegranate seeds, crunchy pistachios, and tangy honey mustard dressing.
Fennel Salad with Parmesan
This delightfulfennel saladis one anyone can enjoy despite any preconceptions, pairing the shaved raw vegetable with sweet apple, zingy lemon and savory Parmesan cheese. Delicate fennel fronds make a feathery garnish, and each bite is irresistibly crunchy with a pop of acidity.
Watercress Salad with Apple
Here's a tasty Thanksgiving salad:Watercress Salad with Apple! Pair this bitter leafy green with lemon, apple and savory Parmesan shavings and you won’t be able to resist another bite! The sweet apple, zingy citrus and flaky salt balance out the watercress beautifully, making for a fresh and vibrant side dish.
Kale Slaw
Try this kale slawwith apples! The colorful mix of fresh veggies is simple to put together and tastes refreshingly sweet tart. It stars hearty kale, crisp apples, sweet carrot, and a zingy maple apple cider vinegar dressing. Toss the entire mixture with sliced toasted almonds to make it sing!
Apple Slaw
Here’s a fun, fresh Thanksgiving salad to add to your repertoire: thisapple slaw! Cabbage, apples and carrots partner up to form the basis of a tangy slaw. They’re doused in a creamy poppyseed dressing that you’ll want to pour on just about everything. It’s a slaw spin that’s unique in flavor but simple enough that you’ll want to keep making it all season long.
Beet Salad with Balsamic Dressing
This delicious beet salad has all the right elements: baby greens, creamy goat cheese and a tangy balsamic beet dressing. Basically, it’s salad perfection! It works withroasted beets or if the oven's not free, try Instant Pot Beets.
Fennel Orange Salad
Here's an elegant salad we never tire of: fennel orange salad! It features beautiful juicy oranges, with their vibrant color and citrusy flavor. Add to that a famous pairing: sliced raw fennel, which adds a subtle licorice essence. Throw it over greens with a few garnishes, top with a zingy homemadecitrus vinaigrette, and wow! It's stunning.
Hearty Farro Salad
Here’s a unique Thanksgiving salad: thisHearty Farro Salad! Farro is an ancient grain with a chewy texture and nutty flavor that’s burst on the scene in the past few years. This one is our ultimate, pairing the whole grain with earthy mushrooms, feathery arugula, savory pops of cheese, and a zingy vinaigrette (omit the tomatoes for the Thanksgiving version).
Tuscan Kale Salad
This tasty salad features Tuscan kale, lemon and Parmesan and might be one of our top ways to eat this leaft green! After you taste this kale salad, you’ll agree that those green leaves smothered in a lemony, garlicky Parmesan dressing can only be one thing: drop dead delicious.
Apple Manchego Salad
This apple manchego salad is made simply of apples and Manchego cheese cut into matchsticks, with a bit of olive oil and some sliced chives. Nothing pretentious — just pure ingredients combined in a simple way to make each shine. The way the apples and cheese are cut makes it hard todistinguishbetween the two – making it all the more fun to guess what will be part of each bite!
Arugula Beet Salad
Here’s a Thanksgiving salad idea that’s flavorful and versatile: arugula beet salad! It features jewel-toned roasted beets with baby arugula, all covered in a zingy citrus vinaigrette. Add thin-sliced shallots and toasted walnuts, and it tastes sophisticated with minimal effort.
More Thanksgiving resources
Here are all our Thanksgiving resources to help you plan for the holiday. Whether it’s mains, sides, appetizers, or desserts: we’ve got you covered! Here are a few lists of recipes:
- Find all the greatest hits at50 Best Thanksgiving Recipes
- Try 15 Thanksgiving Desserts to Wow Everyone
- Opt for 15 Easy Thanksgiving Appetizers
- Got an Instant Pot? Try10 Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes
- Choose from30 Easy Thanksgiving Sides
- Cooking for special diets? Try25 Vegan Thanksgiving Recipesor10 Top Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving Apple Salad (& More Recipes!)
- Author: Sonja Overhiser
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This easy apple salad recipe is a delight, starring crisp fruit, greens, cheese crumbles, and a zingy maple vinaigrette.
Ingredients
Scale
For the salad
- 1 crisp tart apple (like Pink Lady)
- 8 cups mixed greens or tender lettuces (like butter or Bibb lettuce, frisee, etc)
- ¼ cup candied pecans or toasted pecans
- ¼ cup goat cheese or feta cheese crumbles
- ¼ cup pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries
- Optional: chopped fresh thyme, for garnish
For the maple vinaigrette dressing (use 6 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoonsmaple syrup
- 2 tablespoonsapple cider or white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoonDijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoonkosher salt
- 6 tablespoonsolive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper (optional)
Instructions
- If using, prepare the candied pecans in advance (or use purchased).
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the maple syrup, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Whisk in the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time until a creamy dressing forms. (If desired, make in advance and refrigerate up to 2 weeks; bring to room temperature prior to serving).
- Thinly slice the apple.
- Place the greens on a large platter or individual plates. Top with apple slices, candied pecans, goat cheese or feta crumbles, and pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries. Top with about 6 tablespoons of the dressing (or more as desired) and serve immediately. (To make ahead, keep all components separate with fresh ingredients and dressing refrigerated. Toss the apples with lemon juice to prevent browning. Bring dressing to room temperature and add all ingredients together directly before serving.)
- Category: Side dish
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Salad
- Diet: Vegetarian
Keywords: Thanksgiving salad, Thanksgiving salad recipes
vegan vegetarian gluten free
Published on / Last updated on
Categorized In:
- Recipe Collections
- Recipes
Tagged with:
- Dairy-Free
- Easy
- Gluten-Free Recipes
- Healthy
- Plant-Based
- Salad
- Thanksgiving Recipes
- Vegan Recipes
- Vegetarian Recipes
About the authors
Sonja & Alex
Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.
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