29 Thanksgiving Salad Recipes That Are Full of Fall Flavors (2024)

We don’t believe in boring salads at Delish, and crunchy apples and tart cranberries bring a lot of life to this one. The slightly sweet and lemony dressing is easy to make, so do yourself a favor and make extra to pour over everything.

Get the Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad recipe.

This simple yet satisfying cold weather salad packs a flavorful punch with slightly smoky seared pears, creamy blue cheese, and ultra-crunchy candied pumpkin seeds. Tied together by a sweet-sour honey vinaigrette, it’s the perfect holiday side (or add some protein to make it a main!).

Get the Pear Salad recipe.

When we want to incorporate this veggie into our Thanksgiving dinner, we turn to this fresh, seasonal salad. With toasted almonds, shaved Parmesan, and pomegranate seeds, this is the holiday side that will convert even the biggest Brussels sprout haters.

Get the Brussels Sprout Salad recipe.

A quick pan-fry makes creamy goat cheese a fun, super-crunchy salad topper. It’s a creative take on croutons and makes a simple salad so much more exciting. Hot tip: these are also great on their own (think holiday cheese board with a little drizzle of honey!)

Get the Fried Goat Cheese Salad recipe.

When you're looking for a side dish that tastes extremely fresh even in the depth of winter, look no further than fennel salad. It’s crunchy, slightly sweet, and perfectly light and refreshing, especially if you serve it alongside heavier cold weather comfort foods.

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This sweet potato salad is the perfect way to lighten up any autumnal dinner, and especially your Thanksgiving spread. Feta, dried cranberries, and red onions pair really nicely with the earthy sweetness of the orange superfood. Did we mention it's great warm or cold (which means you can make it ahead!)?

Get the Sweet Potato Salad recipe.

If your family Thanksgiving doesn’t feature a big bowl of this salad beside the platter of turkey, you’re missing out. Fresh green beans are tossed with cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta in a simple red wine vinaigrette for a Greek-inspired side that'll add a lovely fresh touch to your table.

Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.

Beet lovers, rejoice! This is the ideal Thanksgiving salad: creamy goat cheese, roasted beets, avocado, and arugula. The secret is that instead of buying precooked beets, you simply wrap them in foil and bake them like a baked potato.

Get the Roasted Beet Goat Cheese Salad recipe.

Loaded with roast chicken, sweet potato, and that signature balsamic vinaigrette, our copycat version of Sweetgreen’s beloved harvest bowl will make your favorite takeout lunch an anytime reality (even Thanksgiving!).

Get the Copycat Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl recipe.

At Lolita’s, one of Poughkeepsie, New York’s best restaurants, the ultra-creamy kale salad is bound with what is essentially a Caesar dressing amplified by extra lemon juice, then grounded and offset by toasted bread crumbs, pistachios, and Pecorino. It's light and special enough for any meal, including Thanksgiving.

Get the Lolita's Kale Salad recipe.

With pecans, Parm, green apples, and leafy arugula, this salad is hearty and holds up well—AKA a make-ahead dream. It's got ALL the elements you need: sweet, salty, soft, crunchy, fatty, fresh, but feel free to make it your own with your preferred mix-ins too.

Get the Farro Salad recipe.

This winter rainbow panzanella salad is packed with in-season veggies, crisp and crunchy sourdough croutons, and coated in a tangy grapefruit vinaigrette, making it the perfect way to brighten a gray Thanksgiving day.

Get the Winter Rainbow Panzanella Salad recipe.

This vegan coconut ranch dressing here is absolutely irresistible (seriously, you'll want to dip everything in it). But the crunchy chickpeas may just be our favorite part. Who needs croutons?

Get the Coconut Ranch Kale Salad recipe.

Making turkey salad is just as quick and easy as making chicken salad or egg salad. And just like all those other salads, you can always add your favorite mix-ins to make this fit your taste. P.S.: You can use leftover turkey in this recipe!

Get the Turkey Salad recipe.

We love classic sautéed Brussels sprouts, but sometimes we crave something with a bit more kick. These slightly spicy, salty-sweet sprouts make for a unique and easy Thanksgiving salad that's quick to throw together and sure to impress.

Get the Shredded Brussels Sprouts recipe.

This is how you get broccoli haters to eat the green stuff. Thank you, bacon! Lightly coated in an apple cider vinegar dressing and tossed with almonds, carrots, red onions, and bacon, this salad is loaded with flavor and texture. It's the perfect make-ahead side for Thanksgiving.

Get the Broccoli Salad recipe.

For this salad, we paired fennel with some other cold weather-friendly ingredients: juicy grapefruit, briny Kalamata olives, creamy goat cheese, and some rich toasted pine nuts. Most things are highly adjustable: swap in your favorites, just keep those toasty nuts!

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This carrot-and-raisin salad gets an upgrade with a slightly spicy, slightly sweet harissa and honey sauce. It brings out the sweet freshness of the carrots and makes the whole dish sing. We're tempted to pour it over all of our salads from here on out.

Get the Moroccan Carrot Salad recipe.

Though you can serve this salad right away, it actually benefits from time to marinate (perfect for Thanksgiving)! This will keep for up to five days, refrigerated in an airtight container. If you're planning to make it in advance, leave the parsley out until just before serving.

Get the Three-Bean Salad recipe.

Arugula is a great base for a number of salads, but here we’re honoring it by featuring it all by itself in a super-simple version. It's perfect when you want to add some last-minute greens to your table.

Get the Perfect Arugula Salad recipe.