27 Best Thanksgiving Salad Recipes to Brighten Up Your Holiday Table
Because everyone needs a little crunch.
Salad may not usually take center stage at Thanksgiving, but it definitely deserves a spot on the table. Between the mashed potatoes, rich gravy, and endless fall casseroles, a crisp, refreshing salad is a welcome change of pace. It brings color to your spread and a little something light and bright to balance out all those hearty comfort foods. These seasonal Thanksgiving salad recipes prove that salad doesn’t have to be an afterthought. They’re filled with the best fall flavors, from apples and cranberries to roasted squash and toasted nuts, and you can make 'em all without much extra effort. Your taste buds will most certainly say, "Thanks!"
To really make these Thanksgiving salads shine, try dressing them up for the holidays with ingredients that feel festive but still simple to find, like cheese crumbles, crunchy pepitas, or a drizzle of apple cider vinaigrette. Ree Drummond's baby kale salad with acorn squash, for example, is hearty yet light and finished with a tangy dressing that ties it all together. Or go for the shaved Brussels sprouts salad, which gets its flavor from sweet-tart cranberries and toasted almonds. Whether you serve one as a crisp appetizer or set it out beside your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes, these easy salad recipes will bring a fresh touch to your holiday table.
Broccoli Caesar Salad
Roasting the broccoli gives you charred edges and plenty of spots for the dressing to cling. Toss with parmesan and croutons, then set it out with the other sides; it stays tasty warm or cool!
Get the Broccoli Caesar Salad recipe.
Spicy Wedge Caesar Salad with Cornbread Croutons
Adding a jalapeño and cilantro dressing to tender romaine lettuce hearts allows all that spicy flavor to gently coat each bite. The crispy cornbread croutons add an extra pop of texture and flavor to the mix.
Get Ree's Spicy Wedge Caesar Salad recipe.
Get the Mushroom Salad recipe.
Warm mushrooms meet a quick pan vinaigrette with shallot. Spoon it over a handful of greens or serve it straight from the skillet and let the savory flavor do the work.
Get the Mushroom Salad recipe.
Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash
Lean into the best flavors of fall with this hearty kale and acorn squash salad. The additions of creamy goat cheese, cranberries, and pepita really take it to the next level.
Get Ree's Baby Kale Salad with Acorn Squash recipe.
Radish Salad
This simple radish salad is the perfect antidote to all of those heavy Thanksgiving mains. It spotlights thinly sliced radishes and cucumbers tossed in a zesty dressing for a burst of crisp, cool flavor.
Get the Radish Salad recipe.
Cabbage Salad
You can't go wrong with a crisp cabbage salad. It has tons of crunchy fruits and veggies, like apples, purple cabbage, and arugula. Plus, flavorful mix-ins like nutty toasted pecans.
Get the Cabbage Salad recipe.
Tex-Mex Chicken Caesar Salad
This is Caesar with a little heat and the most delightfully crunchy toppings. The chicken makes it filling, but it won’t weigh down a plate full of stuffing and potatoes.
Get the Tex-Mex Chicken Caesar Salad recipe.
Waldorf Salad
This staple salad is autumn-ready, thanks to crisp apples, juicy grapes, and toasted walnuts. Served atop crunchy lettuce, it's the ideal fresh beginning to your feast!
Get the Waldorf Salad recipe.
Ranch Chopped Salad
Everything is chopped small and tossed in cool ranch with a little cheddar and bacon. It brings fresh crunch to a very cozy meal and holds up well on the table.
Get Ree's Ranch Chopped Salad recipe.
Pea Salad
Stir together peas, a bit of red onion, cheddar, and bacon in a creamy dressing. Make it the night before so the flavors settle and your fridge does the work!
Get Ree's Pea Salad recipe.
Chicken Parm Salad
Chicken parm is the ultimate comfort meal—even on Thanksgiving! This lightened-up version of the Italian dish is served on a bed of arugula with a fresh cherry tomato-garlic mixture.
Get Ree's Chicken Parm Salad recipe.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
If you've never had raw Brussels sprouts in a salad before, you're in for a treat! Thinly slicing the fall veggie and dressing it with a flavorful honey-mustard dressing makes it almost like a slaw.
Get the Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe.
Couscous Salad
Light, fluffy couscous is a wonderful base for the grain-like salad. It's tossed with colorful veggies, sweet pomegranate seeds and toasted walnuts for crunch.
Get the Couscous Salad recipe.
Thanksgiving Salad
This colorful, crisp salad is loaded with chopped smoked almonds, blue cheese, and a special ingredient that'll blow your mind: pickled apples! They're sweet, tart, and crunchy.
Get the Thanksgiving Salad recipe.
Cornbread Salad
Cornbread lovers will find this over-the-top salad to be a fun twist on the classic dish. It's layered up with corn, beans, veggies, cheese, and a chipotle-ranch dressing.
Get the Cornbread Salad recipe.
Collard Green Salad
You can use collard greens just like kale in a hearty salad. Just be sure to chop it up and massage it to make it a bit more tender. Then, top it black-eyed peas, crispy onions, and a tangy buttermilk dressing.
Get the Collard Green Salad recipe.
Caesar Salad
A good Caesar salad that's loaded with croutons and crisp lettuces is always a hit! The key is to make your own creamy, cheesy dressing, but it's easier than you might think.
Get the Caesar Salad recipe.
Layered Salad
Build the layers in a clear bowl so everyone can see the good stuff. It chills while the turkey roasts and scoops easily for a crowd with no extra juggling.
Get Ree's Layered Salad recipe.
Ranch Slaw
Shredded cabbage in a tangy ranch dressing stays crisp for hours. It adds a bright bite next to gravy, potatoes, and everything else on the plate.
Get Ree's Ranch Slaw recipe.
Green Bean Salad
Green beans are typically used in that classic creamy casserole dish on Thanksgiving. But this salad recipe gives them new life! It's fresh, crunchy, and easy to make ahead.
Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.
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