Fall Salads for Thanksgiving

We always save room on our Thanksgiving table for something green. With leafy greens and roasted winter squash, these fall salads for Thanksgiving showcase the season’s bounty and are a fresh addition to any feast!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays – who doesn’t love a table of food!

What I love most about the Thanksgiving table is that foods you don’t see year-round get a spotlight. Cranberry sauce (love it!), stuffing (sometimes love it!), and my all-time favorite sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows and flavored with brandy!

We all know Thanksgiving is a day that revolves around food.

But no matter how many delicious bites you want to take, no one likes to feel sick at the end of the meal. I’ve learned to space my bites mindfully, try not to over-drink wine, and remember that there will always be leftovers for when my stomach is ready for seconds (or thirds).

Add A Little Green

As much as I love buttery mashed potatoes and savory stuffing, I really do enjoy incorporating as much fall produce into our Thanksgiving dinner as I can (and I’m not just talking about the crimson-colored cranberry sauce!). Serving a fall salad as a light lunch before the big meal or as a side dish on your table is great way to showcase the season’s bounty. A spinach salad with pomegranate seeds, crispy apple slices, and toasted pecans can help balance out the richness of the rest of the meal.

Autumn Produce Is Delish!

Seasonal autumn produce is some of my favorite! From hearty winter squash to dark leafy greens like kale and arugula, crispy apples, and sweet pears and persimmons – these fall fruits and vegetables are nourishing ingredients to add to your family’s feast.

I hope this roundup of fall salad recipes that make use of seasonal produce will inspire your Thanksgiving menu!

Fall Harvest Salad

This fall harvest salad recipe is made with massaged kale as the base and topped with roasted butternut squash, crumbled blue cheese, sliced honeycrisp apple, and crunchy spiced pecans. A maple and apple cider dressing brings it all together.

Roasted Squash and Wheatberry Salad

Chewy wheatberries, caramelized roasted squash, and a citrus dressing make this a great “salad that’s not a salad.”

Fall Harvest Honeycrisp Apple & Kale Salad via Half Baked Harvest

This big, beautiful salad combines all the best produce that fall has to offer. Shredded kale, sweet honeycrisp apples, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, and crispy prosciutto are tossed with a caramelized shallot vinaigrette. Healthy, simple and delicious!

Autumn Salad with Pumpkin Spice Tahini Dressing

You had me at pumpkin spice dressing!!! This combo of roasted squash, Brussels sprouts and unique dressing is super tasty.

The Ultimate Fall Wheatberry Salad

This salad combines all your favorite fall ingredients – cranberries, butternut squash and pomegranate arils – into a chewy wheatberry delight dressed in a maple Dijon vinaigrette.

Shredded Brussels Sprouts & Kale Salad with Apple, Gorgonzola & Candied Pecans via Ambitious Kitchen

A delicious, autumn inspired kale and shredded brussels sprouts salad packed with fresh apple slices, dried cranberries, candied pecans and gorgonzola, and served with a homemade dressing. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and savory!

Pumpkin Farro Salad

This flavorful salad combines chewy farro with a whole roasted pumpkin and a few surprises – like pomegranate seeds – for brightness!

Fall Quinoa Spinach Salad via Eating Bird Food

This quinoa spinach salad is loaded with fall favorites like butternut squash, chopped apples and quinoa. It is packed with nutrition and flavor and you’ll love the apple cider vinegar tahini dressing!

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Turmeric & Tahini via Our Salty Kitchen

When a side of simple roasted cauliflower simply won’t do, reach for this roasted cauliflower salad. Sweet and nutty turmeric roasted cauliflower pairs so perfectly with marinated olives and a tangy tahini dressing. This salad is packed with vitamin C, and is so vibrant and nutritious.

Radicchio and Wheatberry Salad

This radicchio and wheatberry salad will be your new fall favorite! It has great chew, plenty of crunch from pecans, and a flavorful maple olive oil dressing to pull it al together.

Fall Panzanella Salad via Two Peas & Their Pod

This crusty bread salad is loaded with delicious fall flavors thanks to butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, apple, dried cranberries, pepitas, goat cheese, and kale. It is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving.