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Home » Recipe Collections

29 Fresh Fall Salads to Lighten Up Thanksgiving

Published: Nov 11, 2024 by Shruthi · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Fall salads are the perfect way to bring fresh, vibrant flavors to your Thanksgiving table. These recipes are full of seasonal ingredients that pair perfectly with the fall season, offering a great balance to the heavier dishes often seen at Thanksgiving. With a mix of leafy greens, fruits, and veggies, these light yet flavorful salads are a great way to add variety and color to your holiday spread. Whether you're looking for something crunchy, tangy, or sweet, these fall salads are sure to complement your meal without weighing you down.

An overhead image of raw carrot salad on a plate.
Raw Carrot Salad. Photo Credit: Urban Farmie.

Beet & Goat Cheese Salad

Close-up of Grilled Beetroot Goat Cheese Salad in a bowl.
Beet & Goat Cheese Salad. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Grilled beetroot and goat cheese salad combines roasted beets, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy walnuts, offering a great option for any fall meal. This fresh, flavorful salad adds a seasonal touch, making it perfect for your Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Beet & Goat Cheese Salad

Kale Harvest Salad

An overhead image of kale salad in a large serving bowl.
Kale Harvest Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Celebrate fall with this nutritious kale salad, featuring sweet carrots and dates. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s a quick and healthy addition to your fall meals or as a side dish for Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Kale Harvest Salad

Spinach Avocado Salad

An overhead image of spinach avocado salad in a wooden bowl with lemon in the background.
Spinach Avocado Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This light and refreshing spinach and avocado salad, with cherry tomatoes, radishes, and cotija cheese, brings a vibrant touch to any meal. Its simple preparation makes it a perfect choice for a fall cookout or side dish.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Avocado Salad

Raw Carrot Salad

An overhead image of raw carrot salad on a plate.
Raw Carrot Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

A raw carrot salad, featuring fresh, crunchy carrots in a light vinaigrette, is a quick and easy addition to any fall meal. Ready in just 10 minutes, it’s a perfect side to lighten up your Thanksgiving spread.
Get the Recipe: Raw Carrot Salad

Caesar Salad

Vegan caesar salad in a bowl drizzled with caesar salad dressing.
Caesar Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This vegan Caesar salad with crisp lettuce, creamy dressing, and seasoned croutons or chickpeas is ready in 15 minutes. A fresh, easy side that fits into any fall meal or serves as a light, plant-based lunch.
Get the Recipe: Caesar Salad

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

Close up of beet salad on a white platter with two forks on the right side.
Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Roasted beet salad with goat cheese, arugula, pistachios, and grapefruits is a refreshing dish that captures the essence of fall. It’s an easy-to-make, nutritious side perfect for lightening up Thanksgiving dinner.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

Mediterranean Black Bean Salad

Mediterranean Black Bean Salad in a white bowl being drizzled with cilantro lime dressing.
Mediterranean Black Bean Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Black bean salad with cilantro lime dressing is ready in 10 minutes and makes a quick, nutritious addition to your fall meals. This refreshing salad works as a healthy lunch or side for your Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Black Bean Salad

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

An overhead image of Vegan Caesar Salad with Shaved Brussels Sprouts in wooden bowl.
Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This vegan Caesar salad, made with shaved Brussels sprouts, vegan Caesar dressing, and toasted chickpeas, is perfect for a quick, fresh weeknight dinner. It’s a great fall option for those looking for a healthy side or lunch.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Kale Salad With Cranberries

A horizontal image of kale salad with cranberries.
Kale Salad With Cranberries. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Kale salad with cranberries, lemon, and crunchy nuts is a perfect fall dish that’s ready in just five minutes. Its combination of flavors and textures makes it a great side for any autumn meal.
Get the Recipe: Kale Salad With Cranberries

Roasted Vegetable Salad

An overhead image of roasted vegetable salad on a serving dish. with the dressing on the side.
Roasted Vegetable Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Roasted vegetable salad is full of fall flavors like roasted sweet potatoes and squash. Whether served warm or cold, it’s a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or a healthy autumn lunch option.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Salad

Easy Cranberry Salad with Pecans

An image of cranberry salad with pecans served in a white salad bowl with a fork on the side.
Easy Cranberry Salad with Pecans. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Cranberry pecan salad with tangy goat cheese and a zesty dressing is ready in 10 minutes. It’s a protein-packed, fall-inspired salad that works perfectly as a side dish for your Thanksgiving meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cranberry Salad with Pecans

Simple Chopped Salad

An overhead image of vegan chopped salad in a bowl with a serving spoon in the middle.
Simple Chopped Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This vegan chopped salad, packed with fresh vegetables, is a great go-to lunch option during the busy fall season. It’s an easy, plant-based salad that fits well into any autumn meal.
Get the Recipe: Simple Chopped Salad

Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon

An overhead image of two bowls of lemon garlic kale salad.
Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Garlic kale salad with pecorino cheese, toasted pepitas, and a green garlic confit dressing is a fresh fall favorite. This dish is a simple, flavorful side for your Thanksgiving or fall meals.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon

Thanksgiving Fruit Salad

A bowl of Thanksgiving fruit salad.
Thanksgiving Fruit Salad. Photo credit: Everyday Family Cooking.

Combining apples, cranberries, pears, and pomegranate seeds, this Thanksgiving fruit salad is a fuss-free, seasonal option for your holiday table. It’s a refreshing and easy-to-make salad that perfectly captures fall flavors.
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Fruit Salad

Roasted Beet and Plum Salad

Roasted Beet and Plum Salad. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

This vibrant salad, featuring protein-packed ingredients, is a full meal in itself. It’s a quick, healthy option for lunch or dinner, offering a rich combination of flavors ideal for fall.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet and Plum Salad

Roasted Sweet Potato, Squash, and Chickpea Fall Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing

Roasted Sweet Potato, Squash, and Chickpea Fall Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Roasted sweet potatoes, delicata squash, cranberries, and feta come together in this fall salad with chickpeas. Topped with maple tahini dressing, it’s a hearty and healthy choice for Thanksgiving or a fall dinner.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potato, Squash, and Chickpea Fall Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing

Brussels Sprouts Salad

Brussels Sprouts Salad. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Shaved Brussels sprouts, combined with a light dressing, offer a fresh fall perspective on this often overlooked vegetable. It’s a great side dish to add a seasonal touch to your Thanksgiving meal.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Salad

Waldorf Salad

Overhead image of waldorf salad in a bowl.
Waldorf Salad. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Crisp greens, paired with sweet fruit and crunchy nuts, create a classic salad that brings color and texture to any fall meal. Featuring seasonal pears, it’s an easy way to add variety to your Thanksgiving spread.
Get the Recipe: Waldorf Salad

Roasted Beet Salad

Roasted Beet Salad on a stack of plates.
Roasted Beet Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Colorful roasted beet salad, packed with fall flavors, is a great choice for a light lunch or appetizer. Its natural sweetness from the beets makes it a perfect addition to any fall meal.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad

Marinated Beet Salad with Dill

Marinated Beet Salad with Dill. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Beets, dill, and sweet onion in a vinegary marinade offer a traditional Eastern European flavor. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing salad, perfect for large gatherings or as a comforting side during fall dinners.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Beet Salad with Dill

Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket Salad

Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Roasted butternut squash or pumpkin with feta and arugula creates a flavorful fall salad that’s simple to prepare. It’s a great addition to your Thanksgiving table, offering a perfect balance of savory and fresh flavors.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket Salad

Roasted Koginut Squash Salad

Roasted Koginut Squash Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Koginut squash, a blend of butternut and kabocha, roasted with savory spices, offers a buttery and tender flavor in this fall salad. It’s a seasonal favorite that brings out the best of autumn’s tastes.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Koginut Squash Salad

Pear And Fennel Salad With Apples And Mustard Vinaigrette

Overhead image of pear and fennel salad with apples and mustard vinaigrette.
Pear And Fennel Salad With Apples And Mustard Vinaigrette. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Thinly sliced fennel, pears, and apples, dressed with mustard vinaigrette, is a refreshing fall salad. It’s an easy, sharp addition to your autumn meals and a great way to showcase seasonal produce.
Get the Recipe: Pear And Fennel Salad With Apples And Mustard Vinaigrette

Roasted Winter Root Vegetable Salad

Roasted Winter Root Vegetable Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Spiralized beets and parsnips with toasted pecans, dried cranberries, blue cheese, and balsamic vinegar celebrate the best of fall produce. This salad is a perfect side for Thanksgiving or any autumn meal.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Winter Root Vegetable Salad

Fall Fruit Salad

Fall Fruit Salad. Photo credit: Everyday Family Cooking.

Fall fruit salad, with a balance of sweet and tangy flavors and seasonal spices, is perfect for breakfast or a sweet end to a Thanksgiving meal. It’s an easy, fresh way to highlight the season’s best fruits.
Get the Recipe: Fall Fruit Salad

Roasted Cranberry Broccoli Salad

Top view of roasted cranberry broccoli salad in a bowl.
Roasted Cranberry Broccoli Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Roasted cranberries, butternut squash, fresh broccoli, and toasted croutons come together in this hearty fall salad. It’s a flavorful, textured option that works well as a side for Thanksgiving or a fall dinner.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cranberry Broccoli Salad

Cranberry Quinoa Salad

A glass bowl filled with quinoa, dried cranberries, and pecans.
Cranberry Quinoa Salad. Photo credit: fANNEtastic food.

This vegan quinoa salad with dried cranberries, pecans, and fresh herbs is packed with autumn flavors. It’s an easy-to-prepare, nutrient-rich side that makes a great addition to your fall meals or Thanksgiving dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Quinoa Salad

Apple and Fig Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing

Apple and Fig Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Warm apples and figs tossed in a maple Dijon dressing, topped with crumbled bacon, offer a comforting mix of sweet and savory flavors. This hearty fall salad is a great side or light main for your Thanksgiving feast.
Get the Recipe: Apple and Fig Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing

Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

A bowl of kale salad on a wooden table.
Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Kale, tossed with apple slices and a poppy seed dressing, is transformed into a fresh fall salad. It’s a quick, easy dish that adds a tangy, seasonal touch to any autumn meal.
Get the Recipe: Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

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Hi, I'm Shruthi! I am the owner and blogger at Parallel Plates. I love everything about food, and I hope that you can find the best recipe inspiration, trends, hacks, and more here.

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