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Home » Salads

20 Not-Boring Thanksgiving Salads Everyone Will Love

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

Thanksgiving salads don’t have to be boring or bland. With the right combination of fresh ingredients, these salads can be both healthy and packed with flavor—perfect for balancing out heavier dishes on the holiday table. Whether you're looking for something light and refreshing or a salad that’s hearty enough to stand on its own, these options are guaranteed to impress. They’re easy to make and full of seasonal ingredients, making them a great addition to your Thanksgiving spread. No more plain greens—these salads will be the star of the show!

A plate of Koginut Squash Bowl.
Koginut Squash Bowl. Photo Credit: Running to the Kitchen

Beet & Goat Cheese Salad

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

Roasted beets paired with creamy goat cheese and crunchy walnuts create a delicious, quick salad. This Thanksgiving salad provides a perfect balance of textures and flavors, offering a fresh contrast to heavier holiday dishes.
Get the Recipe: Beet & Goat Cheese 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.

Inspired by Il Corvo, this garlic kale salad features pecorino cheese, toasted pepitas, and garlic confit dressing for a bold, flavorful hit. It’s a great Thanksgiving salad, providing a savory addition to your holiday meal in no time.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon

Kale Salad With Cranberries

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

A kale salad with cranberries, lemon, and crunchy nuts offers a wonderful mix of textures and flavors in just 5 minutes. This refreshing Thanksgiving salad adds a light touch to your holiday meal, complementing the richer dishes on the table.
Get the Recipe: Kale Salad With Cranberries

Vegan Caesar Salad

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

Enjoy this vegan Caesar salad with crisp lettuce, creamy dressing, and seasoned croutons or chickpeas. Ready in 15 minutes, it’s a quick and easy Thanksgiving salad that works as a side or a light lunch during the holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Caesar 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.

This cranberry pecan salad combines tangy goat cheese, sweet cranberries, and crunchy pecans in a tangy dressing. Ready in just 10 minutes, it makes an easy and flavorful Thanksgiving salad that’s packed with protein and vibrant taste.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cranberry Salad with Pecans

Veggie Taco Salad

An overhead image of veggie taco salad in a bowl with a fork.
Veggie Taco Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This vegetarian taco salad brings taco flavors without the meat, making it an easy and quick dish. A great choice for a Thanksgiving salad, it offers bold flavors and a lighter option for your holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Taco Salad

Koginut Squash Bowl

A plate of Koginut Squash Bowl.
Koginut Squash Bowl. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Celebrate seasonal ingredients with this Koginut squash bowl, a vibrant dish popularized by chef Dan Barber. This Thanksgiving salad brings fresh greens and fall flavors to your meal, making it a perfect choice for the holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Koginut Squash Bowl

Pesto Tortellini Salad

A close up view of cooked tortellini pasta salad in a white bowl.
Pesto Tortellini Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

This quick and easy tortellini pasta salad comes together in just 20 minutes. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving salad, offering a simple, yet flavorful side dish that complements the other dishes on your holiday menu.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tortellini Salad

Chopped Crispy Citrus Chicken Salad

Chopped crispy chicken citrus salad on a white plate with purple kitchen towel.
Chopped Crispy Citrus Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This chopped winter salad features rotisserie chicken, citrus, pomegranates, and Tuscan kale, tossed in an orange Dijon dressing. This hearty Thanksgiving salad is perfect as a filling main or a flavorful side for your holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Chopped Crispy Citrus Chicken Salad

Sweet Potato Kale Salad

Close-up image of sweet potato kale salad in a bowl.
Sweet Potato Kale Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Kale salad with prunes, pomegranate, and feta, dressed with a tangy homemade vinaigrette, adds texture and bold flavor to Thanksgiving. This hearty Thanksgiving salad pairs perfectly with the rich dishes that define the holiday.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Kale Salad

Kale Harvest Salad

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

Celebrate autumn with this fall kale salad featuring carrots and dates. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s a simple Thanksgiving salad that brings a seasonal touch to your holiday meals.
Get the Recipe: Kale Harvest Salad

Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket Salad

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

Roasted butternut squash or pumpkin, arugula, feta, and a light vinaigrette come together in this simple fall salad. It’s a great Thanksgiving salad that lets you enjoy seasonal produce in a quick and easy way, perfect for the holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket 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.

This refreshing roasted beet salad with goat cheese, arugula, pistachios, and grapefruits in a citrus vinaigrette is a vibrant and tangy choice. It’s a great Thanksgiving salad that brings lightness and flavor to the table, complementing richer holiday dishes.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

Autumn Salad with Chicken

A plate of Autumn Salad with Chicken.
Autumn Salad with Chicken. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

A mix of fruit, nuts, feta, and chicken breasts makes this autumn crunch salad a showcase of fall flavors. This Thanksgiving salad is quick to prepare and offers a hearty and colorful addition to your holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Autumn Salad with Chicken

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 vegetables in a light vinaigrette, served either hot or cold, are a great addition to Thanksgiving meals. This versatile Thanksgiving salad is packed with flavor and can easily be made ahead, making it perfect for busy holiday preparations.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Salad

Roasted Sunchoke Salad

A plate of Roasted Sunchoke Salad.
Roasted Sunchoke Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Roasted sunchokes and fennel combine with baby greens and a tangy lemon mustard dressing. This Thanksgiving salad adds a refreshing, prebiotic-packed option to your meal, offering a light yet flavorful touch to the holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Sunchoke Salad

Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad

A bowl of radicchio endive chicken salad.
Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

A radicchio endive chicken salad with honey mustard dressing is a great choice for a spring-to-summer transition, perfect for Thanksgiving when you want something light, yet hearty. This flavorful salad makes an excellent side dish for your festive meal.
Get the Recipe: Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad

Honeycrisp Salad

A bowl of Honeycrisp Salad.
Honeycrisp Salad. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Crisp Honeycrisp apples and spiced cider vinaigrette combine in this fresh, seasonal salad. It’s a perfect Thanksgiving salad, adding a burst of fall flavors to your meal, whether you’re hosting a casual lunch or preparing for a festive holiday feast.
Get the Recipe: Honeycrisp Salad

Bay Scallop Baby Kale Corn Salad

A bowl of Bay Scallop Baby Kale Corn Salad.
Bay Scallop Baby Kale Corn Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Bay scallops, corn, and tart cherry granola over baby kale with cherry Dijon dressing create a colorful and flavorful salad. This Thanksgiving salad adds a fresh, vibrant element to your holiday spread, making it perfect for the fall season.
Get the Recipe: Bay Scallop Baby Kale Corn Salad

Copycat Aroma Espresso Bar Fried Halloumi Salad

Close-up image of copycat aroma espresso bar fried halloumi salad.
Copycat Aroma Espresso Bar Fried Halloumi Salad. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

A fried halloumi salad with arugula, cabbage, and mushrooms delivers bold, savory flavors to your Thanksgiving table. The crispy cheese and Asian-inspired sauce make this Thanksgiving salad a standout addition to your holiday feast.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Aroma Espresso Bar Fried Halloumi Salad

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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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