34 Thanksgiving salads that prove you don’t need another boring side

Thanksgiving salads can be the star of your holiday table, not just a side you put on because you feel like you should. These recipes are full of flavor, fresh, and anything but boring. They bring color, crunch, and a mix of tastes that make everyone actually want to reach for seconds. If you think salads are just leaves on a plate, get ready to change your mind.

A wooden bowl filled with cranberry chicken salad with a wooden spoon. — Cranberry Chicken Salad. Photo Credit: Quick Prep Recipes

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, toasted pepitas, and garlic confit dressing comes together in minutes. It adds a savory touch to a Thanksgiving salad while pairing smoothly with heartier dishes.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon

Kale Harvest Salad

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

Carrots and dates bring autumn flavors to this simple kale salad that’s ready in about 15 minutes. Its fresh, seasonal ingredients make it a vibrant addition to a Thanksgiving salad.
Get the Recipe: Kale Harvest Salad

Chickpea Salad

Bright herbs, citrus dressing, and chickpeas create a salad that holds up well if made ahead. The firm texture and easy prep make it a practical choice for a Thanksgiving salad spread.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Salad

Chickpea Tuna Salad

Chickpea tuna salad comes together without cooking, making it quick to prepare for sandwiches or plated meals. Its hearty texture makes it a reliable choice to complement a Thanksgiving salad.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Tuna Salad

Kale Salad With Cranberries

Kale with cranberries, lemon, and crunchy nuts comes together quickly for a bright side. Its crisp taste adds a refreshing break as part of a Thanksgiving salad.
Get the Recipe: Kale Salad With Cranberries

Green Salad with Cranberries and Pecans

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

Tangy goat cheese, sweet cranberries, and crunchy pecans make a salad ready in 10 minutes. It brings a lively mix of flavor and texture that balances the richness of other Thanksgiving dishes.
Get the Recipe: Green Salad with Cranberries and Pecans

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Cranberry chicken salad with tender chicken, dried cranberries, pecans, and crisp celery and onions comes together in 10 minutes. It adds a fresh, flavorful layer to a Thanksgiving salad.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chicken Salad

Three Bean Salad

Green beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, radishes, and vinaigrette combine for a quick, chilled salad. This versatile Thanksgiving salad pairs well with both hot and cold dishes.
Get the Recipe: Three Bean Salad

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 with creamy goat cheese and toasted walnuts create a balanced mix of textures. This Thanksgiving salad brings brightness and earthy contrast to the holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Beet & Goat Cheese Salad

Macaroni Salad

Creamy macaroni with celery, red pepper, gherkins, and hard-boiled eggs chills well and transports easily. It holds up as a practical Thanksgiving salad that balances rich dishes.
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Shaved Brussels sprouts with smoky bacon, sweet toppings, and mustard balsamic dressing is crisp and crunchy. It brings a fresh and textured side to a Thanksgiving salad spread.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Koginut Squash Bowl

Koginut squash bowl with fresh greens and autumn tones celebrates seasonal produce. It captures the harvest season as a thoughtful Thanksgiving salad.
Get the Recipe: Koginut Squash Bowl

Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad

Radicchio and endive with chicken and honey mustard dressing balance heartiness and freshness. It serves as a crisp yet substantial Thanksgiving salad for the holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad

Roasted Sunchoke Salad

Roasted sunchokes and fennel combine with baby greens and lemon mustard dressing. This Thanksgiving salad adds a bright, fresh side that complements richer courses.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Sunchoke Salad

Thanksgiving Fruit Salad

Fresh fruit salad with seasonal fruits adds a crisp, bright touch to the holiday table. Its simple prep and clean flavors make it a refreshing component of a Thanksgiving salad.
Get the Recipe: Thanksgiving Fruit Salad

Apple Salad

A bowl of salad with mixed greens, air-fried apples, red onions, nuts, and crumbled cheese. — Apple Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Air fried apples, hearty kale, and candied almonds create a crisp salad. It adds seasonal flavor and texture as a Thanksgiving salad.
Get the Recipe: Apple Salad

Tomato Burrata Salad

Tomato Burrata Salad with heirloom tomatoes, burrata, and balsamic reduction is fresh and bright. It adds seasonal color to a Thanksgiving salad with minimal prep.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Burrata Salad

Waldorf Salad

Waldorf salad with crisp apples, celery, and grapes in a creamy dressing is chilled and simple to prepare. It brings fresh textures to a Thanksgiving salad table with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Waldorf Salad

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 apple salad with a poppy seed dressing turns ordinary kale into a bright side. It brings crisp, refreshing flavors to a Thanksgiving salad menu.
Get the Recipe: Kale Apple Salad With Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Broccoli salad with bacon and blueberries is easy to prepare and served cold. It offers a hearty, nutrient-rich option for a Thanksgiving salad without extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Cranberry Ambrosia Salad

A white bowl of cranberry fluff salad topped with mini marshmallows, pecans, and cranberries on a marble surface, with a spoon and a plaid cloth nearby. — Cranberry Ambrosia Salad. Photo credit: Mama's on a Budget.

Cranberry Ambrosia Salad with tart cranberries and shredded coconut in a creamy dressing works as a refreshing side. It brings sweetness and color to a Thanksgiving salad table.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Ambrosia Salad

Crunchy Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Shaved brussels sprouts salad in a wide bowl with wooden salad forks. — Crunchy Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad. Photo credit: fANNEtastic food.

Shaved Brussels sprouts with apples, pecans, and dried cranberries in lemon Dijon dressing is quick to assemble. This Thanksgiving salad brings a crisp, tangy side to the holiday menu.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Pecan Cranberry Quinoa Salad

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

Quinoa tossed with pecans, feta, fresh herbs, and dried cranberries makes a portable dish. It contributes a bright, textured element to any Thanksgiving salad table.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Cranberry Quinoa Salad

Roasted Vegetable Salad

Roasted vegetables in a light vinaigrette can be served warm or chilled. It’s an easy and flexible option to keep a Thanksgiving salad organized and flavorful ahead of time.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Salad

Autumn Salad with Chicken

Chicken, fruit, nuts, and feta bring texture and color to this autumn crunch salad. Quick to assemble, it works as a Thanksgiving salad that ties the meal together with seasonal notes.
Get the Recipe: Autumn Salad with Chicken

Autumn Pasta Salad

A bowl of fusilli pasta salad with spinach, roasted squash, pecans, and feta cheese, placed on a textured mat, with a spoon and sliced squash nearby. — Autumn Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Mama's on a Budget.

Autumn Pasta Salad with roasted butternut squash, dried cranberries, and maple Dijon dressing combines seasonal flavors. It fits smoothly into a Thanksgiving salad spread.
Get the Recipe: Autumn Pasta Salad

Mixed Fruit Salad

Cranberry fruit salad in white bowls. — Mixed Fruit Salad. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Mixed Fruit Salad with cranberries, apples, oranges, and pomegranate seeds in honey orange dressing is colorful and simple to make. It contributes sweet-tart notes to a Thanksgiving salad table.
Get the Recipe: Mixed Fruit Salad

Brussels Sprouts Salad

A white bowl filled with salad containing orange slices, dried cranberries, red onion, shredded greens, and bacon bits, with a fork resting inside. Small bowls of toppings and dressing nearby. — Brussels Sprouts Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon, cranberries, and honey-orange dressing brings crisp textures and sweet-savory balance. It’s a fresh addition to any Thanksgiving salad table.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Salad

Cold Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

A bowl of green bean salad with feta cheese, sliced almonds, red onions, and lettuce, served with a fork and spoon. — Cold Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette. Photo credit: Low Carb - No Carb.

Green Bean Salad with Dijon vinaigrette and toasted almonds is crisp, tangy, and fresh. It adds a light, bright side to a Thanksgiving salad that’s quick to toss together.
Get the Recipe: Cold Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

Roasted Butternut and Feta Salad

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

Roasted butternut squash or pumpkin with arugula, feta, and light vinaigrette comes together quickly. This Thanksgiving salad highlights seasonal produce in a simple, festive way.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut and Feta Salad

Honeycrisp Salad

Honeycrisp apples tossed in a spiced cider vinaigrette create a seasonal, crisp salad. It adds a clean, fruity accent to a Thanksgiving salad that pairs well with savory sides.
Get the Recipe: Honeycrisp 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.

Goat cheese, arugula, pistachios, and grapefruit combine with roasted beets in a citrus vinaigrette. This Thanksgiving salad adds brightness and contrast to the table alongside richer dishes.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

Sweet Potato Kale Salad

Prunes, pomegranate, and feta with a tangy vinaigrette give kale a rich texture and vibrant bite. It balances bold flavors in a Thanksgiving salad spread against heavier dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Kale Salad

Seafood Orzo Salad

Seafood orzo salad with herbs, lemon, and tender squid is light yet flavorful. It’s a simple, impressive option for a Thanksgiving salad that adds a coastal touch to the table.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Orzo Salad