When I think of Thanksgiving, rich and hearty dishes usually come to mind—but over the years, I’ve learned that a fresh, vibrant salad can truly balance the table. After all, between the turkey, stuffing, and pies, a crisp and colorful salad feels like a refreshing pause.
I’ve made it a tradition to experiment with seasonal ingredients like roasted squash, apples, cranberries, and toasted nuts, and every time, the salad ends up being one of the first dishes to disappear.
It’s not just about “something green” on the table—it’s about creating that perfect mix of flavors and textures that celebrate fall. That’s why I put together this list of 15 best Thanksgiving salad recipes.
Each one is festive, flavorful, and guaranteed to add freshness (and a pop of color!) to your holiday feast.
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad – Little Sunny Kitchen
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with toasted pecans, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and creamy avocado is an easy, healthy, delicious side dish.
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Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad w/ Lemon Vinaigrette – Little Sunny Kitchen
Goat cheese, tangy apples and cranberries, and crunchy nuts pair beautifully with shaved brussels sprouts for an impressive Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad.
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Beet Salad with Arugula and Feta Cheese – Little Sunny Kitchen
This beet salad is the perfect winter salad – it’s packed with flavor, thanks to the beets, peppery arugula, crunchy apples, and salty feta.
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Sweet Corn Pasta Salad
Sweet Corn Pasta Salad is a crunchy, tangy salad full of fresh veggies and plenty of savory, garlicky flavor.
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Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad
This beautiful vegan Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad is a quick and healthy side dish that pairs well with just about any main course. Perfect for the holidays!
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Mixed Bean Salad
A delicious, lightly sweetened side dish that combines the comforting flavors and textures found in a variety of canned beans.
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Apple Pecan Salad
This fam favorite apple pecan salad features crisp apples, cranberries, crunchy pecans, broccoli, Parmesan, and a maple dressing.
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AIP Thanksgiving Leftover Salad
Use up those leftovers with this AIP Thanksgiving Leftover Salad. It’s a nice break from the heavy decadent food of the holidays that still lets you enjoy those holiday flavors.
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Easy Cranberry Harvest Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Looking for the fresh and delicious side dish for your holiday table? This is my favorite Thanksgiving salad recipe for our Thanksgiving menu!
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Roasted Beet and Sweet Potato Salad With Pecans – A Sweet Alternative
This roasted beet and sweet potato salad is perfect during fall and winter, especially for the holidays. It’s festive, pretty, and delicious.
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Persimmon Salad
Sweet and juicy persimmons are showcased in this festive winter salad with prosciutto, cranberries, goat cheese and toasted pecans.
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Fall Kale Salad with Sweet Potato
Fall Kale Salad with Sweet Potato is a colorful salad that’s full of fall flavors. You are going to love all the different textures in this one!
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Thanksgiving Kale Salad
Add some color and freshness to your Thanksgiving spread with this delicious kale salad. The wide array of flavors combine beautifully.
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Antipasto Salad
This Italian Antipasto Salad recipe is packed with veggies, cured meats and cheese. It’s great as an appetizer, side or main course.
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Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad – The All Natural Vegan
This Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad is the perfect winter salad. This recipe is: vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.
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