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 (tolerate it!), and my all-time favorite sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows and flavored with brandy. Plus, I love to fill up on a Thanksgiving charcuterie board.
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 antioxidant-packed 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 Salads For Thanksgiving
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.
The Best Fall Produce
Here are some of my favorites and a fact about why each is so good for you!
1. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is one of the richest natural sources of beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A — just 1 cup provides over 200% of your daily vitamin A needs. (Fun fact: It’s technically a fruit, not a vegetable!)
2. Apples
Apples are high in pectin, a soluble fiber that helps regulate blood sugar and supports gut health. The fiber is mostly in the skin — so leaving it on gives you double the fiber!
3. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C, which may boost immunity. One medium sweet potato has more potassium than a banana — great for muscle and nerve function.
4. Brussels Sprouts
These mini cabbages are packed with vitamin K, vital for bone health and blood clotting. Just ½ cup cooked gives you over 100% of your daily value!
5. Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is rich in vitamin E and magnesium, nutrients that support healthy skin and immunity. It also contains zeaxanthin and lutein, antioxidants that help protect your eyes from blue light damage.
