When we think of Thanksgiving, we often picture a table overflowing with golden turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and rich, savory sides. But in the midst of all those hearty dishes, there’s one meal that often gets overlooked, the salad. A good harvest salad can elevate your Thanksgiving table with vibrant colors, crisp textures, and seasonal flavors. With roasted butternut squash, crunchy apples, cranberries, and maple vinaigrettes, all celebrating the best ingredients of fall.
In this roundup, we will be sharing 20+ Harvest Salads for Thanksgiving that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Each one is crafted with seasonal ingredients that highlight fall’s cozy, rustic flavors. From earthy roasted beet salads to apple and pecan combinations that bring crunch and sweetness, these recipes will impress your guests and make your table feel complete.
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Tips on Harvest Salads For Thanksgiving
- Choose Fresh, Seasonal Ingredients: The heart of any good harvest salad lies in its produce. Autumn offers an incredible variety of ingredients to work with like roasted butternut squash, crisp apples, sweet pears, hearty kale, and earthy root vegetables like beets or carrots. Shopping locally or at a farmer’s market ensures you’re getting the freshest, most flavorful ingredients available.
- Balance Sweet, Savory, and Tart Flavors: A harvest salad shines when there’s a perfect balance of flavors. Sweet ingredients like dried cranberries, pomegranate seeds, or roasted sweet potatoes contrast beautifully with savory elements like roasted nuts, tangy cheese, or a zesty dressing.
- Layer Your Textures: Texture makes a salad interesting. Combine crisp greens with creamy cheese, chewy grains, and crunchy toppings for a satisfying bite every time. Toasted nuts or seeds add crunch, while roasted vegetables and grains like farro or quinoa bring a heartiness that can even turn your salad into a main course.
- Add a Protein Boost: If you want to make your harvest salad more filling, consider adding protein. Sliced turkey, grilled chicken, salmon, or roasted chickpeas blend perfectly with fall ingredients. For vegetarian or vegan guests, try plant-based proteins like lentils, quinoa, or tofu. These additions can easily transform your salad from a side dish into a satisfying main course.
20+ Harvest Salads For Thanksgiving
1. Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad
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This vibrant Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad is a fresh, festive dish perfect for fall and holiday gatherings. Shredded Brussels sprouts are tossed with tart dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and tangy feta for the perfect mix of flavors and textures.
2. Favorite Apple Cranberry Salad
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Crunchy crisp greens topped with sweet apples, dried cranberries, crunchy nuts and a sprinkling of salty cheese and bacon, this apple cranberry salad is delicious. Make this salad your side dish or just add a little chicken or steak and it’s a meal on its own.
3. Kale Salad with Apples
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This simple massaged Kale Salad is fresh, crunchy, and tangy, balancing hearty kale with crisp apples, sweet cranberries, toasted almonds, and nutty Pecorino Romano. A bright lemon Dijon dressing with a touch of apple cider vinegar ties it all together.
4. Beet Salad
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Beet Salad combines earthy beets, creamy feta cheese, and crunchy walnuts for a dish that’s as flavorful as it is beautiful.With ingredients like roasted beets, creamy goat cheese, crunchy walnuts, and a drizzle of honey, this salad offers a delightful mix of textures and flavors.
Make This Recipe
5. Thanksgiving Salad with Butternut Squash and Lentils
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A hearty and colorful Thanksgiving Salad with Butternut Squash and Lentils that’s perfect for your holiday table. Roasted butternut squash, earthy lentils, fresh greens, and a maple Dijon dressing come together for a festive, healthy side dish everyone will love.
6. Autumn Salad with Chicken
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This fresh and delicious autumn salad with chicken isn’t a recipe you’d want to miss out on. It’s a mouthwatering combination of fruit, nuts, feta cheese, chicken breasts, and also a tasty homemade dressing.
7. Harvest Salad
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This dish is a beautiful blend of flavors and textures, featuring crisp apples, tangy cranberries, creamy feta cheese, crunchy broccoli, and savory bacon. It’s a salad that’s not only a feast for your taste buds but also a colorful addition to your dining table.
8. Healthy Pomegranate And Apple Salad
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This healthy pomegranate apple salad is full of flavor, loaded with nutritious ingredients. It makes a stunning addition to your Thanksgiving dinner. They are delicious, juicy, and nutritious, adding beautiful color and a crunch to salads.
9. Fall Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
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Tossed in a rich, savory-sweet bacon dressing, this salad delivers the ultimate balance of texture and taste. Ideal for Thanksgiving, holiday dinners, or cozy weeknight meals, it’s both hearty and refreshing. The warm vinaigrette enhances every bite, making this fall-inspired dish a standout side or satisfying main course.
10. Fall Harvest Salad
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A Fall Harvest Salad that celebrates all things fall. Loaded with the best fall ingredients like brussels sprouts, blue cheese, crispy quinoa, roasted beets, and butternut squash and topped with the most delicious champagne apple cider vinaigrette.
11. Cauliflower Salad
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This Cauliflower Salad recipe takes fresh cauliflower, amongst other vegetables, and combines it with a tangy, slightly sweet, slightly savory dressing. Make this great recipe for lunch, as a perfect side dish, or to add a fresh crunch to your next cookout.
12. Farro Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Cranberries
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Farro Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Cranberries is packed with warm, nutty farro, tender roasted butternut squash, tangy cranberries, and a maple Dijon vinaigrette that ties everything together beautifully. It’s hearty enough to serve as a main dish yet light enough to enjoy as a side.
13. Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
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Creamy cranberry pecan chicken salad makes a tender, melt-in-your-mouth lunch that is quick, easy and tasty. This easy salad gets its flavor from slightly tart but also sweet cranberries, nutty pecans, and crunchy celery tossed in the most delicious dressing with leftover cooked chicken for a quick and delicious recipe.
14. Butternut Squash Salad
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This cozy Butternut Squash Salad features hearty quinoa and seasonal fall ingredients like roasted butternut squash, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and sliced apples. Dressed in a light balsamic vinaigrette, it’s as delicious as it is beautiful and the perfect addition to any table.
15. Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
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This creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad is the perfect side dish for any occasion! Packed with crisp broccoli, tender cauliflower, crunchy bacon, red onions, and shredded cheese, it’s tossed in a rich, tangy dressing that brings every bite to life.
16. Sweet Potato Kale Salad
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Colorful, hearty and packed with bold flavor, sweet potato kale salad is the kind of dish that feels just as good as it tastes. Roasted sweet potatoes bring warmth and sweetness, while chopped kale, juicy pomegranate and creamy feta balance each bite.
17. Broccoli Salad
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This salad not only serves as a refreshing dish for warm summer days but also doubles as a nourishing meal that delivers a powerful punch of vitamins, minerals, and proteins.Even if you’re hosting a lunch for friends or preparing a side dish for dinner, this broccoli salad with avocado, cucumber, and boiled eggs is bound to be a crowd-pleaser.
18. Lentil and Carrot Salad
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This simple lentil and carrot salad recipe is super easy and quick to make. It’s my go-to lunch recipe as I’ve always got cooked lentils and carrots in the store cupboard. Carrot and lentil salad is healthy, nutritious and ready to eat in 10 minutes.
19. Kale And Brussels Sprouts Salad With Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
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This Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette is the perfect healthy side or light meal! Tossed with a tangy-sweet homemade dressing, crunchy nuts, and shaved veggies, it’s a delicious balance of texture and taste. Great for fall gatherings.
20. Fall Harvest Salad
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This Fall Harvest Salad recipe is one of our go-to salads when we want to capture the amazing flavors of Fall! Enjoy the perfect combination of roasted butternut squash, apple cider vinegar, apples, pomegranate, pecans, and more.
21. Fall Harvest Salad
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A Fall Harvest Salad that celebrates all things fall. Loaded with the best fall ingredients like brussels sprouts, blue cheese, crispy quinoa, roasted beets, and butternut squash and topped with the most delicious champagne apple cider vinaigrette.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make a harvest salad ahead of time?: Absolutely, You can roast vegetables, cook grains, and mix dressings a day ahead. Just keep the greens and dressing separate until serving to maintain freshness.
- How do I keep my salad from getting soggy?: Toss the salad with dressing right before serving. If you’re traveling, store the components separately and combine them at the last minute.
- What proteins go well with harvest salads?: Roasted chicken, turkey, or even grilled salmon pair beautifully with most harvest salads. For a vegetarian option, try adding quinoa or roasted chickpeas for extra protein.
Harvest salads can be as simple or as elaborate as you want them to be from crisp apple and pecan salads drizzled with maple vinaigrette, to hearty kale and quinoa bowls topped with roasted sweet potatoes. Every bite reflects the spirit of fall, wholesome, comforting, and bursting with flavor.
As you plan your Thanksgiving menu this year, consider trying one or several of these 15 Harvest Salads for Thanksgiving. They’re not only beautiful to look at but also packed with ingredients that make the most of the fall harvest. Pair them with your favorite traditional sides or serve them as a refreshing starter to open the meal on a bright note.
