We always save room at the Thanksgiving table for something green. With leafy greens and roasted winter squash, these fall Thanksgiving salads showcase the season’s bounty and make a fresh addition to any feast!
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays – who doesn’t love a dinner table!
What I love most about the Thanksgiving table is that foods you don’t see all year get the spotlight. Cranberry sauce (love it!), stuffing (bear with it!), and my all-time favorite marshmallow and cognac flavored sweet potatoes. Plus, I love stuffing into a Thanksgiving charcuterie board.
We all know that Thanksgiving is a day that revolves around food.
But no matter how many delicious bites you want to grab, no one likes to feel sick at the end of a meal. I’ve learned to space out my bites carefully, try not to drink too much wine, and remember that there will always be leftovers when my stomach is ready for seconds (or thirds).
Add some greenery
As much as I love buttery mashed potatoes and savory stuffing, I really enjoy incorporating as many fall produce into our Thanksgiving dinner (and I’m not just referring to the antioxidant-packed cranberry sauce). Serving a fall salad as a light lunch before a big meal or as a side dish at your dinner table is a great way to show off the season’s bounty. A spinach salad with pomegranate seeds, crisp apple slices and toasted pecans can help balance the richness of the rest of the meal.
Fall Produce is Delicious!
Seasonal fall products are some of my favorites. From hearty winter squash to dark leafy greens like kale and arugula, to crisp apples and sweet pears and persimmons – these fall fruits and vegetables are nutritious additions to your family feast.
I hope this collection of fall salad recipes using seasonal produce will inspire your Thanksgiving menu!
Fall Thanksgiving Salads
Fall Harvest Salad
This fall harvest salad recipe is made with massaged kale as a base and topped with roasted butternut squash, crumbled blue cheese, sliced apple, and crunchy spiced pecans. A maple and cider dressing brings it all together.
Roasted squash and blueberry salad
Chewy wheat berries, 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 fall produce has to offer. Shredded kale, sweet apples, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds and crispy prosciutto are tossed with a caramelized shallot vinaigrette. Healthy, simple and delicious!
Fall salad with pumpkin spice tahini dressing
You had me on the pumpkin spice dressing!!! This combination of roasted squash, brussels sprouts and unique dressing is super delicious.
The ultimate fall Wheatberry Salad
This salad combines all your favorite fall ingredients – cranberries, butternut squash and pomegranate – into a chewy wheatberry delight dressed in a maple Dijon vinaigrette.
Chopped Brussels Sprouts & Kale Salad with Apple, Gorgonzola & Candied Pecans via Ambitious Kitchen
A delicious fall-inspired kale and shredded brussels sprouts salad, packed with fresh apple slices, dried cranberries, candied pecans and gorgonzola, and served with homemade dressing. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty!
Pumpkin Farro Salad
This flavorful salad combines chewy farro with a whole roasted pumpkin and a few surprises—like pomegranate seeds—for brightness!
Autumn spinach salad with quinoa via Eating Bird Food
This spinach and quinoa salad is packed with fall favorites like butternut squash, chopped apples, and quinoa. It’s full of nutrients and flavor and you’ll love the apple cider vinegar tahini dressing!
Roasted cauliflower salad with turmeric & tahini through our savory cuisine
When a side of plain roasted cauliflower just won’t do, reach for this Roasted Cauliflower Salad. Sweet and nutty roasted cauliflower with turmeric goes 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 cranberry and raspberry salad will be your new fall favorite! It has great chew, plenty of crunch from the pecans, and a flavorful maple olive oil dressing to go with it.
Autumn Panzanella Salad via Two Peas & Their Pod
This crunchy bread salad is packed with delicious fall flavors thanks to butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, apple, dried cranberries, pepitas, goat cheese, and kale. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving side dish.
The best autumn production
Here are some of my favorites and a fact about why each one is so good for you!
1. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is one of the richer natural sources of beta-carotenewhich your body converts to 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. Fiber is mostly found in the skin — so leaving it twice as much fiber!
3. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, which can boost immunity. A medium sweet potato has more potassium than a banana – great for muscle and nerve function.
4. Brussels sprouts
These mini sprouts 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 Squashes
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.
