These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (2024)

This year, make sure the salad doesn't seem like an afterthought!

By Carly Breit and Jennifer Aldrich
These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (1)

The hardest part about Thanksgiving dinner? Choosing sides. (For the plate, not the game.) But one side dish can be all-to-easy to overlook: the salad. It can feel like an afterthought!

To help make every dish on the sideboard as tempting as possible.So we've assembled our favorite hearty Thanksgiving salad recipes. These are sturdy enough to hold their own on a piled-up plate and flavorful enough to be worth adding.

1

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Warm Apple Cider Dressing

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (3)

Skip the roasted sprouts side this year, and serve 'em up as a salad instead. Trust us: One bit of this tangy, richy, cider-and-bacon laced dish and the family won't let you make them any other way.

Get the recipe for Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.

2

Leek, Mushroom, and Escarole Salad

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (4)

Calling all mushroom lovers! Your favorite mix, liberally drizzled in a delicious vinaigrette, is the reason to make this.

Get the recipe for Leek, Mushroom, and Escarole Salad.

3

Escarole Salad with Oranges, Pistachios, and Pickled Onions

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We can't get over how well-balanced this wintry citrus salad is, with sweet slices of fruit, tart pickled onions, and earthy nuts topping the mildly bitter greens.

Get the recipe for Escarole Salad with Oranges, Pistachios, and Pickled Onions.

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4

Roasted Pear, Sweet Potato, and Radicchio Salad

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Here's a salad that'll stand up to all the other sides on your plate. Crunchy seeds and rich blue cheese make this a real flavorful addition.

Get the recipe for Roasted Pear, Sweet Potato, and Radicchio Salad.

6

Big Green Winter Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

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Come holiday time it's easy to get focused on the main dishes and heavier sides—your turkey, your stuffing, your casseroles—and forget about the salad. With sweet golden beets, lightly toasted pine nuts, and a kicky vinaigrette all on a bed of hearty kale, this recipe is here to change all that.

Get the recipe for Big Green Winter Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette.

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7

Thanksgiving Kale Salad with Cranberries and Quinoa

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This beauty takes a little work, but you can make most of the elements a few days—or even a week—ahead. And the "oohs" and "ahhs" you'll get from the table will be worth it.

Get the recipe for Kale Salad with Cranberries and Quinoa.

8

Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (10)

Fun fact: Salad doesn't necessarily mean raw.

Case in point: This rustic roasted squash sensation, peppered with baby kale and drizzled with a dip-worthy dressing.

Get the recipe for Acorn Squash Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette.

9

Winter Citrus Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette

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Three kinds of citrus give this crunchy salad a ton of fun flavors!

Get the recipe for Winter Citrus Salad.

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10

Simple Green Salad

Some Feta and mild green olives give this light side salad a lot of oomph. Get the freshest greens you can find and dress them simply in lemon and oil.

Get the recipe for Simple Green Salad.

11

Winter Greens Salad

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Rosemary-Parm croutons, a citrus-maple dressing, and all our favorite winter greens—kale, chard, collards—give this salad enough heft that it'll easily hold its own with the turkey and mashed potatoes.

Get the recipe for Winter Greens Salad.

12

Southwest Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

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Looking for a way to add cornbread to the table? This'll do it.

Get the recipe for Southwest Salad.

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13

Grilled Mushroom Panzanella with Tomato Vinaigrette

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Bread salad with a variety of toasty mushrooms—make this a part of your grilled Thanksgiving menu.

Get the recipe for Grilled Mushroom Panzanella.

14

Bibb Salad with Pickled Onion, Fennel, and Plums

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (16)

Here's a light side salad that's nevertheless long on flavor.

Get the recipe for Bibb Salad with Pickled Onion.

15

Grilled Corn Salad with Feta, Walnuts, and Shallot

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Corn is a Thanksgiving staple, but that doesn't mean that it has to be on the cob!

Get the recipe for Grilled Corn Salad.

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16

Grape Salad

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Brown sugar and toasted pecans give this fruity salad some extra flavor and crunch.

Get the recipe for Grape Salad.

17

Chopped Salad

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The purpose of a Thanksgiving salad is to give your guests a break from the heavier fare on the table. That's why we love the idea of dressing yours with a simple, tangy red wine vinaigrette, loading it with crunchy Persian cucumbers, and topping it all off with a smattering of local parsley, basil, and fennel.

Get the recipe for Chopped Salad.

18

Composed Waldorf Salad

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Add color into your family's Thanksgiving dinner with this refined version of the classic Waldorf salad.

Get the recipe for Composed Waldorf Salad.

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19

Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette

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This may be the ultimate Thanksgiving salad. Crispy roasted sprouts combine with mixed lettuce, crunchy apples, toasted almonds, and nutty asiago cheese, all topped with a sweet vinaigrette. Trust us, the bowl will quickly get emptied.

Get the recipe for Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad.

20

Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio

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For those who enjoy bold flavors, this mix of bitter radicchio tamed with earthy mushrooms and a sweet balsamic dressing is the perfect celebration.

Get the recipe for Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio.

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (2024)

FAQs

Should I serve salad at Thanksgiving? ›

A Thanksgiving salad is a great way to add color to your holiday plate. Plus, who doesn't appreciate a few bites of something light and refreshing between forkfuls of stuffing?

How do you get a picky eater to eat salad? ›

5 Ways to Get Your Kids to Love Eating Salads
  1. Keep the salad simple and fresh. When you are first introducing salads, stick to two to three ingredients, especially if your child has a picky palate. ...
  2. Size is everything. ...
  3. More color = more nutrition. ...
  4. Flavor the salad with dressing. ...
  5. Get your children involved.
Jan 13, 2018

How do you vary salads? ›

Chunks of meat such as beef, chicken or turkey can add protein, variety and flavor, and they can help satisfy your hunger. Some other protein-rich additives for salads are boiled eggs, cheese, almonds, walnuts and cashews. Try a new dressing: Consider trying a new dressing to switch up your salad's flavor.

Is just a salad enough for dinner? ›

Even when paired with grilled chicken and dressing, a minimal bowl of greens does not contain enough nutrition to sustain the needs of an adult for any given meal. It's very common practice to pair vegetables with protein in an attempt to eat healthier.

Is a salad enough for dinner? ›

If you follow the healthy salad formula and ensure the meal has plenty of veggies, protein and healthy fat, then it can be a great breakfast, lunch and dinner option. Be cautious of eating salad that is exclusively greens or vegetables, as it may be too low in calories, healthy fats or protein to sustain you.

What is the best lettuce for picky eaters? ›

Romaine lettuce is a great vegetable to eat for picky eaters. It has a mild flavor that won't overwhelm the senses, and it's packed with nutrients.

What makes you crave salad? ›

When we crave salad, it could be a sign that our bodies are deficient in essential nutrients found in leafy greens and vegetables. Vitamins, minerals, and fiber are crucial for optimal health, and our bodies have evolved to recognize these needs through cravings.

What is the healthiest salad you can eat? ›

Best: Spinach or Kale Salad

They have the most nutrients. Case in point: Kale and spinach have over 10 times more immune-boosting vitamins A and C than iceberg lettuce.

What salad fills you up? ›

Dark, leafy greens like spinach, kale and romaine are packed with fiber. Fiber is what makes us feel full, so be sure to choose salads that contain these greens. If you don't care for spinach or kale, you can stick to iceberg lettuce, but be sure to add protein to your greens.

How to jazz up salad? ›

Here are some ideas to super-boost your salad!
  1. Add texture with roasted seeds or nuts. Seeds and nuts are a great salad topper. ...
  2. Make it more filling with whole grains. ...
  3. Beans and other legumes add plant-based protein. ...
  4. Fresh herbs add lots of flavour. ...
  5. Sweeten your salad with fruit. ...
  6. Make sure your salad is properly seasoned.

Why do restaurant salads taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants salt their salads.

This resulted in every bite tasting vibrant and flavorful. "Season your salad just like you would anything else," Simpson said. "Salt is a big difference between salads at home and salads in a restaurant." This doesn't mean you have to make your salads salty!

How to make salad at home taste like restaurant? ›

Do This to Make Restaurant-Quality Salads at Home
  1. Use the freshest ingredients. Pre-bagged salads may make life easier, but they taste kind of blah. ...
  2. Choose the right lettuce. ...
  3. Add some crunch. ...
  4. Add color. ...
  5. Include protein. ...
  6. Give it some bulk. ...
  7. Mix sweet with savory. ...
  8. Add herbs.
Jun 27, 2023

Do people eat greens for Thanksgiving? ›

From hock to ham, from ribs to shoulder, all pork is better with collard greens. Add sweet potatoes and corn bread, prepared any way you like them, and you have yourself a perfect meal.

When should salad be served? ›

Traditionally, the salad follows the main course, but restaurants generally serve salad first, and people have come to believe that the practices of restaurants represent the best service. They fail to realize that restaurants have to work around problems that private households do not.

How many sides should you serve for Thanksgiving? ›

How many dishes should I serve with the turkey? For 4 people, choose 1-2 appetizers and 3 sides. For 8 people, choose 1-3 appetizers and 3 sides. For 16 people, choose 2-3 appetizers and 3 or more sides.

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