15 ideas for Thanksgiving salad recipes to make and enjoy this year!

So far, I am pretty sure you all have your favorite ways to cook Thanksgiving food. During this holiday, it is all about the comfort dishes and delicious flavors, mixed all together to create the perfect family dinner. Savory roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce are a few of the choices to put on our table. However, to make it more healthy, are you including a salad? Let’s find out some of the best Thanksgiving salad recipes to wow your guests!

What Thanksgiving salads recipes to choose this year?

I can assure you that salads are very important for your Thanksgiving diner. They are not only rich in vitamins and fiber, they will bring up the mood with their colors and will get the guests ready for the meals. For optimal results, I like to use seasonal fruits and vegetables to add in my Thanksgiving salad recipes. Like that, I am sure that they will be fresh and with the best tastes possible. Let’s see some of the best recipes to try this year!

1. Kale salad with apples, cranberries, and roasted almonds

Here we have one of the most favorite seasonal fruits, the apple, mixed with one of the superfoods, the kale. To make the salad fit in the Thanksgiving spirit, you can sprinkle some cranberries, and there you go! You will have the perfect healthy salad to go with your easy Thanksgiving appetizers to make ahead. If stored in the fridge, kale taste way better the day after preparing. Check out what ingredients you are going to need!

Ingredients:

• 2 branches of kale (chopped)
• 2 apples (sliced)
• 1 cup (150 g) of cranberries
• 0.7 cups (100 g) toasted sliced almonds
• 0.7 cups (150 g) crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cups (50 g) bacon

Ingredients for the dressing:

• 1/2 cup (100 ml) olive oil
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• salt and black pepper

Preparation:

Start by cooking your bacon until it is crispy. Wait for it to cool off and then break it into pieces. In a large bowl add the chopped kale, apples, almonds, cranberries, feta cheese and the bacon. For the dressing, mix the ingredients in a smaller bowl and when it is completely mixed, pour it over the salad.

2. Brussels sprouts Cesar salad

This is another approach to the classic Cesar salad that we all love. It is easy to make and the brussels sprouts will give you the needed healthy taste and fall vibes at the same time. Check out the ingredient list!

Ingredients for the salad:

• 1 1/2 lb (650 g) brussels sprouts (shredded)
• 1/2 cup (40 g) fresh parsley (chopped)
• 1/4 cup (10 g) chives (chopped)
• 1/3 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• bacon or prosciutto

For the dressing:

• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 small garlic clove
• 1/2 cup (100 ml) olive oil
• 3 anchovy fillet (drained from the oil and chopped) (optional since not everyone likes it)
• salt and black pepper

If you want to add croutons:

• 4 slices of your favorite bread cut into cubes
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• spices if you like

Preparation:

1. First, we have to make our croutons. This is optional, however, what is a Cesar salad without croutons? Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C), toss in your bread cubes with the olive oil and the spices over a baking sheet. Bake until gold and crispy.
2. For the dressing, use a food processor to pulse the anchovy and the rest of the dressing ingredients without the oil. When it is perfectly mixed, add in the oil slowly to a slower stream. Add in the salt and black pepper as well.
3. In a large bowl, mix the shredded brussels sprouts, chives, fresh parsley, and the grated Parmesan cheese. I add prosciutto, however you can add pieces of crispy bacon.
4. Add in the croutons and pour the dressing on top.

You can prepare the salad ahead of your guests arriving, since it can be refrigerated for a few hours and still be fresh, or you can serve immediately after preparing it.

3. Butternut squash salad recipe

Nothing says autumn and Thanksgiving more than a butternut squash! In this salad recipe, the good thing is you can make it however you like and if butternut squash is not your favorite, you can replace it with a pumpkin, or sweet potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (350 g) butternut squash, peeled and diced
• 6 cups (200 g) spinach or arugula
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup2
• 3 tablespoons cranberries (instead of pomegranates)
• 1/4 cups (60g) grated Parmesan cheese or Feta
• 1/2 cups (60g) walnuts
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Ingredients for the dressing: 

• 1/4 cups (40 ml) olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cups (150 ml) apple juice
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Preparation:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 °F  (200 °C). Place the butternut squash on a baking sheet and pour the maple syrup on it. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Use your hands to really massage the ingredients on the butternut squash. Bake for 25 minutes, or until soft and tender.
2. For the dressing, mix all the vinegar and apple juice into a pan and cook until they boil for about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the Dijon mustard and olive oil and mix until combined completely. Add a bit of salt if you needed.
3. In a large bowl, place the spinach or the arugula, or you can mix them together. Put the butternut squash, cranberries, the cheese that you chose, and walnuts. Pour the dressing on them. Mix well to make sure the dressing is spread evenly on the ingredients, and enjoy!

12 other ideas for Thanksgiving salad recipes

If you need more inspiration for your Thanksgiving salad recipes, this is the video for you. In 1 minute, you can check out more easy and healthy recipes that you can make this year. Remember, the secret ingredient is to get creative!