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

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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

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (5)

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

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (6)

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.

5

The Casa Wedge Salad

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Want to make salad it's own course at the Thanksgiving feast? A wedge salad is a classic choice. We love this version, which has a kicky Creamy Avocado Dressing.

Get the recipe for The Casa Wedge Salad.

6

Big Green Winter Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (8)

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

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (11)

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

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (21)

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

These Thanksgiving Salad Recipes Make Choosing Sides Difficult (22)

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

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 12, 2018

How would you do to make your salads flavorful and attractive? ›

How to make salad more interesting
  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.

How to make salads satisfying? ›

Toasted nuts or seeds, carrots or radishes, or homemade croutons can all add that satisfying bite. Wait to add any crunchy bits until after tossing the salad in the dressing to prevent any sogginess from ruining the mouthfeel.

What is the best lettuce for picky eaters? ›

Romaine lettuce is a good source of fiber, too. Picky eaters will also enjoy the crunchy texture of romaine lettuce. It's perfect for adding a little bit of texture to a meal. And because it's so low in calories, romaine lettuce is a great way to add volume to a meal without adding a lot of calories.

What do you feed someone who doesn't like salad? ›

Try roasting veggies to bring out their natural sweetness. Serve casseroles or pasta dishes on greens such as spinach or arugula. Add shredded carrots to a pulled pork or pulled chicken recipe. Try using lettuce or steamed collard greens as wraps.

What can I add to my salad to make it taste better? ›

Dried Cherries, Cranberries or Raisins: Add these dried fruits for their flavor and texture. They are also quick easy to add with no preparation required! Basil, Chives, Dill or Parsley: Toss small basil leaves or chopped larger ones in with your greens. Try chopped fresh dill.

How do restaurants get their salads so crisp? ›

The Keys to Crisp Lettuce

Lettuce needs good airflow with some moisture (but not too much!) to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow air circulation while it's held in the fridge.

What are the best ingredients to put in a salad? ›

leafy greens such as romaine, arugula, kale and spinach. whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice and bulgur. chopped or shredded vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, cabbage, and beets.

What are 5 components of a satisfying salad? ›

5 Steps to a More Satisfying Salad
  • Use fresh ingredients. ...
  • Use ingredients that add different textures. ...
  • Create balanced flavors. ...
  • Skip the greens. ...
  • Include protein to make salad more filling.
May 1, 2019

What helps make a salad attractive? ›

  • keep the salad off the rim of the plate. thrall of the rim as a picture frame and arrange the salad within the frame.
  • strive for a good balance of colors. mixing in some ingredients that have some color to it. ...
  • height helps make a salad attractive. ...
  • cut ingredients neatly. ...
  • make every ingredients indentifiable. ...
  • keep it simple.

What can you put in a salad to make it more filling? ›

Try four ounces of one of the following:
  1. Beans like black, chickpeas (hummus), cannellini or adzuki.
  2. Chicken.
  3. Edamame.
  4. Eggs (over easy, soft boiled, or chopped hard boiled)
  5. Lean beef.
  6. Lentils.
  7. Reduced fat cheese.
  8. Seafood (sardines, tuna, shrimp, salmon)

How do I make my salad more interesting? ›

Add fruit: Adding sliced fruit like apples, pears, strawberries, or grapes can add sweetness and texture to a salad. Add nuts or seeds: Toasted almonds, walnuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds can add crunch and a nutty flavor to a salad.

What compliments a salad? ›

Top 20 Healthy Salad Toppings
  • Chopped Raw Vegetables. A typical salad starts with raw greens, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, mixed greens or arugula. ...
  • Nuts and Seeds. ...
  • Dried Fruit. ...
  • Whole Grains. ...
  • Beans and Legumes. ...
  • Fresh Fruit. ...
  • Baked Tortilla or Pita Chips. ...
  • Shredded Hard Cheeses.
Dec 17, 2018

How to spice up a boring salad? ›

Incorporating other elements—think cooked or pickled vegetables, crunchy bits like nuts and seeds, sweet bits of fruit—makes any salad way more interesting. Because even if you do stray beyond the classic lettuce-cucumber-tomato combo and use a wider variety of veggies, it's still a recipe for a one-note side dish.

How do you encourage people to eat salad? ›

  1. Stop eating iceberg lettuce. It is awful and has no nutritional value.
  2. Use multiple greens. Spinach, romaine, dandelion, cabbage, etc. ...
  3. Stop eating salads ice cold if that bothers you, let the fixins warm up to room temp before serving/eating. ...
  4. Stop covering your salad in ranch. ...
  5. Add things with flavor to your salad.
Jan 9, 2021

How do you eat salads if you don't like lettuce? ›

20 Salad Recipes for When You're Bored of Lettuce
  1. 01 of 20. Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas. ...
  2. 02 of 20. Loaded Broccoli Salad. ...
  3. 03 of 20. Chopped Salad with Chickpeas, Olives & Feta. ...
  4. 04 of 20. Tortellini Salad. ...
  5. 05 of 20. Creamy Cucumber, Radish & Tomato Chopped Salad. ...
  6. 06 of 20. Tomato, Watermelon & Avocado Salad. ...
  7. 07 of 20. ...
  8. 08 of 20.
May 27, 2024

How do you break a picky eater? ›

The goal for feeding a picky eater should be to try new foods and to keep food from starting a battle.
  1. Share Responsibility. ...
  2. Offer a Variety of Age-Appropriate Foods. ...
  3. Limit High Calorie Drinks. ...
  4. Set a Meal Schedule. ...
  5. Make Meals Pleasant. ...
  6. Respect Eating Quirks. ...
  7. Avoid Being a Short Order Cook. ...
  8. Don't Always Offer Dessert.

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