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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Brown sugar and toasted pecans give this fruity salad some extra flavor and crunch.
Get the recipe for Grape Salad.
17
Chopped Salad
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
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
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
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.
