Best Thanksgiving Salad Recipe

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We’ve loaded the table with all the classics: heaps of meat, rich gravy, creamy mashed potatoes, and those irresistibly sweet yams. But why not change things up a bit? Enter our refreshing Thanksgiving Salad.

So, start this Thanksgiving with a simple green salad base, then jazz it up with juicy red apples and sweet pears for that perfect burst of sweetness. Toss in some dried cranberries and pomegranate arils for vibrant colors and freshness. Don’t forget the pumpkin seeds and buttery pecans for that essential crunch. Finish it off with a fantastic vinaigrette. Yum!

Not only is this Thanksgiving dinner salad delicious and a visual treat for your holiday table, but it’s also a lighter option to counter all that heavy holiday food. We love salad, so you can also end with this Thanksgiving Fruit Salad for dessert. What’s not to love?

Why Make This Recipe

• Refreshing  – Crunchy, juicy, colorful fruits and vegetables, and seeds make this salad a refreshing choice. 
• Flexible  – Add or subtract ingredients to create the perfect balance for your family. 
• Hassle-free  – It’s as easy as chop, layer, toss and serve. 

Looking for more salads that are as easy as this recipe? Check out all of my salad recipes for a delicious and healthy meal or side dish.

Ingredient Notes

For The Salad:

• Mixed Greens – Typically, a mix of greens like baby spinach, arugula, kale, or mixed lettuce leaves. They provide a fresh and crisp base for the salad.
• Pomegranate Arils—These jewel-like, ruby-red seeds add bursts of sweetness and crunch. Their vibrant color also contributes a festive touch, making the salad beautiful.
• Dried Cranberries – Sweet and tart, dried cranberries add a chewy texture and tangy flavor to contrast with the other ingredients. They also evoke traditional Thanksgiving flavors.
• Pumpkin Seeds – Also known as pepitas, these seeds offer a nutty flavor and crunchy texture. They provide a seasonal twist and a subtle earthiness that complements the other ingredients.
• Red Apples – Crisp and slightly sweet, red apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji or Gala add freshness and juiciness to the salad. They also contribute a pop of color and natural sweetness.
• Pears – Juicy and sweet, pears offer a delicate flavor and tender texture. They add another layer of sweetness and freshness to the salad, balancing the tartness of the cranberries and the acidity of the pomegranate arils. We like to use Bosc, Anjou or Bartlett.
• Pecans – Rich and buttery, pecans bring a crunch and a warm, toasty flavor to the salad.

For The Dressing:

• Lemon juice – Lemon Juice contributes a lively acidity to the vinaigrette, giving it a refreshing tang. It not only offsets the richness of the olive oil but also introduces a citrus aroma.
• Apple cider vinegar – Apple Cider Vinegar offers the vinaigrette a fruity and subtly tangy essence. Its nuanced flavor profile adds depth and a touch of sweetness, making it a versatile option for salad dressings.
• Maple syrup – Maple Syrup contributes sweetness and complexity to the vinaigrette, infusing it with a luscious caramel-like richness.
• Olive oil – Olive Oil forms the foundation of the vinaigrette, imparting luxurious richness and a velvety texture. Including extra virgin olive oil introduces a unique fruity undertone, elevating the dressing’s overall flavor profile and mouthfeel.
• Sea salt – Sea Salt boosts the flavors of the vinaigrette ingredients while ensuring a harmonious balance between sweetness and acidity.
• Ground black pepper – Ground Black Pepper introduces a gentle warmth and earthy undertones to the vinaigrette.

How to Make Thanksgiving Salad

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card further below.

Expert Tips

• To prevent your salad from becoming soggy, toss it with dressing just before serving. Start with a small amount of dressing and add more as needed, or serve the dressing on the side so guests can add it to their liking.
• Use seasonal fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, pomegranates, and butternut squash.
• Aim for a variety of flavors and textures in your salad. Mix crisp greens with creamy cheese, crunchy nuts, and sweet fruits for a well-rounded dish.
• Wash and chop your ingredients beforehand to save time on the day of the meal. Keep them stored separately and combine them just before serving.
• Mix different types of greens, such as spinach, arugula, and kale, for a more exciting salad base.
• Add texture to your salad with toasted nuts, seeds, or croutons.
• Add flavor and color to your salad with fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or mint.
• Serve your salad chilled or at room temperature, depending on the ingredients, for the best flavor and texture.

Delicious Variations 

• Roasted Pecans – Roast or toast the pecans for a full nutty flavor. You can also swap the pecans for walnuts.
• Apple Varieties – Instead of red apples, use green apples or select local varieties.
• Fruit Juice Swap – Replace the lemon juice in the dressing with apple cider or another citrus juice such as orange or grapefruit.
• Add Protein – Add a source of protein to your salad. This will make it more substantial if you eat it on its own. Grilled chicken, roasted turkey, or even chickpeas are excellent neutral yet flavorful options.
• Add Cheese – Tangy blue cheese, creamy goat cheese, feta cheese or shaved parmesan for added flavor.
• Brighten the Dressing – Add a touch of Dijon mustard and swap the apple cider vinegar for balsamic for a flavorful balsamic vinaigrette.

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – Wash and chop veggies, toast any nuts, and make the dressing a couple of days before serving. Toss together just before serving. 
• Store – Store the leftover salad in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To prevent sogginess, store the dressing separately.

FAQs 

Similar Recipes

Looking for more EASY, delicious, and flavorful recipes? I’ve got you covered. Check out my full collection of salads, or start a few of my most popular recipes:

• Broccoli Cranberry Salad
• Cranberry Chicken Salad
• Thanksgiving Fruit Salad

Serve with:

• Garlic Herb Butter Roast Turkey – This succulently roasted turkey with garlic and herbs will complement your Thanksgiving salad’s light, fresh flavors.
• Instant Pot Ham with Apple Cider Glaze – This sweet and savory ham, glazed with apple cider glaze, works well with the crispness of the salad.
• Roast lamb – This tender and flavorful roast lamb, seasoned with rosemary and garlic, pairs wonderfully with this salad.

Recommended Tools

• A sharp knife for prepping seasonal fruits and vegetables.
• Cups and spoons to measure the ingredients for the dressing.
• A large airtight storage container for keeping the salad fresh.
• For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 10 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my Thanksgiving Dinner Salad recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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