Listen, I love mashed potatoes as much as the next person, but sometimes your dish needs a little freshening up before you reach for that third spoonful. These Thanksgiving salads are crunchy, colorful, a little nostalgic, and honestly, pretty irresistible.
From crunchy leafy greens packed with fall produce to my kids’ favorite salad that’s basically dessert, we celebrate them all.
The Greens entered the chat
We all know that Thanksgiving dishes usually taste like carbs on carbs, and honestly, we love it for us. But the right Thanksgiving salad? It earns its space on the table. It brings just enough crunch, color and freshness to make that second scoop of mashed potatoes even better.
Think crisp apples, sweet cranberries, cream cheese, candied walnuts, and yes, even the fluffy whipped “salads” that have been in the family longer than the fancy platter. Basically, if it has fall flavor and personality, it belongs here, right next to the turkey.
A few Thanksgiving salad tips before you toss it
- Keep the crunch separate: Nuts, croutons, seeds, bacon… add them right before serving so nothing gets soggy.
- Add fruit at the last minute: Apples, pears and citrus fruits taste better when they are fresh.
- Just prepare the dressing: Prepare the dressing ahead of time, but don’t toss the salad until ready to eat. Freshness is key. Store the dressing in a container in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
- Today, fluff salads matter: Whipped cream, jelly, crushed pretzels… it all counts. This is a safe space.
We’re not here to judge, just to have fun.
Strawberry pretzel salad
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Crispy pretzel crust, creamy layer, sweet berry topping. Dessert? Perhaps. Are we interested? At all.
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Chopped autumn salad with creamy poppy seed dressing
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Crispy lettuce, apples, pecans and cheese with a punchy dressing. Drop into a bowl.
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Cranberry cheesecake fluff
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Creamy, soft, fruity, pink and perfect. The “salad” that everyone secretly loves the most.
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Apple and broccoli salad
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Crispy broccoli, sweet apples, walnuts and creamy sauce. Cool meets cozy in the best way.
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Lime jelly salad
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Retro perfection. Tart, refreshing, and always a crowd favorite among OG Thanksgiving fans.
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Winter Fruit Salad
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Juicy, bright and fresh. A refreshing bite between rounds of comfort food.
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Wild rice pilaf with sweet potatoes and cranberries
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Warm, nutty, slightly sweet and filling. If a salad and stuffing had a welcoming baby, this would be it.
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Cranberry jelly salad
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Classic holiday nostalgia in every bite. Sour, sweet and full of tradition.
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Italian Appetizer Salad
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Tasty meats, cheeses, olives and vegetables. The salad for those who say they don’t like salad.
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Harvest bowl
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Hearty greens, roasted veggies, grains and creamy dressing. Cozy and fresh at the same time.
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Tell me your Thanksgiving salad personality
Okay, I need to know. Are you making a fluffy salad, a leafy salad, or a “the only vegetable I want for Thanksgiving is casserole dressing” team? Tell me about the salad your family needs to make in the comments, so we can all add something fun to our table this year.
