5 Fall Salad Recipes That Will Steal The Show At Thanksgiving

With all of the deliciously filling side dishes to choose from, one particular food too often gets left out of the Thanksgiving equation: salad. Who wants to eat fall salad recipes on Thanksgiving? After all, isn’t Thanksgiving the one day of the year where you can guiltlessly gorge yourself on starchy foods?

A Thanksgiving salad doesn’t have to be the downer on the dinner table. In fact, it can be just as well-loved as all of the other foods on display. And, it balances out all those other hearty calories- right?! Here are a few fall salad recipes that will give your mama’s sweet potato casserole some competition.

5 Fall Salad Recipes That Will Steal The Show

Roasted Beet and Carrot Lentil Salad with Feta

Not only is this salad beautifully painted with the warm colors of fall (deep oranges and soft greens!), it is loaded with amazing flavor and nutrients. Lentils add lots of texture to a salad and leave your stomach feeling satisfied but not stuffed. The natural sweetness of the carrots and feta balance out the earthy flavors of the beets, which all come together to create a truly drool-worthy dish.

Autumn Arugula Salad with Caramelized Squash, Spiced Pecans, and Pomegranate Ginger Vinaigrette

Usually you see squash baked and roasted, so this is a scrumptious change of pace to keep things interesting. It’s also enticing to change up your usual romaine lettuce greens for something a little more exotic, and the arugula does the trick. Even the dressing is impressive and alluring. Everything about this salad is captivating, and it is sure to give that homemade mac and cheese a run for its money.

Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pear, Pecans, and Gorgonzola Cheese

A childhood enemy turned adult friend, brussels sprouts are one of the hottest foods right now. They can be paired with so many mouth-watering flavors but are also remarkably nourishing. This salad recipe makes just the right combo with cranberries, pecans, shallots, and pears. You might even surprise the vegetable-hating kids at your family dinner table.

Roasted Acorn Squash, Caramelized Fig, and Feta Salad

Caramelized fig?! Say no more. This salad is not only beautiful, but it is enthralling because it includes two foods you may not commonly find in your Thanksgiving spread. Dinner guests are sure to try it just out of sheer interest, and once the flavors fill their mouth, they won’t be able to put it down until it’s gone!

Harvest Quinoa Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash

I love a good quinoa salad, and topped with roasted butternut squash this salad is a definite winner. The almonds and apples create a tantalizing crunch and the cider vinaigrette is a light yet perfectly potent punch. This dish will pair handsomely with that honey-baked ham that’s staring you down at the other end of the table.

These fall salad recipes will step up your turkey day game, and you can feel good eating them. And food that is yummy and healthy is always something to be grateful for!