Every holiday table needs a little freshness between all the carbs, and that’s where these 13 Thanksgiving salad recipes. They fit right in with the mashed stuff and gravy crowd, but quietly keep things light. They bring that “I can still move after dinner” kind of comfort. Perfect for those who love Thanksgiving flavor but don’t want to unbutton their pants before dessert.
Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Salad
Comfort can look like a bowl of veggies and easy bites that fill you up between all the rich dishes. Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Salad helps everyone grab something both light and hearty at once. You’ll see people piling this on their plates every round. Makes a smooth fit for any big meal spread.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Salad
Layered Seven Layer Salad
Colorful layers stacked in a bowl always catch eyes before anyone starts eating. Passing out scoops of Layered Seven Layer Salad gives everyone a little crunch from each level on the plate. This salad works as a side or even as a snack before main dishes show up. Leftovers rarely stick around with this one on the table.
Get the Recipe: Layered Seven Layer Salad
Tangy Red Cabbage Coleslaw
Side bowls always need a little crunch to balance out those casseroles and warm breads. Tangy Red Cabbage Coleslaw gives plates a fresh mix people talk about between bites. The cool snap in every serving makes sure the salad bowl travels all around the room. Line up extra helpings if you want some left for later.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Red Cabbage Coleslaw
Colorful Antipasto Salad
Packed with bite-sized pieces to keep the snacks rolling while big plates bake in the oven. Scooping up a couple helpings of Colorful Antipasto Salad works for both full meals and snack breaks. These leftovers are easy to grab for next-day sandwiches. Friends always ask for another bowl when the last one runs out.
Get the Recipe: Colorful Antipasto Salad
Fresh Green Salad
Basic salads step up when food needs a little green to round out the meal. Fresh Green Salad lets everyone mix veggies with anything else they want. The crisp finish makes the full dinner feel a bit lighter. Extra bowls chill nicely in the fridge for late-night nibbling.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Green Salad
Hearty Dense Bean Salad
Beans in a salad bring steady comfort and keep everyone full even when portions run light at dinner. Scooping into Hearty Dense Bean Salad gives plates a big protein punch with every serving. It’s good for leftovers too. Folk grab seconds right away so you’ll need an extra batch for the next meal.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Dense Bean Salad
Sweet Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
When snack time calls for a bit of sweet with crunch salad is the fix. Sweet Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad in bowls lets guests build sandwiches or scoop straight to their plate. Every bite matches up with sides or stands alone for those looking for something simple. This salad always ends up gone first.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Crisp Honeycrisp Salad
Fruit salads add a pop to dinner spreads and give plates something light after all the richer bites. Crisp Honeycrisp Salad gets folks reaching in for more even if dessert’s already out. It works well piled on sandwiches or just by itself. This bowl usually runs dry before anything else is finished.
Get the Recipe: Crisp Honeycrisp Salad
Crunchy Celery Salad
A side with crunch freshens up the menu and cleanses palates while you chat and eat. Crunchy Celery Salad helps balance all those heavier pies and casseroles on the table. It’s handy to pack for lunches after the big meal winds down. No one skips the salad once word spreads about its snap.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Celery Salad
Fresh Beet Salad
Salads with a deeper color seem extra inviting at a busy holiday table. Pile up Fresh Beet Salad for people who like something a little different while sharing stories. The mix goes well with bread or next to roasted meats. Guests soon ask for more once they finish the first helping.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Beet Salad
Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing
Sometimes you need a salad that packs crunch and creamy texture all in one bite. Grab a scoop of Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing and set it by all the hot sides for a cool contrast. This travels well in containers if you’re packing for lunch. You’ll want leftovers but the bowl usually clears out quick.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing
Fresh Harvest Salad
Extra fresh salads help bring out flavor in every course from appetizers to dessert. Fresh Harvest Salad at the table makes sure everyone gets a bite of something light with their meal. It stands up next to casseroles and meats without feeling out of place. The bowl empties before anyone is ready to stop eating.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Harvest Salad
Tangy Chickpea Salad with Roasted Peppers
Throwing crunchy and tangy bites together never gets old when there’s a crowd to feed. Tangy Chickpea Salad with Roasted Peppers works at dinner or shares well for lunch the next day. Layers of this salad stand out on any buffet line. Nobody wants to skip a helping before the main meal arrives.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Chickpea Salad with Roasted Peppers
