13 Simple Thanksgiving Salad Recipes to Lighten the Plate

ByMandy

Bringing lightness to a traditional meal feels easy when any of the 13 salads gather to balance out heavier Thanksgiving dishes at the front. Salad keeps hands moving for second servings. Every forkful introduces a lively contrast beside all the classics. Conversations often circle back to how much freshness matters at every feast.

A spoonful of chickpea salad with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, parsley, and feta cheese being served from a bowl.
Hearty Dense Bean Salad. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Colorful Antipasto Salad

A bowl of salad with mixed greens, prosciutto, cherry tomatoes, olives, artichokes, and roasted red peppers.
Colorful Antipasto Salad. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Bright colors instantly add energy to Thanksgiving tables when platters show off Colorful Antipasto Salad in the lineup. Salad draws curious glances with each layer revealed. Tangy bites offer variety across the plate. Memories form around the visual impact of this cheerful dish.
Get the Recipe: Colorful Antipasto Salad

Crisp Cucumber Tomato Salad

A bowl of fresh salad with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and herbs, seasoned with black pepper, with a serving spoon.
Crisp Cucumber Tomato Salad. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Fresh bites provoke conversation as bowls brimming with Crisp Cucumber Tomato Salad land on the Thanksgiving spread. Salad creates a gentle crunch that lightens up the table. A splash of vibrancy stands out beside traditional main courses. Plates clear quickly once guests take the first bite.
Get the Recipe: Crisp Cucumber Tomato Salad

Tangy Red Cabbage Coleslaw

A bowl of fresh red cabbage coleslaw garnished with herbs.
Tangy Red Cabbage Coleslaw. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Bold slaw brings a twist to classic meals as friends sample Tangy Red Cabbage Coleslaw among the holiday options. Salad pairs crunch and gentle bite for extra contrast. Plates fill up again and again with its lively presence. Sharing the secret to a perfect slaw becomes a favorite topic.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Red Cabbage Coleslaw

Fresh Harvest Salad

A Harvest Salad with kale, sweet potato wedges, avocado chunks, chickpeas, and pickled red onions, all drizzled with a delectable dressing.
Fresh Harvest Salad. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Every guest finds room for more as leafy servings of Fresh Harvest Salad circle the Thanksgiving table. Salad gives a refreshing lift while balancing hearty flavors. Toppings catch everyone’s attention with varied textures. Sharing salad stories feels like a holiday tradition.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Harvest Salad

Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Salad

A salad with arugula, roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and a drizzle of creamy dressing on a white plate.
Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Salad. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Main dishes get a welcome companion once generous Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Salad reach the buffet. Salad holds its place by offering robust comfort alongside lightness. Roasting brings out layers of aroma that catch attention. Moments of surprise often follow each first taste.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Salad

Crunchy Celery Salad

A bowl filled with chopped celery, red onion, apples, almonds, and fresh herbs.
Crunchy Celery Salad. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Plates receive an unexpected pop once Crunchy Celery Salad nestles between main courses. Salad exhibits a lively crispness with each forkful. Bright textures invite compliments after every bite. Guests recall the perfect light touch long after the meal wraps up.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Celery Salad

Fresh Green Salad

A close-up of a fresh green salad with mixed leafy greens, cucumber slices, and pecans on a plate with a gold fork.
Fresh Green Salad. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Guests breathe a sigh of relief for lighter fare after greens make way for Fresh Green Salad at the feast. Salad brings balance and subtlety to richer foods. Having an option that feels refreshing changes the whole menu dynamic. The crunch turns into an instant conversation starter.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Green Salad

Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing

Close-up of a delightful broccoli salad with crispy bacon, sunflower seeds, and a creamy dressing. Mixed ingredients are visible in detail, showcasing the vibrant textures and colors of this fresh broccoli salad.
Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Bites of cool vegetable contrast quickly draw attention after trays of Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing appear. Salad makes guests rethink expectations about broccoli. The creamy finish adds gentle contrast. Sharing forkfuls often sparks new enthusiasm for salad ideas.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing

Tangy Chickpea Salad with Roasted Peppers

A plate of chickpea salad with chopped red onions, roasted red peppers, herbs, and sliced almonds, served with a spoon.
Tangy Chickpea Salad with Roasted Peppers. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Plating transforms with the lively look of Tangy Chickpea Salad with Roasted Peppers on the Thanksgiving table. Salad earns fans for its robust and bold character. Each bite shifts the mood towards excitement. Guests end up talking about the salad well after the last plate is cleared.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Chickpea Salad with Roasted Peppers

Crisp Honeycrisp Salad

A bowl of mixed greens salad with sliced Honeycrisp apples, walnuts, and crumbled blue cheese.
Crisp Honeycrisp Salad. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Crunch stands out immediately once bowls full of Crisp Honeycrisp Salad settle beside the feast’s centerpieces. Salad brings sweetness that refreshes palates. Guests share a sense of discovery after the first forkful. Plates empty while people still chat about dessert.
Get the Recipe: Crisp Honeycrisp Salad

Fresh Beet Salad

A close-up of a salad featuring chopped beets, cucumber, feta cheese, walnuts, and fresh herbs on a white plate.
Fresh Beet Salad. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Striking color grabs attention as servers fill plates with Fresh Beet Salad at the gathering. Salad impresses through vivid hue and earthy flavor. New guests become quick fans of its texture. Compliments roll in for the touch of elegance beet adds.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Beet Salad

Layered Seven Layer Salad

A clear glass bowl layered with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, green peas, corn, diced celery, and topped with chunks of grilled chicken, garnished with a dollop of mayonnaise.
Layered Seven Layer Salad. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Eyes widen as dishes reveal the striking layers of Layered Seven Layer Salad shown in glass bowls. Salad packs texture and flavor from top to bottom. Guests love watching each layer appear on their plate. Seven layers give everyone something to remember about this holiday tradition.
Get the Recipe: Layered Seven Layer Salad

Hearty Dense Bean Salad

A spoonful of chickpea salad with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, parsley, and feta cheese being served from a bowl.
Hearty Dense Bean Salad. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Festivities end on a high note when the table is revisited for another Hearty Dense Bean Salad as the grand finish. Salad holds up as the comfort everyone returns to after heavy courses. Lightness finds its champion in every forkful. The discussion always circles back to how simple can be the most appreciated.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Dense Bean Salad

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