Salad Recipes with Cranberries

Make one of these perfect Thanksgiving salad recipes with cranberries for your holiday table this year. Or make them year round!

I was going to wait to share these until next year since I got behind on editing and did not get this done in time for Thanksgiving, but, you guys…I eat these all year long. T

In fact, the first one is a recreation of a salad that I got at a local restaurant, and every time that I bring this to a party, it is GONE, with everyone begging for the dressing recipe!!!

If you love the sweet and tangy taste of cranberries, these salads will be the best part of your Thanksgiving table.

Have a can-berry delicious Thanksgiving dinner! Pin the fresh and fruity goodness to your favorites board on Pinterest and have the recipe at your fingertips for your holiday meal! 

FAQs:

Do people eat salads at Thanksgiving meals?

When you think of Thanksgiving, salad probably doesn’t pop into your mind at first. But with all the meats and heavy, hearty Thanksgiving side dishes on the table, it’s so nice to have a large bowl full of leafy greens and raw, fresh ingredients on the menu. Vegetables were the star of the show (along with seafood, venison, and maybe turkey) at the first Thanksgiving, so you may even consider salads a traditional dish. While not everyone eats salad with a Thanksgiving meal, many do, and it’s a great way to lighten up the feast.

What are the top 5 Thanksgiving dishes?

You’ll see these 5 dishes on almost every Thanksgiving table: Turkey served with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and dinner rolls. Other popular dishes include green bean casserole, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, Brussel sprouts, ham, coleslaw, butternut squash, and sweet cooked carrots. 

Supplies for any Thanksgiving Salad Recipe:

This couldn’t be simpler!

• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Salad spinner or colander
• Optional: food processor or blender bottle if you make your dressings from scratch

Thanksgiving Salad Recipes with Cranberries

Ingredients for Our Thanksgiving Holiday Salads:

Fresh and Simple Salad:

You can easily throw together this simple green salad.

• Chopped romaine lettuce
• Diced Granny Smith apple
• Dried cranberries

Toppings:

• Grape Nuts

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 envelope Good Seasons Italian Dressing mix

Hearty Harvest Salad:

This hearty salad helps kids and grownups alike get a fresh and filling dose of leafy greens without it tasting too salad-y. 

• Spring mix greens
• Cooked wild rice
• Chicken chunks (or turkey or salami)
• Roasted butternut squash
• Chopped walnuts or cashews
• Chopped cucumbers
• Sliced tomatoes
• Diced cucumbers
• Sliced black olives
• Sautéed or fresh mushrooms
• Dried cranberries

Toppings:

• Creamy goat cheese crumbles
• Sliced hard-boiled eggs
• Crispy onions

Dressing:

• Honey mustard vinaigrette
• Salt
• Black pepper

Healthy Kale Salad:

• Our super healthy salad maximizes nutrients while limiting the calorie intake.
• Chopped kale
• Shredded cabbage or rainbow chard
• Cooked quinoa
• Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• Finely chopped or spiralized cucumbers
• Fresh, crisp apples (we like Granny Smith or Honey Crisp)
• Dried cranberries

Toppings:

• Avocado slices
• Roasted almonds
• Feta cheese crumbles

Dressing:

• Balsamic vinaigrette
• Salt
• Black pepper

Directions on how to make our Thanksgiving salad recipes with cranberries:

1. Chop up your greens into bite-size pieces.

2. Rinse in a colander or salad spinner, then toss or spin to dry.

3. Add all ingredients, except the toppings and dressings to a large bowl

4. Drizzle dressing over the salad, then toss it all together.

5. Add salt and pepper to taste, then toss again and refrigerate.

6. Top them off immediately before serving, or serve bowls of toppings on the side.

Tips and Tricks:

• Chop up your greens into small pieces, even if they came pre-chopped. No one likes a huge piece of lettuce on their fork, or hanging out of their mouth.
• If your family likes choosing their own dressings, skip step 4 and serve your dressing selections on the side.
• To encourage kids (or reluctant adults) to get their veggies in before the rest of Thanksgiving dinner dishes, serve salad as a first course before bringing out the big guns.

These recipes help you feed a lot of people with just a little bit of effort, and make fresh additions to lighten up Thanksgiving Day. Don’t be afraid to put salad on the table! It’s the perfect side dish for healthy eaters. 

You’ll love how these festive salads fill you up without weighing you down. Vegetables are super filling, so you’ll probably eat a little less of your other side dishes. Your waistline will thank you in this calorific time of year!

Did you love these fresh salad recipes? We would love your support by giving this post a 5-star rating and spreading the deliciousness on Facebook. Don’t forget to pin the mouthwatering image to your favorites board on Pinterest for next time!