These hearty fall salad recipes (gluten-free) are the ultimate healthy comfort food! They’re just what your body needs when the temperatures dip, but you’re still craving a big ol’ bowl of leafy greens.

Even better, the best fall salads are topped with seasonal ingredients like sweet potatoes, pumpkin seeds, sweet cranberries, nutty pecans, and crispy apple slices. So check out all these delicious salad ideas, and let me know which ones you’ll try!

Four photo collage featuring 4 fall salad recipes.

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If you’re a regular visitor to The Spicy RD Blog, you probably know I love digging into a hearty salad all year long (check out ALL of my healthy salad recipes!). I love summer, winter, and spring salads, and because you’re reading this post, you know that I love fall salads, too. They’re the ultimate healthy main dish or side dish, not only for a nourishing family dinner but also a great addition to your holiday table.

And, because I wanted to share the fall salad love with you, I asked my dietitian and food blogger friends to share their favorite recipes here on The Spicy RD Blog. They’re packed with tons of flavor and nutrient-dense good-mood-foods-perfect for this time of year. I know you’ll FALL IN LOVE with these yummy fall salad recipes, too!

Fall Salad Recipes

All of these healthy fall salad recipes are gluten-free. Many are vegetarian, and some are vegan. The special diet notation is in parentheses next to the titles. Enjoy delicious health!

1. Autumn Kale Salad with Apples, Pomegranate, Pistachios, and Goat Cheese (Vegetarian)

This wonderful autumn kale salad has massaged kale, apples, toasted pistachios, and goat cheese topped with pomegranate seeds. Yum.

2. Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad

A simple shredded Brussels sprouts salad with sugared cranberries, toasted walnuts, and crispy bacon.

3. Chopped Fall Salad with Apples and Maple Vinaigrette (Vegetarian)

This Chopped Fall Salad Recipe w/ Apples, Fennel, Cheddar Cheese, Macadamia Nuts, and Apple Maple Vinaigrette is healthy, delicious, & super easy to make! A family favorite Thanksgiving recipe at Casa Spicy!

Square glass bowl with fall chopped apple salad.

4. Cranberry Almond Slaw (Vegan)

Cranberry Almond Slaw is tossed with an Apple Cider Vinaigrette.  It is light, refreshing, and the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving menu!

5. Crisp Apple Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette (Vegetarian)

Salads and cold weather donโ€™t seem to mix, but thisย crisp apple salad with apple cider vinaigretteย willย wooย you into eating your greens all year.ย  Crisp apples slightly warmed with sautรฉed shallots and light apple cider vinaigrette are perfect fall salad flavors.

6. Delicata Squash Salad (Vegan)

This vegan delicata squash salad is a fall harvest salad made with fresh kale, roasted squash, sweet potatoes, apples, and an easy tahini dressing.

7. Delicious Massaged Kale Salad (Vegan)

Massaged Kale Salad is a beautiful, plant-based meal with exceptional ingredients and flavor. It’s perfect for lunch, meal prep, or even dinner. I love the creamy balsamic dressing, too!

Delicious Massaged Kale Salad

8. Fall Cobb Salad

Thisย Fall Cobb Saladย is an autumn-themed version of a classic cobb tossed in a simple, four-ingredient Honey Mustard Dressing. It’sย fall in a bowlย and a tasty, festive way to celebrate the season!

9. Fall Power Salad (Vegan)

This healthy fall power salad is loaded with nourishing superfoods like crunchy kale, crisp apples, purple cabbage, dried cherries, edamame, & sunflower seeds. Your body will thank you every time you eat it! P.S. Meal prep a big batch ahead of time. It keeps well in the fridge!

10. Harvest Wild Rice Salad with Butternut Squash (Vegan)

This Harvest Salad is healthy and gluten-free. It’s made with roasted butternut squash, wild rice, cranberries, and maple Dijon dressing! 

11. Healthy Acorn Squash Salad with Maple Dressing (Vegetarian)

Roasted acorn squash salad is a must for Thanksgiving or even as a side for a fall dinner, especially drizzled with creamy maple dressing!

Acorn Squash Salad with Maple Dressing

12. High Protein Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing (Vegan)

Flavourful squash (or sweet potato) and cauliflower, roasted with cumin and turmeric, mixed with quinoa, puy lentils, seeds, kale, and radicchio (or red cabbage) โ€“ all mixed in the most creamy, delicious tahini & garlic dressing.

13. Holiday Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate (Vegetarian)

Are you looking for a festive salad to serve up this holiday season? You and your guests will love this easy and delicious shaved Brussels sprout salad with pomegranate seeds and a citrus vinaigrette.

14. Kale Apple Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette (Vegetarian)

Kale Apple Salad with Homemade Cranberry Vinaigrette contains all your favorite fall flavors.

15. Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Beet Chips, & Tahini Mustard Dressing (Vegetarian)

This is a simple, warm kale salad with pomegranate and beet chips. It’s an easy lunch salad that comes together in minutes.

Warm Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Beet Chips & Tahini Mustard Dressing

16. Really Good Thanksgiving Salad Recipe (Vegetarian)

If you believe that every Thanksgiving menu needs a bright and fresh salad, this Really Good Thanksgiving Salad recipe is for you! Greens, Parmesan cheese, and the best harvest produce tossed with a simple maple vinaigrette.

Really Good Thanksgiving Salad Recipe - Foxes Love Lemons

17. Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Homemade Maple Dijon Vinaigrette (Vegetarian)

This Roasted Butternut Squash Salad is a delicious, colorful salad featuring fall ingredients tossed with a sweet maple Dijon vinaigrette. It’s the perfect addition to your holiday table!

18. Roasted Butternut Squash and Chicken Spinach Salad

Mega-filling Roasted Butternut Squash and Chicken Spinach Salad with pecans, apples, golden raisins, and cinnamon maple cider vinaigrette โ€“ a super nutritious entrรฉe salad for lunch or dinner!

Roasted Butternut Squash and Chicken Spinach Salad

19. Roast Pumpkin Spinach Feta Salad (Vegan)

This 30-minute roasted pumpkin spinach feta salad recipe bursts with color and flavor! It’s perfect for seasonal holiday entertaining and as a lovely fall or winter side dish.

20. Roasted Pumpkin & Beetroot Salad

This heartyย Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Saladย recipe features roasted pumpkin and beetroot tossed in a delicious maple vinaigrette and topped with feta, pine nuts, pepitas, and arugula (rocket). It’s the perfect fall/winter salad or holiday side dish!

Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad | Maple + Mango

Create your fall salad recipes!

Check out all these fall salad recipes, then have fun coming up with your own healthy salad creations featuring fall flavors. Here’s a Fall Salad Recipes Shopping List to get the creative juices flowing.

Be sure to check out my favorite non-cookbooks,ย The Flavor Bibleย andย The Vegetarian Flavor Bible, for the tastiest fall flavor pairings. Oh, and don’t forget to make my Best Ever Brazilian Cheese Rolls to pair with these healthy fall salad recipes. Yum!!!

Fall Salad Recipes Shopping List

Colorful fall produce including pumpkin, pears, and cauliflower.

FALL PRODUCE

  • Acorn Squash
  • Apples
  • Arugula
  • Baby Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Butternut Squash
  • Cauliflower
  • Cranberries
  • Delicata Squash
  • Kale
  • Pears
  • Persimmons
  • Pomegranate Arils
  • Pumpkin
  • Quince
  • Red Onions
  • Shallots
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Turnips

BEANS & LEGUMES

  • Black Beans
  • Chickpeas
  • Edamame
  • Lentils
  • Navy Beans

CHEESE

  • Blue Cheese
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Tangy Feta Cheese
  • Creamy Goat Cheese
  • Gorgonzola Cheese

DRIED FRUIT

  • Cherries
  • Currants
  • Cranberries
  • Raisins

DRESSING INGREDIENTS

  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Avocado Oil
  • Dijon Mustard
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Lemon Juice & Zest
  • Orange Juice & Zest
  • Maple Syrup
  • Sherry Vinegar
  • Nutty Tahini
  • White Balsamic Vinegar

GLUTEN-FREE GRAINS

HERBS & SPICES

  • Allspice
  • Black Pepper
  • Cardamom
  • Cloves
  • Cilantro
  • Cinnamon
  • Cumin
  • Ginger
  • Nutmeg
  • Paprika
  • Parsley
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Thyme

NUTS & SEEDS

  • Almonds
  • Pecans
  • Pumpkin Seeds
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Poppy Seeds
  • Walnuts

EXTRA PROTEIN OPTIONS

Let’s Chat! Which of these fall salad recipes have you fallen in love with??? What are your favorite fall salad toppings? If you create your own fall salad recipes, tag me @thespicyrd on Instagram so I can try them, too!

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