These hearty fall salad recipes (gluten-free) are the ultimate healthy comfort food! Just what your body needs when the temperatures start to 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’re going to try!
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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 salads, winter salads, 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’re going to FALL IN LOVE with these yummy fall salad recipes too!
Fall Salad Recipes
All of these healthy fall salad recipes are gluten-free. Many of these are vegetarian, and some of them are vegan. See the special diet notation in parentheses next to the titles. Enjoy in delicious health!
1. Autumn Kale Salad with Apples, Pomegranate, Pistachios, and Goat Cheese (Vegetarian)
This wonderful autumn kale salad is made with massaged kale, apples, toasted pistachios, and goat cheese topped with pomegranate seeds. Yum.
2. Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Salad
A simple shredded Brussels sprout 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 + Apple Maple Vinaigrette is healthy, delicious, & super easy to make! A family favorite Thanksgiving recipe at Casa Spicy!
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 donโt seem to mix, but I think this crisp apple salad with apple cider vinaigrette will woo you into eating your greens all year long. Crisp apples slightly warmed with sautรฉed shallots with a 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 and sweet potatoes, apples, and an easy tahini dressing.
7. Delicious Massaged Kale Salad (Vegan)
Massaged Kale Salad is a wonderful, plant-based meal option that is just packed with amazing ingredients and flavor. Perfect for lunch, meal prep, or even dinner. I love the creamy balsamic dressing too!
8. Fall Cobb Salad
This Fall Cobb Salad is an autumn-themed version of a classic cobb tossed in a simple, 4-ingredient Honey Mustard Dressing. This salad is fall in a bowl 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!
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 together 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 is full of all your favorite fall flavors.
15. Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Beet Chips, & Tahini Mustard Dressing (Vegetarian)
A very simple warm kale salad with pomegranate and beet chips. This is an easy lunch salad that comes together in minutes.
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.
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!
19. Roast Pumpkin Spinach Feta Salad (Vegan)
This 30-minute roasted pumpkin spinach feta salad recipe is bursting with color and flavor! Perfect for seasonal entertaining during the holidays but also as a lovely fall or winter side dish.
20. Roasted Pumpkin & Beetroot Salad
This hearty Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad recipe features roasted pumpkin and beetroot that has been tossed in a delicious maple vinaigrette and topped with feta, pine nuts, pepitas, and arugula (rocket). The perfect fall/winter salad or holiday side dish!
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. And, be sure to check out my favorite *non* cookbooks, The Flavor Bible and 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
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
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
- Flank Steak
- Grilled Chicken
- Pan Seared Salmon
- Roast Turkey Breast
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! And, if you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it on social media or with your family and friends. I appreciate your support!