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Fall salads deserve their moment, and this collection of the 12+ Best Fall Salad recipes proves why. Bursting with seasonal favorites like apples, roasted squash, Brussels sprouts, and hearty greens, each recipe is fresh, colorful, and perfect for everything from weeknight dinners to holiday gatherings.
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During this time of year, my favorite way to celebrate the cold, crisp air and beautiful autumn hues is with a fresh and flavorful fall salad. In fact, autumn is when some of the best salad ingredients – crisp apples and hearty greens, to roasted squash, sweet potatoes, and earthy beets – are at their peak.
These salads strike the perfect balance to heavier seasonal dishes by adding freshness and bright flavor to cozy meals like roasted chicken, rich soups and stews, and even your next holiday turkey.
I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I do – they prove salads can absolutely be the star of your autumn menu.
Best Fall Salad Recipes
From grain-filled bowls loaded with roasted vegetables to light and crunchy salads tossed with sweet fruit and tangy vinaigrettes, there truly is something here for everyone. Each recipe brings out the rich, comforting flavors of fall in a fresh and delicious way.
Roasted Beet Salad
Roasted beets make such a gorgeous, colorful salad! Their earthy sweetness pairs perfectly with creamy goat cheese, nuts, and crisp arugula. Drizzle with your favorite store-bought or homemade balsamic vinaigrette and enjoy it on its own or as a side salad for baked salmon. New to cooking beets? This post shows you how to cook beets (3 ways!)
Beet and Kohlrabi Slaw
I love this recipe because it’s crisp, refreshing, and full of color. It combines sweet beets, crunchy kohlrabi, and crisp apples, then gets finished with tangy feta cheese and lime juice. For the best taste and texture, I recommend peeling the beets and kohlrabi. And remember to save your leftover beet greens – they’re the perfect addition to your next pot of vegetable soup!
Kale Salad With Apples
If you love kale, this recipe will quickly become a new favorite. Tender kale leaves get massaged with olive oil and lemon juice, then get tossed with crisp apples, almonds, and parmesan cheese. I like to dress this salad with light lemon Dijon vinaigrette, but you can swap it for this tangy champagne vinaigrette or homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Farro Salad
This farro salad is a hearty grain salad that brings a new type of fall energy to your table. The chewy texture and nutty flavor of this ancient grain gives it a nice contrast to the sweet apples and tangy Dijon vinaigrette. You can make this recipe gluten-free by substituting the farro with wild rice or brown rice.
Turkey Salad
Leftover Thanksgiving turkey can limit your fridge space, but I found the perfect solution: Turkey salad! Creamy turkey paired with sweet dried cranberries and crunchy celery tastes so good on a bed of lettuce, on a cracker, or in a sandwich. Try using homemade mayonnaise for even better flavor.
Butternut Squash Salad
At this point, I think we can all agree that squash and fall go hand-in-hand and this salad with perfectly roasted butternut squash, cooked quinoa, dried cranberries, and balsamic vinaigrette is about as traditional as you can get! You can substitute butternut for roasted delicata squash or even pumpkin if you prefer.
Shredded Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad
Even during the fall, you can’t go wrong with a Caesar salad. In this version, we’re swapping romaine for shredded Brussels sprouts, plus crunchy croutons, parmesan, and creamy Caesar dressing! Prefer the classics? Try my homemade Caesar salad recipe. And don’t forget the homemade croutons – so much better than using store-bought.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
I think the texture is what I love most about this salad. The combination of shaved Brussels sprouts, chopped kale, pomegranate arils, and candied pecans is, oddly enough, what I’d imagine the texture of autumn to be. You get just the right balance of textures with the avocado chunks, but if you want to lean more into the crunch, you can add roasted pumpkin seeds!
Arugula Salad
This is definitely the simplest recipe on my list, but it’s here for a reason nonetheless. Peppery arugula, sharp parmesan, and lemon dressing are all you’ll need for a light and delicious side salad. You can even use it as a topping for avocado toast.
Spinach Apple Salad
As summer produce winds down, this easy spinach salad with apples is the perfect way to welcome fall. Tossed in a homemade red wine vinaigrette and filled with dried cranberries, creamy avocado, feta cheese, and pistachios, it’s one of my very favorite way to eat salad.
Spinach Pear and Feta Salad
This particular salad has quite a bit going on, but in a good way. You’ll love the combination of juicy pears, crunchy walnuts, tangy feta, and those bright pomegranate seeds. Drizzle it with balsamic or a nice champagne vinaigrette to finish.
Autumn Apple Pasta Salad
If you’re getting tired of the same old pasta salad recipe, you have to try this spin on it. The tender pasta, crisp apples, and creamy poppyseed dressing are a combination unlike anything you’ve ever had. Toss in some oven-baked chicken breast for a protein boost.
Apple Coleslaw
I want to end this list with one of my absolute favorites. This apple coleslaw combines two unlikely pairings, apples and cabbage, and turns them into one of the best sides I’ve ever had with rich meats, stews, and a hearty bowl of chili. It tastes incredible with a drizzle of Dijon vinaigrette!
What Can I Serve with Fall Salads?
Fall salads pair beautifully with warm, comforting mains and simple sides. Here are some easy ideas to build a full meal around your favorite autumn salad.
- Roast Chicken: Savory garlic herb butter roast chicken is the perfect balance to fall produce like apples and squash.
- Oven-Roasted Pork Loin: Mild, tender pork pairs perfectly with salads featuring apples, mustard vinaigrettes, or earthy vegetables. It’s a great way to keep the meal hearty but still fresh.
- Baked Pork Chops: Pork chops bring satisfying richness to lighter, leafy fall salads. Especially delicious alongside salads with cranberries or Brussels sprouts.
- Roast Turkey Breast: All the flavors of fall without the fuss of roasting a whole bird. The lean turkey keeps the meal balanced; ideal with grain salads or anything with roasted vegetables.
- Potato Leek Soup: Creamy and comforting, this soup is the perfect cozy partner to crisp, crunchy fall salads. Together they create a filling but not too heavy cold-weather meal.
- Roast Beef Tenderloin: A great choice when you want your salad to feel like part of a special dinner. Excellent with salads featuring bold greens or tangy vinaigrettes.
Fall is such a great time to get creative in the kitchen, and these delicious fall salad recipes are proof that fresh greens and seasonal ingredients can shine just as much as the main course.
In my personal opinion, most of these salads are usually enough to be a standalone meal. That being said, if you’re a soup, salad, and entree kind of person, make sure to check out this complete list of fall recipes here!
