Fall salads bring the best seasonal ingredients into the mix, with roasted veggies, crisp apples, and hearty greens that make dinner way more exciting. These salads are great for nights when you want something flavorful without going overboard on the heavy stuff. They’re fresh, simple, and loaded with everything that makes autumn so good. From quick meals to holiday-ready sides, these dishes have everything you need to keep your fall dinners interesting.
Avocado Lentil Cranberry Salad
This fall salad brings avocado, lentils, and cranberries to the party, all tossed in a punchy lemon Dijon dressing. Perfect for when you need a hearty, no-nonsense side or lunch.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Lentil Cranberry Salad
Honey Mustard Chicken and Brussels Sprouts Salad
Apples, pomegranates, and Brussels sprouts meet chicken for a fall salad that’s packed with flavor. Toss it all in a honey mustard dressing, and you’ve got a weeknight dinner that doesn’t mess around.
Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard Chicken and Brussels Sprouts Salad
Roasted Winter Root Vegetable Salad
Beets and parsnips get roasted and thrown in with pecans, cranberries, and blue cheese. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar seals the deal, making this salad a fall showstopper.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Winter Root Vegetable Salad
Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese
Peppery arugula, tangy goat cheese, and roasted sweet potatoes—this salad is your go-to for when you need a great side or something light but still packed with fall flavor.
Get the Recipe: Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese
Harvest Salad with Smoked Chicken
Smoked chicken teams up with grapes, pecans, and butter lettuce for this fall-ready salad. Tossed with a maple Dijon vinaigrette, it’s great for any lunch or light dinner situation.
Get the Recipe: Harvest Salad with Smoked Chicken
Fall Harvest Salad
Kale, roasted sweet potatoes, cranberries, and hazelnuts hit the fall jackpot in this colorful salad. A maple mustard vinaigrette ties it all together, perfect for any fall table.
Get the Recipe: Fall Harvest Salad
Warm Spinach Salad
Baby spinach, hard-boiled eggs, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and crispy bacon all come together in this salad with a maple mustard dressing. It’s a great choice when you want something cozy but still green.
Get the Recipe: Warm Spinach Salad
Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
Roasted butternut squash, quinoa, spinach, and apples make this salad a fall classic. Easy enough for a weeknight, but fancy enough to impress any dinner crowd.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
Delish Arugula Spinach Salad
Creamy avocado, crunchy sunflower seeds, and shaved parmesan take this arugula spinach salad to the next level. With a tangy sumac dressing, it’s great for any fall meal.
Get the Recipe: Delish Arugula Spinach Salad
Harvest Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Honeycrisp apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and cranberries are all tossed in a sweet and tangy poppy seed vinaigrette. Throw in some bacon and pecans, and you’ve got a fall salad that’s impossible to resist.
Get the Recipe: Harvest Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad
Roasted pumpkin and beetroot, salty feta, and crunchy pepitas—this hearty salad has all the makings of a fall favorite. A maple vinaigrette brings it all together for a perfect seasonal dish.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad
Cranberry Harvest Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Cranberries, crisp greens, and a homemade apple cider vinaigrette make this salad a perfect addition to your fall table. Light enough for a side but bold enough to stand on its own.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Harvest Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Kale and Beet Salad with Roasted Carrots
Roasted beets and carrots meet fresh kale in this vibrant salad that’s full of fall colors and flavor. It’s a great make-ahead option for busy weeknights or gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Kale and Beet Salad with Roasted Carrots
Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing
Kale gets a punch of flavor with a creamy tahini dressing. Tossed with plenty of protein-packed goodness, this is a salad that can work as a main dish or a side—your call.
Get the Recipe: Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing
Easy Taboule Salad
This fresh take on taboule includes cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and loads of herbs. Tossed with hemp seeds, it’s great as a refreshing, herby side dish for fall meals.
Get the Recipe: Easy Taboule Salad
Autumn Salad with Chicken
Juicy chicken, salad greens, dried fruit, and nuts come together in this balanced autumn salad. Topped with a mustard balsamic dressing, it’s a great fall go-to for any meal.
Get the Recipe: Autumn Salad with Chicken
Savoury Steak and Squash Salad
Steak and roasted squash are the stars of this salad, with a maple apple dressing to tie it all together. If you’re bored of the same old fall dinners, this one’s a game changer.
Get the Recipe: Savoury Steak and Squash Salad
Sweet Potato Kale Salad
Sweet potatoes, tangy pomegranate, and creamy feta steal the show in this kale salad. Topped with a homemade pomegranate vinaigrette, it’s perfect for a hearty fall lunch or light dinner.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Kale Salad
Fall Harvest Chicken Salad
With smoked chicken, salad greens, and seasonal fruit, this fall harvest salad works for anything from fancy lunches to weeknight dinners. The sweet and smoky flavors will make it a favorite.
Get the Recipe: Fall Harvest Chicken Salad
Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl Recipe
This copycat harvest bowl includes kale, sweet potatoes, chicken, and almonds with a balsamic vinaigrette. Perfect for fall nights when you want something comforting but still fresh.
Get the Recipe: Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl Recipe
Sweetgreen Peach and Goat Cheese Salad
Peaches and goat cheese bring a bit of summer into the fall with this salad. Throw in some greens, cucumber, and almonds, and it’s the perfect transition salad for the season.
Get the Recipe: Sweetgreen Peach and Goat Cheese Salad
Kimchi Salad
This quick and easy salad mixes kimchi, fresh veggies, and tuna for a bold, tangy dish that’s ready in 10 minutes. Perfect when you want something different for a fall lunch.
Get the Recipe: Kimchi Salad
Brussels Sprout, Kale + Apple Salad with Sharp Cheddar + Bacon
Brussels sprouts, kale, apples, sharp cheddar, and crispy bacon come together in this fall salad that’s a mix of healthy and indulgent. Perfect for a Thanksgiving side or a hearty lunch.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprout, Kale + Apple Salad with Sharp Cheddar + Bacon
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.