Salads can transition beautifully into Fall when you’ve got the right ingredients and the right attitude. These delicious and healthy salads will help you pivot from summer to fall without missing a beat!
What do we mean by Fall Salads?
A fall salad is characterized by the use of seasonal ingredients that reflect the cozy nature of the season. They’re earthy and hearty, with a focus on textures and warm colors. A fall salad can be just as inviting as a spring or summer salad, you just have to know what to look for. The greens are a little bit heartier, the fruits a bit richer, the cheeses definitely tangier. Nuts and seeds are a must.
tips for crafting fall salads
Lean into seasonal salad ingredients ~ here’s a great cheat sheet to choose from:
FALL FRUITS: Apples, Pears, Grapes, Pomegranate Seeds, Persimmons, Figs, Cranberries
FALL VEGGIES: Winter Squash, Brussels Sprouts, Sweet Potatoes, Beets, Cauliflower, Carrots, Cabbage
FALL GREENS: Kale, Spinach, Arugula, Frisée, Endive, Romaine, Mizuna, Watercress, Radicchio
FALL NUTS & SEEDS: Pecans, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds
FALL CHEESES: Goat Cheese, Blue Cheese, Gorgonzola, Brie, Feta
FALL GRAINS: Farro, Rye, Quinoa, Barley, Wild Rice
FALL DRESSINGS & FLAVORS: Balsamic Vinegar, Maple Syrup, Cider, Honey, Tahini, Mustard, Pomegranate
Fall Apple Slaw
Apple slaw takes us from Labor Day right through Thanksgiving ~ all your favorites are in there: crunchy veggies, pepitas, dried cranberries, spiced pecans, and of course juicy apples!
Kale and Fall Fruit Salad
Generous chunks of creamy camembert cheese keep this fruit and vegetable salad from feeling too lightweight. Kale leaves take the place of lettuce, and a beautiful array of late summer and fall fruits like apples, figs, and currants take center stage. But I think it’s the cider and poppy seed dressing that really takes it over the top!
Pear Salad with Creamy Walnut Vinaigrette
This show stopping salad can be made on individual plates or as one stunning platter! The creamy walnut dressing is unique and amazing.
Apple Salad with Celery and Walnuts
The quintessential fall salad featuring everybody’s favorite fall fruit and tons of crunch! Walnuts and celery add a hint of bitterness for a sophisticated flavor profile.
Fig and Fried Goat Cheese Salad
Tomatoes, figs, walnuts, and irresistible little rounds of fried goat cheese make an unlikely but AMAZING combination in this salad.
Caesar Kale Slaw
Garlicky Caesar kale slaw combines healthy kale with a luxurious homemade Caesar dressing, buttery Parmesan cheese, and crunchy mini croutons. Who needs a main course when you’ve got a side dish like this??
Broccoli Honeycrisp Slaw
This hybrid slaw is a fabulous way to transition from summer to fall…
Wild Rice Salad with Maple Cider Vinaigrette
A classic wild rice salad with roasted butternut squash, cranberries, and Granny Smith apples!
Roasted Apple and Radicchio Salad with Bacon
I just love the mix of flavors here. Sweet, roasted apples and bitter, crisp radicchio work beautifully with the salty, savory bacon making this salad main-course-worthy.
Apple, Fennel, and Salami Salad
This unusual fall salad comes together in a flash ~ it’s perfect for those first chilly lunches of the season.
Black Rice Salad with Roasted Vegetables
If leafy green salads just aren’t your thing, this rice salad combines the best of late summer (cherry tomatoes, zesty fresh mint), with the best of early fall (roasted Brussels sprouts, beets, toasted hazelnuts and potatoes) for a super-satisfying meal.
Beet and Wild Rice Salad with Spiced Pecans
Delicious! You need to make this ultimate fall salad, if only for those pecans!
Kale and Butternut Salad with Maple Spiced Pecans
A fall salad that’s healthy and colorful ( with, yes, more pecans!) Shredding the kale makes it extra tender and butternut squash adds a touch of sweetness.
Roasted Beet and Burrata Salad
The last of the summer basil meets the first fall root crops and magic happens!
Rye and Carrot Salad
I love this simple earthy fall salad ~ the chewy rye berries go so well with the sweet tender carrots.
Wheat Berry Salad with Beets and Feta
This hearty grain based salad just seems to get better the longer it hangs out in the fridge!
Caesar Salad
Without any classic seasonal ingredients, the classic Caesar salad is always welcome in Fall.
