Why not add a salad to your dinner menu this holiday? They can be a perfect starter or a side dish. Since a Christmas dinner is usually heavy, it’s a great idea to start with a hearty bowl of salad. We have 40 Christmas salad recipes for entertaining your hungry guests and family members in a healthy way. Trust us; they are as good as Christmas cookies or cocktails.
After gulping appetizers and finishing all the cookies, you might want to have some greens to have a change of taste. Stay with us till the end and pick your favorite recipe for this Christmas.
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1. Wild Rice Christmas Salad with Cranberries and Pecan
Image and recipe from Healthy Gluten-Free Family
Prep Time: 25 Mins
Cook Time: 30 Mins
Servings: 4-6
Number of Ingredients: 16
This salad is very hearty and can be served for lunch as well as feasts. It has a variety of colors and flavors, like crunchies, tangy, sweet, and earthy textures. This salad doesn’t need to be heated. This dish is also gluten-free and a perfect fall recipe, but you can use it throughout the winter. With all the ingredients, it gives a winter feeling and pleases the guests. Plus, it can pair with almost any holiday dish and is super easy to put together.
2. Honeycrisp Christmas Salad
Image and recipe from five heart home
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 8-10
Number of Ingredients: 6
This salad is full of texture and flavors. Topped with slices of apples, buttery blue cheese, and dried cranberries, this dish is a combination of tangy and sweet tastes. This simple dish can surprise your guests.
3. Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese
Image and recipe from Julia’s Album
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 10 Mins
Servings: 4 person
Number of Ingredients: 8
Cranberry Spinach Salad with Cashews and Goat Cheese has a lemon, honey, and poppy seed dressing. This salad is not only delicious but also healthy with simple ingredients and an easy recipe.
4. Apple Cranberry Bacon Kale Christmas Salad
Image and recipe from Eatwell 101
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 4 persons
Number of Ingredients: 13
This salad is loaded with ingredients that have hearty nutrients. It tastes amazing as well. The flavor of dried cranberries, Apples, almonds, and kale go well together and give a festive vibe. On top of that, it also has your favorite bacon. It’s the perfect balance of savory, tangy, and sweet. I love tossing my simple winter salad with this vinaigrette for the perfect finish. It makes every bite that much more delicious.
5. Christmas Salad With Maple Candied Walnuts 
Image and recipe from Half baked harvest
Prep Time: 15 Mins
Cook Time: 20 Mins
Servings: 6 persons
Number of Ingredients: 15
This salad is a wonderful combination of winter favorites like greens, roasted walnuts, pomegranate, and goat cheese. It can be perfect for Christmas brunch, and you can even have it throughout winter. The ingredients are easy to put together and give you a healthy side dish. You can never get tired of this recipe.
6. Christmas Salad With Citrus-Champagne Vinaigrette
Image and recipe from Two healthy kitchens
Prep Time: 30 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 2
Number of Ingredients: 5
This salad is quite vibrant and perfect for a holiday or celebration. When shaped like a Christmas wreath, it will be a showstopper and a centerpiece of the dinner table. This is not a typical salad. It has greens, topped with salty and crunchy pistachios and tangy pomegranate seeds, and finished with creamy goat cheese. Pour some light champagne vinaigrette for a refreshing touch. It will satisfy your tangy cravings and is a good way to switch from comfort foods.
7. Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad
Image and recipe from Hungry Healthy
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 40 Mins
Servings: 3
Number of Ingredients: 19
If you are tired of eating plain vegetables, try roasting them. This is a great way to get kids to eat more vegetables. Introduce this roasted vegetable salad to your friends who think that salads are plain and boring. Plus, it doesn’t even look like a regular salad. This recipe will bring warmth and happiness to the dinner table, perfect for a chilling winter. Top the salad with your favorite cheese, and enjoy.
8. Christmas Salad with Creamy Poppy Seeds Dressing
Image and recipe from Fav family recipes
Prep Time: 15 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 6 person
Number of Ingredients: 11
This salad is a refreshing option for your holiday feast. It looks colorful and is topped with creamy ingredients. It has been a festive staple for quite some time. This beautiful salad with spinach, pomegranate seeds, oranges, and sprinkled feta cheese gives a Christmassy touch.
9. Christmas Cranberry Marshmallow Salad
Image and recipe from Jamhands
Prep Time: 8 Hours
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 10 person
Number of Ingredients: 6
Tired of regular salads? Try this one. It is unconventional, with a creamy texture and perfectly balanced sweet and tangy flavors. It has fresh whipped cream with pineapple, marshmallows, and cranberries, finished up like a tart. This dish is a must-try for upcoming celebrations. Prepare it on any occasion.
10. Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette
Image and recipe from country living
Prep Time: 35 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 6 person
Number of Ingredients: 15
Brussels sprouts have a high percentage of fiber and antioxidants. This tangy salad is a bit different. With crisp-brown low, cooked sprouts, toasted nuts like almonds, pecans, and walnuts will make a great addition. This is an effortless yet nutritious recipe.
11. Holiday Wreath Salad
Image and tutorial from Flavor and savor
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 30 Mins
Servings: 24 Bars
Number of Ingredients: 10
This fancy yet easy salad is perfect for the festive season. Loaded with different fruits and herbs, this dish is healthy and delicious. It comes with so many flavors and textures, and it is a crowd-puller!
12. Roasted Cauliflower-Pomegranate Salad Served With Beef Tenderloin
Image and recipe from Country living
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 6 person
Number of Ingredients: 10
This delicious meat tenderloin is lit up by a spicy cauliflower-pomegranate salad. It makes sure to please guests and the best part is you just need one dish! Shower with olive oil and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. Cut beef and present with cauliflower pomegranate salad.
13. Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio Salad
Image and recipe from Country living
Prep Time: 0 Mins
Cook Time: 50 Mins
Servings: 8
Number of Ingredients: 7
Everyone loves mushrooms! This easy fall dish is full of mushrooms, a slight flavor of radicchio, and balsamic. This salad is perfect if you are looking for healthy dishes during the festivals.
14. Arugula Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pecans
Image and recipe from Julia’s album
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 10 Mins
Servings: 4
Number of Ingredients: 6
This easy Arugula Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pecans is an ideal regular plate of mixed greens and an incredible festive side dish! Prepared with an essential Balsamic dressing, this plate will add new greens, fruits, and nuts to any meal. The plate of mixed greens matches well with barbecued meats, baked chicken, pasta, pizza, etc. Just by using basic ingredients, this apple arugula salad is an ideal companion to anything: grilled meats, pasta meals, pork recipes, and steak. Likewise, an extraordinary occasion salad will make any dinner look much fancier on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year.
15. Cranberry, Apple, and Pineapple Salad
Image and recipe from Mom endeavours
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 8
Number of Ingredients: 5
Intrigue guests with this magnificently unique interpretation of cranberry sauce. The nuts add a delicious crunch. This Cranberry Apple Pineapple Salad is a keeper for sure.
16. Christmas Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
Image and recipe from Fashionable foods
Prep Time: 15 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 4
Number of Ingredients: 13
Let’s be honest; salads can be boring sometimes. Most of us can get tired of eating lettuce. That’s why we have a special Christmas salad with no lettuce in the dish. It has raw Brussels sprouts paired with kale which gives a better flavor than lettuce.
17. Broccoli and Cauliflower Christmas Salad
Image and recipe from Fashionable foods
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 10 Mins
Servings: 6
Number of Ingredients: 13
This is a gluten-free dish with a creamy flavor. It has a citrus dressing which gives the salad a tangy flavor. It is quite suitable for current festivities, and you can have this throughout the winter.
18. Pea Salad with Bacon and Pecan
Image and recipe from Julia’s album
Prep Time: 15 Mins
Cook Time: 15 Mins
Servings: 4
Number of Ingredients: 9
This is a side dish that can be paired with so many different kinds of meals. It has a creamy and crunchy texture with peas, bacon, and pecans.
19. Potato Salad with Sour Cream Dressing
Image and recipe from Women’s weekly food
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 15 Mins
Servings: 8
Number of Ingredients: 9
Potato salads are a staple for Christmas dinner. It has classic ingredients like Greek yogurt and sour cream. Top it with bacon and green onion.
20. Italian Green Bean Salad
Image and tutorial from homemade interest
Prep Time: 15 Mins
Cook Time: 10 Mins
Servings: 10
Number of Ingredients: 10
Who doesn’t love an Italian side dish? It has pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. It has a great tangy taste and is very simple to prepare. Toss all the ingredients together, and it’s done.
21. Beetroot Pumpkin Haloumi Salad
Image and recipe from My kitchen stories
Prep Time: 30 Mins
Cook Time: 30 Mins
Servings: 4
Number of Ingredients: 13
This salad equates to different textures on a plate. It has beetroot which has an earthy texture; halloumi has a creamy texture and pumpkin, which is very soft. The bitterness of beetroot, the sweet taste of pumpkin, and the saltiness of halloumi make it taste amazing.
22. Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
Image and tutorial from the feel-good foodie
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 40 Mins
Servings: 4
Number of Ingredients: 14
This butternut squash quinoa salad is probably the healthiest dish on the Christmas menu. Not only is this healthy, but looks great as well.
Did you know that incorporating roasted butternut squash into your holiday salad can give it a cozy, warm flavor while still keeping it healthy and vibrant?
23. Spiced Pumpkin Salad With Radicchio, Feta, Pine Nuts, Mint, and Christmas Dressing
Image and recipe from Georgeeats
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 35 Mins
Servings: 2
Number of Ingredients: 17
The heavy use of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove in the salad gives a Christmasy vibe isn’t Christmas with heavy-handed use of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. These three are the ultimate trio of winter spices. You can enjoy this dish on any occasion, like Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, and even throughout the winter.
24. Corn Salad with Bacon and Honey
Image and recipe from country living
Prep Time: 30 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 8
Number of Ingredients: 6
This salad will remind you of the Southern USA and its food. It is sweet and savory. It also has some typical Southern ingredients like honey and bacon.
25. Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple Butternut Squash, Pumpkin Seeds, and Cranberries
Image and recipe from Julia’s Album
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 20 Mins
Servings: 8
Number of Ingredients: 10
Try this salad if you love adding colorful dishes to pair with the main menu. Rich in antioxidants, this is a gluten-free and vegetarian dish. It is loaded with nutrients. It can be served for lunch as well as dinner.
Did you know that fennel, with its slight licorice flavor, makes a surprisingly delicious and elegant addition to a Christmas salad, especially when paired with citrus or cranberries?
26. Lemon Butter Green Beans with Cranberries, Walnuts, and Feta
Image and recipe from Cooking Classy
Prep Time: 10 Mins
Cook Time: 20 Mins
Servings: 5
Number of Ingredients: 8
Lemon Butter Green Beans with Cranberries, Walnuts, and Feta is a colorful and festive dish with different textures. It has crisp green beans, crunchy walnuts, and cranberries.
Did you know that using a citrus-based dressing, like orange or lemon vinaigrette, can brighten up your Christmas salad, making it both refreshing and festive?
27. Holiday Antipasto Wreath
Image and recipe from Simply Scratch
Prep Time: 30 Mins
Cook Time: 0 Mins
Servings: 4
Number of Ingredients: 10
A salad for outdoor gatherings and parties. It is easy and fun to make. Shape the skewers of salami, basil, mozzarella, and olives into a wreath and sprinkle rosemary. If you love Italian cuisine, try this one during the holiday season.
28. Winter Kale and Quinoa Christmas Salad
Image and recipe from Eat yourself skinny
Prep Time: 5 Mins
Cook Time: 15 Mins
Servings: 6
Number of Ingredients: 10
This Winter Kale and Quinoa Salad is the best holiday side dish. It is super easy to prepare. It has got a crunchy and sweet texture. Place your cooked quinoa in a large bowl and add all the dressing. That’s it. The salad is ready. The crispy walnuts and crunchy pomegranate seeds go well together. Make it in large batches if you have got a lot of guests this Christmas.
29. Mango, Avocado, and Macadamia Christmas Salad
Image and recipe from better homes and gardens
Prep Time: 15Mins
Cook Time: 5 Mins
Servings: 8-10
Number of Ingredients: 14
Even though it is a classic summer salad, this is a staple for lunch gatherings or dinner. It takes just moments to prepare. The combination of mango and avocado with crunchy macadamia makes it a good fit. Serve with BBQ meat.
30. Bacon Pea Christmas Salad
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 40 Mins
Servings: 6
Number of Ingredients: 14
This pea salad is not a typical one loaded with mayo. Lighten up the feast with fresh and crunchy peas and bacon. This will tempt your guests for sure. You can even take this on a family trip or picnic.
31. Warm Mashed Potato and Radicchio Salad with Lemon Aioli
Image and recipe from Better homes and gardens
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 45 Mins
Servings: 8-10
Number of Ingredients: 16
The salad is drizzled with homemade fresh lemon aioli prepared at home. This is not a regular and plain potato salad.
32. Beetroot, Peach, and Toffee Walnut Fattoush
Image and recipe from Better Homes and Gardens
Prep Time: 20 Mins
Cook Time: 40 Mins
Servings: 8-10
Number of Ingredients: 12
This salad has a fruity flavor, with vinegar dressing, and is topped with creamy goat cheese. A perfect dish to pull off when you want to impress someone. It has a rich texture. Adding the warm beets melts the cheese and just slightly wilts the salad, which is great!
Did you know that adding pomegranate seeds to your Christmas salad not only adds a festive pop of color but also a sweet-tart crunch that pairs perfectly with savory ingredients like goat cheese or roasted nuts?
While we can’t guarantee that your guests will be thrilled to see a salad on the dinner table, they will be surprised to have these unique recipes. It’s wonderful to celebrate the best time of the year with a healthy dish.
FAQS
1. What are some traditional ingredients used in Christmas salads?
Traditional ingredients for Christmas salads often include seasonal items like roasted vegetables (carrots, brussels sprouts), cranberries, pomegranate seeds, apples, pears, walnuts, and festive herbs like rosemary and thyme. Leafy greens like spinach, arugula, and kale are also popular, along with cheeses such as feta, goat cheese, or parmesan.
2. What makes a salad festive for Christmas?
To make a salad festive, incorporate seasonal ingredients that showcase the holiday colors like red (cranberries, pomegranate, cherry tomatoes), green (spinach, kale, arugula), and white (feta cheese, nuts, or dressings). Adding holiday-themed garnishes like candied pecans, dried fruits, and special dressings with balsamic reduction or spiced vinaigrettes also elevates the holiday feel.
3. Can I prepare Christmas salads ahead of time?
Yes, many Christmas salads can be prepared ahead of time by pre-cutting ingredients and keeping the dressing separate. For best results, store leafy greens and delicate ingredients separately to avoid wilting, and toss everything together just before serving to ensure freshness.
4. What are some good protein options for Christmas salads?
For protein, consider adding grilled chicken, roasted turkey, smoked salmon, or ham. Vegetarian protein options include chickpeas, lentils, tofu, or hard-boiled eggs. Nuts like walnuts or almonds and cheeses also provide a nice protein boost.
5. Are there any vegan or vegetarian Christmas salad recipes?
Absolutely! Vegan Christmas salads can feature ingredients like roasted vegetables, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and plant-based proteins like tofu or quinoa. You can use olive oil-based vinaigrettes or tahini-based dressings to make them fully vegan.
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