28 Winter Salad Recipes That Are Healthy And Delicious!
When you think of winter salads, do you picture creamy, heavy dishes that weigh you down? Today’s roundup of 28 winter salad recipes are a vibrant celebration of the season’s best produce, designed to nourish and delight without sacrificing flavor or your wellness goals. This collection proves that ‘healthy’ can be incredibly satisfying, even during the coziest months.
These winter salad recipes embrace the crisp textures and bright, seasonal flavors that make winter eating a joy. Most achieve their deliciousness through light, homemade vinaigrettes, while clever swaps like Greek yogurt offer creaminess without the extra calories you’d typically find in mayo.
From hearty kale bases to sweet roasted root veggies, each salad is a testament to how nutritious meals can feel utterly indulgent. Why wait for the New Year to reset? Start serving these vibrant, flavor-packed winter salads at your very next meal!
28 Healthy Winter Salad Recipes
Green Salad with Apples
Crisp apple slices, tangy goat cheese, dried cranberries, and crunchy hazelnuts mingle over tender greens in this vibrant salad. A sharp-sweet maple vinaigrette ties everything together with a perfect balance of flavors and textures. This winter salad assembles in just 15 minutes, and the dressing can be made days ahead for added convenience!
Find the full Green Salad with Apples recipe here.
Warm Pasta Salad
This Warm Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh veggies, cheese, bowtie pasta, walnuts and a delicious olive oil drizzle. Ready in minutes and budget-friendly, it’s perfect for potlucks, gatherings, meal prep, and more!
Find the full Warm Pasta Salad recipe here.
Layered Apple Spinach Salad
Build this visually stunning salad by layering fresh spinach, crisp red apple slices, savory bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and red onion. A simple honey mustard dressing drizzled on top brings all the elements together. Enjoy the creative freedom of chopping or dicing the ingredients to your preference for a customizable presentation.
Read the full Layered Apple Spinach Salad recipe here.
Meg’s Winter Green Salad Recipe
Packed with seasonal flavor, this bright and crunchy salad features chopped apples, cranberries, pecans, and plenty of fresh winter vegetables. It’s a healthy, flavor-packed side that’s perfect for casual family dinners or entertaining.
Check out the full Meg’s Winter Green Salad Recipe here.
Apple and Blue Cheese Salad
This chopped salad pairs crisp red apples with tangy blue cheese and savory bacon for a satisfying mix of sweet and savory notes. The homemade dressing, often featuring maple syrup and Dijon mustard, strikes the right balance of tangy and sweet. For best results, store leftover dressing in the fridge or even double the recipe for future use.
Find the full Apple and Blue Cheese Salad recipe here.
The Best House Salad
Need a go-to salad recipe to pair with meals or for whenever you’re hungry for a bowl of greens? This easy House Salad is so good, and the vinaigrette is sweet, tangy, and pretty nearly perfect!
Follow the The Best House Salad recipe here.
Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad
This main-dish salad combines the bright flavors of an Asian-style slaw with hearty shredded chicken and sweet-tart dried cranberries. It’s a light and fresh option that’s equally perfect for a quick weeknight meal or as a standout dish at any gathering.
Find the full Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad recipe here.
Red Cabbage Beet Slaw with Cranberries
This vibrant, mayo-free slaw showcases finely shredded red cabbage and sweet beets for a powerful nutrient boost. Sweetened apple and dried cranberries add pops of fruity flavor and chewy texture. It’s a uniquely healthy and colorful twist on classic coleslaw.
See the full Red Cabbage Beet Slaw with Cranberries recipe here.
Waldorf Brussels Sprout Salad
This winter twist on a classic Waldorf salad uses shredded raw Brussels sprouts as its hearty base, combined with apples, cranberries, and bacon. A light vinaigrette dresses the salad, offering all the beloved flavors without the heaviness of traditional mayonnaise!
Read the full Waldorf Brussels Sprout Salad recipe here.
Arugula Pear Salad
Peppery arugula forms the base for sweet pear slices, tangy goat cheese, toasted pecans, and tart dried cranberries. The combination offers a delightful play of flavors and contrasting creamy, crisp, and chewy textures. A simple homemade vinaigrette brings it all together as a refreshing complement to your winter meals.
Find the full Arugula Pear Salad recipe here.
Kale Salad with Beets
This hearty salad is a beautiful mosaic of roasted beets and carrots, sweet dried cranberries, golden raisins, and pumpkin seeds. Massaged kale serves as a nutrient-dense, sturdy base that holds up well to the toppings and a drizzle of vinaigrette. It’s a filling side dish full of winter flavor that you can enjoy alongside our Cornish Game Hens and Cauliflower Gratin.
Check out the full Kale Salad with Beets recipe here.
Pad Thai Cafe Salad
We love an easy Pad Thai Cafe Salad – a pad thai recipe that is often served in cafes, made with fresh veggies, chicken, noodles, and spicy flavors in the homeamde sauce! This recipe feeds a lot, and is delicious for any potluck or gathering. Top with crunchy peanuts and cilantro!
Discover the full Pad Thai Cafe Salad recipe here.
Tuna Apple Salad
Transform classic tuna salad by serving it scooped onto crisp apple slices for a fun, open-faced presentation. The recipe gives you the option of using Greek yogurt for a healthier version and includes celery for added crunch. You can prepare the tuna mixture ahead of time and assemble it just before serving for a quick, protein-packed lunch.
Find the full Tuna Apple Salad recipe here.
Kale Cruch Salad
Kale Crunch Salad has flavors of garlic, shallots, pine nuts, sweet red peppers, and curly kale–with a lemon and Parmesan cheese dressing!
Read the full Kale Crunch Salad recipe here.
Orange Juice Salad Dressing (with Salad)
This vibrant Orange Juice Salad Dressing bursts with sweet, tangy citrus flavor and is the star of a stunning orange salad featuring juicy Mandarin oranges, toasted almonds, chewy cranberries, crisp lettuce, red onion, and fennel. It’s the effortless, made-in-5 minutes, show-stopping side dish your Thanksgiving dinner deserves!
Follow the full Orange Juice Salad Dressing (Salad) recipe here.
Poached Pear Salad
This elegant salad features pears gently poached in a spiced syrup of maple, vanilla, and cinnamon until tender and fragrant. The warm pears are arranged over fresh greens with tangy goat cheese and candied pecans. The reduced poaching liquid often forms the base of a uniquely spiced, creamy vinaigrette to dress the salad.
Follow the Poached Pear Salad recipe here.
Cranberry-Apple Coleslaw
This fruity twist on coleslaw is loaded with crisp apples, red onion, grapes, and sweet-tart dried cranberries. The dressing has just the right balance of tang and sweetness to complement the mix of crunchy ingredients. For the best texture, dress this colorful slaw just before serving.
Find the full Cranberry-Apple Coleslaw recipe here.
Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad
Italian bowtie pasta salad is a vibrant, crowd-pleasing dish that combines tender, farfalle-shaped noodles (bowtie pasta) with a medley of fresh vegetables, salami, cheese, tomatoes, olives, Mozzarella cheese, and zesty Italian dressing.
Discover the full Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad recipe here.
Southwest Kale Quinoa Salad
Southwest Kale Quinoa Salad recipe is made with corn, diced kale, and veggies; mingled together in a cilantro and lime dressing.
Find the full Southwest Kale Quinoa Salad recipe here.
Mediterranean Pecan Pasta Salad
This layered pasta salad is packed with Mediterranean flavors like sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, olives, feta cheese, and orange slices. Toasted pecans add a satisfying crunch and buttery flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients. We love to adapt this delicious salad with the addition of roasted butternut squash for an easy winter touch!
Follow this Mediterranean Pecan Pasta Salad recipe here.
Kale Salad with Apples and Walnuts
Massaged kale forms a tender base for crisp apple slices, toasted walnuts, and dried cherries in this hearty salad. A maple vinaigrette adds a subtle sweetness, while crumbled feta cheese provides a salty finish. It’s an easy-to-prepare, visually stunning dish perfect for any winter table.
See this Kale Salad with Apples and Walnuts recipe here.
Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad
Get ready for a burst of bright flavors and satisfying crunch with this effortless Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad. It combines lean protein and fresh, vibrant veggies with a creamy, tangy peanut dressing that ties everything together. Top it with toasted slivered almonds and enjoy it as your new go-to recipe for a quick, wholesome meal that feels anything but ordinary!
Find the full Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad recipe here.
Marry Me Caesar Wedge Salad
If you’re looking for a fun salald to make for a party, or even Valentine’s Day, then you’ve come to the right place. This Marry Me Caesar Wedge Salad is a fun spin on a traditional wedge salad, inspired by a Ceasar salad. It’s made with iceberg and romaine lettuce, chicken, sun-dried toamtoes, and a creamy dressing that is out of this world. Perfect for a small gather yet easy enough for a dinner party
Follow the Marry Me Caesar Wedge Salad recipe here.
Beet Appetizer (Salad)
This versatile dish can be served as an elegant appetizer or a simple salad. It pairs sweet roasted beets with creamy goat cheese, bright citrus, and fresh dill. Arranged on small plates, it offers a sophisticated and flavorful start to any meal.
Find the full Beet Appetizer (Salad) recipe here.
Roasted Beet and Yam Salad
This robust salad features earthy roasted beets and sweet yams, creating a wonderful mix of flavors and textures. A drizzle of tangy balsamic glaze or homemade dressing enhances the natural sweetness of the vegetables. It’s a nutrient-packed side dish that’s as satisfying as it is colorful.
Read the full Roasted Beet and Yam Salad recipe here.
Quick Easy Green Salad Recipe
As the name promises, this salad comes together quickly with a mix of fresh greens, dried mandarin oranges, nuts, and cheese. It’s dressed with a bright, homemade Clementine vinaigrette for a citrusy kick. This simple formula makes for a beautiful and delicious side any day of the week.
See the full Quick Easy Green Salad Recipe here.
Pancetta Arugula Salad
Salty, crispy pancetta contrasts with peppery arugula and creamy goat cheese in this flavorful salad. A fresh lemon dressing adds a bright, acidic note that cuts through the richness. This light yet satisfying salad pairs well with a wide variety of winter main courses.
Follow this Pancetta Arugula Salad recipe here.
Prosciutto Salad with Beets
This colorful salad combines crispy baked prosciutto with roasted golden beets and creamy goat cheese. The salty prosciutto, sweet beets, and tangy cheese create a delicious harmony of fall and winter flavors. It’s an easy yet impressive dish that works perfectly as a chilled appetizer or a side salad.
Find the full Prosciutto Salad with Beets recipe here.
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
