16 Healthy and Hearty Winter Salad Recipes

By Rachel Mulcahy
Iain Bagwell

When the cold winter months hit, Southerners bundle up in the comfort of their homes and spend quality time cooking hearty family meals. Our wintertime menus often call for wholesome soups, crispy casseroles, and fulfilling sandwiches. But we can’t help but crave the season's freshest and most sought-after greens on the snowy days. Although the winter months are typically the time to fill up on starch-filled and hearty meals, it’s easy to balance out heavy casseroles with a fulfilling mix of greens. The best winter salads are made up of the season’s freshest vegetables. From juicy cranberries to roasted brussels sprouts, you’ll be sure to create the ultimate salad. We gathered the best winter salads to dig into all season long, with tasty combinations such as Roasted Pumpkin-Baby Kale Salad and Pork Chops Quinoa Salad. Substitute your typical loaded casserole with a medley of refreshing greens. These winter salad ideas are loaded with a variety of seasonal vegetables that are delicious enough to persuade even non-salad lovers to go green, no matter how cold it is outside. 

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Clementine-and-Collard Greens Salad

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Clementine-and-Collard Greens Salad

Long winter days call for making this filling, sunny citrus salad.

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Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling; Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad

Pumpkin is our favorite seasonal ingredient. So don't mind us as we add pumpkin to all of our winter salads.

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Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad

This kid-approved salad is the easiest way to convince your young ones to eat greens.

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Pork-and-Farro Bowl with Warm Brussels Sprouts-Fennel Salad

Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Pork-and-Farro Bowl with Warm Brussels Sprouts-Fennel Salad

A new way to serve pork tenderloins, this dinnertime salad is hearty and healthy.

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Grilled Steak Salad with Potatoes and Pickled Red Onion

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Grilled Steak Salad with Potatoes and Pickled Red Onion

This well-balanced salad is hearty enough to be served as the main dish.

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Carrot-and-Fennel Salad

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling; Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Carrot-and-Fennel Salad

Switch things up with shaved carrots to create a make-shift veggie salad.

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Crunchy Chicken-Peanut Chopped Salad

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Crunchy Chicken-Peanut Chopped Salad

Our best Southern take on this Asian-flavored coleslaw is made complete with crunchy chicken and creamy dressing.

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Lemon Pork Chops with Quinoa Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Lemon Pork Chops with Quinoa Salad

Mix in asparagus to this wholesome quinoa salad for a winter-worthy upgrade.

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Layered Cornbread and Turkey Salad

Southern Living

Recipe: Dianne's Southwestern Cornbread Salad

This stacked salad can be changed to match whichever season you are in. Add squash and pumpkin to carry these greens through the winter months.

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Red Potato Salad

Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Red Potato Salad

Not all salads have to be green. Bring this summer classic into your winter menu. 

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Festive Cranberry-Walnut Salad

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Festive Cranberry-Walnut Salad

This fruit-filled congealed salad is the perfect addition to any holiday spread.

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Corn-and-Zucchini Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese

Con Poulos

Recipe: Corn-and-Zucchini Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese

These grilled veggies rest on top a bed of warm orzo and are sprinkled with goat cheese to create a delicate, hot medley.

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Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

This protein-packed Chicken Quinoa Salad is just the healthy option your chilly day needs. 


 

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Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken

A warm medley of sweet potatoes and kale make this unbeatable winter salad.

 

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Steak, Sweet Potato, and Blue Cheese Salad

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Steak, Sweet Potato, and Blue Cheese Salad

A combination of fresh greens, steak, sweet potatoes, and blue cheese is all it takes to create this irresistibly savory salad.

 

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Farro Salad with Toasted Pecans, Feta, and Dried Cherries

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Farro Salad with Toasted Pecans, Feta, and Dried Cherries

This crisp seasonal salad can sure pack a crunch!

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