8 Autumn Salad Recipes You'll Totally Fall For

Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad
Photo: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling; Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

With fall comes the abundance of new seasonal produce, from pumpkins and apples to cranberries and kale. That means it's time to shift your salad rotation from summer squash and tomatoes to heartier, cozier fare. Think about deep green leaves of kale, vibrant Brussels sprouts, spicy arugula, and creamy pumpkin. Here, we've rounded up our best fall salad recipes– a delicious assortment ready to shine on your dinner table. Try one of our fall salad recipes with apples for a little sweetness and crunch, or turn a plain old bowl of lettuce into the main course with one of our entree salad ideas. Whether the salad is the star of your table or just the appetizer, these recipes will ensure that eating your vegetables is a fun (and anticipated) mealtime habit for everyone—kids included.

01 of 08

Harvest Salad

Harvest Salad
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Recipe: Harvest Salad

Crisp apples, fresh Brussels sprouts, and hearty kabocha squash come together to create a delightful, quintessentially fall salad. The maple syrup in the dressing takes it over the top.

02 of 08

Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad

Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Beet, Fennel, and Apple Salad

Earthy beets really shine in this fall salad, especially when you opt for the fun colors like the Chioggia beets or golden ones, which will pop on the plate. They'll taper the spiciness of the arugula, as will the Granny Smiths.

03 of 08

Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans

Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans

Crunchy Brussels sprouts, crisp apples, and plenty of pecans come together for a refreshing autumn salad that allows seasonal produce to shine.

04 of 08

Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans

Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans
Sheri Giblin

Recipe: Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans

Spicy, paprika-laden pecans provide a smoky element to this crispy apple and winter greens salad. Creamy goat cheese mellows the strong flavors and the vinaigrette brings fall vibes with allspice, orange zest, and lemon juice.

05 of 08

Simple Beet Salad

Simple Beet Salad
Jennifer Davick; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Simple Beet Salad

Throw this together when you're in a pinch. Beets do all the heavy lifting and a pre-made balsamic vinaigrette will do just fine.

06 of 08

Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs

Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs

In this lighter version of a Caesar salad, all the familiar flavors are here, but swap the lettuce for kale and use Greek yogurt for a little creaminess. Don't skimp on the Parmesan.

07 of 08

Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Though touted as a "summer salad," sweet potatoes really shine in the fall. Roasting the sweet potatoes renders a beautiful, caramelized crust that's just a little crispy.

08 of 08

Classic Cranberry Salad

Classic Cranberry Salad
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Classic Cranberry Salad

Move over, canned stuff. This homemade version is so good, you'll want it all season long (not just on Thanksgiving!).

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