Enjoy the crisp and vibrant flavors of winter with these colorful and filling salads. These recipes embrace seasonal ingredients like beets, cabbage, broccoli and sweet potato. Plus, these tasty main and side dishes are on the table in just three steps or less. Recipes like our Chopped Beet Salad and Kale & Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken are sure to become a staple in your kitchen this winter.
Cabbage Salad with Bacon
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Hostein, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.
This warm Cabbage Salad with Bacon turns simple ingredients into something delicious. Crisp, smoky bacon adds richness, while its rendered drippings are whisked into an apple-cider vinaigrette for a tangy, savory-sweet dressing that coats the cabbage perfectly. A touch of Dijon and honey makes each bite bright and satisfying.
Chopped Beet Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.
This vibrant chopped salad delivers a refreshing balance of earthy, tangy and citrusy flavors in every bite. Sweet, tender precooked beets are tossed in a bright orange–champagne vinaigrette, then topped with creamy feta and crunchy pistachios. A hint of honey smooths out the acidity, while the option of fresh mint adds a cool, aromatic finish. It’s a simple side that pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, grilled fish or holiday mains, and it looks as stunning as it tastes.
Kale & Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser.
This kale and sweet potato salad is a fresh lunch idea. Roasted sweet potatoes, massaged kale and a creamy tahini dressing set the stage for a mix of feta, golden raisins and crunchy almonds. Shredded chicken makes it a satisfying main, but leftover turkey can be used in its place, making this salad an especially smart way to refresh your plate after Thanksgiving.
Brussels Sprouts, Kale & Pear Salad
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower
This crisp and colorful salad celebrates the best of cool-weather produce while delivering plenty of texture and flavor in every bite. Kale and Brussels sprouts are massaged in a tangy apple-cider vinaigrette, while sweet red pear slices and jewel-toned pomegranate arils add juicy pops of freshness. Shaved Parmesan ties it all together with its rich, salty bite. This festive salad is sure to be the star of your holiday dinner.
Broccoli Crunch Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Renu Dhar, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
From the crunchy nuts and Parmesan crisps to the chewiness of sun-dried tomatoes, this broccoli salad has a satisfying medley of textures. The red-wine vinaigrette brings a briny flavor that is balanced by the nuttiness of the cheese. Serve this salad as a side or turn it into a meal-prep-friendly lunch—just leave the Parmesan crisps out until serving so they don’t get soggy. Look for Parmesan crisps in the dressing aisle near croutons.
Arugula, Beet & Feta Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
Peppery arugula and tender, sweet beets are balanced by a simple vinaigrette and briny bits of feta cheese in this salad. Using cooked, peeled beets helps make prep a breeze.
Loaded Chicken & Broccoli Salad
Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This loaded chicken and broccoli salad is a protein-packed powerhouse that doesn’t skimp on the classic “loaded” flavors you love. With tender, juicy chicken and crisp, fresh broccoli as the base, this salad delivers a satisfying bite in every forkful. A creamy dressing ties everything together, while mix-ins like crispy bacon, shredded cheese and scallions add layers of flavor. It’s the perfect salad for a high-protein lunch or dinner that keeps you full and energized.
Rotisserie Chicken & Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
This rotisserie chicken and roasted sweet potato salad is the perfect anti-inflammatory dinner. Sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants like beta carotene, while chicken provides lean protein to keep you full and satisfied. Tossed with fresh greens, apples and a tangy-sweet dressing, this salad is a wholesome meal that’s perfect for busy nights.
Roasted Cabbage Salad with Miso Vinaigrette
Ali Redmond
This roasted cabbage salad with miso vinaigrette is a boldly flavored dish that combines caramelized, tender cabbage with a rich, umami-packed dressing. Roasting brings out the cabbage’s natural sweetness, while the miso vinaigrette adds a savory depth with a hint of tang. You can adapt this salad to your taste by stirring in different chopped fresh herbs. Try cilantro for a bright, citrusy twist, basil for a subtle anise-like aroma, or mint for some refreshing contrast.
Roasted Carrot Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop stylist: Josh Hoggle
Sweet roasted carrots are the star of this salad, with some reserved for blending into a creamy, vibrant dressing. The carrot-based dressing—brightened with orange juice, whole-grain mustard and rice vinegar—adds a cohesive flavor to the salad. This roasted carrot salad works wonderfully as a side dish or as a main dish served with roasted chicken, salmon or tofu.
The #1 Anti-Inflammatory Salad You Should Be Making
Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
This easy kale salad draws flavor inspiration from the classic Italian pasta dish cacio e pepe, which translates to “cheese and pepper.” The signature flavors of sharp Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly ground black pepper transform kale into a delicious, anti-inflammatory side salad.
Cabbage Crunch Salad with Cider Vinaigrette
Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
This crisp and fresh cabbage-apple salad features carrots, walnuts and creamy Gorgonzola cheese. Allowing the cabbage to sit before serving helps soften it and develop the flavor. While any type of cabbage will work well, tender cabbage like napa will need less time to soften, while a sturdier variety like red or green cabbage will take a bit longer.
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood, Food Stylist: Sally McKay
This roasted butternut squash salad, with its caramelized butternut squash, tender kale and a zingy dressing, makes the perfect dish. Whether paired with roasted chicken or seared steak or enjoyed on its own, it brings a balance of sweet and savory to the table, making it a crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Feel free to swap out the lacinato kale for curly kale or try another winter squash like honeynut or delicata in place of the butternut.
Broccoli Salad with Feta
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee.
Bright, crunchy and ready in just 15 minutes, this broccoli salad brings big flavor with minimal effort. A fresh lemony dressing lightly coats crisp broccoli, sweet bell pepper and cooling cucumbers. A sprinkle of feta adds creamy contrast and ties everything together.
Cabbage Caesar Salad
Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Kelsey Moylan, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
In this Caesar salad, we skip the usual romaine lettuce and opt for napa cabbage, a delightfully tender cabbage variety that maintains a crisp and mild sweetness even when eaten raw. The dressing takes a shortcut, using store-bought mayonnaise instead of fresh egg yolks, and gets a savory kick from anchovy paste. Feel free to switch it up by using chopped anchovy fillets, or omit it entirely for a vegetarian-friendly salad according to your preference.
Chopped Broccoli & Chickpea Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Ruth Skipworth.
This hearty broccoli-chickpea salad is packed with satisfying texture and flavor from tender chickpeas, crunchy almonds, sweet golden raisins and tangy feta cheese. A mash of feta forms the base of the creamy, lemony dressing, coating every bite.
Winter Cobb Salad
This seasonal twist on a traditional Cobb salad swaps in kale for lettuce and spiced butternut squash for chicken but keeps the essential avocado, blue cheese, bacon and egg.
Kale & Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Avocado Caesar Dressing
This salad combines the flavors of a Caesar salad with tender green lacinato kale and the crunch of raw, shaved Brussels sprouts. The brown-butter breadcrumbs add additional crunch and a nutty, toasted flavor. Serve with grilled chicken for an added boost of protein.
Apple-Cranberry Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese
The tangy-sweet dressing in this spinach salad beautifully amplifies the apples and cranberries—and the creamy goat cheese transforms it into the perfect salad.
Balsamic Berry Vinaigrette Winter Salad
This festive winter salad recipe features colorful greens, fruit and cheese tossed with a light and zesty dressing.
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