This simple and most festive holiday Thanksgiving salad recipe with cranberries comes layered with lots of special goodies to make it fit for a holiday meal! Crisp red autumn apples, spring mix, and fresh spinach get topped off with goat cheese crumbles, crunchy roasted pumpkin seeds, caramelized pecans, and sprinkles of goat cheese crumbles.  A super simple apple cider vinaigrette is drizzled on top for a bright, delicious finish.  

Add a touch of freshness to the Thanksgiving menu this year with this festive holiday salad!  This satisfying mix of greens, crisp apples, pomegranate seeds, dried fruits, nuts, and creamy goat cheese gets the holiday treatment with drizzles of quick apple cider dressing!  It will fit right in with your other Thanksgiving side dishes as it complements the Thanksgiving meal.

 This simple apple cider vinaigrette is easy to make and comes together with a brightening squeeze of fresh orange juice, lemon juice, apple cider, vinegar, maple syrup, and good fruity olive oil.  A fitting finish for an elegant, holiday-inspired salad you can be proud to serve at Thanksgiving dinner or any holiday table.

This page contains affiliate links which allow me to earn small commissions from qualifying purchases of fun and favorite products at no cost to you.

Different toppings help to add up to a mixture of textures and flavors that really make this simple salad something to savor!  Colorful spring mix leaves are tossed together with fresh spinach and a few special toppings that really take this simple green salad to the max… 

Here are some of the ingredients you’ll want to have on hand to really make this cranberry salad recipe special!

Ingredients To Make A Thanksgiving Salad Recipe with Cranberries, Crisp Apple, and Pecans

To make this festive and colorful salad for the Thanksgiving table, you’ll want to have a few things ready to go!

For The Thanksgiving Salad:

• A container of spring mix
• Fresh spinach leaves
• A crisp red apple: such as gala apple, fuji apple, or honeycrisp apple
• Dried cranberries
• Salted roasted pumpkin seeds: also known as pepitas
• A small container of goat cheese crumbles
• A small container of caramelized pecans: the brand I have linked here, by Mitica, makes the most delicious caramelized pecans…perfect for this simple salad (but also delicious all on their own).
• A fresh pomegranate: or a small container of pomegranate arils

For The Apple Cider Vinaigrette Drizzle: 

• A bit of apple cider
• Fresh squeezed orange juice
• Fresh squeezed lemon juice
• Apple cider vinegar: such as Bragg organic apple cider vinegar
• Good fruity olive oil
• 100% pure maple syrup
• Coarse salt and cracked pepper for seasoning

Make A Simple Thanksgiving Salad Recipe with Cranberries, Crisp Apple, and Pecans

It’s easy to make this simple salad with just a few fresh ingredients!  Start by layering some spring mix greens onto your serving platter.  I took about 4 cups of loosely packed spring mix and arranged that at the bottom of the platter.

Arrange Fresh Salad Greens On Your Serving Platter

I then took 2 more cups of loosely packed fresh spinach leaves and sprinkled them down over the spring mix in the center of platter.  Next, you’ll want to add a touch of crisp red apple for fruity crunch and texture…

Add Sliced Red Apple To The Thanksgiving Salad Recipe with Cranberries

Core your red apple and then cut it in half.  Make thin slices from the halves and arrange the apples in groups of 4 or 5 slices all around the top of the salad.  Alternatively, you can set the apple slices in an even layer all over the top of your greens, if desired.  

There’s no right or wrong way to display the ingredients or toppings.  Style the apples in a circular pattern, if desired.  You can make this hearty salad festive and fun for the holiday season by arranging things the way you like them best!  This, in my opinion, is what makes the best Thanksgiving recipes… Taking an idea and giving it your very own style and flare!

Top This Festive Thanksgiving Salad with Dried Cranberries and Pumpkin Seeds

Once you have the salad greens down and the apples on top, finish by layering and sprinkling on a few more special toppings!

Evenly sprinkle on dried cranberries and roasted salted pumpkin seeds.  They will add fruity, chewy, sweet, and salty notes to make a perfect Thanksgiving salad in minutes!  Sprinkle these on all around and finish by adding on a few more things to put finishing touches on this delicious side dish.

Add Crunchy Caramelized Pecans, Goat Cheese Crumbles, and Pomegranate Seeds

Lastly, finish this festive apple, cranberry, and spinach salad by sprinkling on one of my favorite ingredients: caramelized pecans!  This gives the Thanksgiving salad recipe such a special flavor!  It adds a nutty sweetness and a crunch finish to the salad.  I usually find a small container of caramelized pecans in the dried fruit and nut section of my local grocery store.  

If you cannot find it, candied pecans will work nicely too!  Otherwise, if you are unsure about allergy related concerns, place the pecans in a small bowl off to the side and simply top individual servings of the salad as desired.

Lastly, finish by sprinkling on creamy goat cheese crumbles and pomegranate arils.  The goat cheese will add a creamy tang to this great salad!  The pomegranate seeds will add juicy crunch and bold, garnet red color that just makes the whole salad sparkle.  

Make the Maple and Apple Cider  Vinaigrette

To make the dressing for the salad, grab a small bowl and a whisk.  Combine apple cider juice, fresh-squeezed orange juice, a hint of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and olive oil in a small bowl.  

Season with about 1 teaspoon of coarse salt and a 1/2 teaspoon of cracked pepper.  Whisk together well until fully combined.  Alternatively, you can pour the ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake together to combine.  

Drizzle your apple cider vinaigrette over the salad and serve straightaway!

Serve this wonderful salad with crisp apples and dried cranberries as a festive fall salad or even an autumn-inspired apple harvest salad.  Additionally, it also makes a wonderful Christmas salad.  The maple and apple cider tangy dressing is the perfect complement for this easy recipe you can serve at all your festive holiday dinners.  

An Elegant Thanksgiving salad recipe That will add a pop of flavor and color!

This easy and elegant Thanksgiving salad will fit right in with the other hearty sides while elevating the list of mouthwatering choices at the table!  A fun, and flavorful green salad is a great way to make that turkey dinner pop with freshness and color!

Don’t forget to serve up this elegant holiday salad with easy roasted sweet potatoes, roasted parmesan garlic potatoes, roasted carrots and beets, or brussels sprouts!

You Might Also Like…