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20 Best Healthy Salads & Holiday Side Dishes: Fresh, Festive & Crowd-Favorite

November 28, 2025

Whether you’re building a weekday meal plan or preparing a holiday feast, the right mix of fresh salads and cozy side dishes can elevate any table. This collection brings together vibrant produce-packed salads and comforting oven-roasted sides that suit every season, from summer picnics to Thanksgiving dinner. All recipes are easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for family gatherings or meal pre.


1. Chickpea Feta Avocado Salad

A Mediterranean-inspired salad loaded with creamy avocado, tangy feta, and protein-packed chickpeas. Light, refreshing, and satisfying, perfect for meal prep or a quick lunch.

Tossing Chickpea Feta Avocado Salad

2. Quinoa Chickpea Salad

Colorful, plant-powered, and naturally gluten-free, this lemon-herb quinoa bowl is fresh, filling, and ideal for grab-and-go meals. Keeps beautifully for weekday planning.

Quinoa Chickpea Salad with fresh vegetables

3. Peach Avocado Salad

Juicy peaches paired with creamy avocado and crisp greens make an unforgettable sweet-meets-savory combo. Perfect for brunch, grilling season, or elegant entertaining.

Overhead view of a serving plate with peach avocado salad topped with feta, pecans, and mint leaves, surrounded by sliced peaches, lemon wedges, and a linen napkin on a white marble surface in soft sunlight.

4. Fruit Salad with Peaches

A refreshing mix of seasonal fruits balanced with brightness from citrus. Hydrating, colorful, and always a crowd favorite for summer gatherings or breakfast.

Modern peach fruit salad individual servings

5. German Carrot Apple Salad

Crisp shredded carrots and tart apples tossed in a lightly sweet, tangy dressing. A refreshing side that pairs perfectly with roasted meats or sandwiches.

Modern serving of German carrot apple salad with sides

6. Creamy Cucumber Salad

Cool, creamy, and loaded with fresh herbs, this quick salad transforms any meal. Perfect with BBQ chicken, summer grilled dishes, or cozy indoor dinners.

Creamy cucumber salad served with grilled food

7. Avocado Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken

A protein-packed salad with juicy grilled chicken, creamy avocado, and vibrant spinach tossed in a zesty vinaigrette. Perfect as a balanced meal for lunch or dinner.

Overhead view of two bowls of avocado spinach salad with grilled chicken, fanned avocado slices, baby spinach, feta crumbles, and pecans, drizzled with vinaigrette, on a white marble countertop with a linen napkin and lemon water glass in soft daylight.

8. Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad

Sweet roasted squash, hearty kale, and crunchy toppings come together in a warm, comforting fall salad. A colorful favorite for Thanksgiving or cozy nights at home.

Overhead view of a serving plate with roasted butternut squash and kale salad topped with pecans, cranberries, and goat cheese crumbles on a light marble surface with a linen napkin and wooden fork nearby.

Cozy Side Dishes & Roasted Vegetable Favorites

9. Creamy Po tato Salad

Rich, silky, and full of classic flavor. This crowd-pleasing potato salad is perfect for picnics, holidays, and potlucks — always requested, never leftovers.

Mixing boiled potatoes and eggs with creamy dressing in a glass bowl

10. Creamy Egg Macaroni Salad

Comforting and nostalgic, combining tender pasta, eggs, and creamy dressing. A perfect make-ahead dish for gatherings or weekly lunch prep.

Serving bowl of Creamy Egg Macaroni Salad garnished with paprika and parsley, ready to eat on a kitchen table.

11. Fall Harvest Pasta Salad

Warm spices, roasted fall vegetables, and hearty pasta create a cozy seasonal dish that shines at Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or chilly evening dinners.

Modern serving of Fall Harvest Pasta Salad in minimalist ceramic bowls

12. Maple Glazed Carrots with Thyme

Tender roasted carrots finished with maple sweetness and aromatic thyme. Elegant enough for celebrations and easy enough for everyday dinners.

final plated maple glazed carrots with thyme

13. Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Crispy edges, caramelized centers, and a glossy maple finish. A holiday favorite even sprout-haters love after one bite.

Close-up of maple roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries and pecans served in a white bowl.

14. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Luxuriously creamy mashed potatoes infused with sweet roasted garlic. A must-make classic for cozy nights and festive meals.

serving roasted garlic mashed potatoes

15. Cowboy Butter Roasted Potatoes

Crispy golden potatoes tossed in spicy, buttery cowboy seasoning. Addictively bold flavor and perfect for steak nights or gatherings.

cowboy butter roasted potatoes served with herbs and lemon

16. Cranberry Apple Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Sweet, tart, and baked twice for extra creaminess. A gorgeous colorful side to elevate any holiday spread.

Close-up of cranberry apple twice-baked sweet potatoes topped with pecans and cranberries on plate.

17. Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes

Warm and cozy sweet potatoes topped with maple syrup and crunchy pecans, dessert-level comfort in a side dish.

A close-up of caramelized maple pecan sweet potatoes served on a white ceramic plate, topped with toasted pecans and maple glaze, styled with a linen napkin and warm fall lighting.

18. Cauliflower Steaks with Lemon Salsa Verde

Golden roasted cauliflower steaks topped with zesty salsa verde. Elegant, bright, and plant-forward — a stunning dinner centerpiece.

Overhead view of two cauliflower steaks on a marble countertop, drizzled with lemon salsa verde, surrounded by parsley, olive oil, and lemon halves in natural sunlight.

19. Domino Potatoes

Thinly sliced stacked potatoes roasted until crisp and buttery. A restaurant-style showstopper that always impresses at the table.

crispy garlic domino potatoes served with herbs and sea salt

20. Butternut Squash & Sage Stuffing

Warm, aromatic, and beautifully golden, this stuffing brings together sweet roasted squash and earthy sage for a deeply comforting holiday side. Perfect with roasted poultry, glazed veggies, or classic mashed potatoes.

Serving Butternut Squash & Sage Stuffing with fresh sage garnish

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