31 Cold Thanksgiving Side Dishes That Travel Well

Layer crunchy greens and Tuscan kale, sweet date-pickled onions, and crisp fried shallots up to a full day in advance for the ultimate Thanksgiving salad.

The only thing we might like better than Brussels sprouts roasted to a crisp are thinly sliced raw Brussels sprouts dressed with a bright vinaigrette and toasted nuts. This salad takes a little more time to make than the usual shaved sprouts salad, but the extra work is worth the flavor and texture combination of brown butter vinaigrette, Brussels sprouts, crisp apple, and hazelnuts.

The name says it all: If you're looking for a crunchy, refreshing side that's fits perfectly among everything else on your Thanksgiving table, you can do no better than this hearty salad.

Great slaw can upstage salad whenever it gets a chance. This one, full of sweet and crisp apples and dressed with honey and lime, is familiar yet not run-of-the-mill.

Chopped broccoli, chewy sweet dates, nutty toasted walnuts, aged cheddar, and crunchy shallots in a warm lemon-honey vinaigrette, topped with a flurry of fresh mint. It would be right at home alongside your holiday spread, at a potluck dinner, or even just for you with some rotisserie chicken.

If you’re in need of a vibrant, crunchy slaw for your Thanksgiving feast, this is it. It’s packed with crunchy smoked almonds and tart dried cherries and tossed in a dressing made entirely from pantry staples. And, best of all, it can hang out on your table for an hour or two without wilting.

An easy Caesar salad made with shredded Brussels sprouts and homemade croutons.

Whip up this quick & simple red cabbage slaw for your Thanksgiving feast.

Welcome fall with this easy slaw of crispy bacon, crunchy cabbage, and sweet apples.

The base of this Thanksgiving slaw is a mix of red cabbage and julienned sweet potato, bejeweled with orange segments and pomegranate arils.

This vibrant combination of sweet apples and cabbage is made for fall comfort classics, which is precisely why it makes a welcome addition to your Thanksgiving spread.

This salad is a perfect choice for your Thanksgiving meal because it's also hearty enough that it can act as the main dish for any vegetarians or vegans at the table. It's filled to the brim with fall flavors like caramelized roasted butternut squash and red onions, hearty kale, toasted pecans, and sweet golden raisins, all dressed up in a roasted garlic-sherry vinaigrette.

This roasty, toasty salad celebrates everything you love about autumn. It's packed with sweet apples, squash, and chewy farro, and tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette.

This satisfying French lentil salad is the ultimate make-ahead option for Thanksgiving dinner. Carrots and pistachios lend crunch and color, while crumbles of goat cheese provide creaminess with every bite.

Adorned with toasty nuts, fried shallots, nutty farro, and radicchio, this green bean salad is a beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving dinner spread.

This freekah salad is part dark leafy green salad and part whole-grain salad — plus it's full of seasonal goodies like crisp apples and roasted butternut squash.

A make-ahead friendly salad made with crunchy red cabbage, shredded kale, dates, chewy farro, and Pecorino cheese.

Thin shavings of Brussels sprouts and nutty lentils are tossed in a creamy sesame dressing for an easy, no-wilt Thanksgiving side.

This hearty make-ahead salad that's perfect for Thanksgiving has nutty farro, broccoli, smoked almonds, aged cheddar, golden raisins, and dried cranberries is served with a quick pickled shallot viniagrette.

French lentils are cooked in chicken broth for extra flavor, then tossed with cooked bacon, fresh herbs, and a mustard vinaigrette.

This hearty, satisfying Thanksgiving side can be made with rice or whatever grain you have in the pantry: nutty farro, millet, quinoa, etc. Orzo or couscous are also great options.

Roast butternut squash, hearty chickpeas, and croutons, then build a delicious, filling fall salad — directly on top!

We don’t know who needs to hear this, but salads are not just an assortment of raw vegetables! One of the most common misconceptions with salads is that you have to eat a little pile of leaves. This roasted cauliflower salad says otherwise. Roasting vegetables — cauliflower, shallots, and a lemon here — make the whole thing immediately feel more substantial while adding a lot of textural variety.

This topping-heavy salad is designed so that it's all good parts: roasted sweet potato keeps the radicchio's bitterness in check and toasted sunflower seeds add crunch.

With crispy roasted potatoes and a flavorful dressing made with shallots, whole grain mustard, maple syrup, golden raisins, and a little soy sauce, this hearty kale salad is perfect for Thanksgiving.

Whether you eat it warm, cold, or at room temperature, this roasted butternut squash pasta salad is perfect for your Thanksgiving feast.

Made with a base of fresh kale, sliced onions, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds, this Thanksgiving salad is topped with an easy, creamy lemon-garlic dressing.

Roasted beets mixed with argula, pumpkin seeds, and crumbled feta makes for the perfect Thanksgiving side salad.

Crispy smashed potatoes tossed with arugula, crispy bacon, red onions, and a whole grain mustard vinaigrette.

Roast sweet potatoes, croutons, and hearty chickpeas, then build a flavorful, satisfying salad — directly on top!

This hearty Thanksgiving salad has a little bit of everything: crunchy greens, roasted sweet potatoes, salty cheese, spicy dried chorizo, and toasty nuts.