When the weather cools, the leaves change color, and we start looking for fall picnic ideas. Don’t be too quick to scratch salads from your fall picnic menus.
These Fall Salads show us why the harvest season is one of the best salad seasons of the year.
More Fall Picnic Inspiration:
Fall Salad Ideas
From Harvest Salad recipes to fall quinoa roast pumpkin salads and seasonal salads with nuts, I’ve rounded up some of the best autumn salads for your next alfresco spread.
Whether preparing for a relaxed leaf-peeping picnic in the great outdoors or planning a Halloween picnic party, these fall salads celebrate the spoils of the harvest and make a healthy addition to any fall picnic.
Creamy Crunchy Coleslaw Recipe
Coleslaw is one of those all-year-round picnic salads because it is so versatile. This creamy and crunchy coleslaw recipe lends itself to a fall picnic menu because it is loaded with nuts and seeds. It's a hearty and comforting coleslaw for cooler weather. You can eat it on its own or as a crunchy addition to sandwiches or wraps.
Get the Crunchy Coleslaw Recipe
Pear and Goat Cheese Salad
I call this a winter salad, but it is also a beautiful nod to fall flavors. Sweet and savory, crunchy and creamy, this pear and goat cheese salad with candied pecans hits the mark for flavor, texture, and simplicity.
Get the Pear and Goats Cheese Salad Recipe.
Balsamic Roasted Beetroot Salad With Feta & Walnuts
I often praise beets because they are such versatile picnic ingredients. If you have roasted beets in the fridge, you have a myriad of great picnic dishes on hand. This balsamic roasted beet salad with walnuts and feta is no exception. It's a deliciously vibrant fall salad idea.
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Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad
Toss roasted pumpkin and beetroot in a maple vinaigrette, then top with feta, pine nuts, pepitas, and arugula. This hearty, make-ahead salad, with its sweet dressing and crunchy seeds, is perfect for fall and winter picnics.
Get the Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad Recipe
Photo credit: mapleandmango.com
Spiced Pumpkin Quinoa Salad with Walnuts
Nothing says fall salad more than a roast pumpkin salad with walnuts. With only a few ingredients, this delicious roast pumpkin salad with quinoa is bursting with flavor and is so easy to make. Serve it as a main salad with fresh crusty bread or as a side to a hot thermos of simple chicken soup – I have fabulous fall-inspired soups in my Fall Finger Foods & Appetisers edition.
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Broccoli Potato Salad Recipe With Roast Garlic Vinaigrette
Autumn is peak broccoli season, making it the perfect time to add this nutritious veggie to your picnic salads. Pair it with roast potatoes for a soul-warming, no-mayo potato salad. This easy, make-ahead dish with roast garlic dressing gets better with time.
Get the Roast Potato and Broccoli Salad Recipe
Butternut Squash, Pecan & Quinoa Salad
This colorful salad, bursting with flavor and unique textures, is what fall would be like if it were a dish. Roasted butternut squash is combined with quinoa, pecans, baby kale, green onions, and sweet bursts of pomegranate arils, finished with a tangy, sweet apple cider maple dressing.
Get the Butternut Squash Salad Recipe
Photo credit: flavorthemoments.com
Cauliflower Salad Recipe
The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are best for cauliflower, so why not embrace this versatile veg in a nod to the classic potato salad without carbs. A great make-ahead salad that is also hearty enough to serve as a main.
Get the Cauliflower Salad Recipe
Fall Harvest Salad
Make a bold fall statement with a Delicata squash and apple harvest salad topped with zesty blood orange vinaigrette. Spinach, arugula, goat cheese, dried cranberries, blood orange, and chickpeas create a robust base for caramelized squash and fresh apple slices.
Get The Harvest Salad Recipe
Photo credit: windycitydinnerfairy.com
Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad with Cranberries and Pecans
Chicken salad is often overlooked in favor of leafy superfoods, pulses, and grains, but it is incredibly versatile and easy to make. It is perfect as a wrap or sandwich filling and can be adapted to any season. Using Greek yogurt instead of mayo adds a healthy twist, while cranberries, apples, and pecans bring delicious fall flavors and texture.
Get the Fall Chicken Salad Recipe
Photo credit: hellospoonful.com
Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad with Pecans and Orange Vinaigrette
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy pecans, especially in salads. This roast pumpkin salad has sweet pomegranate, crunchy toasted pecans, and salty bacon bits. Kale's love for citrus vinaigrette makes it a fantastic make-ahead dish that’s sure to become a fall favorite.
Get the Butternut Squash Kale Salad Recipe
Photo credit: theroastedroot.net
Bacon, Blue Cheese & Pecan Spinach Salad
This easy fall salad is a real crowd-pleaser thanks to its bold flavors and texture. Bacon, blue cheese, and pecans on baby spinach with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette—simple magic. Perfect as a main dish or side, it shines at fall picnics.
Get the Spinach Salad Recipe
Photo credit: cookathomemom.com
20 Salads With Fruit and Nuts for Every Season
Fall is a great time for seasonal fruits, and there are many ways to incorporate fruit into your fall salads. These recipes give you ideas for gorgeous salads with fruit and nuts that are a nod to the harvest season.
Get the Salad Recipes with Fruit and Nuts
More Fall Picnic Tips
Food safety is always a consideration when planning hot or cold food for your fall picnics. See my tips for keeping food hot and cold to ensure your fall picnic salads shine. I’ve also got a handy printable picnic checklist, so you don’t forget a thing.
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