Seasonal Fall Salads for Picnics

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, so it's a hearty and comforting coleslaw for cooler weather.

Eat it on its own or for a portable salad or, have it as a crunchy addition to sandwiches or wraps.

We often sing the praises of beets because it is such a versatile picnic ingredient. 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. A deliciously vibrant fall salad idea.

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 the flavours of the Mediterranean and the Middle East and is so easy to make.

Serve it as a main salad with fresh crusty bread and cheese or as a side to a hot thermos of soup – We have a fabulous fall-inspired soup in our Fall Finger Foods & Appetisers edition.

It also makes a great accompaniment to cold roast meats such as Moroccan spiced lamb or slices of cold roast beef.

While available all year round, autumn heralds the peak of broccoli season, so what better time to incorporate this nutritious and delicious veg into your picnic salads.

There's also nothing better than a roast potato to warm the soul, even when served cold. Team these pair for a delicious no mayo picnic potato salad.

Easy to make, this roast potato and broccoli salad with roast garlic dressing is a great make-ahead salad that gets better with age.

Serve as the central dish at a fall picnic, as a side to roasted or bbq meats or with antipasto ingredients such as grilled peppers, slow-roasted tomatoes and dips such as a delicious and on point smoked pumpkin hummus.

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.

Roasted pumpkin and beetroot tossed in a delicious maple vinaigrette and topped with feta, pine nuts, pepitas and arugula. This hearty salad has all the right seasonal cues, a sweet dressing and lots of crunchy seeds and nuts – it's a perfect make-ahead salad for fall and winter picnics.

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.

Delicata squash and apple harvest salad with a gorgeously zesty blood orange vinaigrette makes a bold and delicious fall salad statement.

Spinach, arugula, goat cheese, dried cranberries, blood orange and chickpeas make a robust salad foundation for gorgeously caramelised squash and fresh slices of apple.

Serve this salad as a main dish with just crusty bread on the side or team with dips such as a sweet and smoky pumpkin hummus to complete the fall menu theme.

Roasted butternut squash combined with quinoa, pecans, baby kale, green onions, sweet bursts of pomegranate arils finished with a tangy, sweet apple cider maple dressing.

This colourful salad bursting with flavour and unique textures is what fall would be like if it was a dish.

Chicken salad is one of those underrated salads that often gets left behind in the wake of leafy superfoods, pulses, and grains. 

The beauty of chicken salad is it is so easy to make, can be used in a variety of different ways - also think wrap or sandwich filling, and it can be adapted to match the season. 

Using Greek yoghurt for the dressing makes a healthy change from mayonnaise and cranberries, apples and pecans not only give the salad great texture, but they also add a delicious fall profile to the salad. 

Fall really is the time you should be enjoying pecans. It's when they are at their best, especially in a salad. What makes this roast pumpkin-based salad with sweet bursts of pomegranate different is not just the sweet and salty toasted pecans that give it an incredible crunch.

Using kale as the foundation makes it a fantastic make-ahead salad cause kale loves a good soak in a citrusy vinaigrette. But also, the addition of salty bacon bits give it an extra burst of flavour that will make this salad a fall favourite.

So easy to make, this salad is a real crowd-pleaser. Using only a few quality ingredients is what makes this salad so good, full of bold flavours and crunch. Often, it is in the simplicity of a dish where the magic happens.

Bacon, blue cheese, and pecans on robust baby spinach finished with an easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing – it's as simple as that. Perfect as a main picnic dish or as a side, this delicious salad will hold it's own at a fall picnic bbq or a fancy fall garden party.

A big bowl of delicious harvest veggies come together to make a nutritious and wholesome fall harvest salad.

Crunchy kale, sweet pumpkin, tart Brussel sprouts, crisp apples and pomegranate seeds with delicious homemade maple-mustard dressing.

Loaded with fibre and plant-based protein, this harvest salad is a healthy and delicious make-ahead salad for any fall picnic or holiday gathering.

Need to keep your fall salads cold? We have all the know-how for keeping your picnic food fresh and crisp, even in the cooler months.

Planning on including hot food in your fall picnic menu? We have the know-how for that too. You can find simple solutions for keeping food warm for a picnic here.