27 Christmas Salad Ideas to Brighten up The Holiday Table in 2024

With so many cozy, comforting dishes on your holiday table, it might be time to start exploring Christmas salad ideas for some much-needed crunch and freshness. The perfect side salad can be a wonderful palate cleanser in between ultra-rich bites of meat and potatoes. It’s not difficult to whip up a tangy and delicious vinaigrette to elevate simple greens.

When you picture your Christmas party foods, you likely think of a tender holiday roast, mashed potatoes and no doubt some Christmas cookies! You may not have even thought about adding a Christmas salad, with so few options available to eat seasonally. But after discovering classic and creative options for your meal, you’ll be convinced that a Christmas salad is a must-have. 

These Christmas salad ideas don’t have to be complicated and fancy. Sometimes, a few simple ingredients work best, while other times, your salad can stand alone as a complete side dish with the addition of pasta or grain. Read on to discover the best Christmas salad ideas to elevate your holiday meals. 

 Jump to Section

• Make Ahead Christmas Salad Ideas
• Easy Christmas Salad Ideas
• Christmas Salad Ideas for a Crowd

Make Ahead Christmas Salad Ideas

1.  Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Save yourself some time by prepping this Christmas salad idea ahead of time. Use a mandoline to thinly shave Brussels sprouts or buy them that way. Add pomegranate arils, toasted almonds and shaved parmesan before drizzling on a maple vinaigrette. Thanks to the Brussels sprouts, this salad won’t get soggy if you make it the night before. Bursting with different colors, textures and flavors, this is a five-star Christmas salad. 

2. Sauerkraut Salad

This make-ahead Christmas salad idea tastes even better after a night or two in the fridge. Spruce up your favorite store-bought sauerkraut with chopped celery, bell and pimento peppers, onion and carrots. Add some more flavor with a mustard and cider vinaigrette. This salad keeps for days in the fridge and is great for digestion. 

3. Cran-Apple Quinoa Salad

This Christmas salad idea comes together in no time for the big day, with minimal prep time. It’s hearty and satisfying thanks to quinoa but light thanks to a lemony dressing. Mix kale, green apples, quinoa and walnuts with some goat cheese crumbles and chill until your guests arrive. 

4. Christmas Pasta Salad

This Christmas salad idea is a little on the heavier side, but it’s flavorful and captures all the colors of the season. You can use orzo or another noodle of your choice, tossed with fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls and optional slices of pepperoni or salami. Toss it all in a red wine and balsamic vinaigrette for a seasonal pasta salad that can hang out in the fridge for a few days. 

5. Crunchy Salad

Ever wondered how to add crunch to a salad? There are several ways, from sprinkling in some nuts to choosing a denser, crunchier leafy green. This Christmas salad idea is all about the crunch, made with kale, green cabbage, roasted peanuts and diced green apple. You can add a soft cheese of your liking, like goat cheese, before tossing it in a simple vinaigrette. 

6. Broccoli Salad

The best way to get your greens in is to make them super delicious and this Christmas salad idea combines all your favorite baked potato toppings in one place. Broccoli florets have never tasted better than when they’re mixed with bacon bits, shredded cheese and a tangy sour cream dressing. This one keeps well in the fridge too if you need to make it ahead of time. 

7. Sweet Potato Salad

This make-ahead Christmas salad idea is full of vitamins and minerals to make you feel your best. Cubed and roasted sweet potatoes serve as the base, mixed with feta, red onion and dried cranberries. Garnish with some parsley and a homemade maple vinaigrette. Serve this hot or cold. Plus, it becomes a whole meal with the addition of roasted, shredded chicken or turkey. 

8. Farro Salad

This hearty Christmas salad idea combines tender farro with peppery arugula, crunchy green apples and toasted nuts for a satisfying bite. Don’t forget some freshly grated Parmesan and any other mix-ins that appeal to you. This keeps wonderfully in the fridge for several days. 

9. Kale and Citrus Salad

Using kale as the base for your make-ahead Christmas salad idea is the perfect choice as this slightly “tougher” green holds up to wilting in the fridge. Mix it with thinly sliced jalapenos, citrus wedges of your choice (orange or grapefruit work best) and a sprinkle of some creamy cheese and you’ve got yourself a light and refreshing winter salad. Use the juice from your citrus to whip up a tangy dressing that gets better overnight. 

Easy Christmas Salad Ideas

10. Fennel Salad With Apple and Radishes

This easy Christmas salad idea packs a punch of bold flavors. Fennel brings a wonderful hint of anise flavor while juicy red apples and radishes add color and crunch. Top it with pomegranate seeds, walnuts or some grated cheese and a drizzle of apple cider vinaigrette. A mandoline will be your best friend for getting thin, even slices of your radishes and fennel bulbs. 

11. Simple Cranberry and Spinach Salad

When you’re looking for a super easy Christmas salad idea, you only need a few ingredients. Baby spinach, topped with dried cranberries and slivered almonds, toasted in a bit of butter are all you need for a bite of freshness. Whip up your own dressing of white wine and cider vinegar, poppy seeds, onion, paprika, olive oil and some toasted sesame seeds and voila. 

12. Classic Caprese

It doesn’t get much easier than a classic Caprese salad for Christmas salad ideas. Always a crowd-pleaser, this salad can be assembled in mere minutes. While the tomatoes might not be peak-summer juicy, they’re still a colorful and delicious way to eat the rainbow. Pre-sliced mozzarella cuts your prep time even further and a generous amount of basil is always appreciated. 

13. Grapefruit, Goat Cheese and Fennel Salad

There are fewer seasonal options around the holidays when it comes to fruit and veggies, but citrus really shines at this time, along with fennel. This Christmas salad idea is wonderfully light and crunchy, made from thinly sliced fennel bulbs, supremed grapefruit wedges and creamy goat cheese with a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts. Add some kalamata or Castelvatrano olives for even more richness and toss everything in a grapefruit vinaigrette. 

14. Kale Caesar Salad

After weeks of eating holiday sweets and other hearty meals, sometimes you’re just craving something green and light. This Christmas salad idea puts an easy twist on the classic Caesar, swapping romaine for kale and adding some extra lemon to a homemade Caesar dressing. Use a microplane to add a fine dusting of parmesan or pecorino to the top and some toasted pistachios and homemade bread crumbs for extra crunch factor.

15. Three Bean Salad

Instead of a creamy, heavy green bean casserole on your holiday table, keep things lighter with this bean-heavy easy Christmas salad idea. Green beans, kidney beans and cannellini beans bring crunch, color and lots of fiber to the table. Toss them with some parsley, red onion and celery then finish in a tangy red wine vinaigrette. This is best served day of, before the beans begin to dull. 

16. Roasted Beet Salad

It doesn’t take much to bring together nutrient-dense and colorful Christmas salad ideas, like this roasted beet salad. Made with regular and golden beets, roasted until tender with a bleu cheese crust, all this root veggie salad needs is a balsamic drizzle. You can add mixed greens and a fe wedges of grapefruit for an even more elevated presentation. 

17. Spinach Salad With Blood Orange and Macadamia Nuts

This easy Christmas salad idea makes use of beautiful blood oranges at their prime. Spinach, red onion and some cherry tomatoes pair perfectly with supremed wedges of this deep red fruit. Kalamata olives add some nice tang but are optional. Don’t forget to add chopped macadamia nuts for some extra crunch after a drizzle of orange and balsamic vinaigrette. 

18. Wild Rice Salad

Though this Christmas salad idea involves a lot of ingredients, its super simple to toss together. Hearty mix-ins like wild rice, bacon bits, bleu cheese and pecans go great with fresh apples and pomegranate arils. There are so many wonderful pomegranate Christmas salads to enjoy that show off these sweet, crunchy and bright red bits. 

Christmas Salad Ideas for a Crowd

19. Roquefort Pear Salad

Delight your guests with this extravagant Christmas salad idea for a crowd. Bibb lettuce or your greens of choice are offset by crumbled Roquefort cheese, sliced pears and sweet caramelized pecans. Top with a tangy mustard vinaigrette and add some sliced avocado just before serving. The myriad of textures and flavors work together flawlessly and thanks to the cheese and avocado a little goes a long way. 

20. Mandarin Orange Salad

This colorful Christmas salad idea is almost too pretty to eat but comes together in no time at all. A base of baby spinach really pops with wedges of mandarin orange, dried cranberries and walnuts or your favorite nut for extra crunch. Don’t forget to shave some parmesan on top after tossing it in a homemade poppy seed vinaigrette.  

21. Festive Fall Salad

Thanksgiving may be behind you but this delightful Christmas salad idea is perfect even through the New Year. Crisp apples, tangy bleu cheese and sweet and smoky nuts are a match made in heaven atop a bed of greens like romaine and radicchio. 

22. Cornbread Salad

This isn’t your typical light green salad! This creative Christmas salad idea pairs cheesy cornbread with beans, sour cream and other like corn, jalapeno peppers and bell peppers. Layer it like a giant parfait with homemade chipotle ranch for a gorgeous addition to your holiday spread. 

23. Watercress Salad with Pistachios

This Christmas salad idea is the definition of light and refreshing. Made with thinly sliced radishes and fennel, watercress and roasted pistachios in a honey and mustard vinaigrette, it’s the perfect pairing with a hearty meat-and-potato entrée. 

24. Fried Goat Cheese Salad

You will really look like the host or hostess with the most(ess) with this wonderful Christmas salad idea for a crowd. The base is a simple combination of mixed greens like arugula and romaine with sliced red onion, tomato and cucumber. Lightly coat your gobs of goat cheese in bread crumbs and fry until crispy. Any extra goat cheese balls make a delightful appetizer with a drizzle of honey. 

25. Rainbow Panzanella Salad

This Christmas salad idea is a little more filling, making it ideal for feeding a crowd. Roast up seasonal veggies like acorn squash and beets, then toss with wedges of grapefruit and homemade sourdough croutons to soak up the delicious grapefruit vinaigrette. Fresh parsley, pomegranate arils and some goat cheese crumbles complete this show-stopping winter salad. 

26. Chef’s Salad on a Stick

Please your guests with this creative Christmas salad idea featuring all your favorite ingredients layered on a stick. Chunks of tomato, bacon, hard-boiled egg and greens with a drizzle of ranch are fun and easy to assemble for large groups of people. Plus, they look beautiful on your buffet line. You can add any salad ingredients you like, so long as they can be skewered. 

27. Chimichurri Chicken Salad

This herb-heavy Christmas salad idea for crowds is great for your holiday party. Shred up a store-bought rotisserie chicken and whip up your own chimichurri-inspired dressing to bring that fresh, vegetal flavor to your table.

Red wine vinegar is the perfect complement for plenty of garlic, chopped parsley, oregano and cilantro. A few shakes of crushed red pepper bring a touch of heat. Add chopped tomatoes, green onions or bell peppers and mix everything with a drizzle of olive oil. This makes great leftovers in a wrap or lettuce boat. 

So many of these wonderful Christmas salad ideas can come together quickly, especially with any variation of your favorite vinaigrette. Christmas salad dressing doesn’t have to be anything special, you can let the ingredients of your salad shine with basic combinations of olive oil and vinegar or citrus. Don’t be afraid of a little Dijon mustard or a glug of maple syrup for added flavor.

You might still have to figure out your Christmas gifts for mom or Christmas gifts for dad, but at least the menu is set. If you love to tinker around in the kitchen, playing with new ingredients and flavor combos, maybe look into some great DIY Christmas gifts for loved ones. Something homemade in a mason jar is always welcome, like a sauce, infused spirit or pumpkin butter. You just might find your new favorite Christmas craft!

For even more fun Christmas ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!