• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Recipe Idea Shop

Comfort Food With A Healthy Twist

  • Soups
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Soups
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Us
search icon
Homepage link
  • Soups
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Us
×

Recipe Idea Shop » Thanksgiving

20 Thanksgiving Fruit Salad Recipes

Published: Oct 25, 2022 · Modified: Nov 30, 2022 by Adriana · This post may contain affiliate links.

These Thanksgiving fruit salad recipes are a great way to bring some natural sweetness to your holiday meal. Thanksgiving is a great time to gather with family and friends and enjoy all the bounties of the harvest season.

One of the best ways to celebrate Thanksgiving meal is with a beautiful Thanksgiving fruit salad. In fact, this is a great way to celebrate any special occasion. So go grab a large bowl and your favorite fruits, choose a great recipe from this list, and start making it. At this time of year, people love to enjoy time together with their favorite meals. It's one thing the holiday seasons are most known for. 

colorful fruit salad in a glass bowl, surrounded by fresh fruits.
Jump to:
  • Tips For Making The Perfect Fruit Salad
  • Why Add Fruit Salad To Your Thanksgiving Meal
  • Fruit Salad FAQs
  • Thanksgiving Fruit Salad Recipes
  • Final Thoughts

Tips For Making The Perfect Fruit Salad

Fruit salads are light and fresh, a perfect ending to a rich Thanksgiving meal. They are also easy to make and can be made ahead of time.

An easy Thanksgiving fruit salad can be made with a variety of seasonal fruits that takes your family dinner to the next level.

  • Start with a base of crisp apples and tart cranberries for a traditional Thanksgiving fruit salad.
  • Then, add some sweet pears and grapes for sweetness. Finally, top it off with a light dressing of your choice.
  • For a more unique Thanksgiving fruit salad, try using colorful fruits like oranges, kiwis, and pomegranates.
  • Or, you can add some unexpected ingredients like pears, pecans, or even chocolate chips.

No matter what you put in your Thanksgiving fruit salad, it's sure to be a hit!

Why Add Fruit Salad To Your Thanksgiving Meal

As you'll see from this list of recipes, there are so many great ways to enjoy your Thanksgiving fruit bowl!

  • It can be a great snack, a precursor to the holiday meal, or make a great Thanksgiving side dish. You can enjoy it any time during the winter months. This time of year is all about great good, friends, and family.
  • Fruit salad is a great way to lighten up your plate since many holiday dishes can feel heavy. You can add some green grapes, orange juice, lime juice, maraschino cherries, red apples, or any other seasonal fresh fruit. Some people like to top it with some mini marshmallows, too. I prefer adding almonds and nuts for a heartier salad.
  • Thanksgiving fruit salad recipes are usually a mix of seasonal fruits, like cranberries, apples, and pears, mixed with a variety of nuts and spices. The key to a good fresh fruit salad is to mix the right proportions of sweet and savory flavors. Too much of either can ruin the dish.

Fruit Salad FAQs

Can I make fruit salad ahead of time?

Thanksgiving day is busy with lots of cooking and setting up, so anything that can be prepared ahead of time, helps. And yes, fruit salad can be made the day (or night) before Thanksgiving.

How can I keep the fruit from turning brown?

Add a splash of lemon or orange juice to your fruit to keep them from browning. Pineapple juice also helps, and it adds a delicious flavor to your salad.

What's the best dressing for fruit salad?

If you add orange, apple, or pineapple juice to your fruit salad, you can skip the dressing. But if you really want to add a dressing, mix yogurt or cream with a bit of honey, lime juice, and some coconut flakes, and you're all set.

How long does fruit salad keep?

Fruit salad can last up to 5 days in the fridge if stored in a tightly closed glass container. But unless you made a huge amount, it won't last, because it's delicious!

Thanksgiving Fruit Salad Recipes

There's nothing quite like a delicious fruit salad, and these Thanksgiving fruit salad recipes are perfect for the holidays, or any time of year. Check out these ideas!

Holiday Fruit Cocktail Salad

This simple salad is super easy, looks pretty and most kids will love it. Fruit cocktail, whipped cream, extra cherries, and bananas (optional).

Couscous Fruit Salad

This Couscous Fruit Salad, an eat-clean recipe, makes a beautiful side dish for any occasion. Add this to your Thanksgiving dinner for a light and healthy alternative.

Photo Credit: www.dinneratthezoo.com

Winter Fruit Salad

This winter fruit salad recipe is a colorful variety of fresh fruit tossed in a light honey poppy seed dressing. The perfect side dish for brunch or a holiday meal!

Photo Credit: www.maryswholelife.com

Honey Lime Poppyseed Fruit Salad

This Honey Lime Poppyseed Fruit Salad is a delicious and easy side dish! It is filled with colorful, juicy fruit tossed in a tangy, slightly sweet dressing. Paleo, gluten free, dairy free!

Lentil Rice and Fruit Salad

Main dish or side dish, this Lentil, Rice and Fruit Salad is a recipe you will make over and over. Add it to your vegan Thanksgiving dinner, or take to your next holiday potluck supper.

Photo Credit: www.thriftyfrugalmom.com

5 Minute Mandarin Orange Jello Salad

This light, fluffy salad is so refreshing and the perfect side dish for a heavy Thanksgiving meal! It's made with just a few simple ingredients and is ready in just 5 minutes.

Photo Credit: twohealthykitchens.com

Grape Salad with Cream Cheese-Vanilla Dressing

Grape Salad with Cream Cheese Dressing is a must-have classic at many families’ holiday buffets. Our updated version features a lighter, healthier vanilla-cream cheese dressing (yay – no guilt here, and plenty
of room for all the other Thanksgiving goodies) ... but it’s still every bit as refreshingly sweet and delicious!

Photo Credit: ifoodreal.com

Healthy Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing

This Healthy Fruit Salad with honey lemon dressing deserves a spot front and center at any breakfast or brunch. Enjoy the perfect combination of classic tastes, textures, and colors in this sweet, zesty fruit salad!

Photo Credit: theforkedspoon.com

Waldorf Salad Recipe

Waldorf Salad, originally served at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in 1896, is a fantastic fusion of diced apples, walnuts, celery, and grapes in a simple mayonnaise dressing. Enjoy this creamy delicious fruit-filled salad recipe on a bed of crisp lettuce for a Thanksgiving fruit salad.

Photo Credit: cookingandcussing.com

5-Cup Salad

Ambrosia fruit salad with five ingredients that takes less than five minutes to make. 5-Cup Salad is sweet and tangy and shamelessly easy to make. It's the perfect addition to your holiday table especially since it can easily be made ahead or right before a meal.

Photo Credit: www.twopinkpeonies.com

Old Fashioned Fruit Salad With Whipped Cream {Easy + Delicious}

This old-fashioned fruit salad is perfect for Thanksgiving. It is a nostalgic treat that guests will love!

Photo Credit: amandascookin.com

Fresh Fruit Salad

My cousin insists on having fruit salad on every holiday. This is our family's go-to recipe and it's always a favorite.

Photo Credit: houseofnasheats.com

Easy Cranberry Fluff Salad

Cranberry Fluff Salad is an amazing Thanksgiving version of a year-round favorite. You’ll find it hard to not fill your plate with seconds and thirds of this sweet-tart salad!

Photo Credit: www.thedragonmama.net

Fall Fruit Salad or Salsa.

With all the heavy food on Thanksgiving, everyone needs a bite of something fresh. Crisp apples, plump blueberries, dried cranberries, and pistachios are oh-so tasty with a little honey and lime drizzled on top.

Photo Credit: houseofnasheats.com

Cranberry Jello Salad with Cream Cheese Topping

Cranberry Jello Salad is a sweet-tart dessert salad loaded with crushed pineapple, chopped pecans, cranberries, and a tangy cream cheese topping! It's perfect to serve for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, or any night of the year!

Photo Credit: thecozycook.com

Creamy Orange Fruit Salad

This creamy orange fruit salad is loaded with an easy combination of mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, coconut flakes, and an orange-flavored cool whip mixture that’s topped with maraschino
cherries.

Photo Credit: littlesunnykitchen.com

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Ambrosia salad, just like grandma used to make! This classic fruit salad lies somewhere in between a side dish and dessert. It’s sweet and delicious, but also somewhat healthy with bananas, mandarin orange, and pineapple throughout.
Photo Credit: healthyrecipes101.com

Berries Salad Recipe

This refreshing Berries Salad is a delicious party in a bowl. The colors pop and the dish can be served as a side to add vibrance to the festive spirit!

Photo Credit: www.julieseatsandtreats.com

Easy Fruit Salad

Easy Fruit Salad recipe is made with fresh strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pineapple, raspberries and mandarin oranges. The dressing on it is whipped up using a vanilla pudding mix along with vanilla and almond extract. This salad is perfect for entertaining during the summer. Quick, easy and makes a big batch for potlucks, backyard parties and BBQs! It also makes the perfect salad for an easy brunch.

Photo Credit: recipesfromapantry.com

Christmas Fruit Salad

This 3 ingredient easy fruit salad recipe is the perfect winter appetizer, side dish or dessert! Made with a pantry staple colorful array of fruits and berries that comes together very quickly.

Final Thoughts

Thanksgiving fruit salad is a dish that can easily be made ahead of time, which frees up valuable time on Thanksgiving day. With so many different flavors, textures, and colors, this easy Thanksgiving salad is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.

« Thanksgiving Punch Recipes: 9 Delicious Drinks
6 Tasty Butternut Squash Soup Recipes for Fall »

Pin To Save For Later

74 shares
  • Facebook74
  • Yummly

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

I'm Adriana and I LOVE cooking. I especially enjoy sharing my food with family and friends and seeing the delight in their eyes as they eat food they didn’t think they’d like.
 
More about me

Valentine's Day Recipes

  • My Favorite Chocolate Cake is SO good.
    My Favorite Chocolate Cake
  • Chocolate Toffee Candy
    Easy Gluten Free Chocolate Toffee Candy

Popular Recipes

  • no cook refrigerator pickles in a white bowl
    Grandma's No Cook Refrigerator Pickles
  • pickle wraps
    Pickle Wraps - A Yummy Midwestern Snack
  • Cinnamon Sugar Rice. Yum!
    Cinnamon Sugar Rice
  • roasted sweet dumpling squash
    How to Make Roasted Sweet Dumpling Squash

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Contact

  • Contact

All content and graphics ©2010 - 2022 Recipe Idea Shop

Copyright © 2023

  • 74Facebook
  • Pinterest