Cranberry Citrus Salad {The perfect way to add color and crunch to your Thanksgiving menu!}

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The perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner, this Cranberry Salad recipe is flavorful and delicious! Mandarin oranges, fresh cranberries, goat cheese crumbles and pecans make this Cranberry Salad with pecans incredible.

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Cranberry salad with pecans, on a platter with goat cheese.

This Cranberry Salad recipe is the perfect Thanksgiving Side Dish!

Thanksgiving often means lots of “beige” on your plate – turkey, stuffing & mashed potatoes and gravy to name a few. Adding a side dish with some color and crunch is a must.

This fresh, cranberry citrus salad is the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving dinner. Loaded with lots of goodies like mandarin oranges, pecans and cranberries, it brings the perfect complimentary flavors to your turkey dinner!

Here’s a quick-reference shopping list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this Cranberry Salad recipe:

2 Bags (about 5 oz. each) of Spring Mix, or a mix of your favorite greens
Mandarin Oranges
Fresh Cranberries
Green Onions
Celery
Toasted Pecans
Goat Cheese

For exact ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions, be sure to reference the recipe at the bottom of this page.

What other nuts can I use instead of pecans for this fresh cranberry salad?

You can use a variety of nuts – walnuts, pistachios and almonds are all great options!

Ingredients for balsamic citrus vinaigrette.

Balsamic vinaigrette mixed in bowl with whisk.

For the honey balsamic dressing, you’ll need:

Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Garlic
Honey
Orange (for juice and zest)

(Please reference the recipe below for exact ingredient amounts and full directions.)

How do I make dressing for fresh cranberry salad recipe?

Simply whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, orange juice & zest and garlic.

The dressing for this salad is delightful! Not overly heavy, the balsamic dressing is great to toss on the salad just before serving or serve on the side and have your guests dress themselves.

This dressing is a wonderful option to most store-bought balsamic dressings. Try this dressing with some of my other salads:

Blueberry Spring Mix Salad
Roasted Carrot Salad
Kale Apple Salad
Harvest Salad with Pears and Pomegranates
Butternut Squash Salad at Real Housemoms

How to prepare fresh cranberries for a salad:

Fresh cranberries can be rather tart when consumed raw. To soften and sweeten, you can do something very simple: sweeten and cook in the microwave.

Steps to cooking cranberries:

Start by adding the fresh cranberries to a microwave-safe bowl. Add the sweetener of your choice along with fresh-squeezed orange juice. I like granular monk fruit sweetener, like Lakanto or Whole Earth.
Stir together the cranberries, juice and sweetener. Then, microwave on 1 minute increments, stopping to stir. You’ll likely just need 2 minutes total to cook the cranberries.
Let the cranberries cool to room temperature, or refrigerate before adding them to the salad.

Do you love cooking with fresh cranberries? Check out some of my other recipes using cranberries:

Want to use dried cranberries without all the refined sugar?

Check out my post for How to Make Dried Cranberries recipe! No dehydrator necessary – just 3 ingredients and your oven does the work. This is a great way to add dried cranberries to your salad without all of the refined sugar.

Not only are these dried cranberries great in salads, they are also wonderful in cookies, bars, homemade granola & granola bars, and stirring into yogurt and oatmeal.

Cranberry salad recipe on platter with utensils on the side.

Can I prepare a salad the day before Thanksgiving dinner?

Yes. This cranberry salad recipe can be made the day before. Assemble all of the ingredients, and place right in the serving dish. Cover with plastic wrap. Do NOT add the dressing. You can mix the dressing in advance, but keep it separate. Store in an airtight jar at room temperature. Dress the salad before serving, or serve the dressing on the side.

Should I dress the salad before serving for dinner?

Some people like to dress their own salad to control how much dressing they have. I would recommend serving the dressing on the side of the salad for your guests. Serve the dressing on the side, especially if you know there will be leftover salad.

You can also dress the entire salad just before dinner is served.

Cranberry salad with pecans with balsamic dressing poured over the top.

How do you make fresh cranberries edible?

Cranberries can be ate raw. However, if they are too tart for your liking, you can cook down in the microwave. Use 2 Tbsp. of fresh squeezed orange juice and 2 Tbsp. of granular sweetener. Stir together and microwave on 1 minute increments until the cranberries burst. Two minutes of microwaving should be all that’s needed.

What can I do with raw cranberries?

Raw cranberries can be diced and made into a relish, added to salads, dried and added to cookies and bars, roasted with butternut squash, and added to baked oatmeal.

How long does cranberry salad last in the fridge?

Undressed, cranberry salad will last 2-3 days when refrigerated in an air-tight container.

What is the healthiest way to eat cranberries?

The less sugar the better! Cranberries are wonderfully healthy, as they contain anti-oxidants and are considered an anti-inflammatory food. Try fresh cranberries in a salad, in baked oatmeal or blended into a smoothie.

What can I serve this cranberry salad with?

This cranberry salad is amazing with roast turkey and chicken. It’s a great side dish to a holiday meal. Check out some of our best holiday main dish recipes:

Cranberry salad with pecans and rotisserie chicken.

Want to enjoy this salad as leftovers the next day? Here are a few tips:

If you’re expecting leftovers from your Thanksgiving dinner, serve your dressing on the side. This will help keep your leftover salad from becoming soggy. This cranberry salad will keep 2-3 days refrigerated if it is NOT dressed.
Top the salad with your leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken! Adding protein to your salad makes a fantastic, healthy lunch and will keep you full and satiated for hours.

Here are some other recipes perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner:

Roasted rainbow carrots on white platter topped with chopped parsley. — Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Incredibly simple to make, this flavorful and delicious Homemade Cranberry Sauce recipe will be your new favorite Thanksgiving side dish! Simply simmered with dried apricots, orange juice and orange zest, this cranberry sauce goes perfectly with any holiday meal! — Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Here’s the easy recipe for my Cranberry Salad recipe:

Cranberry Citrus Salad with Pecans

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Fresh, crisp and healthy, this Cranberry Salad recipe with Pecans is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish. Made with mandarin oranges, fresh cranberries, and topped with goat cheese and pecans, this cranberry salad is amazing!

Ingredients

2 (5 oz. bags) Spring Mix or your preferred lettuce mix
1 (15 oz) can., mandarin oranges, drained
1 1/2 c. fresh cranberries
2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed orange juice (juice of 1/2 orange)
2 Tbsp. granular monk fruit sweetener
2 green onions, sliced
2 ribs of celery, sliced
1/2 c. toasted pecans
1/4 c. goat cheese crumbles

Honey Balsamic Dressing:

1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
1/4 c. fresh squeezed orange juice (juice of 1/2 orange)
1 Tbsp. orange zest (zest of 1/2 orange)
1 Tbsp. honey
1 tsp. minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

To a microwave safe bowl, add the fresh cranberries, 2 Tbsp. of orange juice and 2 Tbsp. of granular sweetener. Stir together and microwave on 1 minute increments until the cranberries burst. Stir. 2 minutes will likely be all that is needed to cook the cranberries. Set cranberries aside to cool.
In a large bowl or platter, add the spring mix/salad greens, oranges, green onions, celery, pecans and cooled cranberries. Top with the goat cheese crumbles. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
For the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, honey, orange juice and zest, salt and pepper. Serve the dressing on the side or dress the salad just before serving.

Notes

Want to prepare this salad in advance of Thanksgiving dinner: You can prepare the day before. Add all the ingredients to a serving bowl or platter, EXCEPT the dressing. You can mix the dressing in advance, just keep it in a separate container. Dress the salad just before serving. If you expect leftovers, keep the dressing on the side and have guests dress their own salad.