The 51 Best Salad Recipes For A Filling Lunch Or Dinner (2024)

Fresh, juicy strawberries pair exceptionally well with tender grilled chicken and baby spinach in this pretty salad tossed with a tangy poppy seed dressing.

Recipe:Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad With Grilled Chicken

Roasted garlicky Brussels sprouts are tossed with mixed greens, almonds, carrots, and cranberries. A creamy balsamic dressing completes this satisfying salad.

Recipe:Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad

Layered in a mason jar, this Thai salad includes chopped cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, and peanuts. The simple dressing features peanut butter, soy sauce, and spicy sriracha for Asian-inspired flavors.

Recipe:Crunchy Thai Salad

This is the perfect summertime salad! Shrimp is marinated in a sweet and tangy honey, lime, and spice mixture, then grilled for that perfect smoky char. Toss with corn, tomatoes, avocado, and a chipotle lime cilantro dressing for a celebration of warm weather flavors.

Recipe: Honey Lime Grilled Shrimp Salad

You love chicken Caesar salad, but adding farfalle noodles provides an oomp of chewy texture and even more surface area to soak up that tangy, savory dressing.

Recipe: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

It's your favorite sandwich, now in salad form, with the addition of creamy avocado and a tangy mustard lemon vinaigrette. Serve this just after assembling so the bacon stays crisp and the avocado doesn't brown.

Recipe: Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

Crispy chicken breasts are paired with a creamy garlic Parmesan dressing atop a bed of simple greens, tomato, and red onion for a salad that hits all the right texture and flavor notes.

Recipe: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Crispy Chicken Salad

Char your farmer's market bounty of summer vegetables to highlight their flavors, then toss with arugula, goat cheese, and a lemon-basil dressing for the ultimate celebration of the season.

Recipe: Charred Summer Vegetable Salad

Who said salad needs lettuce as the base? Here, hearty Brussels sprouts are thinly shaved, then tossed with avocado, bacon, cranberries, almonds, and Parmesan for a salad that works well as a holiday side dish, or a light main.

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No grain is as underrated as farro, which is equal parts chewy, nutty, and filling.

Recipe:Farro Salad With Cucumber and Yogurt-Dill Dressing

This salad is all about the teriyaki dressing, which comes together with pantry staples like brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and fresh ginger.

Recipe:Shredded Teriyaki Chicken Salad

If you have a can of chickpeas, then this is the salad to make. Just add chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and drizzle with a chili lime dressing that'll jazz everything up.

Recipe:Avocado Chickpea Salad with Chili Lime Dressing

Not pictured here is the absolutely genius dressing — a creamy blend of avocado, lime, Greek yogurt, and cilantro.

Recipe:Southwestern Taco Salad

You really don't need more than these three ingredients to make a salad, but red onion, lemon juice, and a sprinkle of cilantro elevate this dish to a restaurant-quality meal.

Recipe:Cucumber, Tomato, And Avocado Salad

Pair with a piece of soft bread to sponge up all the leftover oil and feta.

Recipe:Chopped Mediterranean Salad

If you're anything like me, you'll want to include three times the garlic suggested in this recipe. (And to be honest, that goes for every other recipe out there!)

Recipe:Southwestern Salad With Avocado Dressing

If you're looking for a low-carb dinner recipe, this salad hits the spot. The sweet, spicy marinade honestly makes the chicken feel like a meal in itself.

Recipe:Honey-Lime Chicken and Avocado Salad

It might bring this "salad" into casserole territory, but I'd also recommend topping this with cheddar cheese and broiling for a few minutes for melted goodness in every bite.

Recipe:Southwestern-style Quinoa Salad

Here's proof that root vegetables can be enjoyed in the summer as well as the winter. It's all about pairing them with lighter, cooler ingredients.

Recipe:Roasted Veggie Salad With Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

If you're not yet convinced that honey mustard is the best sauce to pair with chicken, let me introduce you to this salad. As the commenters note, season as you go for a not-too-salty dressing.

Recipe:Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

Bright, sweet fruit mixed with nutty quinoa is an unconventional combination that just works.

Recipe:Summer Fruit Quinoa Salad

For an even more true-to-Middle East flavor, fry up your pita bread and drizzle the salad with pomegranate molasses.

Recipe:Middle Eastern Pita Salad (Fattoush Salad)

A classic doesn't need much to spruce it up, but bits of thick-cut bacon never hurt a recipe.

Recipe:Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad

Known for its extra-creamy, slightly sweet and tangy flavor, Hawaiian mac salad makes the perfect side dish for BBQ mains.

Recipe:Hawaiian Mac Salad

Like many Italian dishes, a Caprese salad pushes the boundaries for how few ingredients it takes to make a delicious dish — and comes out with winning results.

Recipe:Caprese Salad

This refreshing cucumber salad goes great with a side of pita bread or paired with spicy Asian rice or meat dishes.

Recipe:Smashed Cucumber Salad

Packed with 29 grams of protein and 19 grams of fiber, this salad is perfect for anyone who needs a lunch that can fuel them through the afternoon.

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Pairing a comfort food with salad is proof that "healthy" can live at the intersection of "tasty" and"good for you."

Recipe:Tuna Salad With Roasted Veggies

Sliced nuts, fried wontons, a crunchy salad base, and a sweet and savory dressing mean this salad feels like a treat, every time.

Recipe:Asian Chicken Chopped Salad

High-quality olives will go a long way to adding a kick of mild, salty, delicious flavor. (Kalamata olives are my personal favorite, but you do you.)

Recipe:Healthy Mediterranean Salad

I wish I had a Tupperware full of roasted sweet potatoes on hand at all times. Not just because it's one of my favorite roasted vegetables, but also because it tastes amazing in this salad when paired with chickpeas and red onion.

Recipe:Sweet Potato And Chickpea Salad

If you find the taste of raw onions to be too overpowering, feel free to roast them along with the cauliflower.

Recipe:Roasted Cauliflower Salad

Before seasoning the chicken, pat it dry for maximum flavor absorption. After seasoning it, let it sit for 15–30 minutes in the fridge to let the spices work their magic on the meat.

Recipe:Cajun-Style Chicken Salad

There's a reason this popular side dish is a BBQ staple. It's easy to make, goes great with meat, and is delicious when served cold on a hot summer afternoon.

Recipe:Hearty Potato Salad

My rule of thumb for salads is: if it's good as a taco ingredient, then it's good as a salad.

Recipe:Shrimp and Avocado Taco Salad

Now here's a tasty and easy way to get your daily serving of protein in one go. Serve with crunchy pita chips for a fuller meal.

Recipe:Honey Mustard Chicken, Bacon, And Avocado Salad

This is one of those salads where you'll thank yourself for making an extra serving or two of peanut sauce.

Recipe:Peanut Noodle Pasta Salad

If you want to work in some healthy fat, try adding a few crumbles of feta cheese.

Recipe:Three Bean Salad

Depending on who's eating, you may consider serving this with roasted green beans, a bit of feta cheese, or even some caramelized onions.

Recipe:Steak and Avocado Salad

There's something about creamy avocado and chewy quinoa that contrasts so nicely. Throw in crunchy tomatoes and cucumbers, and I'm in heaven.

Recipe:Avocado Quinoa Power Salad

Here's a tip from one Tasty user who tried and love this recipe: Season the shrimp first and let them rest while you get to work on all the other ingredients. By the time you're ready to cook the shrimp, they'll have absorbed a ton of flavor.

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Chewy, savory, and chock full of nutrients, tempeh is one of the best forms of vegetarian protein — and this salad is the perfect introduction to it.

Recipe:Tempeh Taco Salad

No fruit works better as a salad ingredient than watermelon. There's nothing better than that satisfying, crunchy texture that pairs wonderfully with other toppings.

Recipe:Watermelon And Cucumber Salad

This lighter take on a traditional "potato salad" uses cauliflower instead of potatoes — but magically retains all the creamy, herby, and filling flavor.

Recipe:Cauliflower "Potato Salad"

Who says pesto is just for spaghetti? This salad coats every slice of squash, zucchini, and carrot with a gloriously savory homemade pesto.

Recipe:Summer Vegetable Pesto Ribbon Salad

I'm willing to go on the record to say that a traditional Cobb salad is the best salad out there. If you've yet to try one, now's your chance.

Recipe:Traditional Chicken Cobb Salad

This salad is as tasty as it is beautiful. If you have any juicy peaches, slice those up and add 'em to the mix!

Recipe:Mixed Berry Spinach Salad With Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Can't figure out what to bring to your friend's cookout? This salad, which goes great with steaks as well as sliders and pasta, is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Recipe:Watermelon Salad With Arugula And Feta

I love beets because they're sweet, slightly floral, and so perfect with other crunchy ingredients (like sliced pear, for instance).

Recipe:Beet And Pear Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette

One of America's top salads, the Caesar is a classic that's easy to make and always hits the spot. Our recipe is a little more involved but so worth the time.

Recipe:Classic Caesar Salad

Packed with tofu, chickpeas, and lots of veggies, this salad is the perfect meal-prep lunch that you'll be excited to dig into day after day.

Recipe:Protein-Packed Roasted Vegetable Salad