When it comes to easy lunches that don't need to be reheated, the salad reigns supreme. But a salad in this case doesn't need to be just carrots and greens — a rabbit salad, as they say. No, a true lunch salad can be far more filling and satisfying. From a pasta salad with feta and broccoli, to a grain salad with dried fruit and nuts, to my very, very favorite chicken salad, here are 15 salads that are just fabulous for the lunchbox.
When filling my lunchbox, I usually look for salads that have a little meat or fish, like chicken or tuna salad, or salads that incorporate hearty grains, or beans or pasta. Here are five salads from each of those categories — have you tried any of these yet?
Salads with Meat or Fish
• 1 Crisp Tuna-Cabbage Salad - Tuna salad, packed with shredded cabbage for lightness and crunch.
• 2 Dill and Yogurt Chicken Salad - One of my all-time favorite recipes. A simple chicken salad with the fresh, light tanginess of yogurt and plenty of fresh herbs.
• 3 Italian Chicken Salad Sandwiches - A fresh take on chicken salad.
• 4 Chicken (or Tofu!) & Wild Rice Salad - Chicken and wild rice, a classic. Can be made with tofu, too!
• 5 Barbecue Chicken and Macaroni Salad - A saucy chicken and pasta dish.
Grain Salads
• 6 Winter Wheat Berry Salad with Figs and Red Onion - A beautiful salad with sweet figs, savory red onion, and lots of crunchy nuts. Filling and delicious.
• 7 Quinoa Salad with Spring Radishes and Greens - Crunchy radishes, fresh greens, and superfood quinoa!
• 8 Warm Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Fontina - This is a lunch salad that is really good for dinner as well.
• 9 Meyer Lemon Grain Salad with Asparagus, Almonds and Goat Cheese - A great recipe for spring.
• 10 Couscous Salad with Winter Squash and Cranberries - Delicious and satisfying.
Pasta and Bean Salads
• 11 Chickpea of the Sea - A vegetarian take on the classic tuna salad.
• 12 Black-Eyed Pea Salad - Dixie caviar itself!
• 13 Broccoli and Feta Pasta Salad - A favorite in my family. Green broccoli and salty, savory feta.
• 14 Tortellini and Spring Vegetable Salad - Tortellini tossed with spring vegetables — gorgeous and so delicious!
• 15 Roasted Garlic, Olive and Tomato Pasta Salad - A tender, creamy pasta salad with the flavor of fresh garlic and sun-ripened tomatoes and olives. A million miles away from old-fashioned, too-greasy pasta salads.
Do you have a favorite salad that you like to pack for lunch?
Related: Twelve Steps To a Better Pasta Salad
(Images: See linked recipes for full image credits)
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I just bought some canned salmon thinking that I'd make some salmon salad (instead of tuna) to eat on crackers or toast for lunch this week. Anyone see a reason why this wouldn't be awesome?
@hamilton I regularly make tuna salad with packaged salmon instead. It's just as tasty, but different & I like to change it up!
It's like you read my mind. I recently made (and shared recipe for) an Israeli couscous salad with veggies and feta cheese, drizzled with balsamic vinegar. It was light yet filling, and super easy for me to pack and take to school. I like the Israeli couscous because quinoa and couscous are usually too small for my taste. Is it just me? I feel like I'm the only person who doesn't care for quinoa. It's more a texture than taste issue.
Tuna salad is my all time favorite lunch. I used to eat it everyday and even used to call lunch time "tuna time".
I still love it.
Ya'll, that tortellini salad with the radishes up there will SAVE you from the winter veg doldrums. So fast, delicious, filling, refreshing. NOM.
I made the Texas Caviar this weekend, but found it to be a bit overseasoned (might be my vinaigrette, which was pretty spicy). So I made some ziti and mixed that in; really looking forward to tomorrow's lunch!
The pictures themselves are making me feel hungry!.. there's some excellant recipe ideas on here, very suitable for the summer weather
Nomnom, I HATE quinoa and also feel like the only person in the world (apparently there are two of us!) Can't stand the taste, smell, or texture. BTW, I don't care much for Moroccan couscous either and prefer Israeli. That's more of a texture thing since Moroccan couscous doesn't taste like much and isn't really offensive. Anyway, just wanted to let you know you have a kindred spirit.
Yum! I can't wait to try some of these! Another salad I really like to bring to work for lunch is a Carrot and Chickpea Salad from Food and Wine:
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/carrot-and-chickpea-salad
NomNom and EK! I am with you guys on the quinoa! I have eaten it a few times here and there, but in general I just don't care for it. Not because of taste, but because the texture and transparency sort of weirds me out. It's odd to me because it seems like the type of food that would be right up my alley-but I generally just stick to other delicious grains.
I very much prefer Israeli couscous to quinoa, etc. I usually get it at Trader Joe's, along with a log of their fresh goat cheese and 2 bags of cut up butternut squash. I roast the squash with olive oil, dried sage and s & p. Toss it together with a little balsamic vinegar and toasted walnuts. Yum!
When they are in season, I love to bring a fava bean and pecorino salad. I dress in a citrus vinaigrette with some refreshing mint, and it's a perfect side to something more indulgent! I also love a more standard pasta salad with cherry tomatoes and goat cheese. Roasted corn and tomato salad is also wonderful all year long because I can make it with frozen corn and it's delicious.