20 Simple Spring Salads to Make for Dinner

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
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updated May 1, 2019
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(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

As the weather warms up and the evenings stay brighter for longer, we’re craving something lighter at the dinner table. We’re ready to push aside all those stews and roasts, along with our wool coats and sweaters! A dinner salad is definitely ready to see its time in the spotlight after a long winter.

Here are 20 quick and easy ones that are satisfying enough to be a main course, yet definitely won’t weigh you down this spring season.

Satisfying Vegetarian Salads

Meatless salads can make for a solid main dish if they’re filled with enough of the good stuff. Pile on the beans, cheese, and nuts, and make sure you have an extra flavorful dressing.

Honey Mustard Chicken Tender Salad (Image credit: Lauren Volo)

Salads eith a Little Meat or Fish

To keep salads like these extra simple, lean on store-bought conveniences like frozen breaded chicken tenders or things that cook up in a flash, like shrimp. You can also make use of leftovers: Last night’s chicken dinner easily translates to tonight’s chicken salad.

Spring Grain Salad with Asparagus & Meyer Lemon (Image credit: Faith Durand)

Grain and Pasta Salads

Not only do grain and pasta salads make for hearty dinners, but they also hold up well as leftovers, which means you’ll have lunch all taken care of the next day.

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