Our 50+ Best Salad Recipes

updated Apr 13, 2022

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Credit: Joe Lingeman

When I was a kid, I thought salad only meant one thing: a bowl of lettuce topped with too-large chunks of carrots, cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes all tossed with bottled salad dressing. That’s the salad I grew up with and I never questioned if others existed.

Once I started cooking for myself, I realized there was a whole world of salads to explore. Some have varied greens like arugula and baby spinach, others skip the greens completely and replace them with veggies like carrots and beets, and some have so many good things in them that they’re the main event. Truly, there are countless ways to make a salad.

Here’s proof of what I was missing all those years. These 50+ recipes show off just how versatile (and delicious) salads can be.

In This Article

Leafy Green Salads
Slaws and Veggie Salads
Pasta and Grain Salads
Main Course Salads

Leafy Green Salads

1 / 17

Simple Arugula Salad

This quick and easy, unfussy arugula salad is tossed in a lemon vinaigrette and finished with shaved Parmesan.

2 / 17

Quick and Easy Roasted Vegetable Salad

This warm salad is filled with roasted sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and shallots and tossed in a tangy balsamic mustard vinaigrette.

3 / 17

Spinach Salad with Warm Brown Butter Dressing

Warm brown butter dressing is the key to this perfectly wilted spinach salad.

4 / 17

Crisp and snappy endive leaves with a light orange vinaigrette, toasted walnuts, and Parmesan cheese.

5 / 17

Roasted Beet Salad

Roasted beets mixed with argula, pumpkin seeds, and crumbled feta makes for the perfect holiday side salad.

6 / 17

Alice Water's Baked Goat Cheese with Spring Lettuce Salad

The baked goat cheese is the attention-stealer in this French bistro-inspired salad.

7 / 17

This colorful green garden salad is inspired by the produce-packed Jersey salad at Delancey in Seattle.

8 / 17

The Ultimate Spring Party Salad

This kale, blueberry, and feta salad comes with a gorgeous blush vinaigrette.

9 / 17

Weeknight Winter Salad

This salad starts with a base of sweet Swiss chard and is filled with roasted sweet potato, fennel, and cucumbers tossed in a lemony vinaigrette.

10 / 17

Roasted Carrot and Chickpea Salad

This warm roasted carrot and chickpea salad is flavored with cardamom and citrus, and finished with wilted arugula, almonds, and an herb-packed dressing.

11 / 17

Every Pizza Place Salad

This pizza place-inspired salad has iceberg lettuce, radicchio, cherry tomatoes, olives, and cheese. It's all tossed in a bright and tangy lemon caper dressing.

12 / 17

The Perfect Simple Salad

Here are some thoughts, tips, and directions to help you turn your side salad into the most delicious part of the meal.

13 / 17

Caesar Salad with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs

This simple Caesar salad is made with garlic butter breadcrumbs and a cheesy anchovy vinaigrette.

14 / 17

Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

The combination of spinach, strawberries, almonds, and goat cheese is a classic for a reason. Don't forget the poppyseed dressing!

15 / 17

Easy Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Feta

This simple baby spinach salad is filled with fruit, nuts, and cheese. It's perfect as a quick side dish any day of the week.

16 / 17

The Best Diner-Style Greek Salad

Greek salad is a well-loved classic. This recipe brings together crisp cucumber and romaine, meaty tomatoes, olives, and feta in a Greek vinaigrette.

17 / 17

Watermelon Arugula Salad

This quick 5-ingredient recipe is packed with juicy watermelon, pepper arugula, and salty feta cheese.

Slaws and Veggie Salads

1 / 18

Apple-Bacon Slaw

This easy slaw is packed with crispy bacon, crunchy cabbage, and sweet apples.

2 / 18

This simple recipe for red cabbage and carrot coleslaw is tossed in a spicy and creamy dressing. It's perfect for serving with or without tacos.

3 / 18

Coronation Coleslaw

A cold chicken salad tossed in a curried mayo sauce and is studded with raisins and then gets plenty of crunch from cashews.

4 / 18

Ginger Cabbage Slaw

Whip up this quick & simple slaw for your next veggie burger or salad.

5 / 18

Crunchy Cabbage Slaw with Farro, Pecorino, and Dates

A make-ahead friendly salad made with crunchy red cabbage, shredded kale, dates, farro, and Pecorino cheese.

6 / 18

Sesame Ginger Slaw

If you want a side dish that's a total crowd-pleaser, there is no better choice than this sesame ginger slaw.

7 / 18

Crunchy Peanut Slaw

This refreshing, light slaw is made fragrant with roasted peanuts.

8 / 18

No-Mayo Coleslaw

This vinegar-based, entirely dairy-free coleslaw is a refreshing summertime side.

9 / 18

Tangy Carrot Slaw

This recipe for simple carrot slaw is tossed with a tangy Dijon mustard dressing.

10 / 18

Broccoli and Kale Caesar Salad

This hearty vegan broccoli and kale salad is topped with golden croutons and a velvety vegan Caesar dressing made with roasted garlic and cashews.

11 / 18

Salt and Pepper Smashed Cucumber Salad

This is the easiest cucumber salad, made with just salt, pepper, and a homemade vinaigrette.

12 / 18

Chilled Zucchini Noodle Salad

This is a light and fresh recipe for zucchini noodle salad, tossed in a spicy honey jalapeño lime vinaigrette and garnished with pistachios and cilantro.

13 / 18

Cucumber Caprese Salad

Our simple twist on classic Italian Caprese salad that adds cool, crisp cucumbers to the equation.

14 / 18

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

This is an easy Caesar salad made with shredded Brussels sprouts and homemade croutons.

15 / 18

Sour Cream and Dill Cucumber Salad

This is an easy, potluck-friendly recipe for classic cucumber dill salad tossed in a tangy sour cream dressing.

16 / 18

Marinated Feta-Beet Salad

Sweet roasted beets are loaded with fresh herbs and feta cheese for a delicious salad.

17 / 18

Japanese-Inspired Cucumber Salad

This summery cucumber salad, inspired by sunomono, is crunchy, refreshing, and swimming in delicate umami notes.

18 / 18

Celery Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette

The best thing to do with that forgotten celery bunch in your crisper (you know the one!).

Pasta and Grain Salads

1 / 10

Asparagus & Prosciutto Pasta Salad

Grilled asparagus, prosciutto ribbons, and baby spinach star in a fast and fancy pasta salad.

2 / 10

Israeli Couscous Salad with Feta, Chickpeas, and Herbs

This vegetarian recipe for Israeli couscous salad is filled with chickpeas, tomatoes, herbs, and feta cheese.

3 / 10

Cold Sesame Chicken and Noodle Salad

This crowd-pleasing chilled noodle salad brings bright and savory flavors to the table along with chicken and a rich sesame ginger dressing.

4 / 10

The Best Pasta Salad Without Mayo

This easy-to-make pasta salad has a creamy flavor, but ditches the mayo in favor of a rich vinaigrette and soft cheese.

5 / 10

Bacon & Spinach Orzo Salad

This orzo salad is tossed with wilted spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and chunks of Asiago and coated with a warm bacon vinaigrette.

6 / 10

Light & Fresh Italian Pasta Salad

This vibrant Italian pasta salad is filled with sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, olives, fresh mozzarella, and arugula.

7 / 10

Antipasto Grain Salad

This vibrant, no-wilt farro salad, which is packed with buttery olives, peppadew peppers, fresh mozzarella, and more, gets even better as it sits. It's perfect for dinner parties and potlucks.

8 / 10

Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad

Mixed with quinoa, beans, and vibrant fresh veggies, and topped with a zippy chili-lime vinaigrette, this is a salad for everybody.

9 / 10

Broccoli and Feta Pasta Salad

A recipe for a hearty pasta salad filled with broccoli, feta, and Kalamata olives.

10 / 10

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

An easy, make-ahead recipe for quinoa salad filled with fresh vegetables, herbs, and cheese.

Main Course Salads

1 / 21

Warm Fajita Steak Salad

This fajita salad features cumin-rubbed flank steak along with charred peppers and onions over a bed of crunchy, chopped romaine and red cabbage.

2 / 21

Classic Cobb Salad

This classic Cobb salad recipe hits that sweet spot of just the right ingredients made in the easiest way possible.

3 / 21

Sticky Chicken Salad

The best way to eat Buffalo glazed chicken? On this salad.

4 / 21

Shrimp Taco Salad

With cilantro-lime shrimp and a creamy jalapeño ranch dressing, this salad wows everyone.

5 / 21

Spanakopita Kale Salad

With briny feta crumbles, crunchy toasted walnuts, and zippy herbs, this chopped kale salad tastes just like spanakopita, the iconic Greek savory pie.

6 / 21

Crispy Chicken Caesar Orzo Salad

This crispy chicken Caesar orzo salad is a dinner salad for pasta lovers as much as it is for anyone who wants a generous dose of greens.

7 / 21

Sheet Pan Salad With Crispy Chickpeas and Feta

Roast sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and croutons, then build a flavorful, satisfying salad — directly on top!

8 / 21

Pittsburgh Salad

Warm, creamy, crispy, deliciously salted French fries served on top of a heaping bowl of veggies.

9 / 21

French Bistro Salad with Rotisserie Chicken

A 20-minute dinner salad inspired by the roasted chicken salad at Buvette, a French bistro in NYC’s West Village.

10 / 21

Mediterranean Tuna and White Bean Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

An easy recipe for an Italian-inspired tuna and white bean salad with fennel, radicchio, and arugula.

11 / 21

Big Springtime Chopped Salad

A springy vegetable blend topped with crispy Parmesan chickpeas and Italian dressing.

12 / 21

Greek-Style Tuna Salad

A light and wholesome Mediterranean-inspired tuna salad that's packed with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and fresh herbs.

13 / 21

Gemischter Salat (Mixed Salads)

This Swiss-inspired mixed salad plate that is made with an assortment of vegetable-based salads all plated together for a colorful and texture-filled meal.

14 / 21

Garlicky Chickpea and Fennel Salad with Baked Goat Cheese

Take that pantry can of chickpeas to new heights with this fast and fancy chickpea fennel salad. The real kicker is the fried goat cheese that goes on top.

15 / 21

Bacon Avocado Salad Bowls

A large, flavorful salad filled with tomato, bacon, avocado, and fried eggs.

16 / 21

Chopped Chickpea Salad

This meal-worthy salad puts toothsome, protein-packed chickpeas in the center of your bowl to build a truly filling salad for dinner.

17 / 21

Baja Shrimp Taco Salad

A recipe for easy taco salad piled with roasted shrimp, dressed in a tangy lime crema, and finished with avocado and crushed tortilla chips.

18 / 21

This traditional French recipe includes lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, tuna, potatoes, and eggs.

19 / 21

Spicy Carnitas Salad Bowl

If you happened to make pork or chicken carnitas for dinner, this is the perfect way to roll over leftovers into a healthyish meal the next day.

20 / 21

Loaded Veggie Taco Salad

This vegetarian taco salad with a creamy cilantro dressing is loaded with protein and can be eaten all week.

21 / 21

Gado Gado (Indonesian Salad with Peanut Dressing)

The star of this hearty, easy-to-make Indonesian salad is the garlicky peanut sauce.

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