27 of the Best Healthy Salad Recipes For Any Meal
There’s nothing more nutritious than a bright, healthy salad recipe loaded with veggies and colorful, crunchy goodness! These are some of the healthy salad recipes that I make on repeat in my house (and for good reason).
Of course, salads don’t all have to be leafy greens—plenty of alternative salads make for great side dishes, such as at a BBQ alongside my favorite grilled foil packets or for a quick lunch.
Here are 27 of my favorite healthy salad recipes that are nutritious, filling, and, of course—delicious!
1. Apple Manchego Salad (Café Lurcat Copycat)
This simple salad is quick to make and super refreshing. It contains just five ingredients: crunchy apples, sharp Manchego cheese, spicy chives, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Add nuts, dried fruit, or different cheeses if you feel like switching it up!
2. Healthy Teriyaki Salmon Salad (15 Minute Recipe!)
In need of healthy, easy salads? Give this teriyaki salmon salad a try! It’s loaded with broiled salmon, carrots, almonds, and a quick, zesty teriyaki dressing.
Not only is this salad delicious, but it’s also a great way to sneak in plenty of nutrients.
3. Healthy Cobb Salad
Who doesn’t love a good Cobb salad? If you love the combination of flavors but want to skip the calories found in the typical creamy dressing, my zingy homemade dijon vinaigrette is the perfect alternative.
This healthy Cobb salad is loaded with colorful veggies and protein-packed edamame, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, and turkey.
4. Wild Rice Salad with Chicken
The fresh flavors in this healthy wild rice salad will have you making it over and over again! Chicken, pecans, and cranberries are tossed in a tangy dressing made with Dijon mustard, rice vinegar, and lemon.
The wild rice makes a nice alternative to white or brown rice if you’re looking to add more whole grains to your diet.
5. Orzo Kale Salad
Yep—delicious, healthy pasta salad recipes are a thing! This incredibly tasty orzo kale salad features crunchy nuts, parmesan, and a lemon vinaigrette. (Who knew kale and pasta couple make one of the best salad recipes out there?)
Serve this Mediterranean-inspired salad warm or cold, as a side dish, or add protein and make it a main meal. It holds up well in the fridge, making it a great option for packed lunches for work or school!
6. Southwest Quinoa Salad
Quinoa is a plant-based protein packed with nutrients, making this Southwest quinoa recipe a superfood salad! Just one cup of cooked quinoa has 8 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and all nine essential amino acids.
This salad features black beans, avocado, spices like chili powder and cumin, and the bright flavors of crisp bell pepper. Switch it up by adding cherry tomatoes, green onion, chicken, or ground beef!
7. Pear, Walnut & Gorgonzola Salad
This pear, walnut & gorgonzola salad recipe is the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and salty. We paired fresh pears with fresh greens, fennel, blackberries, and fennel.
Depending on the time of year, you can easily swap some of the ingredients to fit what you have on hand.
8. Crunchy Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing (GF + DF)
Salad is my go-to lunch choice for healthy eating, so I knew this quinoa salad would hit the spot! Make this Thai chopped salad for a potluck or prep it for healthy lunches all week long. You can also make this a vegetarian dish by skipping the chicken.
9. Wild Rice Salad With Walnuts And Orange (+ Video)
Wild rice has a rich, nutty flavor and is high in protein but low in fat. It’s a popular gluten-free option and offers great nutritional properties. The walnuts, oranges, and red wine vinaigrette dressing make this salad exceptionally delicious and light! The best part? It’s super easy to make.
10. Crunchy Detox Kale Salad
This crunchy detox kale salad is one of my go-to healthy recipes! It’s simple enough for a healthy side dish at dinner but delicious enough for a packed work lunch. It’s a vegan and gluten-free salad that offers plenty of detoxifying ingredients, such as carrots, lemon, pomegranate seeds, and green apple.
11. Kale Butternut Squash Salad with Almonds and Goat Cheese
The savory flavors of this fall-inspired salad can be enjoyed all year long! Fresh ingredients like roasted butternut squash, kale, almonds, goat cheese, and dried cranberries topped with a citrus vinaigrette make for a delicious and healthy main dish.
12. Grilled Golden Beet Salad With Quinoa and Citrus Dressing
This golden beet salad made with quinoa and a citrus dressing is so flavor-packed, nutritious, and beautiful to boot. I absolutely love beets. They are one of my favorite foods, so when I spy the beautiful and less common golden beet at the farmer’s market or grocery store, I get really excited to make this
13. Berry Arugula Salad
Adding sweet fruit to any salad is bound to make it even more delicious! This arugula salad does just that by adding berries and a tart strawberry dressing. It’s one of those everyday salads that can be served alongside dinner or as a big bowl for a potluck or family gathering.
14. Beet Salad with Cucumber, Mint, & Feta
If beets typically aren’t your thing, give this recipe a shot! The spiralized roasted beets are the perfect addition to fresh cucumber, mint, and Feta cheese. I use candies walnut pieces for extra protein and crunch, along with Brianna’s brand Blush Wine Vinaigrette. (But any vinaigrette you have will do!)
15. Grilled Caesar Salad
This Caesar salad recipe is a fun twist on the classic version! Here, you’ll grill the romaine hearts along with your favorite protein, such as fish or chicken. I use my homemade rub and Casar dressing recipe, so you get the traditional Caesar salad taste without any of the seed oils or other additives typically found in store-bought dressings.
16. Asian Noodle Edamame Salad with Peanut Dressing
My Asian noodle edamame salad is packed with tons of healthy, crunchy veggies like red pepper, carrots, purple cabbage, and edamame. It’s topped with a delicious peanut dressing, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime for added flavor.
17. Shredded Brussels Sprouts & Kale Salad with Apples, Gorgonzola & Candied Pecans
If you’re not a fan of Brussels sprout or kale, this simple green salad loaded with goodies might just change your mind! Be sure to let the salad marinate for a few hours per the directions, and you’ll wow your friends and family with this healthy recipe.
18. Grilled Shrimp, Corn & Romaine Salad with Green Avocado Dressing
The grill is the only cooking tool you’ll need for this salad! It’s really simple to make, especially if you prepare the dressing ahead of time. Grill your corn, lettuce, and shrimp skewers, combine them all together, and drizzle on the super delicious green dressing.
19. Key West Chipotle Shrimp Salad
The shrimp and corn on the cob give this Key West chipotle shrimp salad a delicious smokey flavor, and the low-fat creamy chipotle dressing is amazing! It’s one of my favorite summer salads and makes for tasty leftovers the next day. Even better? Making this recipe takes under 30 minutes from start to finish!
20. The Ultimate Greek Salad
I love a good Greek salad filled with tons of fresh veggies, Greek olives, and Feta cheese! My friends are always asking for the recipe for my ultimate Greek salad—and they’re surprised at how simple it is!
21. Superfood Power Salad
This superfood power salad is filled with different greens to fuel you and fill you up! This blend of veggies is delicious and makes a great side dish or healthy lunch. Just one serving of this superfood salad has over 10 grams of protein and tons of vitamins for a much-needed energy boost.
22. Farro Green Energy Salad
Immunity-boosting Farro is a great source of whole grain. I serve this salad as a full meal, but it makes a great side dish as well! From sweet to savory, I packed this salad with energizing superfoods like kale, broccoli, and almonds.
23. Asian Salad with Pulled Pork
Store-bought Asian salad dressings are typically high in fat and full of unhealthy additives and preservatives. The dressing for my Asian salad is light and has just the right amount of ginger flavor! You can make this salad with leftovers from a pork roast or tenderloin, but any type of shredded or cubed pork works great!
24. Orzo Turkey Salad with Cherries
This orzo chicken salad with cherries is the perfect picnic salad! It’s rich and creamy, like a traditional chicken or turkey salad, but the cherries and almonds add a nice tartness and crunch.
25. Garden Party Vegetable Noodle Salad
Spiralizing veggies into noodle-like ribbons is so easy (and fun)! I top layer upon layer of fresh veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes and add avocado for protein. This dish is a vegetarian delight that looks as good as it tastes!
26. Quinoa Fiesta Bowl
A big bowl of this protein-packed Quinoa fiesta recipe is sure to make you feel good! It tastes great warm or cold, and it’s loaded with fiber and healthy fats for a deliciously filling meal.
27. Strawberry Chicken Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
This fresh-tasting strawberry chicken salad is topped with pecans and a creamy poppy seed dressing. The tartness of the Greek yogurt dressing complements the sweet strawberries, making it the perfect dish for a summer meal. As a bonus, the chicken and spinach provide a protein-rich meal that will leave you satisfied!
Tips For Making Every Salad Healthy
If you’re a salad lover like I am, here are my top tips for turning any salad into a nutritious meal:
Make your own salad dressing. Most store-bought dressings are full of calories and preservatives. Homemade dressing is surprisingly quick and easy once you learn.
Use fresh produce. I buy organic and local whenever possible, but a good rule of thumb to follow is the clean 15 and the dirty dozen. This list gets updated every ear letting consumers know which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides.
Wash your produce properly. Even when buying organic, you’ll still want to wash your produce thoroughly to ensure the removal of chemicals and critters.
Skip the croutons and opt for nuts instead. Nuts add the same crunch and texture but without the gluten and calories.
Substitute Greek yogurt for mayo in the chicken salad-type recipes.
Substitute traditional pasta for my favorite gluten-free pasta.
Skip the cheese or add it in moderation.