25 Healthy Salad Recipes That Will Revolutionize Your Lunch Game
Eating your greens doesn’t need to be boring.
Victor Protasio
If the word salad doesn’t get you excited, that’s about to change. Homemade salads don’t need to be bland and boring. And they also don’t need to be totally over the top, like restaurant salads that leave you full of days. Making healthy salads at home can be quick, low cost, and highly rewarding to pack flavor, texture, and nutrients into a meal that feeds the whole family, or is pre-prepped for a week of super fulfilling lunches.
No matter the season, a luscious, cravings-worthy healthy salad (truly) is just a few chops in your kitchen away. Whether you’re dressing up a bagged salad or going straight to a healthy salad recipe, get out the big bowl, because it’s salad time. Here’s what to make.
Related: 18 Easy Fall Salad Recipes to Make Tonight
Old School Taco Salad
Fred Hardy
Part comfort food, part health food, this taco in a bowl concept predates your favorite counter service burrito bowl, and it’s so easy to make at home. Crushed chips on top add a fun touch, and feel free to get creative with extra toppings, like pumpkin seeds, sliced avocado, and more.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad With Crispy Pancetta and Fried Eggs
Fred Hardy
This Brussels sprouts salad is nutritious and filling, full of savory flavors from the pancetta to the fried egg served on top. The creamy dressing which includes mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon zest and juice, pepper, and oil binds all the flavors together.
Shaved Carrot Salad
Jennifer Causey
The tahini, oil, vinegar, ginger, soy sauce, and garlic dressing brings this shaved carrot salad to life. The salad will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Eat it on its own or alongside a protein for a heartier lunch.
Green Bean and Celery Salad
Greg Dupree
This refreshing salad mixes green beans, apples, and celery with a punchy apple cider vinegar and ginger dressing. It also gets a nutty flavor from the sesame seeds, giving the medley lots of contrast in flavors. Serve with your protein of choice or on its own for a tasty vegetarian main.
Steak Salad With Herby Dressing
Fred Hardy
Steak topped salad is always a good idea, and this bright and herbaceous green salad is simple to make all year round. The dressing uses a combo of fresh lemon juice, green herbs, and olive oil for a tangy sauce you can use on anything.
Grilled Honeynut Squash Salad
Christopher Testani
Honeynut squash and napa cabbage hit the grill before being mixed into fresh radicchio and topped with roasted crunchy pepitas and mint. Full of nutrients from various fruits and veggies, this healthy and festive toss will surely become a staple in your rotation this fall.
Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad
Victor Protasio
Fruit salad is totally salad (and cucumber is, yes, a fruit). The addition of briny feta brings this cantaloupe and cucumber combo together nicely, as a meal or side dish.
Farro and Squash Salad
Victor Protasio
Whole grains and summer squash pair together so well texturally, and the addition of nuts to this healthy salad adds another element of crunch. Make this salad year round with various types of squash, and try swapping out the cheese or herbs for seasonal varieties to keep this salad in your rotation.
Crunchy Salad With Chicken and Ginger
Fred Hardy
If you like a nice crisp crunch when you take a bite of salad, this recipe is for you. Orange juice, soy sauce, and rice vinegar all meld nicely with ginger for a zingy dressing, and a cabbage base makes this slaw-like salad extra crunchy.
Spring Green Salad
As easy as chopping (or tearing) fresh lettuce and stirring together a fresh yogurt-based dressing, this healthy salad can easily become a weekday go-to. Try it with pre-washed spring greens for an even faster assembly, and use it as a base all year round for seasonal toppings and mix-ins.
Steak and Blackberry Salad
This composed salad looks so elegant and is restaurant-quality, without a steep price and with minimal prep. The fresh blackberries go so well with steak, and pistachios add a satisfying crunch. This is about to become a household favorite.
Baby Kale Chicken Caesar Salad
Baby kale is packed with fresh, verdant flavor, and is so easy to work with (and chew) in a salad. The homemade dressing is quick and easy to make, and rotisserie chicken on top of this healthy salad makes this a balanced meal with plenty of protein.
Warm Chicken Shawarma Salad
This Middle Eastern-inspired bowl is full of flavor, thanks in part to pre-mixed shawarma seasoning, and can be served warm or at room temperature, perfect for grab-and-go meals. It’s a healthy and colorful salad that’s enjoyable in every season.
Smashed Cucumber Salad
This cucumber salad is fun to make (smashing things = good time!) and just as fun to eat. It’s like the best parts of a Greek salad, all in one bowl. It’s salty, tangy, and most importantly, healthy.
Related: 50 Quick, Healthy Lunch Ideas You Can Easily Make at Home
Spiralized Sesame Beet Salad
A salad that looks like noodles? We’re in. In this dish, spiralized beets are coated in a sesame oil-based dressing for a healthy take on cold sesame noodles.
Grilled Halloumi Salad
Top a salad with grilled cheese and we’re so in for a salad meal. Halloumi is a semi-soft cheese with a high melting point, meaning it’s easy to grill for a crisp exterior and gooey interior. And on top of lemony romaine, it’s perfect.
Nicoise-Inspired Summer Salad
Nicoise salad is quick to prepare and oh so rewarding. Not only does it look like artwork, but every bite can be different, depending how you play it. Serve this stunner to guests, take it to a potluck, or just treat yourself.
Lemony Chopped Salad With Pita
If you had to pick a desert island salad, this may just be it. The lemony dressing, crisp veggies, and crunch of the baked pita is the perfect combo.
Make-Ahead Holiday Salad
You can’t make a full holiday meal everyday, but you can make this salad! Shaved Brussels sprouts and kale provide a hearty, nutritious base for the salad packed with festive flavor.
Japanese-Style Shrimp Salad
Pre-cooked shrimp provide a quick way to create this protein-filled green salad full of avocado and cucumber. The creamy, umami-filled dressing is yet another recipe that can become a weeknight salad go-to.
Superfood Lentil Salad
With lentils as a base, this salad is intriguing and filling, and packed with superfoods to keep you nourished. Quickly charring the zucchini adds another depth of flavor, and microgreens on top make the whole healthy salad feel elegant.
Big Breakfast Salad
Victor Protasio
Make the most important meal of the day even more healthy with this oversized breakfast salad. Full of eggs, potatoes, and everything seasoning, this salad hits all of breakfast’s best notes, and can be enjoyed any time of day. Breakfast salad for dinner, anyone?
Green Salad With Cornichon Vinaigrette
Stop throwing away the pickling liquid in the bottom of your jars - it has prime salad dressing potential. This green salad is acidic and pickle-y in all the right ways, to keep you scooping up big bites of lettuce packed with tastiness.
Celery-and-Apple Salad With Crispy Buckwheat
Celery and apple are a natural bright and crisp pairing, and topped with buckwheat this salad is like a party in your mouth. Grated pecorino Romano ties everything together, and green celery leaves add even more brightness.
Related: 7 Salad Dressing Tips From the Pros
Farro Salad With Brown Butter Vinaigrette
Victor Protasio
Everything’s better with butter, and that includes salad. This dressing made with browned butter, balsamic vinegar, and more goes so well on a grain salad, fresh veggies, and more.
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