26 Main-Course Summer Salads That Are Packed With Protein
Simultaneously light and hearty, these entrée salads—which call on lean proteins and in-season produce—will leave you satisfied, not stuffed.
Bryan Gardner
Summer nights are made for refreshing, fuss-free suppers starring in-season produce—and these main-course salads fit the bill. Each is packed with crisp, crunchy ingredients and bursting with nutrients and protein. They're filling enough to serve as your entrée, but light and bright enough to suit the warm-weather season—plus, they're big on taste and low on prep time.
Meat is an easy and delicious source of protein, and many of our favorite entrée salads use it as a star ingredient. Whether you're a steak lover or prefer something lighter like shrimp, chicken, or tuna, there's a main-course salad in our collection for you. Preparing dinner for someone who doesn't eat meat (or fish)? We have many vegetarian and vegan main dish salads—which call on protein-packed beans and tofu—that are just as filling as they are delicious.
Ahead, find more flavorful and healthy main-dish salads that are sure to delight this season.
Related: These Summer Salads Will Be the Stars of Every Warm-Weather Meal You Make
Grilled Chicken and Eggplant With Mozzarella and Tomatoes
A flavorful take on the caprese salad, this satisfying main-course salad adds chicken and eggplant and puts one of summer's star players on display: tomatoes. We like mixing varieties—our recipe calls for both heirloom and cherry.
Mexican Seafood Salad
Red-snapper fillets and shrimp are served over Bibb lettuce in this bright seafood salad that's perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Thinly sliced jalapeño adds a subtle dose of spice.
Salmon Nicoise With Caper Dressing
Make your salade Nicoise more sustainable by using salmon instead of the traditional tuna. It's loaded with heart-healthy omega fats and pairs beautifully with creamy potatoes, briny olives, and tender green beans.
Summer Waldorf With Yogurt-Tarragon Dressing
How do you make a Waldorf summery? Replace the apples with sweet-tart plums. We also mix things up by adding toasted almonds instead of walnuts.
Barbecued-Chicken Salad
Toss flame-kissed chicken and corn with lettuce, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and tortilla chips for this smoky, satisfying salad.
Shaved Carrot Salad With Baked Tofu
Tamari-flavored baked tofu adds heft to a deliciously simple kale and carrot salad. Sliced scallions add an extra note of brightness.
Roasted-Chicken Bread Salad With Peas
Toasted rustic bread soaks up the precious roast chicken juices, and green peas, sugar snap peas, and pea shoots add the perfect amount of freshness and crunch.
Halibut Salade Nicoise
Parsley-flecked lemon vinaigrette ties all the flavors together in this elegant riff on the French classic—poached halibut, boiled baby creamer potatoes, blanched haricots verts, Bibb lettuce, and English cucumbers.
Chicken Taco Salad
Skip the fast-casual Tex-Mex and treat yourself to this zesty salad instead. It packs a serious punch thanks to all of its flavorful components.
Asian-Style Grilled Beef Salad
We love turning last night's dinner into another meal. Leftover Spiced Steak Kebabs become a delicious Thai-inspired salad when tossed with butter lettuce, mint, scallions, and roasted peanuts. Fresh lime juice, fish sauce, and Thai chile give it a spicy-tangy kick.
Market Salad With Poached Chicken
Run-of-the-mill chicken breast gets fancy when poached in white wine, vinegar, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, cinnamon, bay leaves, and chile pepper. Toss with endive, watercress, chicory, and watermelon radish and drizzle with lemon citronette for a stunning seasonal salad.
Grilled-Salmon Salad
Grilled salmon and charred sugar snap peas give this main-course salad a smoky edge. Eight-minute eggs, watercress, and boiled new potatoes complete the hearty crowd-pleasing entrée.
Scandinavian Shrimp Salad
This light salad packs a ton of protein thanks to the eggs and shrimp. Potatoes are another filling component that makes this a tasty entrée salad.
Crispy Panko Shrimp Salad
Panko fried shrimp gives this satisfying salad a little crunch. It comes together in under 30 minutes and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Late-Summer Chopped Salad With Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is the unsung hero in this salad. Full of protein and calcium, this surprising addition to a modern chopped salad makes the dish even more filling and tasty.
Stuffed BLT Salad
Your favorite sandwich takes salad form with this modern take on a bacon, lettuce, and tomato dish. Juicy heirloom tomatoes and seasoned toast are placed on top. The giant tomato bowl is optional.
Italian Hero Chopped Salad
This versatile salad works with whatever meats you have available. Spicy marinated vegetables give the classic chopped salad an Italian flavor.
Greek Mezze Salad
Roasted za'atar chickpeas, grape leaves, and cucumber come together in this quick yet filling summer salad.
Lighter Cobb Salad
A main-dish salad favorite, this iteration of a cobb salad calls for low-fat buttermilk and light mayonnaise.
Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad
Freshly grilled asparagus is the star of this delicious salad, which features lemon zest, sliced almonds, and briny feta cheese atop filling farro.
Chicken Salad With Pineapple-Lime Dressing
The pineapple-lime dressing gives this salad a refreshing taste that's perfect for the summer months.
Gazpacho Salad With Croutons
Turn a favorite summer soup into a main dish salad. Our Gazpacho salad with croutons is light, refreshing, and comes together in only 25 minutes.
Cucumber and Celery Salad With Tuna
This main dish summer salad takes only 10 minutes to create, but it's super filling. It's made with two cans of solid white tuna, cucumbers, celery, and poppy seeds for an added crunch.
Citrus Steak Salad
This summer salad comes together in under 30 minutes. Its light, citrusy taste and subtly-seasoned steak make it simply delicious.
Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad
Nothing says summer quite like watermelon. The sweet fruit pairs beautifully with tangy tomatoes. Protein and good fats from avocado and feta make this dish filling.
Chopped Lemongrass Chicken Salad
This chopped salad pairs marinated chicken with tropical fruit and summer vegetables, making it the perfect summertime meal.
