Salads That Don't Taste Like a Tradeoff
š„š„¬ It's not always easy to get excited about salads...But these 15 Salad Recipes are different! I'm talking a variety of textures, layers of flavors, and protein (which is THE game changer)!
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Easy and Exciting Salad Recipes To Make Now
Iām not going to pretend salads are always exciting. But these? Theyāre what I genuinely crave when I want something fresh, colorful, and healthy but also satisfying. And just because itās a āsaladā doesnāt mean it has to include lettuce. š
Weāre talking big nourishing bowls loaded with actual flavor from crunchy vegetables, creamy avocado, toasted nuts, and dressings to get excited about.
And most importantly, thereās protein in all of them including chicken, beef, shrimp, beans, quinoa, cheese, and more. Nothing screams āmeh, Iāll passā more than a pile of iceberg lettuce without any protein.
Protein Tips: Make a whole-roasted chicken or a slow cooker whole roasted chicken at the beginning of the week and top your salads with it. Because if you know yourself and you wonāt want to make a salad if it involves also cooking chicken, then knock that obstacle out of the way. Store bought rotisserie chicken is another easy option, and so are frozen turkey or chicken meatballs.
These easy salad recipes are the kind that leave you feeling energized and light but still completely full. Iāve rounded up 15 of my absolute favorites so you can get inspired for lunch or dinner.
I want to mention that I have a 30 Easy High Protein Recipes ebook and a 30 Days of 30-Minute Meals ebook. Great places to get your 2026 meals off in the right direction!
1. Sesame Orange Chicken Salad
šš„š„This cabbage-based salad with juicy chicken and mandarin oranges is what I make when I want something that feels like a real meal. The tahini-sesame-ginger dressing is ridiculously good, and you get tons of crunch, protein, and fiber in every bite. Use rotisserie chicken and bagged slaw to make it even easier.
2. Steak Fajita Salad
š„š š„š¶ļø Tastes like your favorite steak fajitas, but in fresh and crisp salad form! Mouth-watering sliced sirloin steak, crisp bell peppers, onions, and juicy tomatoes are layered over a bed of lettuce to really level-up your salad game! The homemade creamy avocado and cilantro lime dressing comes together in seconds and adds so much incredible FLAVOR!
3. Chicken Avocado Black Bean Salad
All the Mexican flavors I love including chicken, black beans, avocado, lime, cilantro and no lettuce. This easy chicken salad recipe is loaded with protein and healthy fats, keeps me full for hours, and tastes bright and fresh every single time. Great for quick dinners or make-ahead lunches.
4. Green Powerhouse Salad with Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette
When I want to feel virtuous without suffering, this is it. Edamame, snap peas, broccoli, and greens give you plant-based protein and serious crunch, while the sesame-ginger dressing keeps things flavorful and light. Perfect for meal prep and actually tastes good cold.
5. Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad with Black Beans and Avocado
š„š¤š„ My Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad with Black Beans and Avocado is an easy, Mexican-inspired salad ready in 10 minutes! With tender, juicy shrimp, black beans, avocado, cilantro, and more are coated in a lime sauce, creating a fiesta in your mouth!
6. Lemon, Sun-Dried Tomato, and Almond Quinoa Salad
š šš„ Bright lemon, sun-dried tomatoes, toasted almonds, and herbs make this quinoa salad way more exciting than it has any right to be. Itās fast, mayo-free, and perfect for meal prep or outdoor gatherings when you want something healthy that people actually want to eat. One reader recently wrote to me and said itās the only way she cooks quinoa now!
7. Smoky Roasted Chickpea Salad with Buttermilk Chive Dressing
Roasted chickpeas, broccoli, and snap peas get tossed with smoked paprika and cumin, then piled over kale with a cooling buttermilk-chive dressing. Itās hearty, cozy, and packed with fiber and proteināperfect when you want something satisfying that still feels healthy.
8. Mediterranean Quinoa and Chickpea Salad
Quinoa, chickpeas, Kalamata olives, artichokes, spinach, and goat cheese come together in 20 minutes for a salad thatās packed with Mediterranean flavor. Itās vegetarian, gluten-free, super flexible, and holds up beautifully in the fridge for easy lunches all week. This is a super personal favorite of mine!
9. Garden Fresh Quinoa Salad
Quinoa with caramelized onions, nectarines, corn, and herbs is my warm-weather go-to, though I honestly make it year-round. Itās mayo-free, travels well, and gets better as it sits, which makes it perfect for potlucks or packed lunches when you want something light and satisfying.
10. Chicken Gyro Salad with Tzatziki Sauce
šš„š„ This salad transforms classic chicken gyros into a HEALTHY salad with an EASY homemade tzatziki sauce thatās loaded with tangy dill flavor. Ready in 20 minutes, itās perfect for weeknight dinners and meal prep!
11. Mexican Bean Salad with Corn
Such a fast and easy recipe to make! Plus, itās loaded with flavor and textures galore. Two kinds of beans, juicy corn and tomatoes, crisp peppers, and green onions are tossed in a lime-chili-cumin vinaigrette thatās perfectly light!
12. Loaded Greek Salad
An amped up version of a classic Greek salad with avocado, artichokes, garbanzo beans, feta, and more! The tangy Greek salad dressing is ready in seconds and is a major flavor booster! Naturally gluten-free and vegetarian!!
13. Chicken Orzo Salad
š šæ This chicken orzo salad comes together in under 30 minutes and is made with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, a tangy lemon vinaigrette, and more!
14. Chopped Greek Salad with Pita Chips and Feta
š„š„š« This is a fun twist on everyoneās favorite Greek salad! I still use classic ingredients like red peppers, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta, but add PITA CHIPS for extra crunch and texture! EASY, HEALTHY, ready in 10 minutes, itās a gamechanger for lunch and dinner!
15. Quinoa, Cherry, and Goat Cheese Salad
Fresh cherries, tangy goat cheese, snap peas, mint, and quinoa create the perfect salty-sweet combo. Itās ready in 30 minutes but feels special enough for company, and the mix of textures keeps every bite interesting without weighing you down. Feel free to use dried cherries or dried cranberries to make it more wintertime-friendly.
Brilliant point about protein being the salad game changer. Most people bail on salads not cuz they dislike veggies but because they're starving 2 hours later. The smoky roasted chickpea version caught my eye, that combo of paprkia and cumin with the cooling buttermilk dressing creates layers most salads never touch.