17 Salad Recipes That Are as Satisfying as They Are Fresh

Salads can be more than just a side dish—they can be the main event. These 17 recipes are crisp, colorful, and packed with flavor. Whether you want something light and refreshing or hearty enough to stand on its own, you’ll find vibrant combinations that make healthy eating feel anything but dull.

Sesame Salmon Bowl

Sesame Salmon Bowls are a delicious and healthy dinner idea. It takes under 15 minutes to make start to finish! The sesame dressing adds tasty nutty flavor to this dish.
Get the Recipe: Sesame Salmon Bowl

Mediterranean Tuna Orzo Salad

A bowl of Mediterranean-style salad with orzo, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, red peppers, tuna, and a lemon wedge, garnished with basil. — Mediterranean Tuna Orzo Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Whip up a quick and tasty Mediterranean tuna orzo salad for a weeknight dinner. This recipe is ideal for a healthy meal that’s ready fast.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Tuna Orzo Salad

Lemony Greek Pasta Salad

Prepping this delicious and lemony Greek Pasta Salad is a piece of cake! With your pasta of choice, a fantastic Greek salad dressing, and a few basic ingredients, you can easily recreate one of my favorite pasta salad recipes.
Get the Recipe: Lemony Greek Pasta Salad

Refreshing Avocado Grapefruit Salad

This avocado grapefruit salad is a delightful recipe that brings together the tangy taste of grapefruit, the creaminess of avocado, and the crunchiness of pistachios atop a bed of greens, all complemented by a homemade citrus vinaigrette for an amazingly delicious flavor combination.
Get the Recipe: Refreshing Avocado Grapefruit Salad

Quinoa Salad

With a delicious blend of quinoa, cucumbers, fresh herbs, and chickpeas tossed in a lemony dressing and accented with crunchy pistachios, this filling salad might just become your new best friend.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Salad

Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Close-up of a fresh salad featuring strawberries, cherry tomatoes, blueberries, and basil leaves on a bed of mixed greens. The salad is sprinkled with grated cheese, adding a textured contrast to the vibrant colors of the fruits and vegetables. — Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Strawberry Blueberry Salad brings together crisp greens, juicy berries, and creamy mozzarella for a fresh, vibrant dish that’s perfect for light spring lunches and breezy summer cookouts. A drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette ties it all together with just the right amount of zing!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Quick and Creamy Broccoli Apple Salad

Broccoli and shredded carrots on a mixing spoon. — Quick and Creamy Broccoli Apple Salad. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Quick and Creamy Broccoli Apple Salad is brimming with broccoli, apples, carrots, cranberries, walnuts, and a creamy yogurt mayo dressing.
Get the Recipe: Quick and Creamy Broccoli Apple Salad

Beet Salad with Feta

The easy and delicious beet salad with feta cheese is flavorful, easy to make, and works well as a meal, side dish, or appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Beet Salad with Feta

Mango Salad

This is an easy, fresh, and delicious mango salad recipe with a flavorful homemade dressing.
Get the Recipe: Mango Salad

Mediterranean White Bean Salad with Feta

Side view of white bean salad in bowl with tongs. — Mediterranean White Bean Salad with Feta. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Experience the taste of the Mediterranean with the Mediterranean White Bean Salad. The creamy white beans, juicy tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese come together to create a refreshing summer salad that is both satisfying and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean White Bean Salad with Feta

Pizza Pasta Salad

Loaded with all your favorite pizza toppings, this easy Pizza Pasta Salad is bursting with flavor! It's easy to make and pairs perfectly with anything grilled. Serve it at your next potluck or outdoor BBQ!
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad

Winter Fruit Salad

Cranberry fruit salad in white bowls. — Winter Fruit Salad. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Delight in a burst of flavors with this Cranberry Apple Fruit Salad. Featuring fresh cranberries, succulent apples, tangy oranges, and luscious pomegranate seeds, this colorful creation is a tasty addition to your holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Winter Fruit Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Packed with oodles of flavor, you can make this easy Mexican Street Corn Salad all-year long!
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Salad

Feta Beet Salad

Beet salad with crumbled feta, pistachios and fresh herbs on a plate with serving spoon. — Feta Beet Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This beet salad with feta cheese is a truly delicious and impressive dish using simple ingredients. Cooked beets, crumbled feta and pistachios come together with fresh herbs and a lemon olive oil dressing to enjoy as a side salad or light meal.
Get the Recipe: Feta Beet Salad

Chopped Crispy Citrus Chicken Salad

Chopped crispy chicken citrus salad on a white plate with purple kitchen towel. — Chopped Crispy Citrus Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This chopped winter salad is packed with crispy rotisserie chicken, bright citrus, toasted pine nuts, fresh herbs and hearty bed of Tuscan kale then tossed in an orange dijon dressing.
Get the Recipe: Chopped Crispy Citrus Chicken Salad

Brussels Sprouts Salad

This salad brings a fresh perspective to a frequently underrated vegetable, combining shaved Brussels sprouts with complementary textures and flavors in a light dressing.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Salad

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Low angle shot of a bowl of watermelon salad with kalamata olives and feta cheese. — Watermelon and Feta Salad. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Watermelon Feta Salad with Kalamata Olives is a refreshing summer side dish. With only 5 ingredients, it is quick and easy to make and so refreshing!
Get the Recipe: Watermelon and Feta Salad