18 Salad Recipes That Are Anything But Boring

Salads don’t have to be plain or predictable. These 18 recipes bring fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and satisfying textures to every bowl. From quick lunches to vibrant side dishes, this collection makes it easy to enjoy healthy, delicious salads that are exciting enough to crave again and again.

Baby Calamari Garden Salad

A wooden bowl brimming with a garden salad features sliced cucumbers, red onions, olives, parsley, and shredded carrots, all beautifully placed on a fabric napkin. — Baby Calamari Garden Salad. Photo credit: From Ice Cream to Steak.

This Baby Calamari Garden Salad is a vibrant blend of tender calamari and crisp garden-fresh vegetables, tossed in a zesty dressing. Simple to prepare yet packed with taste, this salad is sure to impress at your next meal or gathering!
Get the Recipe: Baby Calamari Garden Salad

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

Avocado Salad

A vibrant bowl of fresh salad featuring ripe avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion sits invitingly on a light gray surface. Nearby, a halved avocado and a lemon slice add an extra touch of freshness. — Avocado Salad. Photo credit: From Ice Cream To Steak.

This avocado salad is a fresh and vibrant dish perfect for any occasion. Creamy avocado meets crisp veggies and a tangy dressing. Packed with flavor and nutrients, it’s a delightful addition to any meal. Quick and easy to make, this salad will become a favorite on your holiday table or weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Salad

Santa Fe Salad

This big and filling Santa Fe Salad is refreshing and full of flavor. It's also a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey.
Get the Recipe: Santa Fe Salad

Seafood Pasta Salad

This refreshing and light seafood pasta salad is the perfect dish for summer. It combines shrimp, crab, and pasta in a flavorful creamy dressing.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Pasta Salad

Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts

Chicken Salad with Walnuts and Cranberries in a bowl. — Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Chicken breast, heart-heathy walnuts, and sweet cranberries team up in this stunning chicken salad that's as delicious on a sandwich is it is just on the end of a fork.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts

Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes

This is the perfect summer salad! Caramelized peaches, tomatoes, tangy feta and more combine to create this mouthwatering salad that pairs oh-so well with anything off the grill!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes

Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars

This Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars recipe is the perfect solution for those of you that are busy and always on-the-go and just want a quick and simple lunch. From start to finish, this meal prep recipe takes only 10 minutes to make.
Get the Recipe: Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars

Lemony Greek Pasta Salad

This Greek Pasta Salad is simple to make! Just combine pasta with a great Greek dressing and some basic ingredients to enjoy this tasty dish.
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

Halloumi Salad

Halloumi salad is a great way to make a meal out of a salad. With artichoke hearts, red onion, and delicious homemade dressing, this easy vegetarian salad recipe hits all the marks!
Get the Recipe: Halloumi Salad

Scrumptious Southwest Salad

This is a very easy and delicious southwest salad recipe with fresh greens, black beans, corn, and a creamy homemade southwest dressing. Gluten-free!
Get the Recipe: Scrumptious Southwest Salad

Curly Endive Salad with Celery, Apple and Candied Pecans

A fresh salad with sliced apples, pecans, and mixed greens on a white rectangular plate. The apples have a red peel and are thinly sliced, while the greens provide a leafy background, creating a colorful and healthy dish. — Curly Endive Salad with Celery, Apple and Candied Pecans. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Curly Endive Winter Salad brings together crisp apple slices, sweet crunchy pecans, and hearty leafy greens for a refreshing cold-weather dish. A light vinaigrette adds the perfect balance of brightness and bite!
Get the Recipe: Curly Endive Salad with Celery, Apple and Candied Pecans

Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

A white bowl filled with tri-color rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber chunks, and feta cheese on a red-and-white checkered tablecloth. — Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

We love pasta but not hot pasta during hot weather. The simplest way to satisfy that pasta craving was creating a cold pasta salad, which, in the winter, can be served as a side instead of the main course.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

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

Chinese Chicken Salad

Loaded with plenty of umami, crunch, and tasty veggies, this vintage salad is easy and delicious. Perfect for potlucks, sharing, or just enjoying for dinner, serve up some flavor today!
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Salad

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

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