Crunchy, Colorful, and Crave-Worthy: 26 Salad Recipes That Totally Slay the Bowl Game

Step aside, sad desk salads—these 26 recipes are here to bring the flavor. Think tangy vinaigrettes, creamy toppings, perfectly grilled proteins, and vibrant veggies that make every forkful feel like a treat. Whether you’re craving something light and refreshing or hearty enough for dinner, these salads hit that sweet spot between healthy and drool-worthy. Get ready to toss, crunch, and fall in love with your greens all over again.

Fail Proof 1 Minute Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe + Quinoa Salad

A bowl containing cooked quinoa, chopped chicken, sliced jalapeños, diced red onions, tofu slices, and cilantro. — Fail proof 1 Minute Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

A meal preppers dream! Forget boiling water and overflowing pots. Check out my fail proof 1 Minute Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe, plus a simple quinoa salad that you can make in minutes!
Get the Recipe: Fail Proof 1 Minute Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe + Quinoa Salad

Winter Salad in a Jar

Today I have a special guest blogger I want to introduce you to. Her name is Tarah and she is a real food nutritionist. Today she has so graciously shared with us her favorite Winter Salad in a Jar recipe. This Winter Salad in a Jar recipe has warm flavors like roasted butternut squash, chickpeas and quinoa that will have you wishing it was winter year round.
Get the Recipe: Winter Salad in a Jar

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

Baby Calamari Garden Salad

A bowl of garden salad featuring crisp lettuce, sliced cucumbers, red onions, olives, and herbs sits invitingly next to a dish of dressing with a spoon. Perfectly paired with tender baby calamari for a delightful dining experience. — 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

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

Red Skin Potato Salad

Red potato salad in bowl with bacon and parsley garnish. — Red Skin Potato Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This deliciously creamy red-skin potato salad is made with bacon for an extra savory kick. Enjoy this classic side dish at all your summer BBQs.
Get the Recipe: Red Skin Potato Salad

Cucumber Kimchi

Korean Cucumber Kimchi is a spicy, flavorful addition to any rice bowl. This is a quick "kimchi salad." It's eaten right away rather than being left to ferment for days or weeks. It's crisp, spicy, tangy, loaded with umami—and ready to eat in just 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Kimchi

Japanese Cucumber Salad or Sunomono

A black bowl of Japanese cucumber salad garnished with sesame seeds. — Japanese Cucumber Salad or Sunomono. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Japanese cucumber salad is a refreshing side dish for hot weather! It goes perfectly with grilled fish and meat or spicy dishes. It is easy to make, light, and uses just a few ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Japanese Cucumber Salad or Sunomono

Kachumber Salad

Kachumber Salad is a colorful salad of chopped raw veggies—chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and chile peppers. It’s seasoned with fresh cilantro or coriander leaves, ground spices, and a squeeze of lemon juice or lime juice and makes a great side for Indian dishes from veggie curries to biryani.
Get the Recipe: Kachumber 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

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

GF DF Macaroni Salad

Close up of a glass bowl with macaroni salad in it with celery and red peppers and apple slices and an orange linen behind it. — GF DF Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Fitasamamabear.

Only seven ingredients in this dairy-free macaroni salad recipe! Sweetened with apples & tart with pickles for the perfect summer side dish.
Get the Recipe: GF DF Macaroni Salad

Carrot Raisin Salad

A bowl of coleslaw with shredded carrots and raisins on a wooden surface, next to a red and white checkered cloth. — Carrot Raisin Salad. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This refreshing carrot raisin salad combines crisp shredded carrots and cabbage with plump raisins. A light and tangy dressing made with lemon juice and mayonnaise brings the flavors together.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Raisin Salad

Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon

Bacon ranch pasta salad in a clear bowl with a striped towel. — Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon is a rich, creamy side dish that pairs well with all your summertime favorites. Prep this 30-minute, one-bowl salad, which will be a welcome addition to your weekend dinner menu.
Get the Recipe: Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon

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

Potato Salad with Herbs & Green Garlic

Herbed potato salad on a white platter. — Potato Salad with Herbs & Green Garlic. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Say goodbye to mayonnaise and hello to a burst of flavor from herbs and green garlic! This easy potato salad is so delish and so different, everyone will want seconds!
Get the Recipe: Potato Salad with Herbs & Green Garlic

Greek Salad

Veggies don't have to be boring! Jazz up easy veg with a delicious dressing in this oh-so good and meal-worthy Greek Salad!
Get the Recipe: Greek Salad

Peach Tomato Caprese Salad

Sliced peaches, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella slices on a tray. — Peach Tomato Caprese Salad. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Peach Tomato Caprese Salad Recipe is full of juicy peaches, fragrant basil, creamy fresh mozzarella, and tender lettuce.
Get the Recipe: Peach Tomato Caprese 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

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

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