18 Main-Dish Salad Recipes For Healthy, Filling Dinners
Move that casserole to the side!
No rule says salads have to leave you feeling unsatisfied. They especially shouldn't when they're topped with a mix of the season's best vegetables and your favorite proteins. Our recipes will push you to reimagine your basic bed of greens by adding in whole grains, roasted vegetables, toasted nuts, and fruit. Think salads are only for hot summer afternoons? Think again. By introducing seasonal ingredients you can have a satisfying meal that's full of flavor year-round.
Easy enough to pull together last-minute yet still impressive upon presentation, these recipes will wow your family and friends. Plus, they can make you feel like a chef extraordinaire as you experiment. Make them your own by throwing in some pantry favorites of your choice. Whether you're looking for a hassle-free dinner or a filling weekday lunch, try one of these hearty main-dish salad recipes as your lunch or dinner.
Crispy Shrimp Salad With Avocado Dressing
Crispy fried shrimp covered in panko adds the perfect amount of protein and crunch to your salad. Avocado dressing can be made in advance and drizzled over salad right before serving so the greens don't wilt.
Greek Salad With Baked Feta
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This 20-minute salad mixes chopped fresh vegetables with a tangy vinegar and oil dressing and is topped with warmed feta cheese. Serve with crusty bread or a protein to make it a meal.
Crispy Chicken-And-Broccoli Salad
We love a salad that comes together in just one step. Add the chicken right before serving to make sure these bite-size pieces keep their crispy coating.
Chopped Salad
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
A homemade buttermilk dressing makes this chopped salad anything but ordinary. From grape tomatoes to savory bacon bits, each bite bursts with refreshing and satisfying flavors. Serve with additional dressing on the side.
Orzo Salad With Shrimp And Lemon Dressing
Adjust the amount of vegetables you use for this dish depending on what ratio of shrimp and orzo you want. Simple seasonings allow for the core components to shine.
Oven-Fried Chicken Salad With Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Coat chicken with a pecan, panko, and paprika mix and grill the romaine to add smoky flavors to this easy dinner. It's a family favorite that will get even those who say they aren't fans of salads on board.
Crunchy Okra-And-Corn Salad With Ranch Dressing
The trick when making this recipe is to have your cast-iron skillet hot so you can properly sear the okra and fresh corn kernels. Also, make your dressing ahead of time so that everything is ready to plate as soon as the corn and okra are charred.
Chicken Tortellini Salad
The toasted pecans on top of this salad add a depth of flavor that elevates the dish. For those who like to plan ahead, several components of the salad can be prepared a day ahead of time like the Basil Vinaigrette.
Summer Hoppin' John Salad
While Hoppin' John is usually served hot, this one is served cold over your favorite grains. The Apple Cider Vinaigrette adds a bright bite to this traditionally heavy dish.
Fried Green Tomato Salad With Buttermilk Dressing
Put fried tomatoes on top of salad and it gets a whole lot more enticing. The buttermilk dressing is what perfects this indulgent combination.
Grilled Corn-And-Salmon Salad With Tomatoes
Fresh corn and tomatoes bring a refreshing and sweet taste to this summer favorite. We recommend getting local tomatoes from a farmers' market to make this something truly special.
BLT Salad With Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing And Buttery Croutons
Deconstruct the classic sandwich to get this easy crowd-pleaser. To get the most flavor, bake the croutons and bacon together.
Harvest Salad
Kabocha squash, Brussels sprouts, kale, and honeycrisp apples are combined to highlight our favorite flavors of fall. Add other personal favorites like pepitas or shaved carrots to make your harvest salad a hit.
Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
It's no secret that bacon makes everything better, but you might not realize that the sentiment is true for salads. The Warm Bacon Dressing wilts the salad just enough to make it stand out.
Chopped Kale Salad With Toasted Breadcrumbs
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
We've hidden some extra protein in this salad by shaving not just cheese but hard boiled eggs into this salad. Take notes from our editors who eat this salad on repeat.
Chicken-and-Quinoa Salad With Pepper Jelly Dressing
Our test kitchen staff says, "This salad is something to keep in your fridge at all times," and they're totally right. The best part is that it just takes 15 minutes to assemble.
Cast-Iron Salmon With Baby Kale Salad
This salmon supper will fill you up with nutrients that you will love. The abundance of omega-3 fatty acids have proven health benefits that can reduce a great variety of health concerns including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Lemony White Bean Salad With Broccoli
Do something good for your gut with this Lemony Salad. The buttery white beans and broccoli will keep you full and satisfied without any meat needed.
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