I LOVE a good salad. I get asked to bring salads to so many hangouts and holiday gatherings, and I am 100% happy about it every time because a good salad is so fun. They are just a big playground for flavors, textures, and color.
I love a side salad, a fancy salad, and a salad that counts as a meal. These are the ones my family comes back to again and again: crunchy, colorful, loaded with texture, and packed with lots and lots of punches of flavor. Obviously for me, it’s also ALL about the dressing. Give me all of it!
So here is my collection of 25 of my favorite salad recipes! The kind that make you want to put salad on the menu more often. đź’›
Best Salad Recipes
Roasted Peanut Kale Crunch Salad
OOOH BABY, this salad is so good! Crunchy kale and cabbage, fresh herbs and fresno peppers, chopped peanuts, and a perfect roasted peanut vinaigrette that tucks into all the salad nooks and crannies. 34 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Crispy Smashed Potato Salad
Pickley salad, crispy potatoes, and creamy ranch – this smashed potato salad is the perfect summer combo!10 reviews5 average make this recipe
Crispy Rice Salad with Cucumbers and Herbs
Paper-thin veggies, a shower of herbs, a pile of fried crispy red curry rice, and a limey garlicky vinaigrette all over top. This crispy rice salad is all I want to eat right now!47 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Miso Crunch Salad
Shredded cabbage and kale, shrimp, avocado, cilantro and chili-flavored peanuts, and the perfect sweet miso dressing.34 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Liz’s Bistro Salad
Crunchy, light, bright, and ultra-fresh. This French-inspired bistro salad is an absolute star as a side for nearly any dinner. Tender greens, fresh herbs, pickled onions, and a delicate vinaigrette on top. 20 reviews5 average make this recipe
Beet and Burrata Salad with Fried Bread
This Beet and Burrata Salad is everything you need. Juicy beets and oranges, a creamy and luscious burrata scoop, peppery arugula, a quick vinaigrette, and crispy fried bread. SO MUCH YES! 20 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
The Best Pasta Salad
Super easy Pasta Salad – with pasta, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, pepperoncini, olives, and easy Italian dressing. DANGEROUSLY GOOD.124 reviews4.5 average make this recipe
Elote Style Quinoa Salad
Elote Quinoa Salad made with velvety peppers confit, juicy sweet corn, homemade dressing, cotija cheese, lime, and spices. Perfect for summer and so, so good! 23 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Napa Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing
This Napa Chicken Salad is crunched up to the MAX! Fresh napa cabbage, juicy rotisserie chicken, a super easy homemade sesame dressing, and crunchy handfuls of cashews, fried wonton strips, dried ramen noodles, crispy fried onions, or sesame sticks…the choice is yours! 18 reviews4.7 average make this recipe
The Oliver’s Salad
We’re bringing you the most beautiful salad inspired by the restaurant Oliver’s in Minnesota. Tender salmon, savory peppers and garlic confit, buttery chunks of avocado, fire-roasted corn, bacon bits, and a river of homemade smoky ranch dressing. 27 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Simple Green Salad
Every table needs this Simple Green Salad! Fresh spring greens drizzled with a maple balsamic dressing and sprinkled with whatever crunchies your salad-loving heart desires. 28 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Liz’s Roasted Broccoli Salad
This Roasted Broccoli Salad is EVERYTHING! Bright lemon, crisped-up bacon, tangy feta, and it’s all built around a big bowl of roasted broccoli. A true hero of a meal! 61 reviews5 average make this recipe
Cashew Crunch Salad with Sesame Dressing
This Cashew Crunch Salad is loaded up with crunchy veg, chow mein noodles, edamame, and roasted cashews and it’ll make you ACTUALLY WANT TO EAT A SALAD. And the sesame dressing – OMG!117 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Spicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad
This Spicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad features red peppers, cabbage, chicken, soba noodles, and a quick homemade spicy peanut sauce. Salads don’t get much yummier than this.91 reviews4.8 average make this recipe
Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Miso Dressing
This Shrimp and Avocado Salad is topped with spicy shrimp, crisp cucumbers, spinach, creamy avocado, and a generous drizzle of miso dressing. The happiest green salad ever!62 reviews4.8 average make this recipe
Rainbow Chicken Salad with Almond Honey Mustard Dressing
Tender chicken, plump grapes and berries, crisp lettuce, tangy feta cheese, crunchy almonds, and the real star – almond honey mustard dressing! Eat the rainbow and be glad, friends!60 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Lemon Herb Pasta Salad with Marinated Chickpeas
A super fresh, super summery Lemon Herb Pasta Salad! Packed with tangy marinated chickpeas, chewy pasta, lots of herbs and garlic, lemon juice and olive oil, and a handful of parmesan to top it off.46 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Corn, Avocado, and Quinoa Salad with Marinated Tomatoes
The perfect summery quinoa salad – fresh corn, buttery avocado, nutty quinoa, juicy marinated tomatoes, and tons of fresh herbs.43 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Couscous Salad with Lime Basil Vinaigrette
A bright, zippy, unexpectedly delicious couscous salad that’s packed with sweet potatoes, black beans, spinach, feta, and more – all tossed with a life-changing lime basil vinaigrette!72 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Chopped Thai-Inspired Chicken Salad
This simple chopped Thai chicken salad has BIG flavors – peanut, lime, soy, chili, cilantro. Topped with a homemade peanut dressing! Healthy and fresh.139 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Summer Chipotle Chicken Cobb Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette
This juicy salad tastes like summer! With chipotle chicken, sweet corn, avocado, cilantro vinaigrette, bacon crumbles, and fresh strawberries for a pop of sweetness.81 reviews5 average make this recipe
Avocado Kale Caesar Salad + Sweet Potato Fries
Avocado Kale Caesar Salad is a life-changer! Kale, avocado, and crunchy seeds drenched in a quick creamy avocado caesar dressing that can easily be made vegan, too. Toss some crispy sweet potato fries in are you are SET FOR LIFE.73 reviews4.9 average make this recipe
Super Yummy Chicken Salad
This Chicken Salad is so good! Protein-packed with a delicious creamy dressing, and perfect for an on-the-go lunch in a sandwich or wrap.10 reviews5 average make this recipe
Peanut Noodle Salad
Peanut Noodle Salad – veggies, chicken, brown rice noodles, and an easy homemade dressing. My favorite salad ever!59 reviews4.8 average make this recipe
Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad
This Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad is a perfect side dish for holidays, with shaved brussels sprouts, chopped bacon, and a light citrus dressing.32 reviews4.7 average make this recipeThe post 25 Best Salad Recipes (That Are Actually Exciting) appeared first on Pinch of Yum.
