Healthy Lunch Ideas Salad

Table of Contents

Salads You’ll Actually Want to Eat for Lunch

A big, bountiful salad is the best way to celebrate delicious seasonal produce! Here are 37 stunning salad recipes I love to make again and again.

Salad recipes are my favorite way to showcase vibrant, in-season produce – fruits and veggies that are so good on their own that you don’t need to do much to make them into a delicious meal. On cold winter nights, I like to brighten up our dinner table with a big, colorful mix of root veggies and hearty greens. On beautiful, warm days when I’d rather be outside than in the kitchen, summer salads are the perfect solution: they’re simple to toss together, but they’re totally delicious nonetheless.

Whether you want to add more plant-based meals to your diet or are simply looking to change up your salad game, you’ll find tons of inspiration in the salad recipes below. With everything from green salads to pasta salads and beyond, these recipes are perfect for passing at potlucks, serving as dinner sides, and enjoying full meals on their own.

Slaw Salad Recipes

Slaws are some of the best make-ahead salad recipes out there. Typically made with hearty vegetables like cabbage, kale, or broccoli, they’re sturdy enough to be dressed ahead of time. I like to accent the veggie base with a punchy dressing, herbs, and even fruit for maximum flavor.

1. Summer Asian Slaw

Make this salad for your next picnic, and it’ll be a guaranteed hit. A tahini miso dressing gives it a creamy umami coating, while peaches add juicy pops of sweetness. I finish it with toasted pepitas for crunch.

2. Best Broccoli Salad

You won’t miss the bacon in this lightened-up take on classic broccoli salad. Smoky roasted nuts take its place, adding delectable savory bites. A lightly creamy, sweet & tangy dressing takes the whole thing over the top.

3. Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad

As soon as the temperature starts to dip in the fall, I look forward to making this salad. Made with just 7 ingredients, it’s a breeze to put together, but a bright lemon dressing, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and dried cranberries make it zippy, fresh, and satisfying.

Pasta Salad Recipes

You couldn’t make a list of salad recipes without including this category! Pasta salads are the ultimate summer picnic food or party dish any time of year – they’re great to make ahead, they can double as a side and a main dish, and they’re a hearty showcase for the season’s best produce.

4. Easy Pasta Salad

As its name suggests, this one is a breeze to make. Just whisk together the zippy lemon dressing at the bottom of a big bowl, add the other ingredients, and toss to create a heavenly tangy/creamy/crunchy/fresh summer combo.

5. Rainbow Orzo Salad

Diced mango adds a surprising sweet twist to this colorful orzo, red onion, bell pepper, herb, and cucumber salad.

6. Creamy Vegan Pasta Salad

My veggie-packed take on a deli-style pasta salad! I swap spiralized summer squash for half the noodles and a creamy tahini dressing for a mayo-based one. It’s a healthier version of the grocery counter classic, but it’s just as good.

7. Broccoli Pasta Salad

Sun-dried tomatoes add delicious umami bites to this super green combination of summer veggies, basil, pasta, and pine nuts.

8. Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad

A mix of jammy roasted cherry tomatoes and juicy fresh ones makes this guy one of my favorite summer salads. With spiced roasted chickpeas, tangy feta, and big pearls of couscous, it’s hearty enough to be a meal on its own.

9. Sesame Soba Noodles

Not your average pasta salad! Tossed in a tangy sesame-ginger dressing and piled with green veggies and avocado, this soba noodle salad is a light, refreshing summer meal.

Green Salad Recipes

A big green salad is one of my go-to meals all year round. In the summer, the lettuces I find at the farmers market are so soft & sweet that a big green summer salad is really a treat. In the winter, I use a bright, bold dressing to punch up hearty greens like kale. I’ll often make these recipes for lunch, but you could also toss them together to serve as a side dish at your next cookout or dinner party.

10. Healthy Taco Salad

Savory shiitake walnut taco “meat” is the star of this salad, and zippy cilantro lime dressing gives it a fresh finishing touch. Enjoy this salad as a meal on its own, or serve it as a starter with fajitas or tacos.

Salads You’ll Actually Want to Eat for Lunch

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Italian chopped salad sits on tablecloth near blue napkin and spices — Vegetarian Italian Chopped Salad

We’ve all been there: You have all the best intentions to eat a wholesome salad filled with lots of vegetables for lunch, but by the time noon rolls around you’re starving, and nothing could look more unappealing than what you planned for. So you default to a hefty sandwich, dinner leftovers, or really, just anything but a salad.

Forget those days — here are 30 easy salads to make for lunch that you’ll actually want to eat! Not only are they filled with things like beans, chicken, and whole grains so they fill you up, but they’re also loaded with enough flavor and crunch to hold your attention.

Vegetarian Salads

These meatless salads are a far cry from the plain ol’ green salad you may have been packing. Using a mix of vegetables in some ensures things stay interesting while adding beans and lentils to others lends a pop of protein.

Anna Jones’ Raw Thai Citrus Crunch Salad

This is a really refreshing, crunchy salad that has a lot going on: sweet zucchini and carrots, mild cabbage, earthy bell peppers, and some sweet-sour zing from grapefruit and lime.

Marinated Chickpea and Feta Salad with Spring Veggies

This star of this crunchy, veggie-packed salad is a tangy Greek-inspired dressing, which doubles as a marinade for the feta and chickpeas.

Kale & Quinoa Salad with Dates, Almonds & Citrus Dressing

Sweet dates, crunchy almonds, and a tangy citrus dressing make this kale salad anything but basic. Best of all, you can make it in advance without worrying about wilty greens.

Vegetarian Kale Taco Salad

In this wholesome take on a Tex-Mex taco salad, shredded kale is tossed with hearty black beans and crisp veggies, and softened by a creamy yogurt and cilantro dressing.

Tomato Chickpea Salad

This is the kind of salad that can be tossed together at a moment’s notice. Filled with good things like chickpeas and cherry tomatoes, it’s simple yet still incredibly hearty and satisfying.

Black Bean Salad with Corn and Avocado

This classic black bean salad is packed with bright, refreshing flavors like corn, tomatoes, and cilantro, and has a kick from fresh garlic, jalapeño, and red onion.

Mediterranean-Style Chopped Salad with Oregano Vinaigrette

This vegetarian chopped salad — packed with farro, chickpeas, and plenty of fresh veggies— gets even better as it sits.

Tomato and Feta White Bean Salad

A light and easy recipe for a no-cook tomato and white bean salad. Make it now before the season’s tomatoes disappear!

Four-Can Pantry Salad

When your crisper drawer is empty turn to the pantry – there’s a world of other ingredients you can utilize to make a quick, refreshing salad.

Chickpea Waldorf Salad

This lighter take on a classic Waldorf salad swaps mayo for yogurt, while protein-rich chickpeas keep it filling.

These easy and healthy salad recipes make the best of fresh seasonal produce. They’re filled with bright flavors and a variety of delicious textures. Whether you’re looking for a snappy lunch salad or a large dinner party salad, this list has something for everyone.

HOW TO BUILD EXCITING, UNBORING SALADS

The term salad doesn’t just mean some lettuce drizzled with a dressing or vinaigrette. Instead, think of it as a meal that has multiple layers of flavor (sweet, spicy, and savory), texture (crisp, crunchy, and creamy), and color (green, red, yellow, purple, you name it!). Honestly, a salad is the most wonderful blank canvas to let your creativity run wild. So have fun with it. Here’s a few ideas to get you started.

Build layers of flavor. Start with a vegetable base, mix in seasonal ingredients, add filling protein, toss in some healthy fats, and drizzle a tasty dressing or sauce.
Get creative with textures. Aim for a variety of textures with every bite… it makes the salad more interesting! For example, start with a soft spinach base, then toss it with crisp bell pepper, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy nuts and seeds.
Make your salad colorful. While green may form the base of your salad, remember that nutrient variety comes from color variety. So try to make your salad as vibrant as can be.The more color the better!

Chicken salad in a white bowl with spoon.

EVERYONE’S FAVORITE SALAD RECIPES

Let’s start with some of my top salad recipes that everyone always comes back to. They’re crazy good, perfect for any occasion (from parties to a healthy dinner), and are so darn easy to make.

Broccoli Salad: No joke, this is everyone’s go-to salad, no matter what time of year it is. It’s perfect as a Thanksgiving side dish or summer barbecue salad. Plus, it holds up well in the fridge as the perfect meal prep salad.
Salmon Avocado Salad: Topping a salad with warm, pan-seared salmon really takes it up a notch. And you can’t beat those creamy avocado slices.
Chicken Salad: When the warm weather hits, this chicken salad is a must. It’s deliciously creamy, crunchy, fresh, and will convince you to never buy store-bought chicken salad again.
Caprese Salad: I’ll gladly eat layers of fresh tomato, mozzarella, and basil on repeat. Just drizzle a little balsamic glaze for a summer classic that never fails to please.
Tuna Salad: If you love my chicken salad, this tuna version is a no-brainer. And all you really need is canned tuna, mayo, dijon mustard, and some fresh greens and herbs.

Healthy salad recipes with chickpea salad and shrimp salad

FRESH SPRING AND SUMMER SALAD RECIPES

This time of year is all about bright, farmer’s market fresh flavors. From cherry tomatoes to light leafy greens, there’s tons of in-season produce to work with. And the best part is that you don’t really need to prep a lot of meat for these salads. The veggies and dressings speak for themselves.

Greek Salad: When it comes to simple, healthy salads, it doesn’t get better than this classic salad tossed with my all-star greek salad dressing.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad: Turn that last can of chickpeas sitting in your pantry into this super fresh and flavorful salad! Bonus – it’s loaded with protein and fiber.
Shrimp, Asparagus, and Avocado Salad: Come asparagus season, toss fresh stalks with shrimp, avocado, spinach, and a lemon vinaigrette for ultimate spring vibes.
Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh: This veggie-packed salad loaded with herbs makes for the perfect side on a Mediterranean spread.
Taco Salad: This salad honestly works for any season. But once tacos are in full swing for outdoor parties, use some of those leftover ingredients for this hearty taco salad!

Two southwest chicken salads drizzled with avocado dressing.

THE BEST SALAD RECIPES WITH CHICKEN

From baked to grilled and even shredded, there are so many ways to add chicken to your salad. The key here is to nail down how you cook the chicken and how it’s presented in each bowl. Here are a few favorites:

Mandarin Chicken Salad: Shredded chicken marinated in a lemon vinaigrette is piled high with sweet mandarins, avocado, and crunchy toppings. The perfect throw-together salad.
Southwest Chicken Salad: If earthy, bold flavors are your jam, this salad will have you salivating. Cilantro lime chicken is topped on a bed of greens, tomatoes, corn, beans, onions, and drizzled with a creamy avocado dressing.
Greek Chicken Salad: Think Greek side salad turned into a hearty main dish. It’s all the flavors you love, plus savory chicken.
Cobb Salad: This classic American salad makes the most of simple ingredients like poached chicken, eggs, avocado, and of course, bacon.

Pulled pork, cabbage and arugula salad with citrus lime vinaigrette. A hearty, flavorful and healthy salad recipe.

ARUGULA SALAD RECIPES

Don’t get me wrong, I love bowls of spinach or chopped lettuce. But arugula adds the most delicious peppery punch to salads. Which makes it great for pairing with extra sweet and savory flavors.

Smoked Salmon, Avocado, and Arugula Salad: Salty smoked salmon, creamy avocado, and arugula come together for one absolutely gorgeous-looking salad.
Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad: Grilled fruit is the best for sweet, charred flavors. And when you pair grilled peaches with creamy burrata, arugula, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze – it’s the true definition of summer on a plate.
Wild Rice and Arugula Salad: Arugula is tossed with cucumber, spring onions, mint, cranberries, almond slivers, and a lemon vinaigrette for a simple side salad packed with textures and flavors.
Pulled Pork, Cabbage, and Arugula Salad: Turn my slow cooker pulled pork into this healthy, nutrient-dense salad with shredded cabbage arugula, carrots, cilantro, and a cilantro-lime vinaigrette.

SWEET AND REFRESHING FRUIT SALADS

Honestly, who doesn’t love a good fruit salad? It can do triple duty as salad, breakfast (with a dollop of yogurt), or dessert (with a dollop of ice cream). Just make sure to choose fruit that’s in season, whether that’s fresh berries, diced citrus fruits, grilled peaches, and pineapple.

Easy Fruit Salad: This fruit salad is a non-negotiable for all your summer festivities! It’s loaded with peak-season fruits and tossed in a bright honey-lime dressing.
Berry Spinach Salad: Put your summer berries to work in this super easy, fruit-forward salad. The raspberry vinaigrette and crumbled goat cheese are the cherries on top.
Citrus Shrimp Ceviche: I’m adding a California flair to one of my favorite Mexican recipes – shrimp ceviche! It’s loaded with oranges, grapefruit, red onion, cucumber, jalapeno, and of course, a sprinkle of cilantro and lime juice.
Melon Mozzarella Salad With Basil: There’s just something about creamy cheeses and fresh fruit that tastes so darn good. Especially when it’s melon paired with mozzarella, drizzled with a honey balsamic dressing.
Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad: Another fruit and cheese staple is none other than this watermelon, cucumber and feta salad. It’s the ultimate summer combo!
Orange, Fennel, and Avocado Salad: This super simple salad is the perfect balance of bright and tangy. Plus, it’s loaded with Vitamin C!
Stone Fruit Salad With Vanilla Honey Syrup: If you love stone fruits such as peaches, nectarines, plums, and grapes – this deliciously sweet salad is a must for your summer menu.

Healthy Lunch Ideas Salad