Salad Recipes – My Favorite Salads for All Times of Day
These salad recipes can be enjoyed all year round and for so many occasions. There’s sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy, and everything in-between.
These dishes are not only tasty but full of goodness. I’m confident they’ll inspire you to make something delicious, no matter what time of day it is!
Find a Salad Recipe That’s Right for You
There’s no end to the fun you can have with salads. From light lunches to sweet salads to enjoy in the sun, there’s plenty below to give you ideas.
Great for Lunch
Here, you’ll find salads that are typically lighter, use greens and fresh veggies, and are quicker to make than others on this list. Pair these with some crusty bread and they’ll be a good choice when you’re a little pushed for time.
Aptly named, as it’s been my go-to for lunch many times. It consists of chopped cucumber, tomato, corn, and creamy avocado on mixed salad leaves, topped with fresh mozzarella and candied nuts. I finish it with a generous drizzle of balsamic glaze and often serve it with crusty bread.
This is such a simple but tasty salad to make. Crumbly tangy feta, juicy chopped tomatoes, black olives, and red onion provide the base, and the whole thing is dressed with a lemon and olive oil vinaigrette. Finished with fresh mint, pair this salad with pita bread and/or grilled meats.
This is a sharp, earthy, and zesty salad. It mixes peppery arugula with shaved and grated parmesan, toasted almond flakes, lemon juice, and olive oil. It’s great served with crusty bread or panini.
This is easy to make and has plenty of crunch! It puts crumbled feta, chopped tomatoes, toasted walnuts, thinly sliced red onions, and cucumber on a bed of romaine lettuce. Drizzled with a lemon-herb-mustard vinaigrette, enjoy it with fresh bread and keep it simple.
Fresh, sweet, and zesty, this easy side salad of arugula, avocado, and tomatoes pairs with so many dishes. Mixed with a rich lemon-mustard dressing and topped with pecans, eat it with bread, roast chicken legs, egg frittatas, pizza, and more.
Hearty Salads for Dinner
If you have a little more time, and want a salad that’s really filling, try some of these.
Beet, Chickpea, and Feta Salad with Tahini Sauce
Rich and earthy, give this salad a try if you’re looking to add more beets to your meals.
Roasted chickpeas, earthy cooked beets, marinated artichokes, and crumbly feta provide a tart, earthy base. I like to use a creamy tahini sauce as the dressing for the salad.
Packed with Mediterranean flavors, serve this salad with a simple marinated chicken breast and bread for a hearty main.
You can pair this salad with pretty much anything. It consists of a medley of roasted vegetables, like bell pepper, mushroom, spinach, and zucchini, mixed with a zesty lemon-mustard-garlic dressing.
Creamy and hearty, my avocado egg salad is a filling salad. It’s simple to make with avocado, hard-boiled eggs, mayo, Dijon mustard, and green onion.
You simply have to serve this with fresh bread from the bakery. It’s quick, filling, and can put a smile on your face.
Couscous Salad -This summertime favorite mixes fresh, chopped veggies and chickpeas with couscous, and dresses the mixture with a lemon vinaigrette.
Quinoa Salad – Great for feeding a big gathering, this quinoa salad has so much texture. It combines chopped veggies with avocado, goat cheese, and arugula with quinoa, and mixes them with rich, zesty salad dressing. On a hot day, serve this with barbecued meats.
For the Halloumi Lovers
Can’t get enough fried halloumi in your life? These are the salads for you!
Halloumi and Orange – Made by layering orange slices, pan-fried or grilled halloumi, toasted almond flakes, and onion on a bed of arugula and greens, this salad is finished with a lemon-mustard dressing.
Watermelon Halloumi – Ideal for summer and warm weather afternoons. This salad pairs refreshing, sweet cubed watermelon with salty halloumi, on a bed of arugula, with almonds, lemon, and herbs.
Pasta Salads
Pasta salads are perfect for feeding a crowd. They make for a diverse side, and for next-day leftovers you really can’t go wrong.
Greek-Inspired Pasta Salad – Taking influence from a classic Greek salad, enjoy tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, olives, and feta cheese mixed with farfalle pasta, finished with a Mediterranean-inspired dressing.
Pesto Pasta Salad – Enjoy some classic Italian flavors in this one. It’s made by mixing fusilli pasta with cubed mozzarella, tomatoes, pine nuts, and pesto, and binding it all with earthy homemade basil pesto.
Fruit Salads
For dessert, something sweet, or a lighter dish on a hot day, look no further than these fruit salads.
Classic Fruit Salad – Keep things simple with this easy fruit salad, consisting of chopped seasonal and tropical fruits. I serve it with lemon ricotta mousse to make it extra luxurious.
Berry Salad – Perfect for salad, this salad mixes seasonal summer berries with ricotta, mixed with a zesty dressing.
Need Some Salad Topping Ideas?
Take a look at my list to get ideas for all types of salads. You can even download and print off the list below, for free.
I love how diverse salads are. There’s no end to the flavor combinations you can try. I hope these recipes have helped you look at salads in a new way.
If you enjoyed any of these dishes, please let me know in the comments. I plan to add more salads as I make them, so be sure to bookmark this page and revisit it frequently.
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Save my salad recipes to one of your food boards, so that you’ll always be able to find them easily.
