Best Healthy Salad Recipes For Any Meal

There’s nothing more nutritious than a bright, healthy salad recipe loaded with veggies and colorful, crunchy goodness! These are some of the healthy salad recipes that I make on repeat in my house (and for good reason). 

Of course, salads don’t all have to be leafy greens—plenty of alternative salads make for great side dishes, such as at a BBQ alongside my favorite grilled foil packets or for a quick lunch. 

Here are my favorite healthy salad recipes that are nutritious, filling, and, of course—delicious!

1. Apple Manchego Salad (Café Lurcat Copycat)

This simple salad is quick to make and super refreshing. It contains just five ingredients: crunchy apples, sharp Manchego cheese, spicy chives, olive oil, and lemon juice.

Add nuts, dried fruit, or different cheeses if you feel like switching it up!

2. Healthy Teriyaki Salmon Salad (15 Minute Recipe!)

In need of healthy, easy salads? Give this teriyaki salmon salad a try! It’s loaded with broiled salmon, carrots, almonds, and a quick, zesty teriyaki dressing.

Not only is this salad delicious, but it’s also a great way to sneak in plenty of nutrients.

3. Healthy Cobb Salad

Who doesn’t love a good Cobb salad? If you love the combination of flavors but want to skip the calories found in the typical creamy dressing, my zingy homemade dijon vinaigrette is the perfect alternative.

This healthy Cobb salad is loaded with colorful veggies and protein-packed edamame, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, and turkey. 

4. Wild Rice Salad with Chicken

The fresh flavors in this healthy wild rice salad will have you making it over and over again! Chicken, pecans, and cranberries are tossed in a tangy dressing made with Dijon mustard, rice vinegar, and lemon.

The wild rice makes a nice alternative to white or brown rice if you’re looking to add more whole grains to your diet.

5. Orzo Kale Salad

Yep—delicious, healthy pasta salad recipes are a thing! This incredibly tasty orzo kale salad features crunchy nuts, parmesan, and a lemon vinaigrette. (Who knew kale and pasta couple make one of the best salad recipes out there?)

Serve this Mediterranean-inspired salad warm or cold, as a side dish, or add protein and make it a main meal. It holds up well in the fridge, making it a great option for packed lunches for work or school!

6. Southwest Quinoa Salad

Quinoa is a plant-based protein packed with nutrients, making this Southwest quinoa recipe a superfood salad! Just one cup of cooked quinoa has 8 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and all nine essential amino acids.

This salad features black beans, avocado, spices like chili powder and cumin, and the bright flavors of crisp bell pepper. Switch it up by adding cherry tomatoes, green onion, chicken, or ground beef!

7. Pear, Walnut & Gorgonzola Salad

This pear, walnut & gorgonzola salad recipe is the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and salty. We paired fresh pears with fresh greens, fennel, blackberries, and fennel.

Depending on the time of year, you can easily swap some of the ingredients to fit what you have on hand. 

8. Viral Chicken Crust Caesar Salad Pizza

Are you bored of your go-to caesar salad with grilled chicken or other protein? Try this caesar salad pizza with chicken crust instead! It’s a high protein, grain-free pizza recipe with all the flavor of your favorite caesar salad. 

9. Crunchy Thai Chicken Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing (GF + DF)

Salad is my go-to lunch choice for healthy eating, so I knew this quinoa salad would hit the spot! Make this Thai chopped salad for a potluck or prep it for healthy lunches all week long. You can also make this a vegetarian dish by skipping the chicken.

10. Key West Chipotle Shrimp Salad

The shrimp and corn on the cob give this Key West chipotle shrimp salad a delicious smokey flavor, and the low-fat creamy chipotle dressing is amazing! It’s one of my favorite summer salads and makes for tasty leftovers the next day. Even better? Making this recipe takes under 30 minutes from start to finish!

11. Watermelon Feta Salad

This watermelon feta salad recipe is the perfect balance of salty, sweet, and refreshing. It’s the perfect side dish for serving alongside your favorite grilled protein at barbecues or summer gatherings.

12. Roasted Beet Salad

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to add more beets to your diet, you need to try this roasted beet salad with feta cheese. Beets are loaded with essential nutrients like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamin C. Their earthy flavor pairs well with the spicy arugula and sweet-tangy balsamic vinaigrette in this salad. 

13. Healthy Pasta Salad

Try my healthy pasta salad recipe that’s full of fresh ingredients like colorful veggies, fresh basil, and a zippy homemade dressing that will have you coming back for seconds.

14. Viral Jennifer Aniston Salad

This famous salad eaten by Jennifer Aniston is simple to make with just a handful of pantry staples like quinoa, chickpeas, pistachios and feta that are tossed in a simple lemon vinaigrette!

15. Healthy Broccoli Salad (No Mayo!)

This is the perfect meal-prep friendly salad for cookouts and potlucks. Enjoy broccoli, grapes, dried cranberries, and crunchy sunflower seeds tossed in a simple but flavorful mayo free dressing!

16. Yellowfin Tuna Salad

This healthy tuna salad recipe made with yellowfin tuna can be mixed up in 5 minutes or less and layered between your favorite bread or rolled up into lettuce wraps!

Tips For Making Every Salad Healthy

If you’re a salad lover like I am, here are my top tips for turning any salad into a nutritious meal: 

• Make your own salad dressing. Most store-bought dressings are full of calories and preservatives. Homemade dressing is surprisingly quick and easy once you learn. 
• Use fresh produce. I buy organic and local whenever possible, but a good rule of thumb to follow is the clean 15 and the dirty dozen. This list gets updated every ear letting consumers know which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticides. 
• Wash your produce properly. Even when buying organic, you’ll still want to wash your produce thoroughly to ensure the removal of chemicals and critters.
• Skip the croutons and opt for nuts instead. Nuts add the same crunch and texture but without the gluten and calories. 
• Substitute Greek yogurt for mayo in the chicken salad-type recipes.  
• Substitute traditional pasta for my favorite gluten-free pasta. 
• Skip the cheese or add it in moderation.