February27 , 2026

    25 Best Salad Recipes (That Are Actually Exciting)

    Related

    Share


    A collection of salad recipes that are fresh, flavorful, and on constant rotation in my kitchen! From hearty dinner salads to light, bright lunches.

    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. 💛


    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.

    Smashed potato salad in a bowl.

    Crispy Smashed Potato Salad

    Pickley salad, crispy potatoes, and creamy ranch – this smashed potato salad is the perfect summer combo!

    Crispy rice salad in a bowl.

    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!

    Miso crunch salad in a bowl.

    Miso Crunch Salad

    Shredded cabbage and kale, shrimp, avocado, cilantro and chili-flavored peanuts, and the perfect sweet miso dressing.

    Green salad in a bowl with herbs.

    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.

    Beet and burrata salad in a bowl.

    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!

    Pasta salad in a bowl.

    The Best Pasta Salad

    Super easy Pasta Salad – with pasta, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, spicy salami, pepperoncini, olives, and easy Italian dressing. DANGEROUSLY GOOD.

    Elote quinoa salad in a bowl.

    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!

    Chicken salad in a bowl with cashews and wonton strips.

    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!

    Salad with salmon on top.

    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.

    Green salad in a bowl.

    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.

    Roasted broccoli salad.

    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!

    Cashew crunch salad.

    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!

    Peanut soba noodle salad.

    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.

    Shrimp and miso salad in a bowl.

    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!

    Chicken salad with grapes, blueberries, and cheese.

    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!

    Lemon herb pasta salad.

    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.

    Corn, avocado, and quinoa salad.

    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.

    Couscous salad in a bowl with sweet potatoes and black beans.

    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!

    Chopped thai salad with chicken.

    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.

    Salad with grilled chicken, berries, corn, and cilantro vinaigrette.

    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.

    Kale salad with sweet potato fries.

    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.

    Chicken salad in a bowl.

    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.

    Peanut noodle salad.

    Peanut Noodle Salad

    Peanut Noodle Salad – veggies, chicken, brown rice noodles, and an easy homemade dressing. My favorite salad ever!

    Brussels sprouts salad with bacon and almonds.

    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.



    Source link