21 Healthy Dinner Salad Recipes

Brittany MullinsUpdated Jan 12, 2026

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Have salad for dinner with these healthy and substantial salad recipes that are filling, delicious and easy to make!

When most people think of salads they envision a small plate with greens and a few additional veggies or a simple side dish, but I’m here to show you that salads can be so much more than that! With the right toppings you can make a salad that is colorful, bountiful and filling enough to serve as a meal.

Meal-sized salads are totally my thing and I’m all about eating a big ol’ salad for dinner!

A while back I shared my guide for how to build a healthy salad, which involves a good source of protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. That said, I realize that a little inspiration is always nice so I’m sharing this dinner salad roundup with 21 salad recipes that you’ll actually enjoy serving for dinner.

I’ve broken down the salads by protein so you can easily skim the list and choose salads to try based on your favorite protein source(s) and what you have on hand.

I can’t wait for you to try these amazing salads.

Salads With Chicken

Cobb salad in a large serving bowl with hard boiled egg, blue cheese, cucumber, avocado, blackened chicken, tomato, spinach and bacon. Two wood salad serving spoons and a jar of homemade dressing are beside the bowl.

4.26 from 77 votes

Blackened Chicken Cobb Salad

This blackened chicken Cobb salad is packed with flavor and so simple to make. Plus, it’s great for meal prep and is grain-free, low-carb and keto-friendly.

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3.81 from 41 votes

BBQ Chicken Salad

This BBQ chicken salad is a flavorful and hearty meal made with grilled BBQ chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, tortilla chips, and a drizzle of ranch. Perfect for a protein-packed lunch or easy weeknight dinner!

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A white bowl containing cooked sliced chicken on top of a bed of lettuce, red onion, cucumber, red bell pepper, pineapple, and a creamy dijon mustard dressing.

5 from 5 votes

Thai Curry Chicken Salad

This Thai curry chicken salad combines fresh pineapple, veggies, thai curry chicken and a creamy dijon dressing. It's fresh, filling and packed with flavor! Gluten-free.

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Salad topped with pears, grilled chicken, turkey bacon, cranberries, goat cheese, walnuts, and avocado with a fork.

4.55 from 22 votes

Pear Salad with Walnuts, Avocado and Grilled Chicken

An easy pear salad with walnuts, avocado and grilled chicken. This combo makes for a satisfying meal-sized salad that’s perfect for pear season!

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4.88 from 16 votes

Blueberry Corn Chicken Salad

This blueberry corn chicken salad is the perfect summertime salad! It combines greens, grilled chicken, corn, roasted pecans and fresh blueberries all tossed in a delicious maple balsamic dressing.

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Fuji apple chicken salad with gorgonzola cheese, pepitas, tomatoes and dressing.

4.39 from 18 votes

Fuji Apple Salad

This delicious meal-sized salad is inspired by Panera’s Fuji apple salad with fresh apple slices, gorgonzola, tomatoes, pepitas and a white balsamic vinaigrette.

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Salads with Turkey

4.23 from 48 votes

Healthy Taco Salad

This healthy taco salad is made with ground turkey taco meat instead of beef and is packed with veggies. It comes together quickly making it perfect for a weeknight meal.

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4.06 from 36 votes

Cheeseburger Salad

Enjoy all the flavor of a delicious burger, but make it low carb with a cheeseburger salad that's loaded with veggies and topped with a honey mustard dressing.

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Salads With Salmon

Salad topped with grilled salmon, corn, basil, peaches, and tomatoes.

4.65 from 17 votes

Grilled Salmon Salad

The ultimate summer salad with lightly marinated grilled salmon, sliced peaches, tomatoes and grilled sweet corn. The flavors pair together to make a fresh and flavorful entree sized salad.

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A plate of superfood salad topped with a filet of salmon topped with quick pickled onions, sweet potato croutons and a lemon vinaigrette.

4.94 from 49 votes

Superfood Salmon Salad

This salmon salad is loaded with roasted sweet potato croutons, avocado, pickled onions and dressed in a light lemon vinaigrette! It’s an easy go-to meal you’ll love having as part of your weekly rotation.

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A serving platter with mediterranean salad topped with two filets of salmon.

4.61 from 38 votes

Mediterranean Salmon Salad

This healthy Mediterranean salmon salad combines romaine lettuce, quinoa, tomatoes, red onion and feta cheese all tossed in a light lemon vinaigrette dressing and topped with a salmon filet. It's perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

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4.43 from 7 votes

Pistachio Salmon Salad

This pistachio salmon salad has a Middle Eastern feel with baby spinach, quinoa, chickpeas, carrots, dates and a flavorful harissa dressing. It’s a delicious meal-sized salad that will fill you up without weighing you down. Gluten-free.

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Salads with Shrimp

Kale caesar salad topped with grilled shrimp, avocado, sweet potatoes and parmesan cheese shavings in a white bowl.

5 from 3 votes

Caesar Salad with Shrimp

This caesar salad with shrimp is topped with sweet potato croutons, avocado, parmesan cheese and a creamy avocado caesar dressing.

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4.37 from 11 votes

Grilled Shrimp Salad

This grilled shrimp salad is packed with protein and fiber thanks to quinoa, broccoli, and roasted asparagus. It’s fresh, flavorful, and perfect for a quick, make-ahead lunch or light summer dinner.

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5 from 1 vote

Hearts of Palm Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

This fresh and flavorful hearts of palm salad is packed with crunchy pecans, roasted cherry tomatoes, creamy avocado, and a delicious honey balsamic vinaigrette. A perfect light meal or side dish!

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Vegan Salads

Buffalo cauliflower and chickpeas over lettuce with purple onion and dressing drizzled over in a white bowl on white wood.

5 from 2 votes

Buffalo Cauilfower Salad

Who said buffalo sauce is just for wings? This buffalo cauliflower salad is loaded with cauliflower, crispy chickpeas and topped with a creamy vegan ranch dressing made from cashews.

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Vegan cheeseburger salad, dressing drizzled on top, on a plate with fork and neutral napkin.

4.70 from 10 votes

“Cheeseburger” Salad with Special Sauce

OMG! This “Cheeseburger” Salad with Special Sauce is reminiscent of a Big Mac, but so much better. It’s totally plant-based and made with lentil walnut burger meat and a cashew cream sauce.

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4.80 from 15 votes

Vegan Cobb Salad

A vegan Cobb salad recipe that gives you all of the delicious flavors of a traditional Cobb salad along with 19 grams of plant-based protein! Vegan, gluten-free and a perfect meal-sized salad.

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Salad topped with blackened tempeh, tahini dressing, peppers, onions, avocado and quinoa.

4.75 from 4 votes

Blackened Tempeh Salad

Plant-powered blackened tempeh salad with fresh romaine, quinoa, red onion, bell pepper, avocado and a creamy orange tahini dressing.

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Large serving bowl filled with barley salad mixed with chickpeas, arugula, pear slices, sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, and crumbled feta with wooden serving spoons on the side.

4.50 from 28 votes

Barley Salad with Chickpeas

Easy barely salad made with pearl barley, chickpeas, walnuts and a simple apple cider vinaigrette. A flavorful dish that’s filling, versatile and great for meal prep.

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Plate with a bed of fresh spinach topped with a warm Mediterranean salad, topped with feta and avocado.

4.48 from 34 votes

Sautéed Mediterranean Lentil Salad

This Mediterranean lentil salad marries sautéed tomatoes, fresh basil and feta with steamed lentils for a hearty, flavorful vegetarian meal that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare!

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Love these ideas? Be sure to check out all of the popular salad recipes on EBF!