21 Healthy Dinner Salad Recipes
Updated 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
1
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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2
Healthy BBQ Chicken Salad Bowl
A hearty BBQ chicken salad loaded with grilled BBQ chicken, black beans, sweet corn, avocado and crunchy tortilla chips all finished with a drizzle of ranch and BBQ sauce. Over 40 grams of protein and ready in 35 minutes.
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3
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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4
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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5
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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6
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
7
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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8
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
9
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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10
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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11
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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12
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
13
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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14
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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15
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
16
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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17
“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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18
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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19
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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20
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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21
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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More Collections You Might Enjoy
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Love these ideas? Be sure to check out all of the popular salad recipes on EBF!
That smoky andouille sausage pasta looks so flavorful! To balance out rich meals, I love starting my mornings with the best protein breakfast from https://kodiakcakes.com/ – it’s a delicious way to fuel the day with energy and nutrition.
What a great-tasting and easy recipe! I made this exactly as written and it came out great. I would definitely make this recipe again! Thanks for your nice share.
Looks so delicious for healthy food! hope my family will approve my cooking 😀
Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this a great article! I very like salad. Everyday, I make salad for my son.
Thank you so much !
Thank you for sharing these salad recipes to us. When it comes to my health and diet, I try focus more on finding the foods that I enjoy. Salads are really healthy, and your recipe made may go-to meal super-tasty! I love these inspirations for making salad one of my favorite dishes. They’re absolutely delicious and these recipes are great on the go.
Good Article! I don’t think that salad can be processed these varieties. I like…
Love this so much! I eat a salad every day and I love having new ideas! 🙂
During the summer I’m all about salads for dinner. In fact, my hubs will get home and he’s all “what’s for dinner?” and my response is “obnoxiously large salad.” It’s the best way to taste summer!
Totally agree! With so much fresh produce available during the summer months there’s no reason NOT to have salad every night. 🙂
The Salad Challenge has been SO MUCH fun! I’ve had a blast making and sharing my meal sized salads. Instagram has been a great source for inspiration and everyone’s salads look so goooooood. Thanks for sharing links to recipes and tips to have fun with a 10 day challenge.
Hi Ruth! This comment makes me so happy. I LOVED hosting the challenge and had such an awesome time seeing everyone jump on board and enjoy salads every day. Your salad with broiled onions looked amazing. Need to recreate that one ASAP. 🙂
These salads look amazing! Thank you for some great fresh ideas!
GREAT roundup, Brittany!! Yes to all of the avocado and hummus!
What a great selection of salads, they look amazing!
I’m totally a salad lover, and I love looking at inspiration! All of these salads look wonderful, but the salmon cobb is screaming my name right now 🙂
I’m loving the salad focus right now! Thanks!
Me too! I’ve been having so much fun with all the salads. I feel like July should be National Salad Month. 🙂
I have always loved having a meal-sized salad, but this challenge has made it that much more fun! I love the added incentive, and these salads are gorrrgeous! You’re amazing, Brittany. Thank you for creating an awesome resource of killer salad recipes!
I love a good salad. So many great options here! You’ve gIven me some new inspiration! They’re all so beautiful too!
Girl you are killing it with all the salads!
Thanks Erin!! 🙂
These salads are gorgeous aside from being healthy. They say we taste first with our eyes.