Looking for protein salads that will actually fill you up? Here I’m sharing over 43 salad recipes featuring a variety of protein sources.
When people think of salads they often envision a simple bowl of greens or vegetables, a side dish or an appetizer, but salads can totally be filling (and satisfying) enough to be served as a meal!
That said, the key to this is making sure your salad has a good source of protein. Without adding some sort of protein, salads aren’t as filling so you’ll likely to eat a salad and be hungry 20 minutes later. Not great, especially if you’re trying to eat more salads for weight loss.
Not with the salad recipes I’m sharing today… every one of them is packed with protein. And with over 40 high protein salad recipes and a ton of different protein options, there’s bound to be a couple that you’ll enjoy no matter your dietary preferences.
I’m super passionate about salads and have a ton of salad resources here on EBF. After you look through this collection of protein salads, but sure to check out my article about how to build a meal-sized salad and my full collection of dinner salads (aka salads you can serve as a meal).
Tuna Salads
Tuna is such an easy way to add a ton of protein to a salad and you probably have a can sitting in your pantry right now! From a classic tuna salad to a tuna salad with lentils or hard boiled eggs, there are so many fun ways to make a tasty salad with tuna. Plus, it’s loaded with protein… 1 cup of canned tuna has about 40 grams of protein.
The best healthy tuna salad recipe made with canned tuna, red onion, celery, chopped pickles and Greek yogurt. Perfect as a snack with crackers or on a sandwich.
This lentil tuna salad combines beluga lentils with canned tuna, fresh veggies and a turmeric dressing. It’s absolutely delicious and perfect for summer cookouts and parties.
With this sweet potato tuna salad recipe the sweet potatoes, hummus and mustard make the tuna salad so creamy you don’t need any mayo. Loaded with protein, gluten-free and dairy-free.
Hard boiled eggs make a great protein addition to salads whether you’re making a full on egg salad (like the recipes listed here) or a Cobb salad. 1 large hard boiled egg has 6 grams of protein.
This healthy egg salad is made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo. It’s lighter in calories, but still packed with flavor. Perfect served with crackers or as a sandwich.
Of course, chicken is a go-to protein source for salads and there are so many ways to incorporate it. I love a good chicken salad and have lots of healthier options that are just as tasty as the classic, mayo-based chicken salads. Grilled chicken also makes a great protein packed topping for any salad. 1 cup of cooked chicken has a whopping 38 grams of protein!
This healthy chicken salad recipe uses Greek yogurt instead of mayo so it’s lighter in calories, but still loaded with flavor from the grapes, celery, parsley and almonds.
This curry chicken salad recipe with celery, onion and raisins is super flavorful and comes together fast using shredded chicken. It's an awesome salad to meal prep for lunches throughout the week.
The perfect summertime blueberry corn chicken salad with fresh blueberries, grilled corn, shredded chicken, roasted pecans and a maple balsamic dressing.
This healthy chicken Waldorf salad uses grilled chicken and a light dressing that blends mayo with Greek yogurt! Great for sandwiches, wraps and salads.
This Asian chopped salad is loaded with fresh veggies and tossed with a creamy almond dressing. You’ll love the crunch and flavor! Dairy-free, gluten-free and low-carb.
This BBQ chicken salad has so much flavor with grilled BBQ chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, crunchy tortilla chips and a drizzle of both BBQ sauce and ranch dressing.
When it comes to making a protein packed plant-based salad, there are so many protein options you can incorporate including crispy tofu, tempeh, edamame and beans. When it comes to bean salads, I love using chickpeas, white beans and lentils.
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.
This curried chickpea salad is loaded with crunchy veggies and seasoned with traditional yellow curry. It makes for a filling lunch served over greens! Perfect for meal prep.
This healthy quinoa chickpea salad is loaded with veggies and makes a light and delicious lunch option that can be made ahead of time for easy lunches throughout the week. Great for meal prep!
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!
This roasted cauliflower and lentil salad with tahini dressing is nutritious, filling, and works great as a light lunch or dinner. Vegan and gluten-free.
Homestyle vegan chicken salad made with tofu, almonds, celery, onion and raisins tossed in a creamy vegan dressing. This salad is delicious, protein packed and great for sandwiches and wraps. Vegan and gluten-free.
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.
This flavorful and filling curried tempeh salad is perfect for making a hearty sandwich, adding to a wrap or serving over crisp greens. Vegan and gluten-free.
Craving a light and fresh lunch? This packable crunchy detox salad is loaded with nourishing veggies and perfect for traveling or an office lunch. Vegan + gluten-free.
This salad is like an Asian coleslaw. The cabbage, carrot, pepper mixture is hearty enough that you can combine the salad with the dressing ahead of time and not worry about the salad wilting.
Grilled shrimp salad with quinoa, broccoli and roasted asparagus! Prepare everything ahead of time and throw it into a bowl for a quick and easy lunch or dinner.
Salmon is one of my favorite ways to boost the protein content of my salads. It’s so delicious and the combo of protein and fat really makes it really satisfying. A 6 oz filet of salmon has 32 grams of protein.
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.
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.
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.
Turkey seems to be less popular as a protein source for salads, but both shredded turkey and ground turkey are great ways to add protein to salads. 1 cup of cooked turkey has 41 grams of protein.
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.
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.
This spinach mason jar salad features grilled chicken, strawberries and a citrus poppy seed dressing. Layer all of the ingredients into a mason jar for a healthy, portable lunch!
This black bean fiesta mason jar salad makes for a colorful, convenient meal that will satisfy your craving for Mexican food! The lime jalapeño dressing is zesty and really ties the whole salad together.
This nicoise salad can be meal prepped two ways: in a mason jar or a meal prep container. It's filling, flavorful and loaded with protein but is still light and easy to digest. Don't skip the fresh dill! Gluten-free.
This chicken avocado club salad can be meal prepped two ways: in a mason jar or a meal prep container. It’s loaded with flavor, filling (thanks to chicken, turkey bacon, blue cheese and avocado), low carb and gluten-free.
Make the dressing by whisking together all the ingredients in a small bowl or glass jar.
Cook tempeh bacon.
Add romaine to a bowl and arrange equal portions of chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, corn, red onion, tempeh bacon and cheese (if using) on top of the greens.
Just before serving, top salad with avocado and 2-3 Tablespoons of the red wine vinaigrette or your favorite dressing. Garnish with fresh dill, if using.
Just what I needed. I’m getting so lazy with cooking with allergies and need new ideas for Summer season. Thanks for all you do to help others. I got recommended by a blogger to try your site. Glad I did.
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Just what I needed. I’m getting so lazy with cooking with allergies and need new ideas for Summer season. Thanks for all you do to help others. I got recommended by a blogger to try your site. Glad I did.
Yay! I’m so glad this list is helpful for you, Kathy! Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate it 🙂
Awesome compilation! Your dishes are so reliably yummy. Looking forward to cooking many of these. Thank you!
Woo! Thanks so much, Nicki! I’m glad you’re finding this collection helpful!