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These green salad options are healthy, colorful, and incredibly versatile with multiple protein and topping options!
We Love Our Greens!
I love a tasty salad and it’s a good thing we have salad at least once a week, especially during the warm summer months. These salads require only a few minutes to prepare and can serve as a perfect side dish or even the main course of your meal.
- For salad tips & tricks, scroll to the bottom of this post!
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Favorite Green Salad Recipes
These are not your simple green salads, they are packed with flavor and topped with flavorful dressings!
7 Layer Salad Recipe
Deliciously customizable 7 Layer Salad is filled with just the right amount of goodness. It's perfect to make ahead!
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Waldorf Salad Recipe
Waldorf salad is filled with texture and flavor. Tossed in a homemade poppy seed dressing, it's perfect for any lunch, dinner, or appetizer.
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Chicken Caesar Salad
This chicken Caesar salad is jam-packed with filling ingredients. It's so flavorful, you won't believe how simple it is to make!
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Cobb Salad
This simple cobb salad is so full of tasty ingredients it's a meal all on its own. It is quick to make and utterly delicious.
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Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Salad is filled with buffalo seasoned chicken, crumbled blue cheese, and ranch. It's your favorite wings in salad form!
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Strawberry Harvest Salad Recipe
Strawberry Harvest Salad tastes just like the salad at Zupa's! It's topped with a homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette dressing.
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Steak and Tortellini Salad Recipe
Delish Steak and Tortellini Salad is hearty and refreshing. Tortellini, sirloin & romaine in a creamy pesto dressing is a must-have!
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Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe
Strawberry Spinach Salad is fresh, naturally sweet, colorful, and absolutely delicious. Serve it as a quick lunch or a dinner side!
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Wedge Salad Recipe
This fresh wedge salad is a classic. It's crisp and refreshing, smothered in creamy dressing and topped with crumbles of cheese and bacon.
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Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Recipe
This delicious copycat Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad is topped with breaded chicken and tossed in a flavorful Asian dressing!
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More Green Salad Recipes
Here are some more salad options that can serve as a simple side or main dish.
Pizza Salad Recipe
Pizza Salad is hearty & refreshing. All of the flavors of pizza are served on a bed of greens and topped with a homemade herb dressing!
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Kale Salad Recipe
Sweet Kale Salad is topped with chunks of apple, candied pecans, dried cranberries, and bacon, served with a homemade sweet dijon vinaigrette!
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Tuna Salad Recipe
Chopped Tuna Salad Recipe is filled with fresh crisp veggies and tossed in a light and refreshing lemon vinaigrette!
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Ramen Noodle Salad Recipe
Sweet + savory Ramen Noodle Salad is topped with a simple homemade dressing. It's easy, delicious, and whips up in only 15 minutes!
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Cheesecake Factory Luau Salad Recipe
Loaded with sweet, tropical flavors, this delicious Luau Salad is BETTER than it's Cheesecake Factory double!
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Chicken Taco Salad Recipe
Crunchy and fresh chicken taco salad is a weeknight dinner dream! Easy, flavorful, and a recipe that everyone will enjoy.
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Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Recipe
Honey Mustard Chicken Salad is one of the heartiest, most delicious salad recipes you'll try! With greens, fruits, nuts, and a tangy dressing, it's a real winner.
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Asian Citrus Chicken Salad Recipe
Bright & Flavorful Asian Citrus Chicken Salad topped with crunchy wontons and a fruity vinaigrette is a family favorite!!
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Southwest Salad Recipe
Our favorite Southwest Salad recipe is healthy and hearty and topped with a delicious homemade cilantro ranch dressing.
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Antipasto Salad
Quick and hearty antipasto salad is filled with cured meats and veggies and lightly dressed with your favorite Italian dressing!
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Arugula Salad Recipe
Fresh Arugula salad is loaded with healthy greens, juicy tomatoes, and parmesan shavings with pine nuts and creamy avocado on top!
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Southwest Caprese Salad Recipe
Southwest caprese salad substitutes queso fresco and a bright cilantro jalapeño vinaigrette to add some flair. It is fresh, vibrant, and full of flavor!
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BBQ Chicken Salad
Dressed in ranch and BBQ sauce, this hearty BBQ chicken salad is packed with flavor for a yummy summer dish!
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Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe
The best crunchy Chinese chicken salad with undeniably delicious flavors that will make you coming back for seconds and thirds! We love this recipe!!
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Quick Caprese Salad Recipe
Simple and Quick Caprese Salad is easy and delicious with pops of mozzarella, tomatoes, avocados and drizzled with a balsamic glaze!
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FAQs
How to add color?
- The leafy greens make a beautiful backdrop to colorful produce. Some common fruits and vegetables used in green salads include:
- Veggies: carrots, cucumber, radish, celery, green or red onion, bell pepper, grape tomatoes, or watercress.
- Fruits: strawberry, mango, avocado, Mandarin oranges, pears, apples, green olives, or cherries.
What types of lettuce work best?
- Lettuce leaves are the base and typically include 1-2 types of lettuce and often feature other greens.
- Iceberg lettuce, Romaine lettuce, green leaf, red leaf, bibb (Boston/Butter lettuce), Arugula, Frisee/Curly Endive, and fresh Spinach.
What types of cheese can i add?
- Feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, swiss cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
How can i add more crunch to my salads?
- Often the crunch comes from crispy produce like carrots, cucumbers, and apples. Or add croutons (Homemade Croutons), tortilla strips, nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or pepitas.
Protein options?
- Add or substitute proteins such as shrimp, bacon bits, black, kidney, or white beans, boiled eggs, chicken (buffalo, grilled, or breaded), chickpeas, steak strips, tuna, salmon, and nuts.
I love having a green salad for lunch, but get tired of the same ones. This list is going to be great to work through for some delicious lunches.
I love all salads! Summer and wintertime. The variety here is simply amazing. It’s my most favorite meal.
Your tortellini & ramen salad are my family’s go-to!! We love them & use them all the time!