16 Spring Salads That Taste as Good as They Look
The sun is shining, the temps are heating up, and it can only mean one thing: it’s time for more salads! Fresh, crisp, and colorful, these salads will leave you feeling nourished. Healthy lunches, dinner sides, or main meal salads – it’s the season for them all.
Garbanzo Bean Salad
If you’re looking for a quick, nutritious, and delicious dish, this 10-minute garbanzo bean salad is the way to go! It’s packed with protein-rich chickpeas, crisp veggies, and a tangy dressing. Serve it with warm pita bread, a side of hummus, or grilled chicken for a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: 10-Minute Garbanzo Bean Salad.
Lemon Kale Salad
This simple salad is made with thinly shredded kale, a bright lemon dressing, and parmesan cheese and I was first introduced to it on Thanksgiving more than a decade ago! Add some crunchy panko breadcrumbs to the top for a dish that the whole family will devour. It comes together in minutes and makes a great accompaniment to any main.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Kale Salad.
Lentil Tabbouleh
This version is a nutritious twist on the traditional tabbouleh. It incorporates protein-rich lentils alongside the classic mix of parsley, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers tossed in a light lemony dressing. Serve it as a refreshing side dish alongside grilled chicken or fish.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Tabbouleh.
Arugula Quinoa Salad
You’ll find yourself making this quinoa arugula salad over and over again! Not only is this quinoa and arugula salad incredibly flavorful with its bright lemon vinaigrette, but it’s also ready in just 15 minutes of prep. Each serving of this has a whopping 19 grams of plant-based protein making it a great make-ahead lunch or dinner side dish.
Get the Recipe: Arugula Quinoa Salad.
Big Mac Salad
Skip the drive-thru and get the flavor you crave, at home. This recipe has Big Mac-inspired flavor in each bite, but with a lighter and fresher flavor. Serve with fries for a delicious and nutritious main course dinner salad.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
You’ll love this classic cucumber salad! Thinly sliced cucumbers are tossed with onions and a simple sour cream dressing, this gets better as it sits in the fridge. It’s easy to prep and made with simple ingredients, it’s a staple at our house, especially when the garden cucumbers are flowing.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Cucumber Salad.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
You’ll love this Greek orzo pasta salad with bright, fresh flavors and satisfying, salty bites! It’s made with classic Greek ingredients like crunchy and crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, salty feta, and fresh dill. Everything is tossed with tender pasta and a red wine vinaigrette for a salad that’s utterly delicious.
Get the Recipe: Greek Orzo Salad.
Southwest Salad
The classic southwest salad gets a modern makeover! Greens are topped with spiced chickpeas, tomatoes, grilled chicken, sharp cheddar, guacamole, and tortilla chips so that each bite is full of flavor. You can make a few of the components ahead for an even quicker meal.
Get the Recipe: Southwest Salad.
Quinoa Black Bean Salad
This black bean quinoa salad recipe should be on the top of your recipes-to-make list! It’s light and bright, satisfying and nutritious, and loaded with plant-based protein and fiber, all with tons of layered flavor. Because it can be made ahead, it’s a great salad for everything from picnics to summer cookouts to healthy meal prep salads to get you through the week.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Quinoa Salad.
Napa Cabbage Slaw
Whenever I make this slaw, I’m always asked for the recipe and my family has been making it for decades! It’s a great side for meat mains that are grilled, smoked, or bbq’ed.
Get the Recipe: Easy Napa Cabbage Slaw.
Taco Salad
If you love a classic taco salad, you will always be happy to see this recipe on the menu. It’s quick, easy, and always hits the spot. Ground beef cooks super fast, making it a great weeknight option. Put out all of the salad components and let everyone make their own salad.
Get the Recipe: Easy Taco Salad.
Greek Salad with Chicken
If you’re looking for a refreshing and hearty meal, the Greek salad with chicken is the way to go. This classic dish combines crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, and Kalamata olives, all tossed in a zesty dressing. Serve it with warm pita bread for scooping, a side of creamy tzatziki for extra flavor.
Get the Recipe: Greek Salad with Chicken.
Cowboy Caviar
Don’t tell the party guests that this bean dip is secretly super-nutritious – it is bound to be gobbled up based on flavor alone! Made with a colorful mix of fresh vegetables, two types of beans, and a tangy dressing, it’s hard to stop eating this dip! Serve with tortilla chips or crackers for a scoopable snack that everyone always adores.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Caviar.
Italian Chopped Salad
Quite possibly my all-time favorite salad and maybe yours, too, this is our go-to house salad and the side to so many dinners. This is the perfect chopped salad – crunchy, well-balanced, and tossed in a flavorful homemade red wine vinaigrette. Each bite is packed with bold Italian flavors.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chopped Salad.
Mediterranean Tortellini Pasta Salad
This Mediterranean pasta salad could be a main dish on its own, but it’s also a tasty side dish for many different entrees. This salad has it all with sweet, crunchy, chewy, acidic, and salty flavors in each and every bite. You’re going to love it.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Tortellini Pasta Salad.
Greek Potato Salad with Green Beans
This tasty Greek potato salad is bursting with flavor, it’s really easy to make, and the whole family will enjoy it. This healthy side salad comes with not one nutritious veggie but two! Pair it with Mediterranean meals or grilled chicken.
Get the Recipe: Greek Potato Salad with Green Beans.
