21 Healthy Dinner Salad Recipes

By Brittany Mullins

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21

Published May 20, 2022, Updated Nov 21, 2023

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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!

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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.
4.25 from 76 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.
View Blackened Chicken Cobb Salad
Bowl with bbq chicken salad. A fork is in the bowl and a napkin and glass of water are beside the bowl.
3.72 from 38 votes

BBQ Chicken Salad

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.
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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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Mixed blueberry corn chicken salad served with dressing.
4.87 from 15 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

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.
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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Cheeseburger salad with avocado, red onion, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, ground turkey and pickles.
4.03 from 35 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 48 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.
4.55 from 33 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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A pistachio salmon salad served in a white bowl. The bowl contains a baked salmon filet, chickpeas, shredded carrots, quinoa, chopped dates, spinach, and spicy harissa dressing.
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.
View Pistachio Salmon Salad

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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Overhead photo of a bowl of grilled shrimp salad.
4.37 from 11 votes

Grilled Shrimp Salad

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.
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Salad in a bowl with shrimp, avocado, hearts of palm, tomatoes, and onion.
No ratings yet

Hearts of Palm Salad with Shrimp

A protein packed hearts of palm avocado salad with grilled shrimp, cilantro and tomatillo avocado dressing. Light, fresh and perfect for summer!
View Hearts of Palm Salad with Shrimp

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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Vegan cobb salad with tempeh bacon and chickpeas in a white bowl with a gold fork.
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.
View Vegan Cobb Salad
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.
View Blackened Tempeh Salad
Bowl of barley salad with chickpeas and pear. Table is scattered with herbs and walnuts.
4.50 from 28 votes

Barley Salad with Chickpeas

This hearty barley salad is packed with chickpeas, walnuts, pears, sun dried tomatoes and parsley. It's such a flavorful combo and is perfect for meal prep and potlucks.
View Barley Salad with Chickpeas
Plate with a bed of fresh spinach topped with a warm Mediterranean salad, topped with feta and avocado.
4.46 from 33 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!
View Sautéed Mediterranean Lentil Salad

More Collections You Might Enjoy

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

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Cheeseburger salad with avocado, red onion, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, ground turkey and pickles.
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5 from 1 vote

21 Dinner Salad Recipes + Cheeseburger Salad Recipe

By: Brittany Mullins
Have salad for dinner with these healthy and substantial salad recipes that are filling, delicious and easy to make!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients  

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 Tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon Worchestire sauce

Salad

  • 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce, about 2 romaine hearts
  • ½ cup sliced red onion
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • ½ cup sliced, or chopped dill pickles
  • ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 avocado
  • honey mustard dressing

Instructions 

  • Make dressing by blending all of the ingredients together. 
  • Place the ground turkey into a skillet over medium heat and cook meat for about 12 minutes, breaking the turkey with a spatula apart as it cooks. Once the meat is browned and fully cooked, stir in 1/4 cup diced red onion, ketchup, Worchestire sauce, garlic powder and onion powder. Toss to combine and remove from heat. 
  • Prep salads by adding a bed of romaine to each bowl. Top each salad with toppings: seasoned turkey meat, red onion, tomatoes, pickles, shredded cheese and avocado slices. Drizzle on dressing and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1without dressing | Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 414mg | Potassium: 878mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dinner salads
Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

More about Brittany
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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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21 Comments

  1. 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.

    Reply

  4. 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.

    Reply

  7. 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!

    Reply

    1. Totally agree! With so much fresh produce available during the summer months there’s no reason NOT to have salad every night. 🙂

      Reply

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