20 Best Salad Recipes
Here are my best salad recipes all in one place, from light to hearty and elegant to simple.
Salads sure have come a long way from that sad bowl of iceberg lettuce with a mushy tomato on top. These days, a good salad can be the star of the show, packed with bold flavors, beautiful textures, and dressings that make your taste buds dance.
Whether you’re craving vinaigrette-tossed greens and herbs, a hearty rice and veggie side dish, or a chopped salad with fruity sweetness and nutty crunch, I’ve got you covered. I’ve gathered my 20 best salad recipes and homemade dressings that I come back to again and again. I hope they will inspire your next lunch, dinner, or holiday feast.
Of course, the best salad starts with the freshest ingredients. If you have a vegetable garden, you can get most of them right out of your backyard. Honestly, there’s nothing better! Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, and greens like spinach, arugula, parsley, and kale all grow like crazy here in Alabama, so I toss them into salads whenever I can. Even a simple green salad is a treat when it’s fresh from the garden.
Protein-wise, since we’re hunting family, you’ll find wild game options among my salad recipes. Procuring your own protein is entirely optional, though! There’s a low-cal, fruity power salad that you can whip up with a baked or rotisserie chicken. (It’s not featured here, but canned salmon also makes a healthy and tasty salad protein.)
For dressings, in my opinion, homemade beats storebought any day. Making your own is easy and inexpensive. If you’ve got olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, a little dijon mustard, parmesan cheese, and herbs, you’ve got the basics for a variety of delicious dressings. For that matter, did you know you can make your own apple cider vinegar at a fraction of the cost of storebought? I’ve included both vinaigrette and creamy dressings here. The Green Goddess Avocado Dressing is delicious on my Power Salad with Chicken, but really, you can drizzle it on just about anything.
For toppings, you have tons of options. You can toast almonds or walnuts or sprinkle on pine nuts and feta cheese. Or canned chickpeas! Like nuts, they will add some extra protein as well as flavor. Green olives and red onion add bold tastes to a big Italian salad. Chopped beets add both color and nutrition. And of course, bacon makes almost everything better. It’s also suprisingly easy to make your own crunchy croutons like the ones in this panzanella recipe.
I’ve also included some Southern favorites for your next cookout: World’s Best Potato Salad, Basil Pesto Pasta, and tangy-sweet Coleslaw with Mustard and Apples.
Happy eating! Let me know in a comment which ones you like best.
My 20 Best Salad Recipes - Dressings Included
These are the salad recipes and homemade dressings that I come back to time and again.
Coleslaw is an essential salad in the South. This simple cabbage salad recipe with creamy, tangy dressing is perfect for everything from picnics to holidays.
Wild Rice has to be one of the best bases for salads. It has a nice chew and and a nutty taste; what could be better? When I'm in the mood for something substantial, this hits the spot.
A black-eyed pea salad is great in any season. This recipe is as flavorful as it is nutritious.
I am addicted to this delicious chopped salad with oranges and candied pecans.
Served with crusty bread, a big bowl of Italian salad can be a meal in itself. This salad recipe is a winner with flavorful spinach, red onions, ripe tomatoes, green olives, crusty croutons, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and a simple, tangy dressing.
This rice salad recipe is packed full of fresh pineapple, cucumber, green onions, mint, pecans, and delicate, nutty Jasmine rice.
A power salad with protein is one of my go-to recipes when eating light. But with lime cilantro chicken and a creamy avocado dressing, this salad is the opposite of deprivation. Add a few dried cranberries for sweetness.
Have a bountiful zucchini harvest? This grilled zucchini salad recipe is a favorite at our house in the summer. Goat cheese or tangy feta adds extra flavor.
This ambrosia salad recipe reminds me why this dessert is named after the Greek “food of the gods.” It also always reminds me of my Granny and her Easter ambrosia!
This is truly the best chicken salad recipe, inspired by my Granny Gray’s chicken salad. I always keep some on hand for quick sandwiches or lettuce wraps.
This juicy, crunchy Italian panzanella recipe is my new go-to summer tomato salad. It’s a delicious way to use up ripe tomatoes from your garden.
An herb salad with colorful, edible petals is one of the most beautiful salad recipes. You can top it with toasted nuts for a satisfying crunch.
A chopped cucumber and tomato salad is another great way to use up vegetables from your garden. This recipe also includes squash, onlon, and fresh basil.
"World’s Best Potato Salad recipe" is not an exaggeration -- it's my granny's recipe, and I return to it every time. The secret is equal parts dill pickle and celery.
With its combination of fresh, healthy herbs, lean protein, and wild greens, this turkey salad delivers on both taste and nutrition!
Basil pesto is a vibrant, versatile condiment that elevates pasta recipes and so much more. Learn how to make fresh, homemade basil pesto to freeze and keep on hand.
Salad Dressings
The best salad recipes include the best dressings. You can whip up these delicious homemade salad dressings in no time at all.
