Salad recipes are my favorite way to showcase vibrant, in-season produce – fruits and veggies that are so good on their own that you don’t need to do much to make them into a delicious meal. On cold winter nights, I like to brighten up our dinner table with a big, colorful mix of root veggies and hearty greens. On beautiful, warm days when I’d rather be outside than in the kitchen, summer salads are the perfect solution: they’re simple to toss together, but they’re totally delicious nonetheless. Whether you want to add more plant-based meals to your diet or are simply looking to change up your salad game, you’ll find tons of inspiration in the salad recipes below. With everything from green salads to pasta salads and beyond, these recipes are perfect for passing at potlucks, serving as dinner sides, and enjoying as full meals on their own.
Slaw Salad Recipes:
Slaws are some of the best make-ahead salad recipes out there. Typically made with hearty vegetables like cabbage, kale, or broccoli, they’re sturdy enough to be dressed ahead of time. I like to accent the veggie base with a punchy dressing, herbs, and even fruit for maximum flavor.
Summer Asian Slaw:
Make this salad for your next picnic, and it’ll be a guaranteed hit. A tahini miso dressing gives it a creamy umami coating, while peaches add juicy pops of sweetness. I finish it with toasted pepitas for crunch.
Best Broccoli Salad:
You won’t miss the bacon in this lightened-up take on classic broccoli salad. Smoky roasted nuts take its place, adding delectable savory bites. A lightly creamy, sweet & tangy dressing takes the whole thing over the top.
Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad:
As soon as the temperature starts to dip in the fall, I look forward to making this salad. Made with just 7 ingredients, it’s a breeze to put together, but a bright lemon dressing, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and dried cranberries make it zippy, fresh, and satisfying.
Pasta Salad Recipes:
You couldn’t make a list of salad recipes without including this category! Pasta salads are the ultimate summer picnic food or party dish any time of year – they’re great to make ahead, they can double as a side and a main dish, and they’re a hearty showcase for the season’s best produce.
Easy Pasta Salad:
As its name suggests, this one is a breeze to make. Just whisk together the zippy lemon dressing at the bottom of a big bowl, add the other ingredients, and toss to create a heavenly tangy/creamy/crunchy/fresh summer combo.
Rainbow Orzo Salad:
Diced mango adds a surprising sweet twist to this colorful orzo, red onion, bell pepper, herb, and cucumber salad.
Creamy Vegan Pasta Salad:
My veggie-packed take on a deli-style pasta salad! I swap spiralized summer squash for half the noodles and a creamy tahini dressing for a mayo-based one. It’s a healthier version of the grocery counter classic, but it’s just as good.
Broccoli Pasta Salad:
Sun-dried tomatoes add delicious umami bites to this super green combination of summer veggies, basil, pasta, and pine nuts.
Cherry Tomato Couscous Salad:
A mix of jammy roasted cherry tomatoes and juicy fresh ones makes this guy one of my favorite summer salads. With spiced roasted chickpeas, tangy feta, and big pearls of couscous, it’s hearty enough to be a meal on its own.
Sesame Soba Noodles:
Not your average pasta salad! Tossed in a tangy sesame-ginger dressing and piled with green veggies and avocado, this soba noodle salad is a light, refreshing summer meal.
Green Salad Recipes:
A big green salad is one of my go-to meals all year round. In the summer, the lettuces I find at the farmers market are so soft & sweet that a big green summer salad is really a treat. In the winter, I use a bright, bold dressing to punch up hearty greens like kale. I’ll often make these recipes for lunch, but you could also toss them together to serve as a side dish at your next cookout or dinner party.
Healthy Taco Salad:
Savory shiitake walnut taco “meat” is the star of this salad, and zippy cilantro lime dressing gives it a fresh finishing touch. Enjoy this salad as a meal on its own, or serve it as a starter with fajitas or tacos.
Vegan Cobb Salad with Coconut Bacon:
This plant-based riff on a classic Cobb salad swaps baked tofu for chicken ■■■■■■ and smoky toasted coconut for bacon. A creamy, tangy dressing ties it all together.
Grilled Romaine Vegan Caesar Wedges:
One of my favorite green salads of all time! Crisp romaine gets lightly charred, then drizzled with an irresistibly tangy cashew vegan caesar dressing. This one is on **page 111 of our new cookbook,Love & Lemons Every Day.
Kale Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing:
This vibrant kale salad is a treat year-round. I pile it high with a rainbow of crunchy veggies, toasted seeds, creamy avocado, and savory roasted chickpeas. Doused in a tangy carrot ginger dressing, it’s hearty enough to be a meal on its own.
Tomato Summer Salads:
If there’s one veggie (or fruit, if you’re looking to get technical) that’s the star of summer, the tomato is definitely it. Here are some of my favorite summer salad recipes that put tomatoes front & center.
Greek Salad:
I love how big cubes of feta, juicy tomatoes, olives, herbs, bell peppers, and cucumber tumble together in this stunning summer salad with a homemade Greek salad dressing. You only need 7 ingredients and a few minutes to put together this juicy/crisp/tangy/savory combo.
Spicy Watermelon Tomato Salad:
Fresh chiles add some heat to the sweet, juicy mix of tomatoes & watermelon in this recipe.
Eggplant & Roasted Tomato Farro Salad:
Roasting cherry tomatoes gives them an intense sweet & savory flavor that’s fantastic alongside eggplant, arugula, and nutty farro.
Heirloom Tomato Fattoush:
Once you start bringing home those juicy farmers market heirloom tomatoes, make this salad! It’s my non-traditional take on fattoush, a bread salad made with toasted pita. This one has a layer of lemony yogurt and is topped with crispy chickpeas, and lots of fresh herbs.