25 Ways to Eat Salad for Dinner Tonight

published Jun 8, 2023

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Credit: Lauren Volo

Are you dreaming of salad during these early summer days? Heavy on veggies and light on dressing, with just enough heft to fill you up, salad is the refreshing dinner you need at the end of the day. Cycle this selection through your weekly meal plan, and you can count on easy, satisfying meals that turn your farmers market haul and the leftover veggies into dinner.

From a fajita-inspired steak salad and a warm cauliflower number, to a quintessential summer tomato salad and hearty grain salads, these 25 satisfying recipes are the key to making your summer salad dreams come true.

Meaty Salads

1 / 6

Warm Fajita Steak Salad

This fajita salad features cumin-rubbed flank steak along with charred peppers and onions over a bed of crunchy, chopped romaine and red cabbage.

2 / 6

Chicken and Veggie Pesto Salad

Filled with a robust assortment of tender veggies, strips of juicy chicken, and tossed with an herby pesto, this no-lettuce salad is a summer essential.

3 / 6

Greek Chicken Salad

Salty, briny feta and olives, and crunchy, lemony croutons are delightful little flavor bombs, making every forkful of this Greek-style salad a pleasure to eat. It’s one of those salads that works well as a one-dish meal — a great lunch or dinner that comes together in just a few minutes.

4 / 6

Spicy Carnitas Salad Bowl

This spicy carnitas number tells that tale five times over with a bold and crisp base and toppings ranging from slow-cooker carnitas to pickled avocado.

5 / 6

Zucchini Buffalo Chicken Salad

We’re embracing “zoodles” and pairing them with poached chicken breast, a creamy blue cheese dressing, and Buffalo-flavored croutons.

6 / 6

Make-Ahead Chicken and Veggie Chopped Salad

Think of this as the salad transition from decadent vacation fare to everyday eats.

Lettuce-Free Salads

1 / 8

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Chickpeas, Feta, and Herbs

A recipe for a hearty main course cauliflower salad from Central Provisions in Portland, Maine.

2 / 8

Tomato Salad with Red Onion, Dill and Feta

This is the full-on maximalist tomato salad: tossed gloriously with red pepper, feta, dill, cucumber, and olives.

3 / 8

Chilled Black Bean, Feta & Cucumber Salad

Creamy feta and red wine vinegar add a delicious Greek twist to ingredients that are typically found in Central American dishes: black beans, corn, and cilantro.

4 / 8

Vegetarian Taco Salad

How about a taco salad that really celebrates an assortment of raw, crunchy vegetables?

5 / 8

Tofu and Broccoli Salad with Peanut Butter Dressing

The protein from the tofu is substantial and accented with edamame and peanuts, and sweet bell pepper strips are a welcome, juicy bite.

6 / 8

Mediterranean Cauliflower Couscous Salad

The Mediterranean flavors really shine in this simple spring salad and the roasted chickpeas add a lovely crunch.

7 / 8

Greek-Style Tuna Salad

A light and wholesome Mediterranean-inspired tuna salad that's packed with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and fresh herbs.

8 / 8

Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad

With chunks of BBQ chicken, crisp corn, crunchy cabbage, and a tangy ranch dressing, this chopped salad is in a league all its own.

Bold Green Salads

1 / 5

Kale & Quinoa Salad with Dates, Almonds & Citrus Dressing

Kale and quinoa are two of the trendiest pieces of the modern stereotypically healthy diet, but that really isn’t their fault. Let me help you pack more of both into your day with this filling, nutritious lunch salad that will put you squarely in the “favorite foods” camp.

2 / 5

Baked Red Lentil Falafel Salad

For a light and satisfying dinner meal, I eliminated the pita pocket, and served the falafels on a simple, crisp salad of earthy kale, sweet carrot ribbons, and thinly sliced onion, all topped with a tangy tahini dressing.

3 / 5

Lyonnaise Salad

This is a perfect combination of frisée, a curly bitter salad green, tossed in a warm vinaigrette and topped with a poached egg and crispy thick-slab bacon pieces. It’s one of those timeless dishes that hits the spot every time

4 / 5

Broccoli and Kale Caesar Salad

This hearty vegan broccoli and kale salad is topped with golden croutons and a velvety vegan Caesar dressing made with roasted garlic and cashews.

5 / 5

How To Make Fattoush (Middle Eastern Bread Salad) at Home

Our guide to the best fattoush salad with sumac-toasted pita, juicy tomatoes, and a lush, lemony vinaigrette.

Grain Salads

1 / 6

Green Goddess Quinoa Salad

This dressing shines when it’s paired with a simple quinoa salad with farm fresh ingredients. Pour a glass of wine and embrace your inner goddess.

2 / 6

Quinoa Salad with Spring Radishes and Greens

I slice radishes into a salad inspired by the classic combination — radishes, butter, and salt. I’ve also added delicate microgreens, tart lemon, and fresh basil for bright spring flavor.

3 / 6

Chopped Brown Rice Salad with Grapes and Pecans

This is a salad to put in your back pocket and come back to all summer long. It goes from weekend picnic to make-ahead weekday lunch in the snap of a finger, and it’s full of satisfying nibbly, crunchy, chewy bits.

4 / 6

Chopped Kale, Farro & Chickpea Salad

Made with a simple lemon-miso vinaigrette, this combination of tender kale, chewy farro, and nutty chickpeas holds up very well for several days in the fridge.

5 / 6

Farro Salad with Roasted Eggplant, Caramelized Onion, and Pine Nuts

Roasted eggplants shine in a simple yet aromatic salad with plump kernels of farro. Fresh as well as dried mint add layers of flavor.

6 / 6

Barley Salad with Figs and Tarragon-Lemon Dressing

Earthy barley gets a refreshing makeover in this summer salad, with crunchy chunks of apples, crisp celery, and an herbal citrus-dressing.

This post was originally published on Kitchn. Read it there: 25 Ways to Eat Salad for Dinner Tonight