20 Fresh Salads You'll Actually Crave
Salads can get a bad rap, but there are so many inventive ways to create a salad that includes more than just wimpy lettuce and carrots. These 20 Salad Recipes are perfect for lunch, dinner, potlucks, and picnics. Feel free to use them as a main dish or a side — the recipes are versatile, refreshing, and delicious!
20 Crave-able Salads to Try Today:
1. Big Mac® Salad
From incredibly catchy jingles to late-night trips to the drive-thru, everyone knows the Big Mac®, a classic of the burger world. It's hard to say no to it, even if you feel more inclined to a refreshing salad instead. The Big Mac Salad transforms the fast-food favorite into a savory salad that will blow traditional caesar salads out of the water: the dressing has all the tang and creaminess of the special sauce, the lettuce is crisp, the cheese is cheesy (always a plus), and the crumbled beef is just as juicy and meaty as the two all-beef patties. The Big Mac Salad is a healthy alternative to its namesake sandwich, which just means you'll be enjoying the amazing flavors guilt-free and without having to look for the golden arches!
Click Here >>2. BLT Chicken Salad
There are so many versions of chicken salad, and folks have strong opinions: grapes or no grapes; curry or no curry. BLT Chicken Salad is a version for those who crave a lot of salty crunch. The basic elements of a chicken salad — chicken, mayo, and celery — are mixed with bacon, tomato, lettuce and avocado. Two deli favorites become one with a BLT Chicken Salad! Now appearing at a picnic near you (such as on your plate).
Click Here >>3. Strawberry Crunch Salad
Put a little hint of summer in your next salad. Dripping with flavor, Strawberry Crunch Salad will be a menu staple regardless of the season. Candied almonds, fresh arugula, juicy-from-the-patch strawberries, creamy avocado, roasted pistachios, and crumbled goat cheese are all tossed with a delicious and tangy sweet champagne vinaigrette for a special salad adventure. Crunchy, flavorful, and fresh, this Strawberry Crunch Salad is full of all the things you love in one sweet bowl!
Click Here >>4. Broccoli Picnic Salad
Is it even summer without a great picnic or two? Time to find the gingham blanket, the basket, and your favorite picnic fare! Ours includes a humble, but delicious, creamy side salad; this Broccoli Picnic Salad! This garden-fresh, crisp, and verdant dish is filled with sharp cheese and savory scallions, and of course succulent, crunchy bacon bits. A tangy mayo dressing really helps Broccoli Picnic Salad get into the picnic spirit! Enjoy the sunshine in style and with something scrumptious to eat!
Click Here >>5. Tasty Breakfast Salad
Salad? For breakfast? It's not as crazy as it sounds! Tasty Breakfast Salad lays a full breakfast atop a bed of fresh greens, including buttery potatoes, crispy bacon, and soft-boiled eggs. Add in creamy avocado and a tangy, savory mustard vinaigrette, and this Tasty Breakfast Salad becomes an amazing brunch side salad or a game-changing way to shake up your mornings. This is easy, healthy, and more exciting than other salads you've tried before!
Click Here >>6. Caprese Macaroni Salad
Step up your picnic game! Level up your macaroni salad! But how?! Are you ready for it?! Caprese Macaroni Salad! This Italian take on an American classic is just what you need to impress everyone at your next outdoor food gathering... including your tastebuds! Stick a fork in this tender elbow macaroni mixed with a creamy and tangy sauce and, of course, the iconic pairing of rich mozzarella, herby basil, and juicy tomatoes, and you'll be oh, so amazed! Get ready to invite the whole neighborhood over... or maybe you'll just want to keep this Caprese Macaroni Salad to yourself. Either way, you're going to have a delicious bash!
Click Here >>7. Cherry Waldorf Salad
A good salad should be refreshing, energizing, and relaxing. With that in mind, Cherry Waldorf Salad is a capital-G Great Salad! The dressing is smooth, creamy, and sweet, and the salad itself is filled with fresh, crisp apples, dried tart cherries, and crunchy almonds. Cherry Waldorf Salad is a new take on a fruit salad that will get you feeling festive regardless of the occasion!
Click Here >>8. Brussels Sprout Salad
We're living in the middle of a Brussels sprout renaissance! A new species of Brussels sprouts completely transformed the vegetable from bitter to beautiful; it's certainly worth celebrating with Brussels Sprout Salad! The refreshing sprouts are sliced thin to maximize their leafy goodness and crunch, emphasized by the succulent crispiness of bacon bits and chopped almonds. A zesty, citrus-infused dressing makes the most of the fresh garden flavors, and parmesan cheese... well parmesan cheese just brings the party! Brussels Sprout Salad will make you wonder why anyone would reject these incredible vegetables!
Click Here >>9. Tom Cruise's Favorite Cobb Salad
There's no risky business with Tom Cruise's Favorite Cobb Salad! It's a guaranteed smash hit, much like so many of the actor's movies! Row upon row of classic toppings, from the crumbly, sharp blue cheese, hearty eggs, and juicy tomatoes. Instead of chicken though, Tom Cruise's Favorite Cobb Salad calls on leaner, but no less savory, turkey; got to keep up your figure when you're in so many action movies, after all! This salad is going on the Walk of Fame in your kitchen!
Click Here >>10. Citrus Pasta Salad
Want to freshen up your next picnic? Try this Citrus Pasta Salad for that pick-me-up you didn't know your picnic needed! This tender pasta is scored with all the fresh lemon vinaigrette you can imagine, seasoned so herb-perfectly, and tossed along with some plump peas and juicy tomatoes. Every bite is like a burst of summer for your mouth! Citrus Pasta Salad is sure to become your favorite summertime re-run and will be requested time and again. Why not get fresh today?
Click Here >>11. Couscous Garden Salad
Take a stroll in the garden. Feel the cool breeze brush against your face. Admire Earth's luscious green beauty that surrounds you at every glance. Breathe in the silence–ah, are you at peace yet? How could such a soothing, relaxing moment get much better? Probably by experiencing the tastes of your labor and making the most perfect Couscous Garden Salad. With a big bowl of citrusy garlic dressing-tossed and fluffy couscous, smooth roasted chickpeas, juicy raw and roasted tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, creamy feta, and mixed garden-fresh herbs in hand, you'll definitely feel the brighter days coming ahead. This crunchy, flavorful, nourishing dish will be loved by your tastebuds, body, and soul. With the delicious serenity Couscous Garden Salad brings, you might just have to make this tasty nature ritual a nightly occasion.
Click Here >>12. Zesty Chicken Taco Salad
Who would ever want a taco when Zesty Chicken Taco Salad is on the menu? That's not hyperbole either, Zesty Chicken Taco Salad is just so tasty and so immersed in Tex-Mex terrific taste that regular tacos can't compete with them. The dressing itself is vibrant and filled with the zest that comes from cilantro and ranch, the salad is loaded with sweet grilled corn and savory chicken, and all the vegetables are crisp and refreshing! It even has tortilla chips, so you don't miss out on any crunch! Mmm, good times all around with this salad!
Click Here >>13. Creamy Potato Salad
Some people prefer their potato salad a little mustardy, while others enjoy the cool creaminess that mayo-based salad provides. Creamy Potato Salad is for those in the latter camp. It not only includes mayo to give it a silky texture, but sour cream and milk as well for extra creaminess and tang. This Creamy Potato Salad tastes fabulous with burgers, grilled chicken, and hot dogs.
Click Here >>14. Double Crunch Salad
Double the crunch means double the fun! You can see for yourself with this Double Crunch Salad, which uses almonds and pine nuts to ensure each bite has plenty of audible satisfaction! The salad itself is crisp, refreshing, and wholesome, with a simple sweet-and-tangy dressing and some dried cranberries for an extra kick of flavor. Double your chances of finding the best salad with this Double Crunch Salad!
Click Here >>15. Easy Salmon Salad
Nothing beats a lunch that's already made and waiting in the fridge for you, right? Like, who actually wants to drive all the way to the drive-thru establishment and eat that greasy, gross stuff? Not us when we don't have to! This Easy Salmon Salad is the perfect dish to have on deck when your afternoon hunger strikes. It's creamy, it's crunchy, and it's loaded with all sorts of protein to ensure you actually get full. Eat it with some crackers and veggies or sandwich it between a croissant - however you eat Easy Salmon Salad is totally up to you. All that matters is you've got a delicious, fairly nutritious option for lunch that you're excited about!
Click Here >>16. Easy Mandarin Orange Salad
"Orange" ya glad you opened this recipe? If you aren't overjoyed yet, once you try this Easy Mandarin Orange Salad, you sure will be! It's super simple and filled with all the good stuff, like healthy mixed greens, juicy mandarins, tart dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and creamy feta cheese. The citrusy, tangy dressing brings some sweetness with a little tartness that just works! Only smiles and happiness come around when Easy Mandarin Orange Salad is in your salad bowl! Get ready for some joy!
Click Here >>17. Easy Cowboy Salad
When you're ready to kick off your boots and hang up your hat for the day, a crunchy feast the size of Texas is in store for you! Easy Cowboy Salad knows you've had a long, grueling day rounding up and wrangling all kinds of things, and you simply do not have it in you to spend hours in the kitchen! Well, buckle up bucko because this crispy salad, topped with the most flavorful Tex-Mex beef this side of the Mississippi, is what's gonna be waiting for you. Crunchy nacho-flavored tortilla chips, salty cheese, and tangy Catalina dressing brand this bowl of goodness and are sure to help make sure you're filled to the brim! Yeehaw! Easy Cowboy Salad will take you off into the sunset for a delicious, relaxing, no-stress kind of dinner!
Click Here >>18. Favorite Brie Salad
It's not called Favorite Brie Salad because it's our favorite; it's because it will be YOUR favorite soon enough! A crisp bed of greens, with crunchy pecans and juicy apples, and of course the creamy, heavenly brie cheese bites... that would be fantastic even without the dressing! But the dressing just makes it all the better, with an infusion of warm fall flavors thanks to the apple cider mixed in! This Favorite Brie Salad is beloved, and for some very good reasons!
Click Here >>19. Favorite Carrot Salad
Carrots usually play a supporting role in salads, but now it's time for them to experience their main character moment, thanks to our Favorite Carrot Salad! Crunchy, shredded carrots make up the base, deeming them the star of the show. Tossed in a sweet and savory dressing, and mixed with earthy parsley and oniony scallions, Favorite Carrot Salad deserves an award for its tasty performance!
Click Here >>20. Vietnamese Crunch Salad
A salad full of flavor is a salad everyone is sure to love! Vietnamese Crunch Salad has everything and more you would like in a salad! Juicy, marinated chicken strips are cooked until golden-brown, then go on to join forces with the crispest cabbage, crunchy carrots, and salted-just-right peanuts with a lime-forward dressing that pulls everything together perfectly! Vietnamese Crunch Salad is a simple, flavorful addition to your salad rotation that you will always look forward to. Bring on the flavor!
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