25 Best Salad Recipes That’ll Make You Excited to Eat Your Greens
Crisp, cool, and colorful!
Salads can do it all. They can be light and refreshing, hearty and filling, or somewhere in between. They’re the perfect way to showcase fresh produce, but they can also be a cozy mix of grains, cheese, and roasted vegetables when the weather turns cool. The best salad recipes feel just as at home as part of a holiday spread as they do alongside a quick weeknight dinner.
In this list, you’ll find something for every season and craving. Ree Drummond’s ranch chopped salad, which is loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, cheddar, and creamy homemade ranch, is a family favorite recipe that’s always a hit at cookouts and picnics. There’s also a vibrant antipasto salad with salami, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and banana peppers for those nights when you want a little bit of everything on one plate. And, of course, we included iconic classics like a Caesar salad, Caprese salad, and Waldorf salad that will never get old.
If you like cooking with the seasons, you’re in luck there, too. Picture a bright spring salad made with asparagus and radishes, a grilled corn salad in the summer sun, or a hearty kale and pomegranate mix when the time for fall salads rolls around. Think of these recipes as a blueprint, then get creative with what you find at the farmers' market or in your fridge. However you toss them, these salad recipes are worth coming back to again and again.
Caesar Salad
Caesar salad is about as classic as it gets. This recipe includes a classic savory dressing (with anchovies!), crunchy croutons, and plenty of shaved Parmesan cheese for topping. Serve it with a hearty cowboy steak for dinner.
Get the Caesar Salad recipe.
Ranch Chopped Salad
Ree Drummond isn’t above using a packet of ranch seasoning to make a semi-homemade dressing, but when you want the real deal, there’s this recipe. A trio of mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk ensure that it’s tangy and creamy, while chopped chives and parsley add bright, herbaceous notes.
Get the Ranch Chopped Salad recipe.
Cucumber Salad
Looking for the perfect BBQ side dish? You’ve come to the right place! This cool and crunchy cucumber salad balances the flavor of sweet cucumbers, herbaceous dill, and sharp red onions.
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
Layered Salad
An old-fashioned savory staple at potlucks and backyard barbecues, this layered salad features a little bit of everything—hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, tomatoes, green onions, cheese, frozen peas, and a creamy dressing.
Get the Layered Salad recipe.
Burrata Salad
Move aside, Caprese. This zhushed up salad features creamy burrata, an array of colorful tomatoes, tons of fresh basil, and a rich balsamic glaze.
Get the Burrata Salad recipe.
Cabbage Salad
Purple cabbage shines in this crunchy, crowd-friendly salad. Unlike a typical coleslaw, this light and bright version is made with toasted pecans, green apples, and peppery arugula.
Get the Cabbage Salad recipe.
Waldorf Salad
There’s a reason why this salad is such a staple at dinner parties and potlucks alike. Ree’s version features two types of apples, sliced celery, toasted walnuts, grapes, and the classic creamy dressing.
Get the Waldorf Salad recipe.
Green Goddess Salad
The hallmark of green goddess dressing are all of the fresh herbs that it is packed with, along with creamy avocado. Serve it over crisp greens with veggies like cabbage, snap peas, cucumbers, and scallions.
Get the Green Goddess Salad recipe.
Asparagus Salad
When asparagus is in season, there are so many ways to cook with it. To make this salad, you’ll steam the asparagus slightly until they’re just tender, then toss with a honey-Dijon vinaigrette, bacon, grated Parmesan cheese, and tons of fresh herbs.
Get the Asparagus Salad recipe.
Spring Salad with Radishes
When you want a salad that will pair with just about anything, try this crisp and crunchy side dish. A trio of baby kale, romaine, and Boston lettuce act as a bed for the other veggies and Parmesan dressing.
Get the Spring Salad with Radishes recipe.
Antipasti Chopped Salad
Inspired by a classic Italian antipasto salad, this quick and easy salad includes pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, bocconcini, marinated artichoke hearts, salami, and so much more.
Get the Antipasti Chopped Salad recipe.
Carrot Ribbon Salad
Doesn't this salad just say spring? Here, shaved carrots are tossed with fresh herbs, chopped salted pistachios, and a tahini dressing.
Get the Carrot Ribbon Salad recipe.
Caprese Salad
Ree loves a Caprese salad—and who could blame her? With thick slabs of fresh mozzarella, fragrant basil leaves, juicy tomatoes, and a rich balsamic drizzle, it's a perfect addition to any Italian dinner.
Get the Caprese Salad recipe.
Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad
Ree says that this is her go-to salad for hot days on the ranch. You can make the salad dressing in advance, but it's best prepared just before you want to serve it so that the veggies stay crunchy.
Get the Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad recipe.
Radish Salad
Radishes are often an afterthought, but in this salad, they get to be the star of the show. They're tossed with cucumbers, scallions, fresh herbs, and a simple vinaigrette.
Get the Radish Salad recipe.
Southwestern Salad
There's so much to love about this colorful salad, but the best part may just be the zesty avocado dressing. It brightens up all of the other ingredients like corn, black beans, grape tomatoes, and bell peppers.
Get the Southwestern Salad recipe.
Avocado Salad
Avocados are more than a topping for toast or tacos. When paired with tomatoes, cucumbers, and an easy salsa verde dressing, they become the main event.
Get the Avocado Salad recipe.
Strawberry Arugula Salad
Here's one of our favorite strawberry recipes! The sweet fruit and peppery arugula just make sense together. Tossed with fragrant mint, tangy feta cheese, and toasted pecans, this salad offers a perfectly balanced bite.
Get the Strawberry Arugula Salad recipe.
Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette
Corn on the cob is the epitome of summer. Here, grilled corn kernels are cut straight from the cob and tossed with pinto beans, pimentos, avocado, yellow tomatoes, and a citrus vinaigrette.
Get the Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette recipe.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
You eat with your eyes first, which is why this salad is always such a hit. Sliced strawberries and juicy slices of orange add pops of color against dark, leafy greens.
Get the Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe.
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