As the weather gets warmer, I know I'm not the only one craving salad for dinner!
It's so easy to get in a rut though, and find yourself tossing the same lettuce and toppings onto a plate. If that's you (it's definitely me!), this inspirational list of amazing salad recipes is just what we need.
Every one of these heavenly salads is hearty enough for dinner, and brings together flavors and textures that will have you adoring fresh salads all summer long.
From smoky southwestern chicken salads, to a bright cajun Cobb, to flavorful Mediterranean salads topped with briny cheese...there's truly a salad here for everyone.
1. Mandarin Chicken Salad
This easy Mandarin chicken salad is just packed with bright flavors and textures.
A delicious orange ginger dressing tops it off and pulls it all together. This comes together easily, and is a quick and satisfying dinner salad!
Get the recipe here.
2. Cajun Shrimp Cobb Salad
I mean, just look at everything going on here! This is a dinner salad shrimp lovers will swoon for.
A combination of Cajun-spiced shrimp, crispy bacon, crisp vegetables, perfectly boiled eggs, and a tantalizing dressing comes together to create this masterpiece.
Get the recipe here.
3. Southwest Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
This tangy Southwest Chicken Salad features tender chicken, romaine lettuce, black beans, fresh chopped mango, and a creamy cilantro lime dressing.
Everything about this just sounds so, so good. It's a light but hearty dinner perfect for any weeknight.
Get the recipe here.
4. Arugula Spinach Salad with Sumac Dressing
This Arugula Spinach Salad is dressed with an intriguing sumac dressing that sounds just delicious.
With creamy avocado, toasted sunflower seeds, and briny shaved parmesan, this delicious salad is full of flavors and textures that complement each other beautifully.
Get the recipe here.
5. Einkorn Salad with Radicchio & Oranges
Any salad that features the radicchio immediately has my interest! Just look at those crisp, purple leaves!
The enjoyable slight bitterness of the radicchio is balances well with the sweetness from the oranges, in this bright and sunny salad that's a definite must-try.
Get the recipe here.
6. Burrata Caprese
Burrata caprese is a "salad" to sink your teeth into!
Made with creamy burrata instead of the more usual mozzarella, it's a delicious twist on the traditional caprese salad. Use garden-ripe tomatoes, and a really good balsamic vinaigrette for a starter that's absolute heaven.
Get the recipe here.
7. Chicken Thai Salad
Here's an easy version of that favorite Panera Bread salad that so many know and love.
Make your own at home, and feel free to go heavy on the ingredients you like most!
Get the recipe here.
8. Cold Duck Noodle Salad
For this delicious dish, smoked duck breast is tucked onto a bed of matcha green tea noodles, with fresh mixed greens, and a delicious ponzu dressing, that really pulls the flavors together.
Get the recipe here.
9. Rainbow Salad Bowl with Maple Dijon Dressing
Talk about "eating your rainbow"! This gorgeous salad really brings that to life.
The kids will be over-the-moon to tuck into a salad that looks like this one. It's also a fun way to plate salad for a crowd. Display those gorgeous rows of color on a big serving tray, and let everyone dish up as they like.
Get the recipe here.
10. Fajita Taco Salad
Fajita Taco Salad is an easy summer dinner that's sure to find the middle ground between meat lovers and those craving light summer salads!
Tender, medium-rare steak is served on top of a bed of lettuce with sauteed peppers and onions, while a tangy avocado lime dressing is slathered over, for the perfect finishing touch.
Get the recipe here.
11. Avocado Tuna Salad
This hearty and protein-packed salad brings together tuna, cherry tomatoes, smooth avocado, and slivers of onions.
It's a well-balanced combination of flavors and textures that make this dinner a real weeknight win!
Get the recipe here.
12. Asian Chicken Salad
Here's another version of an Asian chicken salad that looks too good not to try!
Marinated chicken and lettuce are tossed with mandarin slices, edamame, and shavings of carrot, in a delicious homemade dressing. It’s bursting with flavor, and so satisfying!
Get the recipe here.
13. Panzanella Salad
Panzanella salad is a classic dish from Italy that brings together old bread, ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and a splash of tangy dressing.
The recipe author describes this as "like "a magic trick for turning simple, everyday ingredients into something totally special." That's some magic I can definitely get behind!
Get the recipe here.
14. Roasted Beet and Kale Salad
With earthy roasted beets and leeks, and crispy kale tossed together in a lemon tahini dressing, this one is sure to become a favorite.
Crunchy bits of lentil, and savory cheese really take this recipe to the next level.
Get the recipe here.
15. Gado Gado (Indonesian Salad with Peanut Sauce)
Gado Gado is a Javanese salad feast.
With a medley of colors, flavors and textures, that all work beautifully together, this is a satisfying salad everyone is going to love.
A sweet-but-spicy peanut sauce gets drizzled generously all over all those beautiful vegetables and perfectly cooked chicken, for a really unforgettable dinner salad.
Get the recipe here.
16. Fusilli Alfredo with Lemon Tuna & Fresh Herbs
This summery Alfredo pasta dish features perfectly-seasoned tuna with an abundance of fresh, flavorful herbs.
It's a favorite dinner recipe around here, and lends itself well to variations, including extra chopped vegetables, and fresh edible flowers. A squeeze of lemon really pulls it all together.
Get the recipe here.
17. Chicken Shawarma Salad
This chicken shawarma salad recipe is one you'll want to make again and again!
Tender chicken pieces are marinated with warm spices, olive oil and lemon and then cooked to perfection. They're then tossed in with bright vegetables to make a hearty salad, that's topped with a delicious yogurt tahini sauce.
Get the recipe here.
18. Harvest Grain Bowl
This harvest grain bowl is loaded with quinoa, chicken, sweet potatoes, beans, greens, and delicious briny feta. It's then topped off with an easy cilantro-lime vinaigrette.
Those grains give this salad a little extra heft which will definitely satisfy, and keep you going!
Get the recipe here.
19. Mediterranean Lentil Salad
This bright and colorful lentil salad is full of vibrant flavors and fresh vegetables.
Rich in protein and fiber, this Greek inspired salad is a nutritional power house!
Get the recipe here.
20. Shrimp Pasta Salad
This Shrimp Pasta Salad is absolutely delicious. With creamy, spicy avocado dressing, this south-of-the-border style salad is one your family just make as for on repeat.
That dressing sounds so delicious, I'm eager to give it a go!
Get the recipe here.
21. Arugula Pear Salad with Goat Cheese
A creamy vinaigrette tops off this lovely Arugula Pear Salad. Loaded with goat cheese, pecans, and cranberries, this is a combination of flavors that just works so well!
Anything that brings together pears and goat cheese is a sure winner in my book!
Get the recipe here.
15 Genius Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
Starting your day using the Air Fryer is an excellent way to guarantee a tasty breakfast that requires minimal effort and cleanup. We all know the convenience that an Air Fryer can offer, but sometimes, we need more ideas to use this kitchen gadget.
It's good to remind ourselves how straightforward it can be to whip up our all-time favorite dishes using the Air Fryer! These 15 recipes are simple but delicious breakfast ideas that you can recreate at home. From quick breakfasts for those busy mornings to elegant ideas for your special brunch!
See Them Here: 15 Genius Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
15 Easy Frozen Desserts So Good We'll Be Making Them All Summer
Summer eating is just the best! When the weather gets too hot to stand over the stove, that's when thing really get fun, and these delicious frozen desserts are here to prove it.
Whether you're looking for a fun treat to offer the kids after they (finally!) climb out of the pool, or an impressive dessert to bring out after that cookout with the neighbors, we've got you covered.
From frozen pies to homemade ice cream sandwiches, to adorable frozen cupcakes, there's a treat here for all your summer dessert needs, and they're all beginner friendly!
See Them Here: 15 Easy Frozen Desserts So Good We'll Be Making Them All Summer
Anna Chesley
Anna Chesley is a freelance writer living a homestead lifestyle, with a special love for family travel, old books, vintage skills, and seaside living. In addition to founding Salt In My Coffee, she runs the website, New England Family Life, as well as The 1800's Housewife, a website devoted to re-creating authentic 1800's recipes.
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