ByJere Cassidy on Updated on

Sometimes, All You Need Is A Really Good Salad, Try One Of These 20 Favorites

Sometimes, all you need is a really good salad—and we’ve got 20 favorites worth trying. From crisp leafy greens to creamy fruit-filled bowls, these salads hit the spot for lunch, dinner, or even a light dessert. Whether you’re in the mood for something fresh and crunchy or sweet and tangy, there’s a recipe here you’ll want to make again and again.

Rainbow Salad

A rainbow salad with lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, olives, corn, and mozzarella balls is drizzled with dressing.
Rainbow Salad. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

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This Rainbow Veggie Salad is bursting with color and crunch, making it one of the best lunch salads around. It’s loaded with fresh produce and brings excitement to any plate. Make this salad for lunch when you’re in the mood for something vibrant and refreshing.
Get the Recipe: Rainbow Salad

Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon

Bacon ranch pasta salad in a clear bowl with a striped towel.
Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Creamy ranch, crispy bacon, and pasta come together for a filling salad that makes a great lunch. It’s ready in just 30 minutes, and it’s sure to be a hit with the whole family. Make this salad for lunch when you want something hearty and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon

Red Cabbage Coleslaw

Bowl of red cabbage salad with carrots and onions, garnished with chopped herbs, surrounded by more ingredients on a white surface.
Red Cabbage Coleslaw. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

This red cabbage coleslaw has a bold, tangy flavor with great crunch from carrots, red onion, and fresh herbs. It makes a great lunch side or can easily become the main event with some added protein. Make this salad for lunch when you’re after big flavor in a simple dish.
Get the Recipe: Red Cabbage Coleslaw

Chicken Salad With Grapes

A bowl of chicken salad with grapes, celery, and dill on a wooden surface. A bunch of red grapes is seen on the side.
Chicken Salad With Grapes. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

This chicken salad with grapes is full of sweet and savory flavors and makes the best lunch salad when you need something fresh and filling. Crunchy celery, juicy grapes, and creamy dressing make each bite a treat. Make this salad for lunch or tuck it into a sandwich for an easy meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad With Grapes

Avocado Tomato Salad

A wooden bowl filled with avocado salad, featuring cherry tomatoes, sliced almonds, corn, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Two wooden salad servers are placed inside the bowl.
Avocado Tomato Salad. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Simple ingredients, big flavors—that’s what Avocado Tomato Salad is all about. This salad brings together rich avocados and vibrant tomatoes in a dish that’s as nutritious as it is delicious. It’s perfect for a quick lunch or as an accompaniment to any meal. With each bite, you get a creamy texture balanced with just the right touch of juiciness. It’s a straightforward, no-nonsense salad that’s bound to be a staple in your recipe menu.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Tomato Salad

Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp

A black plate filled with a mixed salad containing grains, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, sliced cucumbers, onions, and herbs.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Dig into the flavors of Mediterranean with Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp. This dish offers a delicious mix of seafood and pasta, seasoned with herbs that transport you straight to the seaside. It’s light yet fulfilling, making it an ideal choice for a meal that needs to impress without too much effort. Whether it’s part of a festive spread or a simple family meal, this salad is sure to please.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp

Caesar Salad With Bacon and Ranch

A white plate with two wedges of lettuce with bacon and dressing.
Caesar Salad With Bacon and Ranch. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

This Caesar Wedge Salad with crispy bacon is the best lunch salad when you want something easy but full of flavor. Made with just five ingredients, it’s quick to prepare and looks impressive on the plate. Make this salad for lunch when you’re craving something hearty and simple.
Get the Recipe: Caesar Salad With Bacon and Ranch

Pea Salad

Pea salad in a blue bowl.
Pea Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Vintage pea salad is creamy, tangy, and sweet. Full of sweet peas, red onion, crispy bacon, and cheese cubes. It is the perfect make-ahead salad for a cookout, a light lunch, and makes the perfect potluck salad.
Get the Recipe: Pea Salad

Carrot Citrus Salad

Carrot citrus salad on a metal platter with spoon.
Carrot Citrus Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Roasted rainbow carrots paired with oranges and Meyer lemons make this salad both refreshing and vibrant. Tossed in a citrus mustard vinaigrette, it’s a perfect way to brighten up your winter table.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Citrus Salad

Pistachio Fluff Salad

Pistachio salad topped with nuts and cherries.
Pistachio Fluff Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Pistachio fluff salad has just 5 ingredients and is effortless to make. Also known as Watergate salad this is an ideal make-ahead holiday dish.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Fluff Salad

Ambrosia Salad

A dessert bowl filled with whipped cream, topped with marshmallows, maraschino cherries, pineapple chunks, and mandarin orange slices.
Ambrosia Salad. Photo credit: Trop Rockin.

Ambrosia Salad is a sweet and creamy classic that’s always a hit! Packed with fluffy marshmallows, juicy pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut, and cherries, this easy fruit salad is bursting with flavor and nostalgia.
Get the Recipe: Ambrosia Salad

Spinach Bacon Salad

A fork holds a bite of spinach salad with chopped eggs, bacon, and cheese over a wooden bowl filled with the same salad. Two blurred bowls are in the background.
Spinach Bacon Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This quick, flavorful salad is perfect for lunch or dinner. Crisp spinach, savory bacon, and tangy dressing make this a satisfying and easy meal.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Bacon Salad

Peach and Radish Salad with Crispy Prosciutto

Peach radish salad with crispy prosciutto on a white plate with a fork.
Peach and Radish Salad with Crispy Prosciutto. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This peach and radish salad is topped with crispy prosciutto and toasted hazelnuts.
Get the Recipe: Peach and Radish Salad with Crispy Prosciutto

Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Broccoli Salad with Bacon inside wooden bowl.
Broccoli Salad with Bacon. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Our easy hearty classic Broccoli Salad with cheese, bacon and blueberries is a simple cold salad perfect for your summer days. This salad filled with nutrients is a perfect idea for your next Potluck party or get-together.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Mixed Fruit Salad

Cranberry fruit salad in white bowls.
Mixed Fruit Salad. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

This Mixed Fruit Salad is packed with apples, cranberries, oranges, and pomegranate seeds. It’s a refreshing, naturally sweet dish that makes a great lunch on its own. Make this salad for lunch when you want something light and fruity.
Get the Recipe: Mixed Fruit Salad

Roasted Cranberry Broccoli Salad

A bowl filled with broccoli, carrots and cranberries.
Roasted Cranberry Broccoli Salad. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Roasted cranberries and butternut squash add seasonal flavor to this broccoli salad, with toasted croutons, almonds, and pepitas giving it plenty of texture. A great side dish for holiday dinners.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cranberry Broccoli Salad

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Bowl of chicken salad with celery, cranberries, and a creamy dressing, mixed with a wooden spoon.
Cranberry Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Cranberry chicken salad has tender chicken, sweet tart dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and bits of crisp celery and onions tossed in a creamy flavor-packed dressing and is just too good to resist! With only 10 minutes of prep time using simple ingredients, it’s the best twist on a classic chicken salad you’ll ever taste.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chicken Salad

Mediterranean Grain Bowl

Two grain bowls are shown on a white marble counter with forks, a red linen, dill, and a lemon.
Mediterranean Grain Bowl. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Mediterranean Grain Bowls combine pre-cooked grains, lots of healthy vegetables, and fresh, bright, bold Mediterranean flavors for an easy, nourishing, and delicious weeknight meal that comes together in about 10 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Grain Bowl

Avocado Egg Salad

Avocado Egg Salad on a salad leaves.
Avocado Egg Salad. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Enjoy our Best Avocado Egg Salad Recipe made with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, fresh herbs as a low-carb option with a twist to the classic egg salad with mayo. This healthy egg salad with the addition of avocado adds you a creamy and rich texture to the dish.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Egg Salad

Honey Lime Jalapeño Vinaigrette

A glass jar of green sauce with herbs on a wooden board, surrounded by fresh cilantro, two lime halves, and a green chili.
Honey Lime Jalapeño Vinaigrette. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This sweet and spicy honey jalapeño lime vinaigrette has cilantro, lime juice, and honey for a spicy, tangy, sweet dressing that’s great on salads, grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and more!
Get the Recipe: Honey Lime Jalapeño Vinaigrette

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