40+ Hearty Salads to Try Out!

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Enjoy browsing this collection of 40+ hearty salads! They’re full of fiber-rich ingredients, protein-packed additions, nourishing fats and colorful vegetables. All of these salad recipes are designed to keep you full for hours! Discover all the delicious and filling options and I guarantee that you’ll be enjoying salads more often.

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I’m always saying: salads don’t have to be boring! They should be packed with colour and satisfying flavours and provide all the nutrients your body craves.

Not sure where to start? Two of my favourite hearty salads are my Thai Lemongrass Chicken Salad and my ultra filling Summer Cobb Chicken Salad.

A Salad for Every Mood

Wanting a hearty plant based salad? Try my Chickpeas and Avocado Salad.
Craving a creamy dressing? Try my Couscous Corn Salad with a Creamy Cumin Dressing.
Need the perfect salad for entertaining? Try this delicious Chicken Waldorf Salad.
Dreaming of a salad that could be served at brunch? Try this Spinach Salad with Bacon and Eggs.
What about a salad that can be prepped in advance? Try this Easy Bacon & Broccoli Salad.

Looking for a dessert to round out your meal? Lemon Raspberry Tarts and Coffee Mousse.

What are some creative ways to add protein to salads?

Get creative by adding protein-rich ingredients like grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, legumes such as chickpeas, lentils or black beans, quinoa, Greek yogurt, nuts and seeds, cheese varieties, hemp hearts or flaxseeds, smoked salmon or tuna, sliced turkey or ham, and plant-based meat alternatives like tempeh or seitan to your salads.

What are some ways to add nutrition to salad dressings?

To add nutrition to salad dressings, use healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil, use Greek yogurt or tahini for creaminess and protein, include apple cider vinegar for tanginess and potential digestive benefits, and consider adding nut butters for protein and healthy fats.

What are some vegan protein sources to add to salads?

Some vegan protein sources to add to salads include legumes like chickpeas, black beans, or lentils, tofu or tempeh, quinoa, edamame, nuts and seeds such as almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, or chia seeds; and plant-based meat alternatives like seitan.

Hearty Salads To Keep You Full and Satisfied

Mexican Street Corn Salad with Pearl Couscous puts a fun twist on elotes. Smoky grilled corn, a creamy cumin-lime dressing, and pearl couscous combine to create this delicious salad.

Easy Mexican Street Corn Salad

Overhead shot of roasted cauliflower salad in grey bowl with spoon next to small bowl of tahini dressing.

This Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing combines roasted cauliflower & chickpeas with fluffy quinoa and creamy avocados. It’s a healthy, protein-packed salad that can be made ahead.

Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing

This 10-Minute Avocado Chickpea Salad has all the traditional elements of a great guacamole and makes a healthy, protein and fiber-filled dish that’s perfect for lunch or dinner.

Avocado Chickpea Salad

This simple Italian Chopped Salad recipe dresses fresh veggies, salami, mozzarella & chickpeas in a delicious homemade Italian dressing.

Italian Chopped Salad

This Summer Pasta Salad recipe may be the best I’ve tried to date! Packed with sauteed zucchini, loads of parmesan cheese, fresh dill and crunchy walnuts.

Healthy Summer Pasta Salad with Zucchini & Parmesan

It’s said Jennifer Aniston ate this salad every day on the set of Friends! Made with quinoa, feta, cucumber, tomatoes, pistachios + lemon.

Jennifer Aniston Salad Recipe

This Thai Beef Salad is tangy, spicy, amazingly delicious yet deceptively easy to make in just 30-minutes! It’s a healthy salad that tastes so decadent!

30-minute Thai Beef Salad

This light and refreshing Kani Salad, or crab stick salad, is a Japanese-style appetizer made with julienned cucumber, crab sticks, and a tangy mayonnaise-based dressing.

Kani Salad

This Thai Shrimp Salad is tangy, spicy & amazingly delicious. Serve it over spiralized cucumber for a light & refreshing dinner.

Thai Shrimp Salad

This Thai Lemongrass Chicken Salad comes together in just 20 minutes! Tossed with a tangy lime-lemongrass dressing and served alongside colorful vegetables. It’s a delicious & easy lunch or dinner.

Thai Lemongrass Chicken Salad

Make this copycat Costco Quinoa Salad recipe at home for a healthy, hearty, and delicious grain-based salad studded with fresh veggies and fresh lemon dressing.

Copycat Costco Quinoa Salad

This Roasted Squash Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing combines roasted butternut squash & chickpeas with fluffy quinoa and a dreamy, creamy maple tahini dressing. It’s a delicious and fresh salad that can be made ahead of time.

Roasted Squash Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing

This Farro Salad with Basil Lemon Tahini Dressing is a delicious vegan salad that can be made ahead of time, making it perfect for busy workday lunches or potlucks.

Farro Salad with Basil-Lemon Dressing

This 15-minute cold Peanut Noodle Salad features a Thai-style creamy peanut sauce, crunchy red cabbage and quick-pickled cucumbers.

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

This Cheeseburger Salad is a delicious, low-carb way to enjoy your favorite fast food treat. Topped with an amazing, creamy “special sauce” dressing that takes it to the next level.

Cheeseburger Salad

This Pesto Farro Salad is hearty & delicious. Farro is tossed with pecan pesto, parmesan & arugula, then topped even more pecans for a great crunch.

Pecan Pesto Farro Salad

This Southwest Chicken Salad is topped with black beans, avocado, fresh pico de gallo & a zesty lime vinaigrette. A sprinkle of tortilla strips adds a delicious crunch!

Southwest Chicken Salad with Pico de Gallo

Fennel salad with chickpeas in white bowl.

This Fennel and Chickpea Salad is tossed in a light citrus vinaigrette & topped with parmesan. It’s the perfect make-ahead salad for potlucks or lunches.

Fennel and Chickpea Salad

OVERHEAD SHOT OF CHICKEN COBB SALAD IN WHITE BOWL NEXT TO VINAIGRETTE.

This filling Chicken Cobb Salad is loaded with grilled chicken, hard boiled eggs, corn, bacon, avocado, and goat cheese. Dressed in a red wine vinaigrette, this salad becomes the perfect easy lunch, light dinner, or potluck side dish!

Summer Chicken Cobb Salad

Overhead close up of bowl of prepared tuna salad.

10-Minute Avocado Tuna Salad. Creamy avocado, crunchy cucumbers and tuna combine in this delicious mayo free tuna salad. It’s a healthier way to enjoy tuna salad for lunch or dinner.

Avocado Tuna Salad

This 30-Minute Thai Mushroom Salad is tangy, spicy, amazingly delicious yet deceptively easy to make. Topped with toasted rice powder for a delicious crunch.

Thai Mushroom Salad

This Israeli Couscous Tabbouleh Salad recipe combines pearl couscous with tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh herbs and a light citrus dressing.

Couscous Tabbouleh Salad

Tuna chickpea salad in bowl with lemon wedges and serving spoon.

Mediterranean Tuna Chickpea Salad is the perfect dish for when you’re trying to eat lighter but still want a delicious meal.

Mediterranean Chickpea Tuna Salad

The ultimate BBQ chicken Caesar salad! Garlicky croutons, tender chicken breast, avocado, and a tangy homemade dressing.

Recipe: Salt and Lavender

BBQ Chicken Caesar Salad

This chicken kabob salad with peanut lime dressing is tangy-sweet, flavorful, and filling. A deliciously healthy summer meal idea!

Recipe: Salt and Lavender

Chicken Kabob Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing

Loaded Greek Chicken Chopped Salad with Lemon Tahini Vinaigrette. Pan-seared Greek chicken tossed together with greens, chickpeas, tomatoes, avocado, feta cheese, cucumbers, and the most deliciously addicting creamy, lemony tahini vinaigrette.

Recipe: Half Baked Harvest

Greek Chicken Chopped Salad

This spinach salad with bacon and eggs recipe is quick, really easy, and bursting with flavor! The creamy and tangy garlic dressing will become a new favorite in your home.

Recipe: Salt and Lavender

Spinach Salad with Bacon and Eggs

This cold, crunchy broccoli salad—studded with crisp bacon, diced red onion and chewy raisins, then tossed in a creamy homemade dressing—is what all of your summer party dreams are made of.

Recipe: The Modern Proper

Bacon & Broccoli Salad

Say hello to salad season with the supreme crunch of kale, apples, celery, and chicken in our chicken Waldorf salad.

Recipe: The Modern Proper

Chicken Waldorf Salad

The 1980’s knew a thing or two about delicious food, and one of the things that decade knew was that a big dose of curry powder is just what chicken salad needed to become interesting again.

Recipe: The Modern Proper

Curried Chicken Salad Salad

This kale salad is inspired by Mediterranean dishes like tabbouleh and crispy halloumi. The salad is topped with salty fried pieces of halloumi, chickpeas, parsley, green onion and avocados in a creamy garlic and tahini dressing.

Recipe: Cooking with Cocktails Rings

Crispy Halloumi Kale Salad

A deliciously fresh and crunchy salad made with crisp lettuce, thinly sliced fresh veggies, flavoursome red onion, golden brown crispy chicken tenders, all drizzled in a honey mustard dressing. It's the perfect salad & protein combo for warmer nights.

Recipe: Our Nourishing Table

Crispy Chicken Tender Salad

Enter your newest salad obsession, my Honey Roasted Carrot Lentil Salad. Think tender roasted carrots smothered in a hot honey and spice mixture, brown lentils, fresh arugula, thinly sliced red onion and crumbled goats cheese, all drizzled in a herby yogurt dressing.

Recipe: Our Nourishing Table

Honey Roasted Carrot Lentil Salad

This steak and avocado salad makes a healthy, balanced and delicious lunch or dinner! Finished with an avocado green goddess dressing, the ingredients in this salad work amazing together to create a refreshing burst of flavour in every bite. It’s effortless to make and so tasty!

Recipe: Haute and Healthy Living

Steak and Avocado Salad

This Pan-Seared Salmon Salad is a delightful light salad that's topped with a creamy basil dressing. Fresh bibb lettuce is mild in flavor and has both a soft and crisp texture that pairs well with crisp vegetables like cucumbers and carrots.

Recipe: The Dizzy Cook

Seared Salmon Salad

Fiesta Bean Salad is made with black beans, chick peas, tomatoes, cilantro and avocado tossed with a cumin-lime vinaigrette.

Recipe: Skinny Taste

Fiesta Bean Salad

My healthy buffalo chicken salad has all the fantastic buffalo wing flavors going on, but is made better because we add loads of crunchy veggies! Add this high-protein recipe to your weekly meal plan and you will be loving every bite of crunchy lettuce, and delicious chicken, all coated in the best buffalo ranch dressing!

Recipe: Fit Mama Real Food

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Autumn Chopped Chicken Salad may just become your new favorite fall salad! Every bite is loaded with crisp pears, tangy cranberries, toasted pecans, feta, and juicy chicken.

Recipe: Natasha's Kitchen

Autumn Chopped Chicken Salad

This recipe is packed with flavor and makes for a fantastic and fresh summer meal. It is really fast and simple and doesn’t require a ton of hands-on time – perfect for entertaining.

Recipe: Fannetastic Food

Grilled Peach Salad with Honey Lime Chicken

This Indian Chickpea Salad is a high protein healthy salad with Indian flavors using fresh vegetables and fresh herbs. Prepare this simple chickpea salad as an appetizer, side dish or light lunch.

Recipe: J Cooking Odyssey

Indian Chickpea Salad

This seared tuna niçoise salad is a variation on Julia Child's classic recipe! With ahi or albacore tuna, a hearty salad base, and a homemade vinaigrette, it makes a great main course.

Recipe: Champagne Tastes

Seared Tuna Niçoise Salad

Elevate Your Salads with These Delicious Dressings

How to Make Ahead and Store

Many of these hearty salads can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.

Did you Make Any of These Delicious Salads?

Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of hearty salad recipes. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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