Dinner Salad Ideas | Fresh, Filling Meal Options

Dinner salad ideas are the highlight of this low-calorie menu, filling and healthy! These salads are often made with substantial ingredients — grilled chicken, steak, tofu, or legumes — alongside sturdy greens like kale, arugula, or romaine.

Dinner salads can be made more flavorful and texturally interesting with the addition of roasted vegetables, whole grains like quinoa or farro, nuts and seeds, and flavorful cheeses like feta or parmesan.

Dressings vary from tangy vinaigrettes to creamy yogurt-based dressings, which add richness without being too heavy. Bowl dreamers and Mediterranean plate fans, dinner salad ideas run the gamut, bringing endless variety, as well as wholesome, easy-to-make meals.

Dinner Salad Recipe

Here’s a list of 50+ delicious dinner salad ideas, with a balance of hearty proteins, fresh veggies, grains, and bold flavors to keep you full and satisfied at dinnertime.

Protein-Packed Dinner Salads

1. Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
2. Steak & Blue Cheese Salad
3. BBQ Chicken Salad with Ranch
4. Turkey & Avocado Cobb Salad
5. Lemon Herb Grilled Salmon Salad
6. Shrimp & Mango Avocado Salad
7. Tuna Nicoise Salad
8. Chicken Shawarma Salad
9. Spicy Tofu & Quinoa Salad
10. Seared Ahi Tuna Salad

Hearty Vegetarian/Vegan Salads

1. Roasted Chickpea & Kale Salad
2. Lentil & Roasted Veggie Salad
3. Vegan Greek Salad with Tofu Feta
4. Warm Sweet Potato & Black Bean Salad
5. Mediterranean Hummus Bowl
6. Balsamic Roasted Mushroom Salad
7. Quinoa, Avocado & Spinach Salad
8. Falafel & Tahini Salad Bowl
9. Grilled Zucchini & Couscous Salad
10. Vegan Taco Salad

Grain & Legume-Based Salads

1. Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables
2. Wild Rice & Cranberry Chicken Salad
3. Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
4. Brown Rice & Edamame Power Bowl
5. Barley Salad with Feta & Spinach
6. Black Bean, Corn & Avocado Salad
7. Lentil, Carrot & Arugula Salad
8. Couscous & Roasted Pepper Salad
9. Chickpea & Bulgur Wheat Salad
10. Warm Freekeh & Kale Salad

Cheese-Lover’s Salads

1. Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze
2. Pear, Walnut & Gorgonzola Salad
3. Goat Cheese & Beet Salad
4. Halloumi & Tomato Herb Salad
5. Burrata Salad with Basil & Cherry Tomatoes
6. Cheddar & Apple Spinach Salad
7. Feta & Watermelon Summer Salad
8. Blue Cheese & Walnut Steak Salad
9. Brie, Strawberry & Almond Greens
10. Mozzarella Pesto Salad Bowl

International-Inspired Salads

1. Asian Sesame Chicken Salad
2. Thai Peanut Noodle Salad
3. Mexican Chicken Taco Salad
4. Mediterranean Tuna & Olive Salad
5. Korean Bulgogi Beef Salad
6. Indian Tandoori Chicken Salad
7. Middle Eastern Tabouli & Tahini Bowl
8. Japanese Miso Salmon Salad
9. Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad
10. Greek Orzo & Lemon Salad

Warm & Roasted Dinner Salads

1. Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Bacon Salad
2. Warm Mushroom & Spinach Salad
3. Grilled Vegetable & Goat Cheese Salad
4. Roasted Cauliflower & Chickpea Salad
5. Butternut Squash & Quinoa Salad

Recipe

1. Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe 

Ingredients:

1. 2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced
2. 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
3. 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4. 1/2 cup Caesar dressing
5. 1 cup croutons
6. Fresh ground pepper

Instructions:

1. Grill or pan-sear chicken, slice thinly.
2. Combine romaine with dressing, cheese, and croutons.
3. Add grilled chicken, pepper, and serve.

2. Steak & Blue Cheese Salad

Ingredients:

1. 1 steak (sirloin or ribeye), grilled and sliced
2. 4 cups mixed greens
3. 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
4. 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
5. 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
6. Balsamic vinaigrette

Instructions:

1. Grill steak to preferred doneness and rest.
2. In a bowl, combine greens, onion, and tomatoes.
3. Top with steak and blue cheese; drizzle with vinaigrette.

3. BBQ Chicken Salad with Ranch

Ingredients:

1. 2 chicken breasts, grilled and brushed with BBQ sauce
2. 2 cups romaine, 2 cups mixed greens
3. 1/2 cup black beans
4. 1/2 cup corn
5. 1/2 avocado, sliced
6. Ranch dressing

Instructions:

1. Cook chicken with BBQ sauce, then slice.
2. Throw all other ingredients into a large bowl.
3. Add chicken and ranch dressing on top.

4. Turkey & Avocado Cobb Salad

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup cooked turkey breast, chopped
2. 2 hard-boiled eggs, halved
3. 1 avocado, sliced
4. 2 cups romaine
5. 1/4 cup blue cheese or feta
6. 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
7. Olive oil + red wine vinegar

Instructions:

1. Top lettuce with all ingredients.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar.
3. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Lemon Herb Grilled Salmon Salad 

Ingredients:

1. 2 salmon fillets, grilled with lemon and herbs
2. 4 cups arugula or spinach
3. 1/2 cucumber, sliced
4. 1/4 cup feta cheese
5. 1 tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Grill salmon with lemon zest and herbs (thyme or dill).
2. Combine greens, cucumber, and feta.
3. Sprinkle the salmon and lemon olive oil dressing on top of it.

6. Shrimp & Mango Avocado Salad

Ingredients:

1. 10–12 cooked shrimp
2. 1 mango, diced
3. 1 avocado, sliced
4. 3 cups mixed greens
5. 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
6. Lime vinaigrette

Instructions:

1. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Drizzle with lime vinaigrette.
3. Gently toss and serve chilled.

7. Tuna Nicoise Salad

Ingredients:

1. 1 can of tuna or seared tuna steak
2. 2 hard-boiled eggs, halved
3. 1 cup green beans, blanched
4. 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
5. 1/2 cup baby potatoes, boiled
6. 4 cups greens
7. Dijon vinaigrette

Instructions:

1. Top lettuce with all ingredients.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar.
3. Season with salt and pepper.

8. Chicken Shawarma Salad

Ingredients:

1. 1 chicken breast, marinated & grilled (shawarma spices)
2. 2 cups romaine lettuce
3. 1/2 cup cucumber, chopped
4. 1/4 red onion, sliced
5. 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes
6. Tahini or garlic yogurt dressing

Instructions:

1. Slice the grilled shawarma-spiced chicken.
2. Toss the vegetables in a bowl.
3. Add chicken and drizzle tahini or garlic sauce on top.

9. Spicy Tofu & Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 block of tofu, cubed and pan-fried with chili sauce
2. 1 cup cooked quinoa
3. 2 cups spinach or kale
4. 1/2 avocado, diced
5. 1/4 cup shredded carrots
6. Soy-lime vinaigrette

Instructions:

1. Sear tofu until golden and crisp.
2. Combine quinoa, greens, carrots, and avocado.
3. Add tofu and drizzle with soy-lime vinaigrette.

10. Seared Ahi Tuna Salad

Ingredients:

1. 6 oz ahi tuna, seared and sliced
2. 2 cups mixed greens
3. 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
4. 1/4 avocado, sliced
5. 1 tbsp sesame seeds
6. Soy-ginger vinaigrette

Instructions:

1. Sear the tuna for 1–2 minutes on each side and slice.
2. Toss together greens, cabbage, and avocado.
3. Finish with tuna, sesame seeds, and vinaigrette.

11. Roasted Chickpea & Kale Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

For the roasted chickpeas:

• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the salad:

• 5 cups chopped kale, stems removed
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for massaging kale)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta or vegan feta (optional)
• 1/4 cup toasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds

For the dressing:

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp maple syrup or honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Roast the Chickpeas:
   Set the oven at 400°F (200°C). Rub the chickpeas dry with a kitchen towel. Toss in oil, and sprinkle with paprika, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Spread on a pan, roast for 25 to 30 minutes, without shaking halfway through, until crisp.
2. Massage the Kale:
   Put chopped kale in a large bowl. Dribble 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a tiny pinch of salt. Then, massage the kale for 1 or 2 minutes until leaves become softer and darker.
3. Prepare the Dressing:
   Whisk in olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar.
4. Assemble the Salad:
   Add cherry tomatoes, carrots, red onion, feta, and seeds on the massaged kale. Add the roasted chickpeas just before serving to keep them crunchy.
5. Dress and Serve:
   Drizzle the dressing and toss. Serve immediately!