26 Hearty Salad Recipe Ideas For Dinner 

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If you are looking for the most hearty and delicious salad ideas for dinner. You’re in luck; these recipes are bulked up with the freshest ingredients!

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Are you looking for the best salad ideas for dinner? These hearty wholesome recipes are simple and delicious any night of the week.

From vibrant veggies to protein-packed bowls, these salads are a delicious and wholesome way to fuel your evening. Say goodbye to boring dinners and hello to a burst of fresh flavors! 

Salad Ideas For Dinner With Chicken 

Cobb Salad With Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
1. Cobb Salad With Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Photo credit: herbs and flour
Whip up the best Cobb Salad with a mouthwatering Honey Mustard Vinaigrette! This hearty salad is excellent as a side salad but so filling it can be a main course too! Featuring fresh lettuce, eggs, ham, and more.
Check out this recipe!
Thai Mango Salad With Chicken
2. Thai Mango Salad With Chicken
Photo credit: haute and healthy living
This Thai chicken mango salad is fresh and vibrant with nutrient-rich ingredients. If you love delicious veggies, shredded chicken, and tropical mango, this is the dish for you. It’s all topped off with a fabulous peanut dressing too.
Check out this recipe!
Niçoise Salad
3. Niçoise Salad
Photo credit: the forked spoon
Looking for the best salad idea for dinner? Try this French classic called the Niçoise. It has fresh ingredients like tuna, hard-boiled eggs, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes. The best part is the tangy lemon dressing.
Check out this recipe!
Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Arugula Salad
4. Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Arugula Salad
Photo credit: healthy fitness meals
This Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Salad will delight everyone at the table. Featuring marinated grilled chicken served over arugula with avocado, red onion, feta cheese, blueberries, and chopped pistachios.
Check out this recipe!
Waldorf Salad Recipe
5. Waldorf Salad Recipe
Photo credit: a cedar spoon
This Waldorf Salad Recipe is hearty and packed with flavor! It’s also full of nutrition and makes for a perfect dinner or light chicken lunch recipe. I just love the crunch of every bite in my mouth.
Check out this recipe!

Meat Medleys

Steak & Squash Salad
6. Steak _ Squash Salad
Photo credit: xoxobella
Try a new vegetable dish for dinner this year! It has steak and squash as well as turkey, ham, and all the trimmings. It’s all drizzled with the perfect amount of apple maple dressing.
Check out this recipe!
Steak Caesar Salad
7. Steak Caesar Salad
Photo credit: real food with sarah
Dinner salad recipes with steak really hit the nail on the head for me. The crisp freshness of greens accentuates the tender steak strips. Top it off with some Creamy Caesar Dressing.
Check out this recipe!
Chicken Kale Salad
8. Chicken Kale Salad
Photo credit: through the fibro fog
Once you try this chicken kale salad you’ll never want another recipe. It’s excellent for dinner with creamy dressing, leafy greens, apple, celery and seeds!
Check out this recipe!
Steak & Shrimp Salad Recipe
9. Steak _ Shrimp Salad Recipe
Photo credit: box mix recipes
The combination of beef and shrimp is a match made in heaven, especially in this dinner salad recipe with vibrant greens and honey mustard dressing. It’s so big and hearty it’s sure to fill you up and keep you satisfied.
Check out this recipe!
Ground Beef Taco Salad
10. Ground Beef Taco Salad
Photo credit: primavera kitchen
This Taco Salad recipe is quick and easy for dinner. The flavors are outstanding, with avocado slices, lettuce, tomato salsa, and taco-seasoned ground beef. Make this gluten-free, low-carb, dairy-free, Whole30 dish in less than 30 minutes!
Check out this recipe!

Seafood Ideas

Cucumber Shrimp Salad
11. Cucumber Shrimp Salad
Photo credit: the short order cook
Salad ideas for dinner with shrimp and cucumber will have you bursting with joy. The cucumbers are crisp and zesty, while the shrimp is succulent and seasoned to perfection.
Check out this recipe!
Italian Tuna White Bean Salad
12. Italian Tuna White Bean Salad
Photo credit: xoxobella
If you love Mediterranean flavors, this delicious tuna bean salad (insalata di tonno e fagioli) is for you. Just sear the tuna and serve it up with some other fresh ingredients. The perfect recipe for tuna lovers.
Check out this recipe!
Serenata Codfish Salad
13. Serenata Codfish Salad
Photo credit: sense and edibility
Savor the flavors of Puerto Rico with Serenata! This delightful dish features salted cod, a medley of tubers, and crisp veggies. A symphony of tastes and textures that requires a bit of patience. Prepare 2 hours ahead for best results.
Check out this recipe!
Asian Salmon Salad With Citrus Soy Dressing
14. Asian Salmon Salad With Citrus Soy Dressing
Photo credit: herbs and flour
Perfectly seared glazed salmon takes center stage atop a bed of crisp, fresh greens, all generously coated in a zesty Citrus Soy Dressing. Simple, delicious, and packed with greens. It is the light meal that makes you feel great inside and out!
Check out this recipe!
Crab Louie Dinner Salad
15. Crab Louie Dinner Salad
Photo credit: the forked spoon
Wait until you taste this Crab Louie Salad! Packed with fresh lettuce, asparagus, cucumber, eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and succulent crab meat. It’s all dressed up in a tasty homemade Thousand Island dressing. A delicious main course salad that's perfect any time of the year.
Check out this recipe!
Easy Salmon Salad
16. Easy Salmon Salad
Photo credit: primavera kitchen
Looking for easy dinner salads with salmon? This one is packed with crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy bell peppers, cucumber, broiled salmon, and red onions. Then, it’s all tossed in a tangy lemon and Dijon dressing.
Check out this recipe!

Our Top Picks

Rainbow Salad Bowl With Maple Dijon Dressing
17. Rainbow Salad Bowl With Maple Dijon Dressing
Photo credit: ugly duckling bakery
Bring a burst of color to your dinner with this Rainbow Salad Bowl! Light, vibrant, and perfect for those busy nights. You can whip up this colorful main course salad in a flash. Drizzle on some Maple Dijon Dressing for a tasty finish.
Check out this recipe!
Grilled Chicken Strawberry Salad
18. Grilled Chicken Strawberry Salad
Photo credit: organically addison
Craving a light, fresh, and super easy meal? Try this Whole30 Salad with grilled chicken and strawberries! It's the best quick lunch, dinner, or healthy meal prep idea. A lovely balance of hearty chicken, sweet strawberries, and crunchy pecans.
Check out this recipe!
Miso Brussels Sprout Salad
19. Miso Brussels Sprout Salad
Photo credit: the feast local
Elevate your meals with this Miso Brussels Sprout Salad! Crisp brussels sprouts meet savory miso alongside a handful of other simple pantry staples for a nutritious dinner salad recipe. Salad ideas like this are perfect for the whole family.
Check out this recipe!
Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad
20. Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad
Photo credit: evolving table
This Thai Peanut Quinoa Salad is bursting with colorful veggies like carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and bell peppers! Then it’s drizzled with a mouthwatering Thai peanut dressing. Sprinkled with crunchy peanuts or cashews, this easy dish is sure to please any crowd.
Check out this recipe!
Mexican Cobb Dinner Salad
21. Mexican Cobb Dinner Salad
Photo credit: three olives branch
Fuel your day with this Mexican Cobb Salad! A fresh and healthy recipe perfect for meal prep lunches or dinners. Customize with chicken, shrimp, or steak, and top it off with cilantro, tomato, egg, avocado, beans, onion, and more. Drizzle on the flavorful vinaigrette dressing for an extra kick!
Check out this recipe!
Best Italian Chopped Salad
22. Best Italian Chopped Salad
Photo credit: three olives branch
Looking for Italian dinner salads? This is the Best Chopped Salad and a delightful mix of fresh veggies, meats, and cheeses on a crisp bed of lettuce. The best part is that there is zero cooking required.
Check out this recipe!

Vegetarian Recipe Ideas

Sweet Potato Kale Salad
23. Sweet Potato Kale Salad
Photo credit: xoxobella
Looking for healthy and delicious dinner salads? This recipe idea is packed with nutritional ingredients. For example, it has sweet potatoes, kale, and crispy chickpeas! It’s also topped with juicy prunes, tangy pomegranate, and creamy feta cheese – yum!
Check out this recipe!
Red Lentil Pasta Salad
24. Red Lentil Pasta Salad
Photo credit: Lisa’s healthy kitchen
Try this quick and tasty red lentil pasta salad – a nutritious powerhouse that's high in protein and fiber. It’s great as a main dish or a delightful side for your next barbecue. Simple yet impressively delicious dinner salad for the win!
Check out this recipe!
Strawberry Asparagus Farro Salad
25. Strawberry Asparagus Farro Salad
Photo credit: chew out loud
Fall in love with our Strawberry Asparagus Salad! Fresh, light, and perfect for lunch or dinner. Customize it with your favorite nuts or extra fruit for a salad that suits your taste buds. Deliciously simple!
Check out this recipe!
Shaved Fennel Salad
26. Shaved Fennel Salad
Photo credit: the feast local
Craving a refreshing dinner salad to go with your meal? Try the Shaved Fennel Salad! It’s simple, tasty, and perfect for any palate. Fresh fennel, crisp green apple, and savory Parmesan come together with a zesty lemon-Dijon vinaigrette for a delightful mix of flavors and textures.
Check out this recipe!

Frequently Asked Questions

What lettuce has the most flavor? 

Arugula is often considered one of the lettuces with the most flavor. Its peppery and slightly bitter taste adds a distinctive kick to salads and dishes. If you’re looking for a bold and flavorful lettuce, arugula is the choice for you. 

Make dinner exciting again with these hearty salad recipes. These are the top choices for filling, nutritious recipes that will have everyone begging for more vegetables! Let us know which ones you liked best in the comments or on our social media. 

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Vickie aka The Crazy Family Mom

The creator of A Crazy Family and a stay-at-home mom of a little boy with a big personality. I love to share real food recipes, parenting tips & encouragement, fun kids activities, and so much more! Plus, I am thrilled to provide you with a space to celebrate all that is awesome (and a little crazy) in the world.

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