Lunch Salad Recipes

 

Refuse to be bored by midday greens with these lunch salads packed with complex flavors, nutritious ingredients and better-than-bottled dressings.

 

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Roasted Beet Salad

A duo of roasted sweet beets — golden and red — combined with salty feta cheese, peppery arugula and a smooth white balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette makes a perfectly balanced lunch.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad

Greek Salad with Oregano Marinated Grilled Chicken

Chicken possesses Grecian flair when marinated in a citrus-spiked oregano rub, grilled and then nestled atop a mountain of romaine, Kalamata olives and feta. The salad dressing echoes the marinade with extra oregano and lemon juice.

Get the Recipe: Greek Salad with Oregano Marinated Chicken

Spinach Salad with Pecans and Gorgonzola

The sweetness of this salad's candied pecans is balanced by the earthy flavor of Gorgonzola cheese and a sherry-shallot vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Spinach Salad with Sweet Roasted Pecans and Gorgonzola with Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette

Spicy Kale Caesar Salad

Spice up a standard salad by spiking Caesar dressing with homemade hot sauce and brushing the sauce over toasted bread cubes for a fiery set of croutons.

Spicy Kale Caesar Salad

Pan-Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad

Bacon, avocado and chiles team up with tomatoes to form this juicy salad that packs just the right amount of heat and has a hint of smoke from the roasted corn.

Get the Recipe: Pan-Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad

Wheat Berry Salad

Wheat berries are fiber and protein powerhouses, and they add satisfying crunch to any salad. Ellie Krieger pairs their nutty flavor with toasted walnuts and dried cherries for a sweet finish.

Get the Recipe: Wheat Berry Salad

Pasta Salad with Green Onion Dressing

Roger Mooking reinvents the traditional pasta salad with a colorful collection of peppers and a tangy mustard-and-green onion vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Pasta Salad with Green Onion Dressing

Three-Bean Salad with Jalapeno-Cilantro Vinaigrette

Coriander seeds add depth to this very light salad and complement the fresh cilantro leaves, as they are different components of the same plant.

Get the Recipe: Three Bean Salad with Jalapeno-Cilantro Vinaigrette

Insalata di Fagioli e Tonno: Tuna and Bean Salad

This protein-packed tuna salad is easy to make in the morning and makes a great bagged lunch along with crackers or stuffed inside a sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Insalata di Fagioli e Tonno: Tuna and Bean Salad

Fennel Caprese Salad with Tomato Jam Toasts

For a new spin on a classic caprese salad, toss mozzarella and basil with watercress and fennel, which add peppery and anise flavors to the mix. Tomatoes are turned into a jam that tops toast and complements the light dressing.

Get the Recipe: Fennel Caprese Salad with Tomato Jam Toasts

Mediterranean Farro Salad

Protein-rich, nutty farro forms the perfect base for a medley of Mediterranean ingredients: green beans, red peppers, olives and Parmesan cheese.

Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Farro Salad

Southeast Asia Thai Mussel Salad

The beauty of mussels is their ability to take on an endless array of flavors. When tossed with a coconut milk, lime and fish sauce dressing, these mussels are brightened by the familiar flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine.

Get the Recipe: Southeast Asia Thai Mussel Salad

Antipasto Trifle Salad

Though ordinarily laid out on a platter, antipasto ingredients (like mortadella, soppressata, artichoke hearts, tomatoes and more) work well when layered together in a trifle dish.

Get the Recipe: Antipasto Trifle Salad

Greek Feta and Cucumber Salad

Build a bright, refreshing salad by tossing sliced cucumbers with tangy feta, fresh lemon juice and minced garlic.

Get the Recipe: Greek Feta and Cucumber Salad

Pea and Fava Salad

Fresh ingredients like fava beans, peas and asparagus need little more accompaniment than green herbs and a touch of balsamic vinegar to create a stunning salad.

Get the Recipe: Pea and Fava Salad

Peach and Blue Cheese Salad

Crisped and crumbled prosciutto acts as fancy bacon bits in Chuck Hughes' sweet-and-salty Peach and Blue Cheese Salad.

Get the Recipe: Peach and Blue Cheese Salad

Pasta Salad with Tuna

David Rocco's mayo-free twist on tuna salad layers seared sushi-grade tuna, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes atop pasta.

Get the Recipe: Insalata di Pasta con Tonno: Pasta Salad with Tuna

Greek Salad

A classic Greek salad loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, briny Kalamata olives and feta cubes is a welcome accompaniment to any meal.

Get the Recipe: Greek Salad

Salt Cod Salad

Salt cod is a staple in many cultures, and the variety of dishes using this humble ingredient is remarkable. Here the saltiness of the cod is balanced by the sharp dressing and creamy avocado.

Get the Recipe: Salt Cod Salad

Pickled Cucumber and Red Onion Salad

Kelsey Nixon's simple salad lets fresh, crunchy cucumber shine amid onions, mild feta and a sprinkling of dill.

Get the Recipe: Pickled Cucumber Salad with Red Onions and Feta

Shaved Asparagus Salad

Raw asparagus shoots wilt ever so slightly when dressed with white wine vinegar and freshly squeezed orange juice, but they retain a crunch that works well with toasted hazelnuts and Pecorino Romano cubes.

Get the Recipe: Shaved Asparagus Salad

Papaya and Soybean Salad

This colorful lunch salad, perfect cold or at room temperature, is packed with superfoods like soybeans and papaya. Warm spices and lime juice add an exotic kick to the dressing.

Get the Recipe: Papaya and Soybean Salad

Pine Nut Bread Salad

Pine nuts bring crunch and nuttiness to this balsamic-splashed panzanella, while herbs like rosemary and basil add freshness.

Get the Recipe: Pine Nut Bread Salad

Balsamic Roasted Pork with Berry Salad

Satisfying and slimming, this salad pairs roasted pork tenderloin with jewel-toned produce, including strawberries, blackberries and baby spinach. Toss it with a no-fuss mustard vinaigrette that whisks together in minutes.

Get the Recipe: Balsamic Roasted Pork with Berry Salad

Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges and Creamy Goat Cheese Dressing

You can prepare this colorful salad in advance for a week's worth of lunches. Red and golden beets meet with tangy goat cheese and a champagne vinaigrette for a refreshing yet filling main dish.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges and Creamy Goat Cheese Dressing

Orange, Red Onion and Fennel Salad

Pair arugula with juicy orange slices and fennel seeds for a refreshing midday bite. Red onions and cured olives add a welcome salty contrast to the mix.

Get the Recipe: Orange, Red Onion and Fennel Salad

Curried Chicken and Mango Salad

Combine a yogurt-based curry sauce with chunks of rotisserie chicken, sweet mango and apple for a healthy and incredibly flavorful finished dish.

Get the Recipe: Curried Chicken and Mango Salad

Coconut Bean Salad

Bal Arneson's black bean salad gains an exotic edge from freshly grated coconut strips and ground cardamom. Can't find the recipe's fenugreek leaves? Try subbing in parsley instead.

Get the Recipe: Coconut Bean Salad