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Easy Salad Recipes That Make a Meal

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Published: Apr 22, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links.

Deliciously fresh, quick and easy, sometimes a salad makes for the best meal! No matter the appetite, this list pulls together simple salad recipes that make satisfying meals for the whole family. We’re talking pasta salads, green leafy salads with steak, chicken, pork or shrimp, plus egg salads, chicken salads and tuna salads.

Simple salads that make satisfying meals for the whole family, including pasta salads, green salads, plus chicken and tuna salads.

A salad is a great way to get a quick meal on the table any day of the week. And whether you love it because it showcases your favorite fruit, dressing, pasta or protein, one this is for sure, a salad done right won’t leave you hungry.

And these recipes… well, you know they’re done right! Full of nuts, crispy crunch, protein and plenty of variety, this list looks nothing like bowls full of lettuce. Instead, I see a few new favorite go-to supper ideas in your future.

To Round It Out

If you still feel like you need a little something else to put on the table, think about easy soups, breads or potatoes.

  • Creamy Tomato Basil
  • Slow Cooker Short Cut Potato Soup
  • Sweet Potato Cornbread
  • Easy Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins
  • Baked Cheesy Smashed Potato Bites
  • Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Wedges

What You Need To Make & Serve Salad Recipes

Having the right tools on hand is what makes any job easy! These are the tools I use in my kitchen so that making and serving all my favorites salads is quick, simple and fun!

Shop my best salad essentials collage with affiliate links to follow
  1. Heavy Duty Colander/Strainer (perfect for fruit, veggies & pasta)
  2. Salad Dressing Shaker (shake, pour and even serve from this container)
  3. Easy Squeeze Citrus Juicer (make quick work of citrus for salad dressing recipes)
  4. Large Wooden Salad Bowl/ Matching Tongs (make it special with serving pieces)
  5. Henckels Knife Block Set (prep is quick & easy with sharp knives)
  6. Easy Use Salad Tongs (tongs are the easiest way to serve salad)

Satisfying Salads for Dinner

How to serve Waldorf Pasta Chicken Salad

Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad

Egg Salad on a croissant

Ultimate Farmhouse Egg Salad

spinach salad with blueberries and green apples

Blueberry Spinach Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

Layered Muffaletta Salad in a trifle dish

Layered Muffuletta Salad

Caprese Salad Recipe with Steak

Steak Caprese Salad

A close up of a bowl of tortellini pasta salad.

Tuscan Tortellini Salad

strawberry asparagus salad recipe

Strawberry Asparagus Salad

A completed Southern Shrimp Salad Roll on a plate with half a lemon and some dill.

Southern Shrimp Salad Roll with Lemon Dill Mayo

7 layer pea salad

Classic 7 Layer Pea Salad

Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Tuna Salad with Apples, Celery & Pecans

creamy homemade caesar salad dressing is so easy with this shortcut recipe that has loads of authentic Caesar flavor

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Similar to a Waldorf Salad, this apple cheese celery salad is the perfect crisp side dish.

Apple, Cheese, Celery Salad

An overhead look at a classic potluck or cookout salad with crunchy broccoli and a tangy, creamy homemade dressing.

Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Strawberries

light and easy pesto pasta salad with cheese tortellini and artichokes

Artichoke Pesto Pasta Salad

Easy, Creamy Bacon Salad with Homemade Ranch

Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad

A bowl of lemon chicken salad with a chicken salad sandwich in the background.

Tasty Lemon Chicken Salad

Tex Mex Pasta Salad is loaded with seasoned ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, green onions, corn and jalapenos, then tossed in a cool, creamy avocado cilantro dressing with lime.

Taco Pasta Salad with Avocado Dressing

Mexican Street Corn Pasta with cool mayo & sour cream chile lime dressing

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Drizzling Hot Bacon Dressing over Spinach Salad with mushrooms, red onion and boiled egg

Hot Bacon Dressing for A Spinach Salad

SUmmer Berry Salad with Pork medallions

Berry Salad with Cherry Balsamic Dressing

Catalina dressing being poured over a taco salad.

Catalina Taco Salad- Fabulous Anytime

3 kinds of melons with chicken on a bed of greens.

Easy Melon Salad with Rotisserie Chicken & Garlic Vinaigrette

An autumn pear salad with figs dressed with a molasses vinaigrette

Pear Salad with Figs & Ginger Molasses Vinaigrette

Marinated Peach & Shrimp Salad Close Up

Marinated Peach & Shrimp Salad

An overhead photo of apple pear pomegranate salad with chicken and avocado

Apple, Pear, Pomegranate Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Deliciously fresh, quick and easy, sometimes a salad makes for the best meal! No matter the appetite, this list pulls together simple salad recipes that make satisfying meals for the whole family. We're talking pasta salads, green leafy salads with steak, chicken, pork or shrimp, plus egg salads, chicken salads and tuna salads.

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Filed Under: Recipe Collections Tagged With: easy meals

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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  • Facebook
  • Mail

Join Southern Discourse

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