The reputation salads have for being sad side dishes is entirely undeserved when you are working with spring produce and actually interesting recipes. These 21 salad recipes use what tastes good right now: strawberries, fresh herbs, light dressings, and vegetables that are actually in season.
Jump to:
- What makes these recipes special?
- Top Tips
- Ninja Foodi Pepperoni Pasta Salad
- Grilled Pear Salad
- Caprese Salad
- Cauliflower Potato Salad
- Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe
- Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich (Healthy Recipe!)
- Strawberry Salad Recipe
- Chicken Tzatziki Salad with Couscous
- Vegan White Bean Salad
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad
- Best Ever Broccoli Salad with Bacon
- Quinoa Salad With Beets and Avocado
- Broccoli Salad
- Loaded Chicken Salad
- Creamy Grape Salad
- Ultimate Green Goddess Pasta Salad
- Cauliflower Rice Salad
- Asian Chickpea Cabbage Salad with Spicy Cashew Dressing
- Indian Chickpea Salad (Chana Salad)
- Chicken Salad Sandwiches
- Quick & Easy Potato Salad Recipe
- Comments
Some of these are full meals on their own. Some are the side dish that ends up being the thing everyone asks about. The range goes from simple weeknight greens to protein-packed bowls substantial enough to carry as lunch all week.
You will find a Grilled Pear Salad with arugula and prosciutto, a Caprese Salad done the right way, a Mediterranean Pasta Salad you will want to make a big batch of every week, and a Broccoli Salad with bacon that converts skeptics every time. There is a lot of range in this list, which is exactly the point.
What makes the recipes in this roundup special?
- The recipes were created by a real person, not generated by AI.
- The photos show the actual recipe, made and photographed in real life.
- The blog is run by a human being, not an AI avatar or bot-run site.
- The recipe is original and created by the blogger, not purchased or republished content.
- All recipes in this roundup have earned a star rating of 4 stars or higher from readers or reviewers.
Top Tips
- Dress right before serving. Almost every salad in this list will turn soggy and sad if you dress it ahead of time. Toss it when people are sitting down, not an hour beforehand.
- Dry your greens completely. Water on your lettuce dilutes the dressing and makes it slide off. A salad spinner is worth the cabinet space.
- Add texture on purpose. Croutons, toasted nuts, seeds, crispy chickpeas, or crumbled cheese give you something to bite into with every forkful. A salad without texture is just leaves.
- Season the greens, not just the dressing. A tiny pinch of flaky salt on the salad right before serving makes everything taste more alive. This is the thing most home cooks skip.
- Use the whole herb, not just the leaves. Tender herb stems from parsley, cilantro, and dill are perfectly edible and add a lot of fresh flavor. No need to waste them.
Ninja Foodi Pepperoni Pasta Salad
Pepperoni pasta salad made in the Ninja Foodi, combining pasta with pepperoni and bold flavors in a cold salad format. A spring potluck option that serves as a main dish rather than a side.
Photo credit: The Tasty Travelers
Grilled Pear Salad
Photo credit: The Tasty Travelers
Caprese Salad
Photo credit: The Tasty Travelers
Cauliflower Potato Salad
Potato salad made with cauliflower instead of potatoes for a lower-carb version of the classic. A spring side dish option that follows the same creamy format but swaps the base ingredient.
Photo credit: The Salted Pepper
Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe
A Greek-style cucumber salad with a simple dressing that comes together in about five minutes. A light spring side that pairs with grilled meats, sandwiches, or anything else on the table.
Photo credit: The Freckled Cook
Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich (Healthy Recipe!)
A plant-based filling that actually delivers on flavor and texture. Satisfying enough to work as a main and a smart spring lunch option for anyone looking to skip the meat.
Photo credit: The Picky Eater
Strawberry Salad Recipe
Fresh strawberries with a bright dressing and a mix of toppings that keeps every bite interesting. A spring salad that works as a light lunch or a side dish for any outdoor gathering.
Photo credit: The Kitchen Girl
Chicken Tzatziki Salad with Couscous
Chicken and couscous salad with a tzatziki-style dressing, combining the Greek yogurt sauce with a grain base and protein. A spring lunch or dinner salad with a cooling, herb-forward dressing.
Photo credit: Athlete Lunchbox
Vegan White Bean Salad
A white bean salad with a simple vinaigrette that comes together in under ten minutes with pantry ingredients. A vegan spring side that uses beans as the main component for a more filling result.
Photo credit: Zardy Plants
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Mediterranean pasta salad with olives, feta, and vegetables tossed in a vinaigrette that develops more flavor as it sits in the fridge. A spring salad designed to be made ahead and kept for several days.
Photo credit: A Cedar Spoon
Best Ever Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Broccoli salad with bacon, a tangy dressing, and enough mix-ins to give you crunch and creaminess in every bite. A reliable spring side that travels well and holds up at potlucks.
Photo credit: The Slow Roasted Italian
Quinoa Salad With Beets and Avocado
Beets, avocado, and quinoa in a combination that brings vivid color and a contrast of soft and firm textures. A spring salad with three distinct ingredients that work together in both the flavor and the presentation.
Photo credit: Simply Sumptuous Cooking
Broccoli Salad
A classic broccoli salad with a tangy dressing and enough textural variety to keep every bite interesting. A reliable spring side that holds up well at potlucks and outdoor cookouts.
Photo credit: I Heart Eating
Loaded Chicken Salad
A loaded chicken salad with multiple toppings and a substantial base that makes it meal-worthy on its own. A spring salad built as a main dish rather than a side.
Photo credit: 100 Days of Real Food
Creamy Grape Salad
Sweet grapes tossed in a creamy dressing with a crunchy topping that puts this somewhere between a salad and a light dessert. A spring brunch addition that tends to be new to people who have not had it.
Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks
Ultimate Green Goddess Pasta Salad
A pasta salad with a creamy herb-forward green goddess dressing that looks as vibrant as it tastes. A spring potluck option that stands out on the table and works for a wide range of guests.
Photo credit: The Slow Roasted Italian
Cauliflower Rice Salad
Grain-free, light, and filling in a satisfying way. A smart spring option for anyone skipping carbs who still wants something substantial and genuinely interesting on the plate.
Photo credit: I Hacked Diabetes
Asian Chickpea Cabbage Salad with Spicy Cashew Dressing
Asian-style chickpea and cabbage salad with a spicy cashew dressing, combining crunch from the cabbage with heat from the dressing. A vegan spring salad with a bold flavor profile from the cashew base.
Photo credit: Avocado Skillet
Indian Chickpea Salad (Chana Salad)
Fresh, high-protein, and ready in under ten minutes. The spices give it a complexity that makes it feel far more interesting and satisfying than most quick spring salads.
Photo credit: Cooking Gorgeous
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
A classic chicken salad with good balance between the creamy base and the fillings, served in sandwich form. A reliable spring lunch option that works for picnics, showers, or meal prep.
Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks
Quick & Easy Potato Salad Recipe
A no-fuss potato salad that comes together in 30 minutes and tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge. Exactly what you want for a spring picnic or backyard cookout.
Photo credit: Join Your Life
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