This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy.
These tasty and easy green salad recipes are so versatile! They pair with just about any main dish, from pasta to pizza to salmon to chili.
It’s deceptively difficult to find good side salad recipes. Right? Alex and I often want to accessorize our meal with a side salad. But what green salad recipes are the right fit? Browsing for recipes online can take too long; it feels like you’re in a bargain store trying to comb through sweaters to find the just right thing to wear.
So, we’ve decided to take the guess work out for you! We’ve put together a list of our top green salad recipes that make the perfect side salad for just about anything. While the vibe of some of these is stronger than others, most of them will work no matter whether you’re pairing salmon or pizza.
Ready to get to the recipes? (And you’re welcome.)
And now…our best green salad recipes!
The best go-to in our green salad recipes: this favorite chopped salad! Without fail, people always ask, "Wow! What is in this?" It's got an Italian flair, filled with crisp romaine, sliced shallots, and Parmesan cheese. The kicker? Sliced pepperoncini, which add tang and a little heat. Top it off with our classic Homemade Italian Dressing and it's the perfect pair to just about anything.
Introducing: the simplest arugula salad. It’s quite possibly the easiest salad you’ll make. You don’t even have to make a salad dressing! In 5 to 10 minutes, you’ve got an elegant salad that goes with literally everything. Dress baby arugula simply with olive oil and lemon juice, then add Parmesan shavings and thinly sliced shallots. Done! Simple and so tasty. It pairs especially well with soups, pasta and pizza!
Another variation? Add beets and citrus dressing for Arugula Beet Salad.
This spinach apple salad is as easy as it is tasty! No one will believe it took minutes to put together. Start with a bed of greens and add crisp apple and pear. Our best balsamic vinaigrette covers it in tangy sweet goodness, and the best part? Maple-glazed walnuts or pecans! Just a few minutes in a hot skillet with maple syrup makes the nuts come out shiny and lightly sweet.
Here's a classic green salad recipe that's basic but truly irresistible. Meet the perfect Caesar salad! Make all the components at home and it’s a knock out stunner. The savory, creamy dressing will instantly become a household favorite. And the crunchy garlicky croutons…well, you’ll be eating them off the baking sheet.
Here's another simple green salad recipe, this one starring leafy green kale! Raw kale can sometimes have a bitter taste. But with this flavor popping Italian-style dressing of lemon, Parmesan cheese, and garlic, the bitter taste of the kale is mellowed and melds beautifully with the other flavors. Plus, the sturdy texture of the kale holds up well in a salad, and provides an extra crunch when eating.
This Mexican salad is full of delicious Latin-style flavors: colorful veggies, cilantro lime salad dressing, and crispy tortilla strips. It all combines into a super-flavorful dish that's absolutely perfect with tacos! Even better, it's quick and easy to make.
This fennel orange salad features beautiful juicy oranges and a famous pairing: sliced raw fennel, which adds a subtle licorice essence. Throw it over greens with a few garnishes, top with a zingy homemade citrus vinaigrette, and wow! There’s so much going on flavor and texture-wise, it’s one of the most unexpectedly delicious salads we’ve ever made.
Here’s a great green salad that’s simply perfection, in our books. This Italian salad is full of all the right flavors and textures: crisp lettuce, crunchy garlic croutons, and zingy pepperoncini. It’s covered in punchy, herby Italian vinaigrette that makes the flavors sing! It can play sidekick to a whole range of dishes, from pizza to pasta to poultry and fish.
Here’s a green salad to impress. It’s everything a classy spinach salad should be, full of texture and flavor contrasts. You’ll barely notice you’re eating this healthy leafy green when it’s covered tangy balsamic vinaigrette. There’s crunchy smoky pecans, almost bacon-like glazed with maple syrup and soy sauce. Add hard boiled eggs or a crisp-tart apple, and you’ve got a stunning side salad that will make everyone ooo and ahhh.
What we love about this salad is that it's like a good pair of heels or boots. It literally goes with anything! A good salad has got to have contrasts in texture, flavor, and colors, and this one is all about that. There's lots of crunchy veggies. There are pumpkin seeds, and our tasty Homemade Croutons.
Top it off the dressing of your choice: we like Creamy Avocado Dressing here, but there are lots of options! Try our Best Balsamic Vinaigrette, Homemade Ranch Dressing, or Honey Mustard Dressing.
This strawberry salad is one of our most popular salad recipes, pairing sweet strawberries with an insanely good strawberry vinaigrette salad dressing! Paired with crunchy red onions, toasted almonds, feta cheese crumbles, and those delicious sweet berries, this green salad is the perfect way to enjoy seasonal berries.
This blackberry salad is classic and chic: baby greens, soft goat cheese and smoked almonds bring a nuance of flavor that’s extraordinary for the amount of prep time required. And top it off with our famous creamy Best Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing. Alex and I dreamed up this salad, and upon first bite, both declared “Wow.” See also: Beet Salad and Blueberry Salad.
Last but not least in our green salad recipes is this radish chopped salad! The creamy blue cheese dressing perfectly complements the crunchy radishes, and the flavors all meld together perfectly. The body of the salad is both green cabbage and crunchy romaine lettuce, and it’s topped with blue cheese crumbles. This green salad is a fabulous compliment to any type of main dish!
More salads
Want a few more salad dressings? Try our How to Make Healthy Salad Dressing. And, here are a few more of our best salad recipes we’d recommend:
- Wedge Salad with Potato Chips
- Best Healthy Salad Dressings
- Grilled Caesar Salad
- 10 Summer Salads You Need Now
- 25 Best Salad Recipes
- Every Night Salad with Yogurt Ranch
- Top 10 Salad Dressings to Make at Home
Chopped Green Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
This chopped green salad will amaze everyone around the table! Homemade Italian dressing, crunchy veggies and Parmesan cheese combine into one extraordinary side salad.
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Homemade Italian Dressing
- 1 Romaine heart (3 cups)
- 5 cups leafy lettuce
- 1 large shallot
- 1 English cucumber (2 cups chopped)
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup ripe green olives, halved
- ½ cup jarred sliced pepperoncini
- ¼ cup Parmesan shavings or shreds, plus more to serve
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Make the Homemade Italian Dressing.
- Chop romaine and lettuce. Thinly slice the shallot. Peel and chop cucumber. Slice tomatoes and olives in half.
- Mix together all the ingredients for the salad, including the dressing, and toss to combine. If making in advance, refrigerate the components separately; bring the dressing to room temperature before serving.
- Category: Salad
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Green Salad Recipes
Its Riley nice
I love your collection of green salad. For a salad addict, that’s me, this post lifted my spirits! I would try at least 7 of them! I will start with the spinach and apple! Thanks.
Great.. Something quick that I can grab at midnight without cooking much. As a person who doesn’t regularly eat salads, and who is allergic to all vegetables, this is a great on- the-go meal. thanks
★★★★★
A popular salad recipe in my family includes pepperoncini, and this is one of the first salad recipes I’ve seen including this unpopular vegetable! Pepperoncini is one of my favourite vegetables and I’m thrilled to share it with everyone!
★★★★★
I asked for a green salad, i did not want eggs cheese or other additives. I will do my own which will consist of Avocado, asparagus, capsicum, cashews, capsicum, celery, lettuce and spinach with a touch of balsamic vinaigrette. Maybe a slice of apple.