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These tasty and easy green salad recipes are so versatile! As cookbook authors, these are our top picks that work with main dishes from pasta to pizza and salmon to chili.

Green salad recipes
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It’s tricky to find good side salad recipes. Alex and I often want to serve our meal with a salad—but what recipes are the right fit? Browsing for recipes online can take forever, like you’re in a bargain store combing through a rack to find the just right sweater.

So, we’ve decided to take the guess work out for you! As two cookbook authors and recipe developers, we’ve put together a list of our top green salad recipes that make the perfect side salad for just about anything. Most of them are extremely versatile and vibe with many types of main dishes, whether you’re pairing baked salmon or a pizza recipe.

And now, our 20 best green salad recipes

Add protein to make it a meal

When we go out to eat, we love that many restaurants have the option to add protein to any of their side salads. That works with all of these green salad recipes as well: turn them into a main dish by adding protein! Here are a few ideas of what we’d add here:

A few more salad recipes by season

There are so many salad ideas to try! Here are a few more recipes by season:

Frequently asked questions

I’m new to making salads. Where do I start?

Here’s a basic green salad formula to get you started:
Greens: Choose a base of your favorite greens like romaine, spinach, arugula, or a mix.
Veggies: Add chopped vegetables for flavor, texture, and nutrients. Popular options include tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and onions.
Fruits: Fresh fruits like berries, apples, or pears add a touch of sweetness and a delightful contrast.
Protein (optional): For a more filling salad, incorporate protein sources like grilled chicken, tofu, hard-boiled eggs, or nuts and seeds.
Dressing: The dressing ties everything together! Experiment with vinaigrettes, creamy dressings, or homemade options.

What are some tips for making delicious green salads?

Here are some helpful tips:
Freshness matters: Use fresh, crisp greens and vegetables for the best flavor and texture.
Variety is key: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredients and flavor combinations.
Balance the flavors: Aim for a balance of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter elements.
Chop ingredients similarly: Ensure all ingredients are chopped into similar sizes for even distribution and a pleasant eating experience.
Dress your salad last: Dressing a salad too early can make the greens wilt.

Can green salads be a complete meal?

Absolutely! By incorporating protein, healthy fats, and whole grains, green salads can be a satisfying and nutritious main course.
Bonus Tip: Leftover roasted vegetables or grilled chicken can be repurposed in a delicious green salad the next day!

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21 Green Salad Recipes

How to make chopped salad
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5 from 2 reviews

This chopped green salad will amaze everyone around the table! Homemade Italian dressing, crunchy veggies and Parmesan cheese combine into one extraordinary side salad.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Raw
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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

  1. Make the Homemade Italian Dressing.
  2. Chop romaine and lettuce. Thinly slice the shallot. Peel and chop cucumber. Slice tomatoes and olives in half.
  3. 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.

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About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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5 Comments

  1. pamela kennedy says:

    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.

  2. lilth morgan empire says:

    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!






  3. adrian horton says:

    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






  4. Magida Najjar says:

    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.

  5. Innocent Theo says:

    Its Riley nice