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  1. Midwest Living
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  3. Salad Recipes
  4. Sensational Salad Recipes

Sensational Salad Recipes

By Midwest Living editors Updated March 05, 2023
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Superfood Salad
Credit: Carson Downing

Our salad recipes show you how to combine nutritious greens with ingredients like grilled chicken, pasta, fruit and more for main-dish or side salads.

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Superfood Salad

Superfood Salad
Credit: Carson Downing
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This hearty salad from Chef Sarah Russo of Chicago-based Salad Club is plenty filling without the chicken, so leave it out if you like. The chickpeas can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container with a paper towel at the bottom.

Related: Hearty, Healthy Salad Recipes

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Summer Chicken Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

Summer Chicken Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
Credit: Carson Downing
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Heap a platter with butter lettuce, poached chicken, green beans, avocado, berries, chives and basil. (The cooked components are easily made ahead.) Admire your creation, then douse it in berry-pink vinaigrette.

Related: Summer Salad Recipes

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Basil Fruit Salad with Cottage Cheese

Basil Fruit Salad with Cottage Cheese
Credit: Brie Passano
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This salad is a sleeper hit. You may not have thought to put these ingredients together before now, but here's your new favorite lunch (or breakfast) meal.

Related: Easy Work-From-Home Lunches You'll Make on Repeat

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Roasted Pear Salad with Farro and Arugula

Roasted Pear Salad with Farro and Arugula
Credit: Carson Downing
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Our test kitchen loved this creamy, whole-grain salad earned raves in our test kitchen. It's hardy enough to be a meatless main, or enjoy it as a festive side dish or cold-weather potluck star.

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Citrus Salmon Salad

Citrus Salmon Salad
Credit: Carson Downing
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Chef Sarah Russo of Chicago-based Salad Club uses bitter greens in this salad to balance the sweet fruit and rich fish. If you prefer, swap in more mild-mannered kale, lettuce or spinach.

Related: 20 Favorite Salmon Recipes

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Spring Fattoush

<p>Fattoush—popular in Lebanon and Israel—is a crunchy, lemony combo of toasted pita, herbs and vegetables. This  quick version showcases spring vegetables like snap peas and radishes.</p>
Credit: Carson Downing
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fattoush—popular in Lebanon and Israel—is a crunchy, lemony combo of toasted pita, herbs and vegetables. This  quick version showcases spring vegetables like snap peas and radishes.

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Dilly Chickpea and Radish Salad

Dilly Chickpea and Radish Salad
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Think of this as a welcome update on three-bean salad, with radishes and celery adding color and crunch to wholesome garbanzo beans. It travels beautifully and is great for potlucks and picnics.

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Steakhouse Salad with Ribeye and Blue Cheese

Steakhouse Salad with Ribeye and Blue Cheese
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Simple and perfect are the only way to describe this fabulous salad from chef Michael Ollier of Certified Angus Beef in Wooster, Ohio. The steak, blue cheese and garden-fresh veggies meld beautifully with the honey-sweetened balsamic dressing.

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Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta

Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta
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This healthy no-cook potluck salad is full of fruit and vegetable goodness. Feta adds a tang to the sweetness of honeydew melon. With only 20 minutes of prep time before an overnight chill, this recipe is great for parties.

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Panzanella (Bread Salad) with Summer Vegetables

Panzanella (Bread Salad) with Summer Vegetables
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A backyard garden's worth of colorful summer veggies fill this beautiful potluck salad. The toasted bread chunks absorb the dressing and juices from the tomatoes; you won't believe how delicious they taste! 

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Basic Chicken Salad

Basic Chicken Salad
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We call this chicken salad "basic," but thanks to lemon juice and fresh green onion and parsley, it's anything but boring. 

Related: Chicken Salad 5 Ways

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Kale Salad

Kale Salad
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Kale is a nutritional powerhouse and much heartier than regular lettuce. This salad has lots of colorful veggies and a zesty Asian dressing. Pair it with a whole wheat roll for a satisfying light supper.

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Spring Revival Couscous Salad with Filet Mignon

Spring Revival Couscous Salad with Filet Mignon
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Lean and tender steaks crown a bright, lemony salad made with asparagus, peas and couscous. The recipe comes from chef Michael Ollier, of Certified Angus Beef in Wooster, Ohio. He calls for generous 8-ounce steaks; for budget or dietary reasons, you may want to use a more modest 4-ounce steak. Just reduce the grilling time accordingly.

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Strawberry and Arugula Salad with Manchego Fricos

Strawberry and Arugula Salad with Manchego Fricos
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Italian for "little trifles," fricos are lacy wafers of crispy fried cheese. They're made by cooking small piles of finely shredded cheese in a skillet until the cheese starts to bubble and brown around the edges. Sometimes a bit of flour or herbs is mixed in. They are absolutely delicious on salads or soups. Here they're made with Manchego, Spanish sheep's-milk-cheese. Parmesan or cheddar work as well.

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Baby Spinach Salad with Cumin Couscous and Bulgur

Baby Spinach Salad with Cumin Couscous and Bulgur
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Grain salads can sometimes be a bit heavy, but this one is surprisingly light-tasting, thanks to a tangy yogurt-mint dressing, crisp apple chunks and fresh spinach.

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Grandma's Potato Salad

Grandma's Potato Salad
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This sweet, radish-studded potato salad recipe was handed down from a Cosmos, Minnesota, grandmother to her twin granddaughters.

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Nutty Apple-Cherry Slaw

Nutty Apple-Cherry Slaw
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Nuts and fruit add crunch and color to cabbage tossed in a homemade vinaigrette. This beautiful twist on traditional coleslaw is best served right away for maximum crispness, but it will hold for up to 24 hours.

Related: Fresh Slaw Recipes

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Tomato Salad with Edamame Succotash

Tomato Salad with Edamame Succotash
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Protein-rich edamame makes this salad a nutritious meal, especially when paired with whole-grain bread.

Related: Recipes for Fresh Tomatoes

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Sunny Broccoli Salad

Sunny Broccoli Salad
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A Cleveland reader makes this potluck salad the day ahead and refrigerates the dressing and vegetables separately. When it's time to serve it, she tosses everything together. Bacon, sunflower kernels and raisins make a crunchy and flavorful side dish.

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Lemon-Avocado Chicken Salad

Lemon-Avocado Chicken Salad
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Avocado adds luscious richness to this bright, citrusy chicken salad. Be sure to toss the ingredients gently so the avocado doesn't blend in completely.

Related: Easy Rotisserie Chicken Recipes

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Thai Beef and Noodle Salad

Thai Beef and Noodle Salad
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Lean flank steak, whole wheat pasta and crisp vegetables make this Asian-inspired salad a healthy choice. Ditching that time-consuming (and all-too-easy-to-forget) step of marinating the meat makes it genius.

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Boston Lettuce Stacks with Grilled Peaches, Feta and Pecans

Boston Lettuce Stacks with Grilled Peaches, Feta and Pecans
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This easy summer salad pairs the textures and flavors of buttery, slightly sweet and crisp Boston lettuce with grilled warm peaches and crunchy nuts.

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Fresh Taco Salad

Fresh Taco Salad
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Cilantro Ranch Dressing tops a flavorful blend of jicama, multigrain tortilla chips, avocado, black beans, queso fresco and greens. 

Related: Sizzling Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes

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Greek Orzo Salad

Greek Orzo Salad
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Olives and feta give salty punch to this pasta salad from Surdyk's Liquor and Cheese Shop in Minneapolis. 

Related: Scrumptious Pasta Salad Recipes

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Classic Potato Salad

Classic Potato Salad
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This creamy potato salad is full of tender new potatoes, sweet pickles, crisp celery, and chopped hard-cooked eggs.

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Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad with Walnut Pesto

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad with Walnut Pesto
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This lower-calorie pasta salad features roasted vegetables, whole wheat penne pasta and homemade pesto. To turn it into a main dish, stir in a can of rinsed and drained white beans or add chunks of grilled chicken.

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Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad
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Discover the savory potential of watermelon in this five-ingredient salad.

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Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad

Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad
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Combine two potluck staples to create this yummy potluck salad. Expect classic deviled egg flavor with a little zing from the Dijon-style mustard and salty pickled onions.

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Chicken Taco Salad

Chicken Taco Salad
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Pick up a rotisserie chicken and a few veggies on the way home from work, and in 20 minutes, you can serve this colorful, crowd-pleasing salad for dinner.

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Grapefruit and Kiwifruit Salad

Grapefruit and Kiwifruit Salad
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Homemade Grapefruit Vinaigrette tops a juicy salad of grapefruit sections, kiwifruit, sliced fennel and crumbled bacon.

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Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad

Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad
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This unusual recipe combines orange marmalade and soy sauce to make a sweet-and-salty dressing for chicken, cabbage and crunchy ramen noodles. Serve the mixture over a bed of fresh spinach for a nutrient-packed meal.

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Crisp Portobello Mushroom and Spring Carrot Salad

Crisp Portobello Mushroom and Spring Carrot Salad
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Goat cheese and chives top golden skillet-cooked mushrooms and cooked carrots in this recipe from Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe in Chicago. Homemade honey-mustard vinaigrette adds a pleasing tang.

Related: Simple Salad Dressing Recipes

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Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta

Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta
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Toss juicy blackberries with shredded mint leaves, tangy feta and pickled onions for a surprisingly delicious combination. The salad pairs perfectly with grilled meats.

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Homemade Herb Vinegars

Homemade Herb Vinegars
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Do you have a bounty of herbs in your backyard? Use them to make simple herb-infused vinegars. They're great for salad dressings and marinades and make wonderful gifts.

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Rice and Red Bean Salad

Rice and Red Bean Salad
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Chili powder and cumin flavor this hearty, nutritious Tex-Mex dish from The Spice House in Milwaukee.

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Clementine and Avocado Salad with Hummus Dressing

Clementine and Avocado Salad with Hummus Dressing
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Creamy avocado, bright clementines, tangy red onions and crisp greens create a colorful bed for hummus-yogurt dressing.

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    1 of 36 Superfood Salad
    2 of 36 Summer Chicken Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
    3 of 36 Basil Fruit Salad with Cottage Cheese
    4 of 36 Roasted Pear Salad with Farro and Arugula
    5 of 36 Citrus Salmon Salad
    6 of 36 Spring Fattoush
    7 of 36 Dilly Chickpea and Radish Salad
    8 of 36 Steakhouse Salad with Ribeye and Blue Cheese
    9 of 36 Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta
    10 of 36 Panzanella (Bread Salad) with Summer Vegetables
    11 of 36 Basic Chicken Salad
    12 of 36 Kale Salad
    13 of 36 Spring Revival Couscous Salad with Filet Mignon
    14 of 36 Strawberry and Arugula Salad with Manchego Fricos
    15 of 36 Baby Spinach Salad with Cumin Couscous and Bulgur
    16 of 36 Grandma's Potato Salad
    17 of 36 Nutty Apple-Cherry Slaw
    18 of 36 Tomato Salad with Edamame Succotash
    19 of 36 Sunny Broccoli Salad
    20 of 36 Lemon-Avocado Chicken Salad
    21 of 36 Thai Beef and Noodle Salad
    22 of 36 Boston Lettuce Stacks with Grilled Peaches, Feta and Pecans
    23 of 36 Fresh Taco Salad
    24 of 36 Greek Orzo Salad
    25 of 36 Classic Potato Salad
    26 of 36 Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad with Walnut Pesto
    27 of 36 Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad
    28 of 36 Deviled Egg Macaroni Pasta Salad
    29 of 36 Chicken Taco Salad
    30 of 36 Grapefruit and Kiwifruit Salad
    31 of 36 Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad
    32 of 36 Crisp Portobello Mushroom and Spring Carrot Salad
    33 of 36 Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta
    34 of 36 Homemade Herb Vinegars
    35 of 36 Rice and Red Bean Salad
    36 of 36 Clementine and Avocado Salad with Hummus Dressing

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