60 Best Salad Recipes – A Couple Cooks

This chopped salad will amaze everyone around the table! There’s our homemade Italian dressing, tangy, savory, herby and balanced. Add to that shallots, tomatoes, cucumber, and a zing from pepperoncini.

Next up in our best easy salad recipes: are you ready for the best way to eat kale? With this flavor popping Italian-style dressing of lemon, Parmesan cheese, and garlic, the bitter flavor of kale is mellowed and melds beautifully with the other flavors.

Meet the perfect Caesar salad! The savory, creamy dressing will instantly become a household favorite, paired with garlicky croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese.

This arugula salad is quite possibly the easiest salad recipe you’ll make! You don’t even have to make a salad dressing. Dress baby arugula simply with olive oil and lemon juice, then add Parmesan shavings and thinly sliced shallots. It pairs especially well with soups, pasta and pizza!

Also try: Arugula Beet Salad

Crisp tart apple slices pair with pops of pomegranate seeds, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy, cinnamon-spiced pecans. Toss them all over fresh greens with a zingy maple and apple cider vinegar dressing. 

Also try: Apple Walnut Salad

This salad stars crunchy veggies like cucumber and onion, salty pops of feta cheese and Kalamata olives, and handfuls of fresh herbs. Top it off with our Greek Salad Dressing. (You can also add chicken, salmon, shrimp, or tofu to make it dinner.)

Classic is classic for a reason, and the classic wedge salad does not disappoint. The crunch of iceberg lettuce against the creamy, savory blue cheese dressing just makes sense.

This romaine salad with pale green dressing and delicate pink radishes tastes as good as it looks. The Green Goddess dressing takes it over the top, slathering it all in herby, savory creaminess. Sprinkle with crunchy breadcrumbs, a fun alternative to croutons. 

We love a good butter lettuce salad, and this one is a favorite. The delicate lettuce leaves are irresistible coated in creamy, savory Parmesan Peppercorn dressing and topped with a few simple veggies and Parmesan shavings.

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 just about anything.

Try this endive salad: equal parts refreshing, tangy, bitter, crunchy, and tangy! Bitter endive pairs perfectly with juicy orange and a sweet tart red wine vinaigrette. Top it off with savory Parmesan shavings and crunchy almonds, and the contrasts are divine. Each bite is crunchy, sweet, savory and citrusy.

Frisée is a leafy green with a frilly texture and subtly bitter flavor, ideal for adding flair and elegance to salads. This one pairs it with the burst of juicy orange, aged Manchego cheese, and crunchy almonds, covering it all in a zingy white wine vinaigrette. 

This radicchio salad is a vibrant explosion of flavors and textures! Bitter bright purple radicchio leaves are balanced by the sweetness of ripe pears, the satisfying crunch of toasted almonds, the creamy tang of goat cheese, and a zesty citrus vinaigrette that ties it all together. 

Here’s a salad idea that’s simple yet elegant: goat cheese salad with apples and arugula! It’s simple and comes together quickly, but my does it deliver on flavor! The crunch of the apples, creamy goat cheese, and fluffy arugula are the ideal pair for the tangy sweet balsamic dressing

Ready for our favorite strawberry salad recipe? Strawberries are a natural flavor pairing with the acidity of balsamic vinegar. So for this salad, we used our favorite balsamic vinaigrette dressing to perfectly accentuate the bright red sweet berries. Paired with red onions and toasted almonds, it’s a simple and delicious side everyone loves!

Also try: Strawberry Summer Salad, Blueberry Salad, or Blackberry Salad

Here’s a dreamy salad if there ever was one: this brilliant Pear Salad! It’s a study in contrasts: fresh, juicy pear against funky gorgonzola cheese; bright pomegranate against savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and cover it in tangy poppy seed dressing, and well: it’s absolutely irresistible.

Crunchy pomegranate seeds make a beautiful confetti over the top of leafy greens. Add tart green apple slices, toasted pecans, and goat cheese or feta crumbles, and it’s a true symphony of flavor! Pick from a few different dressing choices: our favorites are apple cider vinegar dressing or pomegranate vinaigrette.

This easy salad recipe is everything a classy spinach salad should be, full of texture and flavor contrasts. There’s crunchy smoky pecans, almost bacon-like glazed with maple syrup and soy sauce. Add hard boiled eggs or a crisp-tart apple for a stunning salad.

Need a fast and easy salad recipe? Try this Spring Mix Salad! Grab a box or bag of spring mix at the store, and you barely need to think to make this salad recipe. Add a quick homemade salad dressing, like a light and tangy vinaigrette which compliments the delicate leaves perfectly.

This fennel orange salad features vibrant juicy oranges and a famous pairing: sliced raw fennel, which adds a subtle licorice essence. Throw it over greens with pistachios and shallots, and top with a zingy homemade citrus vinaigrette. Wow! There’s so much going on flavor and texture-wise, it’s a salad everyone will be talking about.

Here’s a bright, beautiful easy salad recipe that works in almost any season! It pairs the juicy citrus fruit with nutty toasted almonds, salty feta cheese and a zingy poppy seed dressing. The delicate, zingy, nut and creamy textures and flavors complement each other perfectly.

Did you know watercress is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables in the world? Pair this bitter leafy green with lemon, apple and savory Parmesan shavings and you won’t be able to resist another bite of this salad recipe!

A good salad has got to have contrasts in texture, flavor, and colors, and one great salad dressing to top it off. All in all, a best salad recipe is hard to come by! Here’s our best tossed salad recipe, complete with crunchy croutons and creamy avocado dressing.

Serve this carrot salad recipe to your friends and family, and they’ll be singing your praises! It’s simple and refreshing, featuring strings of carrots doused in a a tangy Mediterranean-style vinaigrette.

This Brussels sprout salad recipe is a study in texture contrasts: the feathery shaved Brussels, the pop of the cherries, and the bright crunch of the apple. It’s vibrant and colorful, covered in a lightly sweet vinaigrette.

Here’s a salad idea that deserves a spot on your plate: celery salad! Crunchy celery pairs perfectly with sweet apple, Parmesan shavings and a tangy vinaigrette. It’s bright, it’s crunchy, and it’s hydrating.

Try this sweet potato salad! The contrast of garlicky roasted sweet potato cubes, feathery baby arugula, cranberries and creamy goat cheese hit it out of the park. Top it with tangy honey mustard dressing.

This beet salad has all the right elements: roasted beets, baby greens, creamy goat cheese and a tangy balsamic beet dressing. Basically, salad perfection! The sweet, earthy flavor of beets pairs perfectly with the tang of our balsamic dressing: which takes just 5 minutes and 5 ingredients.

There’s something about that classic American broccoli salad recipe: you know, the one with raisins and a mayo-based dressing? It’s a retro salad, where the florets are marinaded until they’re soft and savory sweet. Our version is fresh and healthy, but it keeps all the character and deliciousness of the original.

Here’s a trick for infusing veggies into our day to day: this Chopped Vegetable Salad! It’s a mix of sturdy veggies makes the best colorful mix, tossed with a red wine vinegar dressing and a sprinkle of feta cheese. This burst of flavor tastes great right away: and even better after a few hours or days of marinating.

Classic Greek salad is a big pile of tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and Kalamata olives (no lettuce) with a big block of feta on top. Sometimes you’ll find green pepper in the mix. It’s typically then drizzled with olive oil and just a little red wine vinegar, then sprinkled with some dried oregano.

There’s no better way to showcase ripe tomatoes than a Caprese salad! This easy salad recipe represents Italian cuisine at its finest: beautiful ingredients combined in a way that’s both elegant and simple.

Also try: Peach & Burrata Caprese Salad

Want to change up your coleslaw routine? This effortless salad recipe calls for only 6 ingredients, and the only fresh ingredients are green cabbage and mint. It comes out fresh and tangy, with a lemon mint flavor that keeps eaters coming back for more.

This corn salad recipe is all about fresh flavor: sweet bursts of corn, juicy tomatoes, and herbaceous basil pair with a tangy, light vinaigrette. Top with feta cheese crumbles if you like.

Also try: Grilled Corn Salad or Elote Salad

This classic American style potato salad is the result of years of research into what makes a perfect classic potato salad. You know, that potato salad you get at the veggie deli counter? Except this one tastes even better

Also try: Creamy Cucumber Salad

Here’s a standout fall or winter salad starring everyone’s favorite ingredient: Butternut Squash Salad! This one is a symphony in a bowl: hearty sweet squash pairs with crisp apple, chewy cranberries and a citrusy orange vinaigrette.

This asparagus salad recipe has savory sauteed asparagus, cooked up in a hot pan for a few minutes then spritzed with lemon. Serve on a bed of greens and sprinkle with peppery radishes and feta crumbles. A zingy Dijon mustard dressing tops it off.

Here’s a salad recipe that will blow you away with its fresh, zingy flavor: this Simple Avocado Salad! Simple, high quality ingredients paired together make magic, and this one is all about those contrasts. Rich avocado pairs with bursts of sweet cherry tomatoes, savory onion, and a zesty citrus vinaigrette. Also try: Avocado Corn Salad or Avocado Tomato Salad

This balsamic tomato salad might sound simple, but it’s utterly divine. It’s all about simplicity: just tomatoes and herbs, marinaded in balsamic and olive oil for 30 minutes.

This French potato salad recipe stars red potatoes that are salty, tangy, and moist, mixed with just the right amount of salty capers and savory minced shallot. This one is an adaptation of Julia Child’s classic French potato salad recipe.

Want to add herbs? Try our Dill Potato Salad.

This delightful fennel salad is one anyone can enjoy despite any preconceptions, pairing the shaved raw vegetable with sweet apple, zingy lemon and savory Parmesan cheese. Delicate fennel fronds make a feathery garnish, and each bite is irresistibly crunchy with a pop of acidity.

Here’s a fun salad recipe we love to eat on repeat: Broccoli Cauliflower Salad! Crunchy broccoli and cauliflower are covered in a creamy zingy dressing, then paired with sundried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and feta cheese.

This watermelon salad recipe is truly easy: it’s just matter of chopping a few ingredients and throwing them together on a platter! Juicy watermelon and salty feta come together into something that’s out-of-this-world good! It’s a fantastic accessory for summer cookouts and potlucks.

Here’s a refreshingly simple salad recipe that’s just begging to jump on your table: citrus salad! It stars all the beautiful, vibrant citrus: tangy grapefruit, navel oranges, and sweet blood oranges. They’re drizzled with a zingy dressing, then topped crushed pistachios and fresh mint.

This lentil salad recipe has flavor that pops with tangy and savory notes: tender lentils coated in zippy white wine vinegar Dijon dressing, with crunchy cucumber and salty feta. It stays flavorful in the fridge for days, making leftovers even better. 

Here’s a fresh spin on that classic three bean salad! This American classic has been gracing tables for generations, and everyone has their own take on it. Here’s our spin with a little less sugar and more freshness.

This black bean and corn salad comes together in no time, no chopping required! It’s a quick way to get fresh food on the table.

Here’s an easy, healthy salad you can make in 5 minutes! Throw canned chickpeas together with cucumber and red pepper, stir with olive oil and red wine vinegar, and you’ve got a delicious Mediterranean-style salad.

Here’s a fresh, delicious and ultra versatile salad recipe: this deli-style quinoa salad! This recipe is delightfully refreshing, a jumble of crunchy, colorful veggies, fluffy quinoa grains, and a zingy Dijon mustard vinaigrette.

Need a hearty side salad or a fun lunch salad? Here’s a recipe that works as both: this farro salad! This one is our ultimate, pairing the whole grain with juicy tomatoes, earthy mushrooms, feathery arugula, savory pops of cheese, and a zingy vinaigrette.

This barley salad is irresistibly fresh and tasty! Barley might sound like an unexpected ingredient for a salad, but this whole grain is ideal. Its chewy texture and nutty flavor are the perfect contrast to crunchy veggies, garlic, herbs, and lemon olive oil dressing.

Couscous is not a grain: it’s actually pasta! But due to its size, it’s more like a grain salad in vibe than a pasta salad. This colorful couscous salad recipe tastes irresistibly fresh with herbs, garlic, and lemon! It’s ideal as a side dish, lunches, picnics or potlucks.

This wild rice salad recipe is simple and bursting with flavor, with crunchy veggies, pecans, cranberries, a zingy dressing, and feta cheese!

This pasta salad recipe is bursting with flavor! It’s easy to mix up with veggies, herbs, and a tangy Italian dressing. This makes a big batch and is a family favorite!

Here’s a pasta salad recipe that’s ultra versatile for picnics, barbecues, and an easy lunch idea! The tang of the artichoke, chewy pillowy pasta, zippy tomatoes, and peppery basil come together beautifully. It stores up to 4 days in the fridge, making it a perfect easy lunch.

This creamy pesto pasta salad recipe is easy and bursting with herby flavor from fresh pesto! It’s the perfect easy summer side dish.

This orzo pasta salad recipe is flavor packed and a great side dish or lunch! It’s loaded with fresh veggies, herbs, and salty feta cheese.

Get ready for a tangy twist on a classic summer dish! This dill pickle pasta salad recipe combines the crunch of pickles with creamy dressing and fresh herbs for a potluck-perfect side dish. Ideal for pickle lovers!

Here’s our go-to when it comes to pasta salad recipes: this Greek Pasta Salad! It pairs chewy bowtie pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber, salty olives and feta with generous handfuls of parsley, dill, and a Greek-style vinaigrette dressing.