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Are you tired of the same old lettuce-based salads? Switch things up with a delicious salad without lettuce. These recipes use ingredients like chickpeas, spinach, cucumbers and broccoli as the base to create a flavorful salad that’s anything but traditional. Try these veggie-packed salads for lunch, dinner or as a side dish. Recipes like our Loaded Broccoli Salad and Creamy Cucumber, Radish & Tomato Chopped Salad will surely jazz up your routine.We also like these salads for picnics, potlucks, book club meetings, backyard BBQs and other events, as they’re easy to double to satisfy a crowd. Many of these salads have ingredients that could bolster the wow factor with colorful fresh fruit, such as fresh-cut strawberries, grapes, watermelon or persimmons. If serving for dinner, you can quickly round them out with a fresh baguette or dinner rolls, or if they don’t come with a protein, you can serve them with grilledsalmon, chicken, tofu orshrimp.Many of these lettuce-free salads can easily be made a day ahead, and they store well in the fridge in an airtight container for a few days. If there are a lot of wet ingredients, we always like to separate them and assemble everything when it’s time to serve. Of course, that goes for dressings, too.
Are you tired of the same old lettuce-based salads? Switch things up with a delicious salad without lettuce. These recipes use ingredients like chickpeas, spinach, cucumbers and broccoli as the base to create a flavorful salad that’s anything but traditional. Try these veggie-packed salads for lunch, dinner or as a side dish. Recipes like our Loaded Broccoli Salad and Creamy Cucumber, Radish & Tomato Chopped Salad will surely jazz up your routine.
We also like these salads for picnics, potlucks, book club meetings, backyard BBQs and other events, as they’re easy to double to satisfy a crowd. Many of these salads have ingredients that could bolster the wow factor with colorful fresh fruit, such as fresh-cut strawberries, grapes, watermelon or persimmons. If serving for dinner, you can quickly round them out with a fresh baguette or dinner rolls, or if they don’t come with a protein, you can serve them with grilledsalmon, chicken, tofu orshrimp.
Many of these lettuce-free salads can easily be made a day ahead, and they store well in the fridge in an airtight container for a few days. If there are a lot of wet ingredients, we always like to separate them and assemble everything when it’s time to serve. Of course, that goes for dressings, too.
01of 17Green Goddess Salad with ChickpeasView RecipeIn this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.
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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas
View Recipe
In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.
02of 17Loaded Broccoli SaladView RecipePhotographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly RaibikisThis is the broccoli salad you will get special requests for. The combination of bacon, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions and cheddar is hard to resist. And the addition of rice vinegar or cider vinegar sharpens all the flavors.
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Loaded Broccoli Salad
Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly Raibikis
This is the broccoli salad you will get special requests for. The combination of bacon, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions and cheddar is hard to resist. And the addition of rice vinegar or cider vinegar sharpens all the flavors.
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Chopped Salad with Chickpeas, Olives & Feta
Kelsey Hansen
04of 17Tortellini SaladView RecipeA tomato-rich dressing boosts the flavor and lowers calories and fat in this tortellini salad (the dressing is also great on green salads or grilled fish). Roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes add a good dose of vitamins A, C and fiber.
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Tortellini Salad
A tomato-rich dressing boosts the flavor and lowers calories and fat in this tortellini salad (the dressing is also great on green salads or grilled fish). Roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes add a good dose of vitamins A, C and fiber.
05of 17Creamy Cucumber, Radish & Tomato Chopped SaladView RecipeA mix of cool, crunchy vegetables gives this healthy salad satisfying bite for a perfect potluck side.
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Creamy Cucumber, Radish & Tomato Chopped Salad
A mix of cool, crunchy vegetables gives this healthy salad satisfying bite for a perfect potluck side.
06of 17Tomato, Watermelon & Avocado SaladView RecipeEnjoy this refreshing healthy salad recipe as a side dish or dice the tomatoes, watermelon and avocado smaller (1/2- to 1/4-inch pieces) and serve as a condiment for grilled fish, shrimp or chicken.
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Tomato, Watermelon & Avocado Salad
Enjoy this refreshing healthy salad recipe as a side dish or dice the tomatoes, watermelon and avocado smaller (1/2- to 1/4-inch pieces) and serve as a condiment for grilled fish, shrimp or chicken.
07of 17Radish, Celery & Cucumber SaladView RecipeEva KolenkoIt’s worth using that special bottle of olive oil and seeking out Parmigiano-Reggiano, which is bolder than basic Parm, for this simple salad. Use a mandoline to shave the veggies if you have one.
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Radish, Celery & Cucumber Salad
Eva Kolenko
It’s worth using that special bottle of olive oil and seeking out Parmigiano-Reggiano, which is bolder than basic Parm, for this simple salad. Use a mandoline to shave the veggies if you have one.
08of 17Avocado Caprese SaladView RecipePhotographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine KeelyThis avocado caprese salad has all the flavors of a classic caprese salad with the addition of creamy avocado. The sweet and tangy balsamic dressing pulls everything together, with fresh basil adding a refreshing pop of color. Add capers for an even bigger flavor.
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Avocado Caprese Salad
Photographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine Keely
This avocado caprese salad has all the flavors of a classic caprese salad with the addition of creamy avocado. The sweet and tangy balsamic dressing pulls everything together, with fresh basil adding a refreshing pop of color. Add capers for an even bigger flavor.
09of 17Marinated Cucumber & Tomato SaladView RecipeAndrea MathisThis marinated salad is such a healthy way to enjoy those fresh summer veggies and can be easily customized. Try adding in some fresh herbs or feta cheese for a little added flavor. You can also swap in seasoned pepper in place of plain ground pepper, too. This recipe is part of ourJuneteenth Family Cookout Menu.
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Marinated Cucumber & Tomato Salad
Andrea Mathis
This marinated salad is such a healthy way to enjoy those fresh summer veggies and can be easily customized. Try adding in some fresh herbs or feta cheese for a little added flavor. You can also swap in seasoned pepper in place of plain ground pepper, too. This recipe is part of ourJuneteenth Family Cookout Menu.
10of 17Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom SaladView RecipeShaving the vegetables for this easy salad recipe makes them deliciously tender-crisp without having to cook anything and helps them stand up to the bright homemade vinaigrette and salty Parmesan cheese.
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Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom Salad
Shaving the vegetables for this easy salad recipe makes them deliciously tender-crisp without having to cook anything and helps them stand up to the bright homemade vinaigrette and salty Parmesan cheese.
11of 17Cucumber Vinegar SaladView RecipePhotographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth BlackburnThis cucumber vinegar salad has the perfect balance between sweet and sour flavors, plus a hint of fresh dill. The red onion adds a nice crunch. Enjoy this salad right after you’re done making it or store it away to snack on for later.
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Cucumber Vinegar Salad
Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn
This cucumber vinegar salad has the perfect balance between sweet and sour flavors, plus a hint of fresh dill. The red onion adds a nice crunch. Enjoy this salad right after you’re done making it or store it away to snack on for later.
12of 17Strawberry-Balsamic Spinach Salad with ChickenView RecipeBlaine MoatsA quick blender vinaigrette does double duty as dressing for this strawberry spinach salad and, with the addition of ketchup and strawberry preserves, as a barbecue sauce for the tenders.
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Strawberry-Balsamic Spinach Salad with Chicken
Blaine Moats
A quick blender vinaigrette does double duty as dressing for this strawberry spinach salad and, with the addition of ketchup and strawberry preserves, as a barbecue sauce for the tenders.
13of 17Broccoli & Grape SaladView RecipeAn unlikely pairing of grapes and broccoli creates an out-of-the-ordinary quick side dish. The sweet snappy bite of the grapes complements the crispy raw broccoli and onion, while the creamy dressing and toasted almonds pull it all together. Enjoy it for lunch or double the recipe for an easy potluck recipe everyone will love.
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Broccoli & Grape Salad
An unlikely pairing of grapes and broccoli creates an out-of-the-ordinary quick side dish. The sweet snappy bite of the grapes complements the crispy raw broccoli and onion, while the creamy dressing and toasted almonds pull it all together. Enjoy it for lunch or double the recipe for an easy potluck recipe everyone will love.
14of 17Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & PistachiosView RecipePrecooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup!
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Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios
Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup!
15of 17Lemony Lentil Salad with FetaView RecipeJason DonnellyThis delicious and healthy lentil salad comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a wonderful hot-weather meal. Serve with whole-wheat pita, if desired.
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Lemony Lentil Salad with Feta
Jason Donnelly
This delicious and healthy lentil salad comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a wonderful hot-weather meal. Serve with whole-wheat pita, if desired.
16of 17Chickpea Tuna SaladView RecipePhotography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth BlackburnThis chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).
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Chickpea Tuna Salad
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
This chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).
17of 17Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima BeansView RecipeJacob FoxThis salad is loaded with colorful produce: fresh mint, snap peas, radishes and oranges. For pretty snap pea slices, cut them into long, thin strips.
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Orange-Mint Freekeh Salad with Lima Beans
Jacob Fox
This salad is loaded with colorful produce: fresh mint, snap peas, radishes and oranges. For pretty snap pea slices, cut them into long, thin strips.
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