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Tired of the usual lettuce salads? There are lots of great recipes for salads without lettuce. Whether you’re craving a hearty main dish or a tasty side, there’s something for everyone. These salads are packed with chicken, tuna, beans, and tons of fresh veggies. Plus, with no wilted lettuce, you can make them ahead of time. The Italian panzanella salad is always a crowd pleaser.
Italian Panzanella Salad
Panzanella salad is a refreshing summer side dish that combines juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and chunks of crusty bread, all tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. It’s the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats and a delightful way to enjoy the flavors of the season.
Get the Recipe: Italian Panzanella Salad
Shaved Brussels Sprout Slaw
If you’re searching for an alternative to coleslaw, consider trying this Brussels sprout slaw. Made with a combination of shaved Brussels sprouts and cabbage and dressed with a tangy lemon apple cider vinaigrette, this is one of those salad recipes that is the perfect side dish for BBQs and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprout Slaw
Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso
This colourful, flavourful Italian rice salad is perfect for a picnic, potluck, summer BBQ, or as a versatile side dish for a simple lunch or dinner. Every mouthful of this Mediterranean brown rice salad is bursting with fresh ingredients such as tasty salad vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso
Heirloom Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad
This authentic Italian burrata caprese salad is a delicious side dish or appetizer that features heirloom tomatoes and creamy burrata cheese with balsamic vinegar and truffle salt for added flavor. With every bite, you’ll savor the delicious flavors of this simple yet impressive dish.
Get the Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad
Sesame Avocado Asian Chicken Salad
This Asian chicken salad with honey ginger dressing is a delicious and easy meal salad that can be enjoyed year-round. Loaded with chicken, cabbage, avocado, carrots, edamame beans, almonds, green onions, and cilantro, it’s a must-try recipe that can be customized with sesame sticks or other toppings.
Get the Recipe: Sesame Avocado Asian Chicken Salad
Asian Zoodle Salad
Asian zoodles salad is a wonderful blend of zoodle, or spiralized zucchini noodles along with other vegetables and an Asian-inspired dressing. Have it for lunch or pair it with your preferred protein as a side dish.
Get the Recipe: Asian Zoodle
Green Goddess Salad
There’s a reason this green goddess salad has gone viral on Tik Tok, and that’s because it’s delicious. You will love every element from the colorful, crunchy salad mixture to the garlic, cashew, spinach, and parmesan dressing.
Get the Recipe: Green Goddess Salad
Cranberry Jello Salad With Mandarins and Pineapple
If you’re planning your Thanksgiving dinner spread, don’t forget the homemade cranberry jello salad with pineapple and oranges! This recipe is made with jello, giving it a different consistency, and the fruity taste goes perfectly with your Thanksgiving turkey!
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Jello Salad With Mandarins and Pineapple
Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad
This refreshing watermelon feta cucumber salad is a colorful and easy-to-make side dish that combines sweet, savory, and tangy flavors inspired by Greek cuisine. With only four ingredients for the salad and 3 for the dressing, this easy salad recipe is quick and easy to make, perfect for a last-minute addition to any meal.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Cooked quinoa is a great base for a tasty salad. It’s filling, tasty and pairs wonderfully with the fresh ingredients used. It’s a versatile recipe and you can enjoy the Mediterranean quinoa salad as a side dish or as a main course.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Asian Cucumber Salad
Our simple Asian cucumber salad is a light and refreshing side dish made from fresh cucumbers, crunchy peanuts, and a sweet and spicy dressing.
Get the Recipe: Asian Cucumber Salad
Pea Salad
If you want to offer a simple salad with Thanksgiving, you can’t go wrong with this pea salad. It has a creamy dressing that pairs perfectly with tender peas, and salty bacon.
Get the Recipe: Pea Salad
Marinated Tomato Basil Salad
This Marinated Tomato Salad is full of fresh flavor and can be used in many ways as a side dish or a topping for chicken, beef, or fish. You’ll be enjoying this simple tomato salad all summer long.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Tomato Basil Salad
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
This easy Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is a cinch to make and it’s packed with flavor. Using lots of herbs really fills it with seasonal goodness.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Cannellini Bean Salad
This cannellini bean salad is packed with Italian flavors and ready in less than 10 minutes! Learn how to make this authentic recipe as a side or appetizer for your al fresco dinners.
Get the Recipe: Cannellini Bean Salad
Pesto Rice Salad With Tuna
Pesto rice salad is a refreshing Mediterranean dish that is perfect to make ahead and enjoy on one of those lazy, warm days. This salad is a perfect weeknight light meal or a side for your favorite mains. It is easy, quick, and so flavorful!
Get the Recipe: Pesto Rice Salad With Tuna
White Bean Antipasto Salad
For a quick and easy dish, make this white bean antipasto salad. Bold flavors of bright and briny ingredients that need very little prep.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Antipasto Salad
Easy Canned Chicken Salad
Make the most of your pantry staples with this canned chicken salad. It’s a quick and satisfying lunch – no cooking required. Scoop it onto crackers, serve it on a sandwich, or add it to a mixed greens salad.
Get the Recipe: Easy Canned Chicken Salad
Italian Seafood Salad Recipe
This Italian seafood salad recipe is filled with seven different types of seafood and flavored simply. The best addition to your Italian Christmas eve dinner and for the feast of seven fishes.
Get the Recipe: Italian Seafood Salad Recipe
Italian Tomato Salad (Insalata di Pomodori)
This simple Italian tomato salad can be ready in just 10 minutes! It is fresh, sweet, and with a tangy kick, perfect to pair with your favorite proteins.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tomato Salad (Insalata di Pomodori)
Tahini Salad (Levantine Salata With Cucumber And Tomato)
This Tahini Salad recipe is so incredibly easy to make it comes together in under 15 minutes. Pair it with a hearty main dish or grilled and fried seafood. It’s also very adaptable and you can modify it to suit your tastes.
Get the Recipe: Tahini Salad (Levantine Salata With Cucumber And Tomato)
Black Bean Fiesta Salad
This nutritious, delicious and colorful Fiesta Salad combines fresh vegetables with canned beans and tangy Mexican flavors. It’s a great make-ahead or meal-prep salad recipe. I promise you’ll keep coming back to it again and again.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Fiesta Salad
Mediterranean Eggplant Chickpea Salad
Mediterranean Eggplant Chickpea Salad features tomatoes, pine nuts, and fresh basil in a simple vinaigrette. It’s made with thin, quick-cooking Japanese eggplant that are grilled to bring out their sweet flavor. Easy to prepare in under half an hour, this hearty summer salad is perfect for picnics, barbecues, and delicious meals any day of the week.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Eggplant Chickpea Salad
Moroccan Carrot And Orange Salad
Bursting with flavor from fresh herbs, cinnamon, and cumin, this vegan shredded carrot and orange salad is easy to make in 15 minutes. Moroccan Carrot Salad is light and refreshing and complements a variety of dishes. Enjoy it any time of year as a starter or side.
Get the Recipe: Moroccan Carrot And Orange Salad
Turkey Salad Recipe
This turkey salad is a blend of diced turkey and colorful veggies, all tossed in a savory creamy dressing. A super easy and delicious way to use up leftover turkey with plenty of options to customize the flavors!
Get the Recipe: Turkey Salad Recipe
Black Eyed Pea Salad With Collard Greens
Black eyed pea salad with collard greens is a vegan side dish of black eyed peas tossed with garlic-ginger vinaigrette and fresh veggies. This recipe is a great option for outdoor dining since it contains no dairy. If you love black eyed peas, this flavorful, fresh take on them will soon become a favorite.
Get the Recipe: Black Eyed Pea Salad With Collard Greens
Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Fresh, vibrant, crunchy and delicious Sugar Snap Pea Salad with a fresh and zingy lemon, mustard, garlic vinaigrette. It makes a great warm-weather side or light meal.
Get the Recipe: Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Black Bean Squash Corn Salad with Grapefruit Crema
This Black Bean Squash Corn Salad with Grapefruit Crema tossed with a cumin citrus vinaigrette and topped with pepitas and Manchego cheese.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Squash Corn Salad with Grapefruit Crema
Easy Edamame Salad
A balance of Mediterranean flavors comes together in this Easy Edamame Salad recipe. No need to travel to the Mediterranean to enjoy a healthy, super simple salad that starts with frozen, shelled edamame, a jar of whole Kalamata olives, feta cheese and your favorite salad dressing. Much like Blue Cheese Vinaigrette dressing, this edamame salad is simply tangy and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Easy Edamame Salad
Whole Roasted Beet Salad
If you’re a beet lover and looking for an easy Beet Salad Recipe without Cheese, this is “the one” that will steal your heart. This delicious Whole Roasted Beet Salad Recipe with Balsamic Vinaigrette is a simple side dish that will compliment any healthy meal you’re making.
Get the Recipe: Whole Roasted Beet Salad
Tepary Bean Salad With Cumin Vinaigrette
Summer is the perfect time to gather with friends and family for outdoor activities, and what better way to bring everyone together than with a colorful salad? This recipe for vegan Tepary Bean Salad with cumin vinaigrette is refreshing and tasty, making it the perfect addition to any summer gathering!
Get the Recipe: Tepary Bean Salad With Cumin Vinaigrette
Dill Pickle Salad
Here’s a dill pickle pasta salad with a creamy dressing that pops with a tangy, sweet, and sour balance. This zesty salad is loaded with flavor and crunch and it is heartier enough to enjoy as a main dish.
Get the Recipe: Dill Pickle Salad
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.