Find over 15 of the best Satisfying Salad Ideas for Dinner you can whip up in minutes and fit in some extra veggies with flavorful meals you’ll love!
Pin this recipe now to save it for later
Pin RecipeOur Favorite Salad Ideas for Dinner
From a take on a traditional Waldorf Salad to a broccoli salad to an antipasto-inspired Italian pasta salad, we’ve got you covered.
Whether you’re looking for a side to serve at a BBQ or want to make a bowl of salad your main attraction for dinner, read on for some of our favorite satisfying salad ideas you can put together tonight!
1. Waldorf Salad
A traditional Waldorf salad is packed with chopped apples and grapes and is dressed with lemon juice and mayonnaise. Add grilled chicken to make a complete meal that’s delicious and fresh.
2. Summer Pasta Salad
Loaded with veggies like cherry tomatoes and artichokes, this pasta salad is filling enough to be your main dinner entree.
3. Crusted Chicken Cobb Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
This crusted chicken cobb salad is a one-bowl meal! There are enough vegetables to make you feel good, plus hard-boiled eggs for extra protein along with the chicken. It’s finished with an irresistible honey mustard dressing.
4. Potato Salad
Potato salad is a great side dish. However, when you pair it with meat like ham or burgers it’s enough to round out your dinner plate. Plus, you can make it in advance and eat it whenever you want. It’s always a hit when you’re looking for a salad idea for dinner!
5. Ham Salad
Speaking of ham, this delicious ham salad is a great way to use up leftover ham. Toast a few slices of crusty French bread, and serve ham salad toast with a bowl of homemade soup for dinner.
6. Corn Salad
Fresh corn salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, avocado, and feta cheese makes the most of summer’s bounty. It’s light and delicious, especially served with fresh bread.
7. Brussels Sprouts Salad
One of our favorite salad ideas for dinner in the fall! Loaded up with fall favorites like roasted butternut squash, apples, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate, and lots of Brussels Sprouts, this salad is packed with harvest season flavors.
8. Summer Cobb Salad
This delicious version of a Cobb Salad uses pre-cooked grilled chicken to keep prep a breeze. Top it with hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese, raspberries, blackberries, avocado, and roasted almonds to make it a super satisfying dinner.
Simple Salad Ideas For Dinner
9. Kale Salad with Cheese Crisps
Looking for salad ideas for dinner that are super satisfying, but also easy? Take a bag of pre-washed baby kale, and top it with some tasty homemade cheese crisps and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Tonight’s dinner is easy, wholesome, and done!
10. Cucumber Salad
If you have cucumbers in the fridge you can make cucumber salad. Just a few ingredients come together with a sweet-sour dressing for a delicious salad you can serve alongside pretty much anything.
11. Broccoli Salad
Raw broccoli meets sunflower seeds, cheese, and bacon in this hearty salad. Our recipe below includes directions for a perfect mayo-based dressing to drizzle over the top. Every bite is packed with creamy, crunchy goodness.
12. Tuna Salad Sandwich
Yes, it’s still technically a salad! Our tuna salad sandwich recipe is so good you’ll want to serve it at dinnertime, too.
13. Antipasto Salad
Antipasto salad is often served before a meal. However, there’s so much goodness packed into one bowl that you could serve it for dinner alone. Veggies, meat, and cheese with a tangy dressing make this recipe hard to resist.
14. Italian Pasta Salad
Italian pasta salad is like antipasto salad but with added pasta! It’s full of cooked pasta, black olives, peppers, tomatoes, red onions, meat, and cheese. Dressed with zesty Italian dressing before serving, it’s hearty, flavorful, and oh-so-tasty.
15. Pea Salad
It may sound funny to use frozen peas in a salad, but trust me, this is a winner. The crunchy peas play off the salty bacon and cheddar cheese. Then, chopped red onions and a tangy sour cream dressing finish it off.
16. Spaghetti Salad
Another one-dish meal, this spaghetti salad is full of veggies. You can add any vegetables or meat you like, and it’s perfect when served straight from the fridge. We love this at summertime BBQs!
17. Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe
Who says pasta salad can’t be a main meal? Turn the side dish into the main course with this bow tie pasta salad. While it isn’t a traditional salad with all the fixings, it will make for one tasty meal.
18. Orange Fluff Salad
Don’t knock on this orange fluff salad until you try it. This orange salad is closer to a fruit salad than a salad full of veggies. However, the sweetness of the salad isn’t overpowering and will leave you feeling super satisfied.
19. Doritos Taco Salad
If you love adding a good crunch to your salad, you’ll be all in on this Doritos taco salad. The recipe combines all the delicious fixings of a taco. However, instead of tortillas, we combine everything in a bowl with Doritos. It’s quick, easy, and always crowd-pleasing!
20. Ramen Noodle Salad
Send your tastebuds on a wild ride with this ramen noodle salad. The Asian-inspired recipe has a wide range of flavors that balance out in the best way possible. Each bite is tangy, sweet, salty, and full of sastisying texture.
Tasty Salad Ideas For Dinner
21. Greek Salad
Take a trip to Greece all without leaving your kitchen with this Greek salad dish. The salad loads up on cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, olives, peppers, and more to make to turn the light fare into a hearty meal.
22. Everyday Salad
We’ve all had those nights where we want something light to eat but can’t decide what to make. Enter this everyday salad. It’s simple, quick, and easy to make. Plus, it’s flavorful and nutritious, making it excellent for a main dinner dish. You can even add chicken or shrimp to make it more filling.
23. Big Italian Salad
You can’t go wrong when it comes to a big Italian salad. This is typically served as a side dish with a large pasta dinner. However, it’s good enough to shine on its own and become the main meal. Top the salad with grilled chicken to make it even heartier.
24. Green Salad
Sometimes, salads don’t have to be all fussy. Just look at this green salad, for example. This simple recipe pairs mixed greens with tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, parmesan, and more to make a simple yet filling meal.
25. Watermelon and Feta Salad
Save this recipe for the summer months when watermelon is at its peak. The juicy fruit pairs with cucumbers and feta for a combination that is out of this world. It’s a dish that will be hard to put down.
26. Tomato Salad
Take advantage of juicy, ripe tomatoes with this savory tomato salad! It comes together in minutes and is full of nutrients to keep you full. If you want to bulk it up a bit, feel free to add your favorite protein, too.
FAQs
Yes! A salad is a great meal to have for dinner. Load it up with veggies and proteins to make sure it is filling for a full meal. All of the recipes above will give you great inspiration for your next meal.
When it comes to salads, there are many you can choose from. Salads tend to fall into five categories, including green salad, bound, vegetable, fruit, or combination.
If you find that your salad is not enough for dinner, pair it with a dinner roll or even a bowl of soup.
