Salads Without Lettuce
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When you think of salads, what’s the first thing you think of? Probably a caesar salad or maybe a traditional Greek salad, right? Or maybe you’re thinking of one of my favorites, the Little Gem Salad.
While these salads are delicious, I feel that Salads Without Lettuce, while packed with flavor, are easily overlooked.
Some of my favorite salads skip the lettuce! Instead they use fruit, like this Citrus Avocado Salad, or pasta like this Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad, or even extra veggies like this Vegan Broccoli Salad.
Fruit Salads Without Lettuce
Adding juicy fruit to your salad is not only nutritious but also adds a delicious and fresh flavor that you wouldn’t get from a regular salad without fruit.
Here are some of my favorite summer and year-round salad easy recipes!
Quinoa Apple Salad
Perfect for bringing to work when you need something to fill you up, but it won’t give you the afternoon sugar crash! This easy high protein salad will keep you full all day!
Watermelon Feta Salad
This salad with mint wins over a crowd of any size. If you’re looking to dress up fresh watermelon this recipe is for you!
Asian Cucumber Salad
Asian Cucumber Salad is a quick and easy snack or side dish. It’s refreshing, zesty, and delicious, and you can whip it up in just a few minutes.
Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Craving something a little sweet but also savory? This salad is perfect for you. Topped with a honey lime dressing, this crunchy salad is ideal for adding to a meal or eating on its own.
Fresh Watermelon Mozzarella Salad
This is perfect to cool you down on a hot summer day. A thick watermelon slice topped with mozzarella, fresh basil, and a balsamic vinegar glaze is perfect for enjoying by the pool or an outdoor get together with friends.
Vegan Brussels Sprouts Salad
There is nothing better than a light, crunchy salad, especially when it’s quick to make and full of nutritious and fresh ingredients. Perfect for making ahead or meal prepping at the beginning of the week!
Fresh Mango Salad with Avocado
This mango salad is filled with delicious summer ingredients that will cool you down on a hot day by the pool. With chunks of mango, avocado, crisp cucumber, and peppers topped with a tangy lime dressing, this salad is perfect for a beautiful side salad or even as a main meal.
Cauliflower Cashew Confetti Salad
This brightly colored salad is packed full of crunchy ingredients and topped with a delicious lemon shallot dressing. This salad is perfect as a side dish and adds color to your summer meal!
Broccoli Crunch Salad with Apples & Almonds
Two things that make a perfect salad – light and crunchy. This Broccoli Crunch Salad with Apples and Almonds proves that theory right! With sliced apples, grated carrots, and toasted almonds, this salad is easy to make and a perfect dish for meal prepping.
Pomegranate Couscous Salad
This Pomegranate Couscous Salad is light, bright, and a perfect side dish for this holiday season! This salad is easy to make ahead and will keep you full all day long!
Pasta or Bean Salads Without Lettuce
Adding a carb, like pasta or beans, to a salad can really change it up a bit. Whether it’s a cold salad or warm salad, here are some of my favorite pasta or bean salad recipes!
Cheeseburger Pasta Salad
This 20 minute Cheeseburger Pasta Salad is so easy to throw together and even tastes great the next day! Serve it as a main dish or side!
Mediterranean Gluten Free Pasta Salad
This Mediterranean Gluten Free Pasta Salad is super easy to make and full of delicious flavors! Using fresh ingredients, this refreshing salad is perfect for lunch or as a side dish.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Refreshing and flavorful, this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is packed with deliciously salty and sour dill pickle flavor!
Taco Pasta Salad
Easy and uniquely delicious, this easy Taco Pasta Salad recipe is perfect for a flavorful side dish or even a light and tasty entree! You’ll love the classic taco flavors combined with your favorite pasta for a satisfying dish.
Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
This Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad is s simple yet elegant main dish made with bright lemony flavors and fresh dill. Serve it at your next dinner party or pack it up for your weekly meal prep!
Goat Cheese Orzo Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is great to serve for gatherings any time of year. Made with diced asparagus and creamy goat cheese, your guests will absolutely love this orzo pasta salad recipe.
BLT Pasta Salad
This super easy, 20-minute BLT Pasta Salad is fantastic as a picnic or cookout side dish, but I love serving it as a main course in the summer too.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Mexican street corn pasta salad is the best pasta salad! Cotija cheese, charred corn, jalapeño, and a zesty crema dressing makes it so tasty!
Creamy Bacon Blue Cheese Pasta Salad
Taking a spin on regular pasta salad, this Creamy Bacon Blue Cheese Pasta Salad is a perfect side dish for an outdoor BBQ. The best thing about this salad? It keeps getting better over time!
Crab Pasta Salad
This Crab Pasta Salad recipe gives you that luxurious taste, but at a fraction of the cost. Using only five ingredients, this will quickly become one of your favorite seafood easy pasta salad!
Italian White Bean Salad
This bean salad is packed with flavor and can be ready in under 20 minutes. This unique salad with Salsa Verde Dressing is a great lunch or side dish option!
Homemade Black Bean Salad
This Easy Homemade Black Bean Salad is full of vibrant colors and crunchy veggies! This delicious no-lettuce salad is best served at room temperature and kid approved!
Chicken Caprese Salad with Creamy Basil Pesto
This Chicken Caprese Salad with Creamy Basil Pesto will quickly become your go to salad for any occasion. Delicious, flavorful, and filling – grab a glass of wine and enjoy this mouthwatering salad.
Kidney Bean Salad
This vegan, protein-packed Kidney Bean Salad is perfect for an on-the-go lunch. Full of bright and fun flavors, this healthy salad will keep you full all day but without the afternoon crash.
Thai Chicken Veggie Noodle Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing
This Thai Chicken Veggie Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce is perfect for when you want a healthy salad but without lettuce. With creamy peanut sauce, crunchy veggies, and noodles, this low-calorie chicken salad is great for on the go or even a fresh dinner idea.
Easy Chickpea “Chicken” Salad
Easy Chickpea “Chicken” Salad is packed full of flavor and is completely vegan. Healthy, gluten-free, and packed full of protein, this chickpea salad will keep you full of energy all day!
Cold Spaghetti Salad
This Cold Spaghetti Pasta is a quick and colorful salad that works well for lunch, dinner, or even to feed large groups! This salad is perfect for a hot summer day with fresh vegetables and topped with a light Italian dressing.
Salads With Corn
Zucchini Salad
This is a refreshing summer salad made with fresh zucchini, yellow squash, sweet corn, fresh herbs, marinated red onions, and mozzarella. It’s ready in under 30 minutes!
Avocado Corn Salad
This is the perfect bright summer salad loaded with grilled corn, creamy avocado, cherry tomatoes, all tied together with a creamy dressing.
Summer Corn Salad
Full of fresh veggies and topped with a homemade basil vinaigrette, this simple Summer Corn Salad will quickly become your go-to for those hot summer days.
Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad
This non-lettuce salad is full of flavor and ready in 20 minutes. This Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad is topped with a zesty lime making this five-ingredient recipe the perfect summer side salad.
Cucumber and Radish Salad
The most refreshing spring salad! Filled with cool Persian cucumbers, crisp radishes, and a fresh and tangy dressing, this simple salad adds the perfect crunch to any meal!
Asparagus Salad Recipe
This tasty Asparagus Salad with feta is full of crisp, tender asparagus spears, salty feta cheese, and sweet cherry tomatoes with a mouthwatering lemon vinaigrette.
High Protein Salads
Chicken Salad With Pineapple
This Chicken Salad With Pineapple is delightfully refreshing, combining bright and refreshing flavors like pineapple, cilantro, and dijon mustard. It’s great by itself or with croissant sandwiches.
Salmon Salad Sandwich
Salmon Salad Sandwiches are a high protein lunch or dinner that’s quick and easy to make. Filled with fresh veggies and flaky salmon, you can enjoy it as a refreshing salad or sandwich filling.
My Favorite Salads!
Chopped Vegetable Salad
This Chopped Vegetable Salad is loaded with healthy greens and tossed in a zesty vinaigrette dressing; great for a light lunch or Summer picnic.
Cranberry Bacon Broccoli Salad
Featuring fresh broccoli, bacon, and cranberries, this salad is the perfect year-round dish for any family gathering!
Fall Harvest Salad With Champagne Apple Cider Vinaigrette
One of the best things about Fall? The delicious flavors that come with it! Enjoy this Harvest Salad full of fall veggies topped with a champagne apple cider vinaigrette.
Tomato Panzanella Salad
Take a trip to Tuscany this summer with a fresh and juicy Tomato Panzanella Salad featuring fresh mint and a homemade basil vinaigrette.
There you have it! So go ahead, leave that lettuce behind and indulge in any of these delicious salads without lettuce! And don’t forget to include the perfect dressing.
Some of my favorites are Jalapeño Ranch Dressing, Honey Balsamic Dressing, and Homemade Herb Ranch Dressing.
