33 Fabulous Dinner Salad Recipes

From crispy chicken to bacon-fried croutons, Southerners know how to fix a standout salad for dinner.

By

Updated on July 17, 2024

Southern Living Buffalo Chicken Salad on a platter to serve — Photo:
Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

When it's hot as blazes outside, the last thing you want for dinner is something heavy. That's when the idea of having salad for dinner shifts from being sad to being your saving grace. All too often we think of salads as light and healthy foods, but just because lettuce is involved doesn't mean dinner can't be delicious! Trust us—these fabulous recipes will have you actually craving salad for dinner.

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Crispy- Shrimp Salad with Avocado Dressing

Crispy-Shrimp Salad with Avocado Dressing — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Fried shrimp are a Southern favorite—here they transform salad into a must-have main course. The creamy avocado dressing doesn't hurt, either.

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Greek Salad With Baked Feta

Southern Living Greek Salad with Baked Feta in a bowl to serve — Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Juicy cherry tomatoes, red onion, crisp green bell pepper, cucumbers, and olives create a refreshing base for this easy Greek salad. The veggies are mixed with a vinegar-based dressing and topped with baked feta cheese, for a delicious and hearty result. Plus, the dressing can be made up to a week ahead for easy assembly.

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Chopped Salad

Southern Living Chopped Salad prepared on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

If you're looking for a salad to serve as a main dish, check out this chopped salad. The added ham and bacon with ensure your crew leaves the table full and satisfied. Plus, this salad is super customizable. If you're not a big fan of something on the ingredient list, just swap it out!

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Crispy Chicken- and- Broccoli Salad

Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Store-bought fried chicken tenders make eating your vegetables way more appetizing.

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Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing

Spring Shrimp-and-Orzo Salad with Lemon Dressing — Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

This fresh and fast shrimp salad gets a filling boost from easy-to-cook orzo.

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Buffalo Chicken Salad

Southern Living Buffalo Chicken Salad on a platter to serve — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Tangy buffalo-style hot sauce makes the chicken on this dinner salad hot and peppery. But all the veggies—carrots, celery, cabbage, tomatoes, and more—work to tame it. The semi-homemade spicy ranch dressing brings it all together.

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Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing

Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Charring this salad's okra and corn in your cast-iron skillet gives them a nice, smoky crunch.

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Chicken Tortellini Salad

Chicken-and-Tortellini Salad

Store-bought tortellini are a genius addition to dinner salads—they're like little cheese-filled croutons.

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Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons

Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Cobb salad is a flavor party thanks to all its lovely components. This Southern twist shakes things up with cornbread croutons, black-eyed peas, and plenty of crispy bacon.

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BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons

BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons — ALISON MIKSCH

This knockout tastes just like a BLT, but in salad form. The creamy Parmesan-laden dressing sends it over the top.

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Field Pea and Pasta Salad — Greg DuPree

Not all salads are lettuce based. This filling pasta salad gets a Southern twist from tender field peas.

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Lemony White Bean Salad with Broccoli

Lemony White Bean Salad with Broccoli — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This gourmet take on the classic Southern potluck side is good enough for supper, thanks to filling white beans.

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Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs

Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

The rich dressing in this salad coats the kale, helping the crispy breadcrumbs to stick to each bite.

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Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette — Alison Miksch

Thin slices of nectarines add a sweet crunch to this chicken pasta salad.

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Field Pea Fattoush Salad

Field Pea Fattoush Salad — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

If you love croutons, you'll love Fattoush, a Middle Eastern dish made with toasted pita bread.

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Harvest Salad

Harvest Salad — GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH

Add your choice of protein to this medley of Brussels sprouts, kale, and Honeycrisp apples for your new favorite fall salad.

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Grilled Baby Zucchini- And- Tomato Salad

Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad — GREG DUPREE; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH; FOOD STYLING: ANNA HAMPTON

Speaking of bread salads, this grilled zucchini number screams summer with the added punch of sweet cherry tomatoes.

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Arugula Salad with Bacony Croutons and Sherry Vinaigrette Recipe

Arugula Salad with Bacony Croutons and Sherry Vinaigrette — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Pay attention: This salad's croutons are fried in bacon fat. Yes, BACON FAT. Trust us, they're good!

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Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad

Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Drizzled with our special "Summer Sauce" this fresh and filling recipe will be your new go-to summer salad.

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Farmers' Market Pasta Salad

Farmers' Market Pasta Salad

Breeze through the farmers' market this weekend and pick up everything you need for this knockout dinner salad.

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Tortelloni- And- Grilled Vegetable Salad

Tortelloni-and-Grilled Vegetable Salad — Hector Manuel Sanchez

This pasta-loaded salad proves that you don't need meat at every meal.

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Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad

Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad — Photo: Jennifer Davick

All of you favorite Greek salad ingredients—including cucumbers, feta, artichokes, and olives—dial up the flavor in this delicious dinner salad.

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Chicken Tortellini Salad

Chicken Tortellini Salad Recipe — ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Peppery arugula teams up with cheesy tortellini and rotisserie chicken to make this salad a winner.

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Cast Iron Salmon with Baby Kale Salad

Cast-Iron Salmon With Baby Kale Salad — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Rich and flavorful, skillet-seared salmon turns this tasty kale salad into a company-worthy dinner.

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Shrimp Cobb Salad With Bacon Dressing

Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing — Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This bacony dressing will turn into any salad into a main event.

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Chicken- And- Quinoa Salad With Pepper Jelly Dressing

Chicken-and-Quinoa Salad with Pepper Jelly Dressing — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

If you're not familiar with quinoa, give it a try—it's easier to cook than rice and has a lovely texture (in addition to healthy fiber and protein).

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Southern- Style Grilled Cobb Salad

Southern-Style Grilled Cobb Salad — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Can you tell we're really into cobb salads? This is one of our favorites, thanks to the grilled chicken, veggies, corn, and okra. The fresh tomatoes don't hurt, either!

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Herbed Chicken- And- Rice Salad

Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Fluffy cooked rice makes such a lovely addition to salads, making them more filling, and extra delicious.

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Grilled Corn- And- Salmon Salad With Tomatoes

Grilled Corn-and-Salmon Salad with Tomatoes — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Grilled salmon is always a winner—here it sings with beautiful summer tomatoes and fresh spinach.

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7- Layer Salad

Southern Living 7-Layer Salad in a bowl to serve with serving spoons beside — Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Can you guess the secret Southern ingredient hiding in the middle of this crowd-pleasing salad?

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Spring Mix Salad With Herbed Goat Cheese

Spring Mix Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Here's another great way to upgrade a meatless salad: go big on the cheese!

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Spring Salad With Berries and Bacon

Spring Salad with Berries and Bacon — Johnny Autry; Food and Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Strawberries and bacon may seem like an odd couple, but trust us‚ opposites attract!

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Warm Mustard Potato Salad

Warm Mustard Potato Salad — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

You know that feeling when a side dish is so good, you could make a meal out of it? This bacon and egg-loaded potato salad delivers.

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