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17 Amazing Salad Recipes for People Who Really Hate Salad

You’re in the mood for a quick, healthy lunch. There’s only one problem: lettuce, croutons and balsamic vinaigrette are not your thing. But before you denounce salads forever, we have 17 flavor-packed versions we promise you’ll be into. (And for more creative salad ideas, head to our Heathy Salad Recipes board on Pinterest.)

The 5 Best Salad Dressings You Can Buy at the Grocery Store


grilled peach and halloumi salad with lemon pesto dressing lunch salads
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Grilled Peach And Halloumi Salad With Lemon-pesto Dressing

Sweet, salty perfection.

mexican street corn pasta salad lunch salads
Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Full permission to swap the fork for tortilla chips. 

caprese salad with grilled zucchini lunch salads
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Caprese Salad With Grilled Zucchini

No lettuce for miles. 

sweet potato bulgur citrus salad lunch salads
The Full Helping

Sweet Potato Bulgur Citrus Salad

Hearty, satisfying and packed with protein.

arugula radicchio salad with figs humboldt fog prosciutto lunch salads
The Delicious Life

Arugula Radicchio Salad With Figs, Humboldt Fog, Prosciutto

Throw on some lettuce and a charcuterie board totally counts as a salad.

citrus fennel and avocado salad lunch salads
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Citrus, Fennel And Avocado Salad

Exploding with flavor.

fall harvest quinoa salad lunch salads
Half Baked Harvest

Fall Harvest Quinoa Salad

Guys. This salad has a damn acorn squash in it. What more could you ask for?

fish taco salad lunch salads
erin mcdowell

Fish Taco Salad

Close your eyes and you’re at the beach. 

california steak salad with chimichurri dressing lunch salads
joyful healthy eats

California Steak Salad With Chimichurri Dressing

Give lunch a new twist by serving it on a board instead of in a bowl. 

salmon bowl with farro black beans and tahini dressing lunch salads
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Salmon Bowl With Farro, Black Beans And Tahini Dressing

Grain bowls = salad’s fancier, more filling cousin. 

sunflower seed kale and cherry salad with granola lunch salads
half baked harvest

Sunflower Seed, Kale And Cherry Salad With Granola

Who needs croutons when you’ve got cereal?

cauliflower potato salad lunch salads
Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Cauliflower Potato Salad

Have we introduced you to our favorite veggie of all time?


lemon orzo salad lunch salads
Pinch of Yum

Lemon Orzo Salad

A spoonful of pasta helps the vegetables go down. 

blackberry balsamic grilled chicken salad with crispy fried goat cheese lunch salads
closet cooking

Blackberry Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad With Crispy Fried Goat Cheese

Taste the rainbow. (And if all else fails, taste the goat cheese.) 

watermelon poke bowls lunch salads
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Watermelon Poke Bowls

The next best thing to a trip to Hawaii.

pineapple salad with peanut coconut dressing lunch salads
Carlsbad Cravings

Pineapple Salad With Peanut-coconut Dressing

Best eaten on the patio.

cajun roasted cauliflower salad lunch salads
The Healthful Ideas

Cajun Roasted Cauliflower Salad


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Freelance Editor

From 2015-2020 Lindsay Champion held the role of Food and Wellness Director. She continues to write for PureWow as a Freelance Editor.