50 Fresh Salads To Help You Welcome Spring
Is there anything better than spring produce? We think not.
Real talk: Is there anything better than spring produce? We think not. Now that we're shaking off that winter chill, we're so ready to spring forward... right into these salads. 'Tis the season when fruits and vegetables start being at their peak, so definitely take advantage with these recipes for spring-y salads like our strawberry spinach salad, spring Cobb salad, and tzatziki potato salad. These 50 fresh and exciting salad recipes also work well as side dishes or the main event too.
There will always be room at our table for the uncomplicated classics, particularly when we’re serving a more involved main dish. Arugula, spinach, and kale salads with bright and easy vinaigrettes can be so lovely in their simplicity. That said, our hearts really belong to the FULL salads, the kind that can stand alone as a meal and has tons of texture and flavor. Here, we’re filling or topping our salads with everything from fried halloumi to sweet spring strawberries on a spinach salad. Feel free to get creative and add your favorites too; we're pretty partial to our roasted cauliflower salad and our beyond gorgeous super-green pasta salad.
Also, we’d be remiss if we only focused on the greens here. Macaroni salad is always a summer crowd-pleaser, but for spring, we like to go outside the box and try out different "pasta" shapes, like the orrechiette in our bruschetta pasta salad, the ramen in our crunchy Mandarin orange chicken salad, and the papaya in our green papaya salad. And they’re not all mayo-based! We think spring is a great time to focus on bright, vibrant flavors, so we’ve relied on vinegars and citrus to add some brightness to our salads.
We’ve also got a couple warm options for those cold spring nights when the temperature unexpectedly drops, like our lentil salad or Tuscan tortellini salad. The best part? They make for great cold leftovers the next day too.
Speaking of chilly evenings, nothing pairs better with salad than soup, so make sure to check out our favorite springy soups to complete your meal.
Spring Cobb Salad
This lightened-up Cobb salad has lots of crunchy in-season veggies and a creamy lemon-dill dressing spiked with raw garlic. A smattering of croutons (homemade is best if you’ve got the time) add texture, and a healthy serving of eggs and avocado make this salad hearty enough to be dinner.
Get the Spring Cobb Salad recipe.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
The combination of sweet strawberries, herby chicken, creamy goat cheese, and spicy red onions may even make so-called spinach haters love this recipe.
Get the Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe.
Greek Orzo Salad
While we love orzo in comforting, warming pasta dishes (we're looking at you, orzo al limone) it also makes for a great salad base. Take this Greek-inspired recipe to the park for a light picnic lunch, or as fresh side to your Easter potluck. No matter the occasion, this salad was made to please.
Get the Greek Orzo Salad recipe.
TikTok Green Goddess Salad
We loved the original recipe for this viral salad, but we wanted to add a bit of a Greek/Mediterranean flavor profile. The original recipe calls for two types of nuts, but ours calls for tahini. We also sub dill for basil and garnish with some toasted sesame seeds.
Get the TikTok Green Goddess Salad recipe.
Greek Salad
When you’re looking for simple, refreshing, and reliable, you’d be hard pressed to find a dish better than classic Greek salad. Filled with fresh veggies, tangy feta, and a simple dressing made of ingredients you might already have in your fridge, this bright salad is one you’ll turn to all spring and summer long
Get the Greek Salad recipe.
Bruschetta Pasta Salad
To create an easy side dish worthy of any potluck, we returned to the flavors of tried-and-tried bruschetta. The result? This bruschetta pasta salad, loaded with multi-colored cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and tangy balsamic vinegar.
Get the Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe.
Egg Salad
It’s always a good idea to have a tried-and-true egg salad recipe up your sleeve: it’s easy to make, and is a classic BBQ side and quick lunch you can rely on. Our standard centers around just 6 core ingredients; use it as a base for creative mix-ins and variations, or enjoy as is for a truly classic recipe. Whether you’re craving egg salad sandwiches for a warm weather picnic or are looking for a staple summer side, make this best egg salad recipe your new go-to.
Get the Egg Salad recipe.
Moroccan Carrot Salad
This carrot-and-raisin salad gets an upgrade with a slightly spicy, slightly sweet harissa and honey sauce. It brings out the sweet freshness of the carrots and makes the whole dish sing. You might be tempted to pour it over all of your salads from here on out.
Get the Moroccan Carrot Salad recipe.
Greek Salmon Salad
Whenever we're craving a salad, it usually means we want something fresh and crisp with lots of flavor. And a salad that won't leave us hungry in 30 minutes. While the salmon is cooking, you can get all of your veggie chopping done. An easy dinner with big reward!
Get the Greek Salmon Salad recipe.
Tuscan Tortellini Salad
Swap the sun-dried tomatoes for fresh cherry tomatoes, use kale instead of spinach or bacon instead of salami, and replace the Parmesan with Pecorino or mozzarella. It's easily customizable!
Get the Tuscan Tortellini Salad recipe.
Broccoli Salad
A simple and reliable side, the classic broccoli salad is loaded with flavor and texture. Ready in around 30 minutes, it’s the perfect make-ahead side for an BBQ or last-minute party.
Get the Broccoli Salad recipe.
Greek Chickpea Salad
We’re no strangers to a great chickpea salad, so coming up with a Greek-inspired one was a no-brainer. It’s got all the flavors you love from Greek salad, turned into something more substantial and filling that pairs well with almost anything.
Get the Greek Chickpea Salad recipe.
Super Green Pasta Salad
It’s not so hard to eat your greens when they come in pasta salad form. Sweet baby spinach is great here, but peppery arugula or tender baby kale would work well too.
Get the Super Green Pasta Salad recipe.
Halloumi Salad
We think it's due time that halloumi, got its time in the spotlight. Besides the delightfully squeaky texture (where the cheese curd lovers at?) and the tangy, salty flavor, the high melting point is really what makes this cheese stand out—when heat is applied, it develops a delicious golden crust that is so delightful in this salad.
Get the Halloumi Salad recipe.
Thai Peanut Chicken Pasta Salad
Skip bringing the traditional pasta salad to the summer potluck. This pasta salad has a creamy peanut dressing and is full of fresh, crunchy veggies with no mayonnaise in sight. It’s just as simple to make and is as delicious hot as it is cold, which means you can easily make it ahead of time.
In our book, the Cobb salad just might be the perfect dinner salad. It’s versatile, hearty, easy to make, and even easier to meal prep. Our classic recipe creates the perfect balance of textures and flavors, all tied together by the star of the show: our homemade dressing.
Get the Cobb Salad recipe.
Crunchy Mandarin Orange-Chicken Salad
This recipe was semi-inspired by the Chinese Chicken Salad at The Cheesecake Factory, where they use wonton strips and crispy rice noodles. Instead, we sub in a block of dried ramen—broken up, the crunchy, wavy noodles act as croutons just as well. Feel free to sub the almonds for cashews or peanuts too!
Fried Goat Cheese Salad
A quick pan-fry makes creamy goat cheese a fun, super-crunchy salad topper. It’s a creative take on croutons and makes a simple salad so much more exciting. These are also great on their own and would be delicious on a cheese board with a little drizzle of honey.
Get the Fried Goat Cheese Salad recipe.
Avocado-Mango Poke Salad
Since this salad is so simple, use the best, freshest tuna, mangoes, and avocados you can find!
Get the Avocado-Mango Poke Salad recipe.
Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad is a spring and summer picnic staple, and for good reason: When tossed in a bright vinegar-based dressing and packed with thinly sliced onions, cukes can withstand warm temperatures and sit out at a sunny outdoor gathering for hours.
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
Watch Next
