20 Fresh and Filling Main Dish Salads

Forget about boring salads and introduce some new, tasty salad recipes into your life! This fantastic collection of recipes focuses on big flavors and hearty ingredients, offering satisfying main dishes rather than just sad side plates. These tasty main dish salads are packed with flavor and goodness, catering to every palate—whether you’re a meat lover, chicken fan, seafood enthusiast, or vegetarian.

Crispy Buffalo Chicken Salad

If you need a dinner that you can get on the table quick, this buffalo chicken salad recipe is for you! You can have this fantastic, filling salad on the table in just fifteen minutes and the whole family is going to love it!
Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad

Lentil Salad

Tender green lentils and veggies are tossed in a lemon garlic dressing in this lentil salad. It is vegan, gluten-free and great for meal-prep.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Salad

Easy Salmon Caesar Salad

You might not normally think of salad when you think of having salmon for dinner, but you will after you try this recipe. Tender, flaky, and oh so good for you salmon laying on top of crispy romaine lettuce with a tasty homemade Caesar dressing will have the whole family clamoring for more!
Get the recipe: Salmon Caesar Salad

Grilled Flank Steak Salad with Arugula

This easy salad has everything you need for a complete meal, protein, carbs, vegetables, and flavor! You’ll love the tasty marinade for the flank steak and the homemade dressing for this delicious main dish salad!
Get the recipe: Grilled Flank Steak Salad

Strawberry Chicken Salad

You will be anything but hungry after sitting down to this tasty salad! Chicken, strawberries, lettuce, avocados, pineapple, and romaine lettuce will make sure of that! This salas is also served with a delightful homemade poppy seed dressing that you are going to love!
Get the recipe: Strawberry Chicken Salad

Picnic Perfect Kale Quinoa Salad

If you are looking for a main dish salad that will keep you full then this kale quinoa salad with a homemade cider vinaigrette dressing is an excellent choice. Quinoa, fresh kale, toasted walnuts, cranberries, and apples are all tossed together in the vinaigrette dressing for a tasty dinner the family will love.  Get the recipe: Kale Quinoa Salad

Roasted Butternut Squash, Black Bean, and Quinoa Salad

This hearty and colorful salad is just begging to be served as a main dish meal. This healthy and delicious salad is easy to put together, it can be served warm or cold, and it’s perfect for feeding a crowd!
Get the recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash, Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

Portuguese Salad with Grilled Chicken and Peaches

This main dish salad has lots of unique Portuguese flavor that the whole family is going to love. The chicken is marinated (if you have the time) to really deepen the flavor before it is grilled and once you combine it with the peaches, arugula, feta, and tomatoes it really stands out!
Get the recipe: Portuguese Salad with Grilled Chicken and Peaches

Easy Cobb Salad

Cobb salads work perfectly when you are trying to use a salad as your main dish! They are so colorful and flavorful, and everyone can build the salad that they want with the ingredients that you have provided on the platter.  Get the recipe: Easy Cobb Salad

Smorgasbord Garlic Shrimp Salad 

This salad is perfect for dinner as a main dish because it is packed with so many delicious vegetables, and a boatload of flavorful shrimp! The shrimp is sauteed in garlic and butter before adding it to your lettuce, Brie, tomatoes, cucumbers, hard boiled egg, and bean sprouts. 
Get the recipe: Smorgasbord Garlic Shrimp Salad

Grilled Shrimp Mango Salad

This tasty salad is perfect for dinner with spicy shrimp, crispy lettuce and a homemade dressing that really gives it a bit of sweetness when combined with the fresh mango. This main dish salad would also be right at home as a side dish for your next BBQ! Get the recipe: Grilled Shrimp Mango Salad

Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad

This chopped BBQ salad is healthy, filling, and delicious! It’s perfect for serving as a main dish with BBQ chicken, corn, tomatoes, avocados, black beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and more! You are going to love this fresh, tasty salad.  Get the recipe: Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad

Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl (copycat)

Healthy, delicious eating doesn’t have to cost a fortune. That’s why you will love this copycat Sweetgreen harvest bowl that you can make at home with simple, healthy, and inexpensive ingredients. The harvest bowl is filled with roasted veggies, and hearty grains for a comforting complete meal you will love. 
Get the recipe: Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl

Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

If you are looking for a simple, but filling salad for dinner, this radicchio endive chicken salad with creamy honey mustard dressing is an excellent choice. The BBQ chicken is juicy and flavorful and it pairs perfectly with the crunchy lettuce!  Get the recipe: Radicchio Endive Chicken Salad

Guacamole Salad

Guacamole is not just for dipping your tortilla chips in, though you could certainly serve this salad with a side of them! This filling, fresh salad is perfect for dinner with guacamole, beans, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, and more. It’s sure to be a family favorite! Get the recipe: Guacamole Salad

Ranch Kale Salad with BBQ Tofu

If you are looking for a vegan, gluten-free salad that is perfect for a main dish then this ranch kale salad with BBQ tofu is for you! Chewy BBQ flavored tofu, with crispy kale, and a  creamy homemade ranch dressing will make this salad a staple in your home! Get the recipe: Ranch Kale Salad with BBQ Tofu

Tortellini Pasta Salad

Cheese-filled tortellini, Italian salami, plenty of fresh chopped veggies, and a delicious homemade Italian dressing to finish it off — this tortellini pasta salad is a fresh and fun twist on a traditional pasta salad!
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad

Vegan Burrito Bowl  (Chipotle Copycat)

Do you love the loaded veggie burrito bowl at Chipotle? Well, now you can make these tasty vegan bowls at home! This hearty vegan salad works great as a main dish for dinner that the whole daily will love, you could even serve it on taco Tuesday to switch things up! Get the recipe: Vegan Burrito Bowl