18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (2025)

    No sad, soggy salads under our watch.

    by Samantha WiederBuzzFeed Staff
    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (2)

    BuzzFeed

    2. Keto Blackened Steak Salad

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (4)

    peaceloveandlowcarb.com

    There is truly no bad time or place to treat yourself to some steak. Now, if all my salads can be topped with steak....

    Recipe: Keto Blackened Steak Salad

    3. Caribbean Cobb Salad

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (5)

    gourmetwithblakely.com

    This puts a tropical twist on a classic — why haven't we thought of putting shredded coconut, queso fresco, pumpkin seeds, and mango in a Cobb salad before this?

    Recipe: Caribbean Cobb Salad

    5. Refreshing Summer Salad with Chocolate Balsamic Vinaigrette

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (7)

    foodal.com

    It seems illegal to put "salad and chocolate" in the same sentence, but here we are.

    Recipe: Refreshing Summer Salad with Chocolate Balsamic Vinaigrette

    6. Fusilli Caesar Salad

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (8)

    damndelicious.net

    Sure, we've all had caesar salad before, but have we all had caesar salad WITH pasta in it? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say no.

    Recipe: Fusilli Caesar Salad

    7. Blueberry Burrata Salad

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (9)

    aforkstale.com

    Burrata is all the rage right now, and it's pretty sneaky to add it to a leafy salad, but you know what? I'm not mad.

    Recipe: Blueberry Burrata Salad

    8. Broccoli Slaw Chicken Salad with Soy-Ginger Dressing

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (10)

    familyfoodonthetable.com

    This recipe packs in flavorful veggies, chicken, soy and garlic sauces, and more, so basically it'll be a whole party in your mouth.

    Recipe: Broccoli Slaw Chicken Salad with Soy-Ginger Dressing

    9. Easy Falafel Salad with Savory Pita Croutons

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (11)

    joyouslydomestic.com

    Tip: This recipe recommends buying fresh or frozen falafel from the store so that you can whip up this salad in 15 minutes or less.

    Recipe: Easy Falafel Salad with Savory Pita Croutons

    10. Smoked Tofu Salad with Dried Apricots

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (12)

    avirtualvegan.com

    Smoky tofu, dried apricots, and apricot dressing make for the ultimately savory and sweet salad.

    Recipe: Smoked Tofu Salad with Dried Apricots

    11. Buffalo Chicken Salad

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (13)

    gimmedelicious.com

    It's a scientific fact that buffalo chicken is good in all of its forms, including but not limited to wraps, paninis, dip, nachos, and of course, SALADS.

    Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad

    12. Deconstructed Wedge Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (14)

    bowlofdelicious.com

    Perfect for those who love the flavors of a good wedge salad, but don't love having to cut through them.

    Recipe: Deconstructed Wedge Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing

    13. Israeli Salad with Avocado and Mint

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (15)

    toriavey.com

    When your idea of the perfect salad is one that doesn't contain lettuce, or spinach, or kale.

    Recipe: Israeli Salad with Avocado and Mint

    14. Candied Lemon, Peach, and Tomato Salad

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (16)

    thenoshery.com

    I'm willing to bet money that this will become your new go-to summertime salad.

    Recipe: Candied Lemon, Peach, and Tomato Salad

    16. Chopped Big Mac Salad

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (18)

    wholekitchensink.com

    This salad follows Whole30, Paleo, and Keto guidelines, all without having to wait on the drive-thru line at McDonald's.

    Recipe: Chopped Big Mac Salad

    17. Zucchini Salad with Chia Seeds and Goji Berries

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (19)

    sweetashoney.co

    Try a shaved zucchini base for your salad once instead of typical leafy greens, and you'll be hooked.

    Recipe: Zucchini Salad with Chia Seeds and Goji Berries

    18. Warm Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and Sweet Potatoes

    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (20)

    thenaturalnurturer.com

    Let's be real, veggies taste infinitely more delicious when they're roasted — it really brings out their flavor.

    Recipe: Warm Kale Salad with Pomegranate, Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and Sweet Potatoes

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    18 Non-Boring Salad Recipes You'll Want To Dig Your Fork Into Immediately (2025)

    FAQs

    How do you make a salad not to be boring? ›

    In a bowl of soft and tender ingredients, a little crunch goes a long way. A handful of nuts or seeds—raw or toasted—are effortless and add an extra hit of nutrition. Try adding chunks of grilled bread to make a Panzanella-style salad or go for crispy breadcrumbs if you want a lighter level of crunch.

    What are four foods other than vegetables that can be used in the preparation of salads? ›

    Salads are mixtures of minimally processed ready-to-eat vegetables with or without dressings. Common ingredients include fruits, poultry, meat, seafood, eggs, pasta, herbs, nuts and cooked vegetables.

    What are the different types of salad that can be served throughout the courses of a meal? ›

    Main Course Salads
    • Mediterranean tuna salad with creamy feta dressing.
    • The most amazing Chicken Kale Salad.
    • Farro Salad with Sizzled Dressing.
    • The mighty Cobb Salad.
    • Antipasto Chickpea Salad.
    • Pesto pasta salad.
    • Pearl Couscous Salad.
    • Glass noodle salad with lime cashew crumble.

    What are the 5 ways salads are used as part of the meal? ›

    • starter or appetizer salad.
    • accompaniment or side salad.
    • main course salad.
    • intermezzo or palate cleanser salad.
    • dessert salad.

    How do you make food not boring? ›

    Variety keeps you from getting too bored with your meals. Explore new fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Diversifying your food groups will also lead to new favorites and a healthy variety of foods to cook with.

    How to make salads more enjoyable? ›

    How to make salad more interesting
    1. Add texture with roasted seeds or nuts. Seeds and nuts are a great salad topper. ...
    2. Make it more filling with whole grains. ...
    3. Beans and other legumes add plant-based protein. ...
    4. Fresh herbs add lots of flavour. ...
    5. Sweeten your salad with fruit. ...
    6. Make sure your salad is properly seasoned.

    What are three vegetables we eat raw as salads? ›

    Food items like cucumbers, carrots, radishes, beetroot and tomatoes can be eaten raw in the form of salads. Potatoes should be well cooked before consuming them.

    How to eat healthy without salad? ›

    Add frozen veggies or shredded carrots to preseasoned pasta, rice, canned soups or restaurant leftovers. Try cauliflower rice or pizza crust. Don't be afraid to use a dip! Try veggies with hummus, salad dressing or yogurt-based dips.

    What are the five types of salads? ›

    salad, any of a wide variety of dishes that fall into the following principal categories: green salads; vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads.

    Should you eat your salad first or last? ›

    Eating a salad after a meal can help digestion, while eating one before a meal may help discourage overeating. No matter when you choose to eat your salad it will still come with health benefits. The most important thing is that you have vegetables regularly.

    What to eat in salad at night? ›

    Salads to help you sleep better
    • Dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach, are great to eat in the evening because they contain glycine, a mild sedative and nerve and muscle relaxant. ...
    • Nuts like walnuts, pistachios, and almonds have high melatonin, which controls the sleep/wake cycle of your body.

    What's the latest time someone should eat their dinner? ›

    While studies suggest that eating between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. is beneficial for overall health, if that doesn't fit your schedule, she says to try to stop eating at least three hours before bed to avoid issues like acid reflux.

    How to spruce up a boring salad? ›

    Incorporating other elements—think cooked or pickled vegetables, crunchy bits like nuts and seeds, sweet bits of fruit—makes any salad way more interesting. Because even if you do stray beyond the classic lettuce-cucumber-tomato combo and use a wider variety of veggies, it's still a recipe for a one-note side dish.

    How can I start liking salad? ›

    Learning to Love Salad
    1. Start by chopping up all your salad ingredients into small pieces. ...
    2. Change up the greens. ...
    3. Adding cheese, fish, chicken, or grains give extra flavor and provide a more wholesome feeling meal.
    4. Add crunch for good texture variety.
    Mar 20, 2023

    What can I add to salad to make it better? ›

    Add one or more of these protein-rich foods to your salad:
    1. lean meat: chicken or turkey breast, lean steak.
    2. lower-fat cheese: light cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, feta, goat cheese.
    3. legumes: kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, white or black beans.
    4. eggs: hard boiled.
    5. soy products: cubed tofu, edamame.

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