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You might think salads are just a side dish, but my 15+ Main Course Salads make filling main dishes! All of my easy dinner salad recipes, from greens to pasta salad, come with homemade dressings and topping suggestions I know you'll love.
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I love making salad as a meal. Out of all of them, my family's favorite is my Grilled Chicken Salad (see the recipe card at the bottom of the page!), but there are so many different ways to serve salad for dinner. I'll share all my best main dish salads with you below!
What Makes a Great Main Dish Salad
To make the best salad recipes for dinner, mix up your ingredients! Here are some tips on what you can use to make the most filling salads:
- Lettuce: Romaine and Spring Mix are excellent choices for salads. You can also use baby lettuce, butter lettuce, spinach, or even kale. You can even get creative and mix in other greens like dandelion greens. If you use spinach, try mixing in arugula!
- Whole grains: Instead of lettuce, you can use whole grains like brown rice or quinoa. I also like to use cauliflower rice.
- Protein: Rotisserie chicken, steak, shrimp, salmon, or tuna are great choices for protein in main course salads. (Salmon salad is incredible!)
- Vegetables: Try cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, or even veggies like summer squash, jicama, crisp blanched green beans, carrots, peas, and corn. Pickled and roasted vegetables are great choices too!
- Fruit: Cranberries, apples, strawberries, blueberries, and clementines are all delicious in a salad. Grilled fruit is great, too - how about grilled peaches? (Olives are technically a fruit, too, and I love adding them!)
- Sprouts: Have you ever tried adding sprouts to a salad? They are a delicious addition to any salad and add a lovely texture. Alfalfa sprouts are my favorite.
- Nuts: Nuts are awesome in any main or separate-course salad recipe! Try pecans, walnuts, and sliced almonds.
- Seeds: If you can't eat nuts but still want crunch, or just want some variety, try adding seeds like sunflower seeds or even pumpkin seeds!
- Cheese: Shredded hard cheeses like Parmesan, or the softest cheeses like goat cheese, feta cheese, burrata, and blue cheese all work well.
Isabel's Top Tip
Don't forget hard-boiled eggs and bacon crumbles, perfect for making a cobb salad. You can use plain bacon like my air fryer bacon, which is delicious, but I like to use candied bacon to spice up my main course salads!
Homemade Salad Dressings
- Blue Cheese Salad Dressing
- Honey Balsamic Dressing
- Buttermilk Ranch
- Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing
One of the best and most important elements to a main dish salad is the salad dressing. Above are some of my favorite dressings, so you can mix and match with the salads below. Each one is tailored to a specific recipe, but you can really get creative with it - main dish salads are perfect for experimenting with whatever you have in the fridge!
Main Course Salad Recipes
Grilled Chicken Salad
Complete with crisp, fresh veggies and deliciously creamy buttermilk ranch dressing, my Grilled Chicken Salad is a must-try for the summer!
Check out this recipe
Strawberry Chicken Salad
Strawberry Chicken Salad uses light, wholesome, and simple ingredients for a flavorful separate course salad or main course salad recipe.
Check out this recipe
Vietnamese Beef Salad
Made with thinly sliced sirloin, crisp veggies, rice noodles, and a zesty lime dressing, our easy Vietnamese Beef Salad recipe makes a delicious lunch or dinner!
Check out this recipe
Amazing Burrata Salad Recipe
Creamy burrata cheese with salty prosciutto, fresh Parmesan, and crisp arugula, all seasoned with sea salt, pepper, and drizzled olive oil... that's our incredible Arugula Burrata Salad Recipe!
Check out this recipe
Isabel's Top Tip
This arugula burrata appetizer is one of the best accompaniment salads, too. You can also serve it as a separate course salad for an appetizer along with your meal.
Brussels Sprouts Salad
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad is a delicious warm salad recipe you will crave more and more of! It's a perfect holiday side dish, with Parmesan, pecans, cranberries, and garlic.
Cold Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas and Rice
My easy Cold Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas and Rice is light, refreshing, and so easy to make in minutes!
Check out this recipe
Kale Caesar Salad
Learn how to make Chick-fil-A Lemon Kale Caesar Salad at home using easy ingredients! Simple to make and so delicious!
Check out this recipe
Grilled Peach Salad
Learn how to make salad with grilled peaches for the most amazing Grilled Peach Salad recipe you will love all summer long!
Check out this recipe
Summer Pasta Salad
Enjoy Summer Pasta Salad as a refreshing main dish or side! Bursting with flavor, it's sure to be a family favorite for picnics and BBQs!
Check out this recipe
Roasted Artichoke Hearts Salad Recipe
Roasted Artichoke Salad is one of the easiest and prettiest holiday salad recipes you should be serving all season long! The roasted artichokes combined with the tangy burst of fresh basil vinaigrette is the perfect festive salad and a delicious way to start your meal.
Zesty & Tangy Orange and Fennel Salad
With its bright, sweet, and zesty flavors, Orange and Fennel Salad is a perfect side salad or citrus salad recipe for lunch!
Check out this recipe
Broccoli Apple Salad
This Broccoli Apple Salad is absolutely delicious! Make it with deli turkey and follow the recipe for a complete meal that’s super quick and easy.
Check out this recipe
Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad
Deliciously easy Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad comes together in less than 30 minutes and is full of vibrant, fresh flavors you will love!
Check out this recipe
Watermelon Basil Salad
Meet your new go-to summer salad! My Watermelon Basil Salad is so light and refreshing, complete with a balsamic glaze. Ready in 10 minutes!
Check out this recipe
Main Course Salads + Grilled Chicken Salad
Main Course Salads are easy, tasty, and filling enough for a meal! Make one of my easy salads for dinner, or experiment with my suggestions!
Equipment
- grill pan or grill, for chicken
- Meat thermometer (optional but recommended, for chicken)
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless - skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- ¼ red onion - sliced
- 1 bell pepper - any color, sliced or diced
- ½ medium cucumber - sliced or diced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes - halved
- 1 avocado - sliced
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup Greek yogurt - or sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Dill - chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Chives - chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Parsley - chopped
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano in a medium bowl. Place chicken breasts in bowl and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.1 pound boneless,2 tablespoon olive oil,1 teaspoon salt,½ teaspoon ground black pepper,1 teaspoon dried oregano,1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Heat a grill to medium-high heat and brush with more olive oil. When ready, add chicken and cook about 5 minutes on each side, until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken to a cutting board and let rest while you prepare the rest of the salad.2 Tablespoons olive oil
- In a large salad bowl or serving plate, add spinach and veggies.3 cups fresh baby spinach,¼ red onion,1 bell pepper,½ medium cucumber,1 cup grape tomatoes,1 avocado
- Slice the chicken and toss with the salad.
- Top with homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, or your salad dressing of choice. Serve and enjoy!
To make homemade buttermilk ranch dressing
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a large mason jar and stir together. Close lid tightly and shake well to finish mixing.1 cup buttermilk,½ cup Greek yogurt,¼ cup mayonnaise,2 cloves garlic,½ teaspoon salt,¼ teaspoon pepper,1 Tablespoon Dill,1 Tablespoon Chives,1 Tablespoon Parsley,1 teaspoon onion powder,1 teaspoon lemon juice
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Notes
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before marinating to ensure even cooking
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken should be cooked to 165°F to ensure doneness. Don’t over-cook it!
- Allow grilled chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing
- Customize your salad by using your favorite salad veggies and salad greens, if what is listed here doesn’t suit your tastes. Add-ins like crumbled cheese or croutons or seeds are great additions, if desired.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 539kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 33gFat: 39gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 1116mgPotassium: 1166mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 3697IUVitamin C: 59mgCalcium: 162mgIron: 2mg
Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe!